Meet The Team | Doug

What makes Photomatica special is our people. We’re a crew of vintage enthusiasts with a knack for the cool and quirky, all about the old school vibes and capturing epic memories. Meet Doug Ellington, @dirtbagdougie, the mastermind behind Photomatica and resident magic-maker.

Doug isn’t just the owner—he’s the heart and soul of Photomatica. With a serious passion for all things retro, Doug brings an artistic eye and a love for nostalgia to everything we do. He’s the reason our photo booths have that perfect vintage charm and why they’re the hit of every event.

During the week, you’ll find Doug tinkering with photo booth restorations, making sure every detail is spot on, or coming up with new ways to amp up the Photomatica experience. He’s always ready to share the cool history behind each booth and loves seeing the stoke they bring to weddings, parties, and more.

When he’s not at the shop, Doug is out cruising around the Bay Area. Weekends usually involve catching waves while surfing, a passion he’s been dedicated to for years. Whether it's braving the chilly waters at dawn or sharing stories with fellow surfers, Doug finds immense joy and relaxation in the ocean. When he's not surfing, he loves spending quality time with his wife, exploring new spots, and enjoying their neighborhood.

Doug’s passion makes Photomatica more than just a place to rent or visit a photo booth—it’s a place where killer memories are made, shared, and saved in the timeless cool of vintage photography.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

My dad was in the Navy, so I grew up moving around frequently. We lived in Spain, Virginia, Southern California, and Northern California until my dad retired and the family moved to Tennessee. I went to college at the University of Tennessee on a track scholarship. I stayed in Tennessee until I decided to move to San Francisco with two former track teammates from college (one was my business partner, Matt) in 2009. Shortly after moving to SF, I met my wife. I wanted to be in charge of getting a photo booth for our wedding, but I couldn't find a vintage photo booth to rent. I saw an opportunity and built my first booth in a garage in San Francisco in 2011. After finishing the booth, I realized I knew nothing about business and asked my old teammate, Matt, who has an MBA, to join me. The rest is history.

How did your interest in photo booths begin?

I have always loved old photo booths. My wife and I had one we used to go to in our neighborhood. It was a true black-and-white analog photo booth, and we would go there almost every week.

Do you have a favorite event or memory where your photo booths were used?

In 2016, we were hired to bring a photobooth to the Golden Globe Awards in LA for the red carpet. They ushered in all the celebrities. It was surreal to see a machine I built in my garage being used by all these famous people.

Which booth is your favorite so far that you’ve restored/built?

Every time we build a new beautiful booth, it becomes my new favorite booth.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in the Bay Area?

We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. We have incredible beaches, and the Sierra Mountains are a short drive away.

What is your go-to pose in the photo booth?

I'm glad you asked. I have two go-to poses. The first is putting my chin on my fist with a slight head tilt. My absolute favorite pose is doing a "full body shot" where you start on the floor of the booth with your hands up, then sit in the chair, then stand up, and finally stand on the stool. It ends up looking like you are flying in the photo strip. I even got to give a talk on that full body shot pose at an international photo booth convention in London last summer. It made me feel famous among my peers.

| image c/o carolyn fong for the SF Standard |

Besides Photomatica, what is your biggest passion?

I started surfing about 7-8 years ago, and it’s my absolute favorite thing to do. I surf every Sunday with a group of about 6-7 guys. It’s like my church. We meet before the sun comes up and get in the water at first light. It’s always freezing cold and sometimes a little scary. It’s been so challenging to learn, but so much fun and rewarding to catch a wave on a board. It gets me almost as high as hearing someone laughing in one of my photo booths.

Read more about Photomatica in our most recent feature in The SF Standard.

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