Behind The Booth | @boothbybryant

The Story Behind How @boothbybryant Got Started

We love seeing people put their own spin on the vintage photo booth experience, but it’s even more rewarding when it’s a friend we’ve supported along the way. Meet Bryant Eslava, aka @boothbybryant, and more widely known as @bryant - a guy who started with a simple photo booth session and ended up launching his own photo booth business. Bryant is a self-taught photographer who quickly made a name for himself by capturing genuine moments and personalities of popular influencers and fashion bloggers. His authentic approach made his following skyrocket on social media, especially Instagram, where his photos stand out in a crowded feed.

Falling for Analog

Bryant’s journey started when he came across a collection of vintage photo booth scans from MTV’s iconic TRL days on Instagram. Those snapshots of ‘90s and early 2000s celebrities sparked something in him. He knew he needed that nostalgic, old-school photo booth vibe in his life.

The DM That Started It All

Bryant slid into our DMs, and soon enough, we were on the phone hashing out the details. Our founders, Doug and Matt, were so hyped about the idea that they decided to personally deliver a Model 14 booth to his apartment in Hollywood that summer. The guys installed the booth, showed him the ropes—how to balance the machine, change the chemistry, all that good stuff—and left Bryant to bring his creative vision to life.

Fun fact: we weren’t sure how much he would use the booth, so it actually worked by inserting a quarter (most of our booths have updated credit card machines these days). So Bryant had a giant bowl of quarters for sessions.

| our very own Doug Ellington installing the booth in Bryant's home |

From Photographer to Photo Booth King

Bryant wasted no time. He started inviting his friends—social media stars, models, musicians, you name it—to come use the booth. The response was massive. What started as a cool side project quickly blew up into something much bigger. His DMs were flooded with requests from people who wanted to be a part of this fresh, retro photo experience. The whole thing exploded on Instagram, with black-and-white photo strips from Bryant’s booth popping up everywhere.

And then, the Wall Street Journal came calling. Writer Hannah Miao featured Bryant’s project and interviewed our very own Matt Dewalt - highlighting the rising popularity of analog photo booths. This boosted the trend’s visibility and brought even more star power to the vintage photo booth experience.

| testing the booth after getting everything installed |

The Growth Game

That summer, Bryant officially launched Booth by Bryant. It was no longer just a photo booth in his apartment—it was an experience. His friends and followers couldn’t get enough of the minimalist, authentic photo strips, and soon Bryant shifted his focus to make @boothbybryant what it is today.

He’s got multiple locations where people can experience the booths IRL, including two public booths in Costa Mesa. And what’s even cooler? Bryant and his cousins run the entire operation themselves.

His booths have even popped up at high-profile events like the Barbie movie premiere, where Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker made an appearance—a career highlight for Bryant.

What’s Next?

Bryant’s story is a perfect example of how a simple idea can turn into something amazing with a little passion and the right support. We love seeing what he’s done with the vintage photo booth experience, and we couldn’t be prouder to have been a part of his journey!

It’s stories like Bryant’s that remind us why we do what we do—because sometimes, a simple photo can inspire something amazing.

Kelsey SchmidtOctober 1, 2024