Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Gulley.
Gary, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I took a position with Auto Photo Systems, the patent holder of the classic chemical photobooth, in May 1994, right after the company relocated to DFW from Southern California. My job was to find profitable locations and negotiate leases for coin-operated photobooths in Shopping Malls, Theaters, Bars, Bowling Alleys, etc. across the US. Soon after starting, I took a call from “In Style” Magazine wanting to list APS in their annual Bridal Issue. At the time, I did not understand why but told them to proceed. No one had photo booths at their weddings or special events in the mid-1990s. Within a couple of years, the photo booth rental part of APS became a very profitable part of our business.
In 2005, I left Photo Me USA (Formerly Auto Photo Systems) to start what would become Texas Photobooth Company, a Photobooth Rental Company based in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road, but it has been very entertaining. Early on, it was very difficult to convince people that they needed a photobooth for their function. It also seemed to be a greater issue convincing people in Dallas-Fort Worth that they needed a photobooth for their wedding or special event than in Houston. I still believe that there are more and larger events in the Houston area than in DFW!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Texas Photobooth Company – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We have been in the photo booth industry in Texas longer than most. Most of our business life we operated enclosed photo booths. These are the ones that many people may recall from the old Five & Dime stores like Woolworth’s or HL Greens where you get in, set down and pull the curtains closed for a private photo with your sweetie! This was back in the day when I did not have to explain what kind of photobooth I operated. Everybody had a mental image of what a photo booth looked like! Today, there are many things being called photobooths, so I am constantly explaining that I now operate “Open Air” photobooths!
Today, I operate two very different “Open Air” Photobooths. “Open Air” means that you stand in front of it as opposed to getting inside. The big advantage is that you can get more people in the photo!
Our premium photobooth is called the “Texas Mirror” Photobooth. This is probably the Hottest Photobooth in the world. A real Jaw Dropper! This unit will print the photos and allows the user to text the photos to multiple phone numbers!
Our newest photo booth is the “Texas GIF ” Booth! I purchased four of these in 2018! This one offers up to four very different experiences…. they can do single photos, GIF Photos, Boomerangs and/or Digital Prop photos and allows the user to text or email the photos! These are also attractive to companies who have aggressive digital marketing programs as they collect phone numbers and emails!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
No huge changes planned at the moment other than trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology which is constantly changing in the photo industry. A few of the things that may be in our future are Live Slide Shows, Green screen Photos, and more creative uses of GIF’s, Boomerangs & Digital Props!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Texas-Photobooth.com
- Phone: (469) 853-9814 or Toll Free (844) PHOTOBOOTH (746-8626)
- Email: info@Texas-Photobooth.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/texasphotobooth
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/TexasPhotobooth
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
