The business offers themed props, backdrops and a social media kiosk for events.[/caption]With a goal to bring their family closer together, Keith and Amy Thomas sold their home in March 2015 and left their full-time jobs by July to focus on making their side business, Celebri-T’s Photobooths Inc., a primary venture.
“We were trying to figure out what we wanted to do,” Keith said. “We had a photo booth at our wedding, and it was a big hit. One thing we noticed about it was the attendant working the booth didn’t really engage with anyone—she just sat in the back. We thought that could be improved upon.”
After getting married in 2012, the couple began researching the photo booth industry and gathering materials to build their own booth in 2013. Since shifting to the full-time venture last summer, Celebri-T’s Photobooths has seen a surge in business in the Tomball, Magnolia, Spring and The Woodlands areas primarily through word-of-mouth referrals, Keith said.
The mobile business allows customers to rent indoor and outdoor photo booths for a variety of events, including birthday parties, business gatherings, weddings, and city and community festivals, such as the Texas Wine Fest in Tomball. In addition to the photo booth, customers have access to a variety of themed props and backdrops as well as a kiosk to share photos via email and social media.
“We have an open-air photo booth, and it creates a different type of culture within the party,” Amy said. “Once you see somebody go up and take a picture, you say, ‘They are having fun and laughing over there. Let me go check it out.’”
In December, Celebri-T’s Photobooths provided services for 15 events and plans to grow the business to serve about 20 events each month, Keith said. The couple’s focus on customer service helps make the business stand out from others in the Tomball community, Amy said.
“We take pride in what we do,” she said. “I don’t think there’s anything in life that I’ve ever done that I don’t put my whole world into, and [Keith is] the same way. It doesn’t matter if you are booking us for two hours for a 20-person party; I would treat you the same as if you invited me to a 500-guest wedding.”
Despite the learning curves in starting a new business, the Thomases said they are thankful for flexibility in their work schedule to spend more time with their two children. As the business grows, Keith and Amy plan to offer more photo booths for customers, hire other employees to help operate events and develop their own style of photo booths and products to sell online.
“We see all kinds of things, and we get to talk to a lot of different people,” Keith said. “Just seeing people smile and laugh and have a good time is great. It’s rewarding that the service we are offering is providing an outlet for some enjoyable stuff.”
Customers can reserve photo booths for a variety of events in the Tomball area.[/caption]Primarily services the Tomball, Magnolia, Spring and The Woodlands areas with some special events in other areas, such as League City, Kingwood and Galveston.
713-870-1448
www.celebri-tsphotobooths.com
www.facebook.com/celebritsphotobooths
Hours: Sunday–Saturday
(times vary by appointments and reservations)
