Buckle up, because we’re about to tell you the story of how we went from wedding crashers (almost!) to photo booth superstars.
Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to Sheena Ingraham and Shea McFarland, the owners of Prop-A-Razzi Photo Booths based in Richardson, Texas. They have been among my favorite customers for over 12 years!
-Steve
What's your story? Tell us about your business.
Our friendship formed 25 years ago while working at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in Carrollton, Texas. Our photo booth business started back in Dallas a dozen years ago when Sheena was knee-deep in planning her wedding. We were checking out venues, and let me tell you, the DIY photo booth situation was a disaster zone. With our background in photography, one look at those sad setups made us realize we could do much better. That's how the research rabbit hole began!
Our first gig was actually a family member's wedding. Armed with Darkroom Core software (a total game-changer), we created an epic photo booth experience that blew everyone away. We knew then that this wasn't just a wedding favor; it was a calling!
So we went all in, investing in top-notch equipment, printers, even more Darkroom software, and of course, a mountain of fun props. We started with those classic road case open-air booths – heavy beasts, let me tell you! We lugged them around town for years before upgrading to the sleek, modern booths you see today. Fast forward to now, and our collection boasts 18 photo booths, four 360 Booths (both on the ground and overhead), and a squad of 6 iPad booths ready to capture memories.
But here's the secret: it's not just the fancy equipment. Our background in restaurant management taught us the art of community connection, team building, and making every guest feel like a million bucks. That's why we consider our team to be the biggest investment. They're the heart and soul of our company, and we empower them to shine. We operate with a "mission critical" mentality – every event is a chance to make magic happen, and you get it right the first time.
And that's what our clients love about us. We don't just provide a service; we create experiences. We work hand-in-hand with them to bring their vision to life, sweating the details so they can relax and have fun. From the moment they book to the last happy snap, we're there to make sure the event is unforgettable.
Tell us about a particular event you’re proud of.
You know how much we Texans love country music, right? So having our photo booths be part of the ACM Awards in Frisco for the last two years was a huge win for us.
Visit Our Instagram Page to Get a Look at Our Events
We got to set up half our photo booths and 360's all over town, capturing once-in-a-lifetime memories for fans and country music stars alike. From the glitzy VIP shindigs to the launch parties and merch booths, we saw it all! It was a true Texas-sized celebration of country music, and we were proud to be a part of it.
How has working with Imaging Spectrum and Darkroom affected your business?
Imagine walking into a photo booth paradise – that's what Imaging Spectrum and Darkroom Software are for us! They've been there since day one, back when we were newbies with a million questions. Laura at the front desk 12 years ago was an absolute lifesaver; she patiently answered every single one of our questions.
Fast forward to today, we still rely on their amazing team. Bill's a walking encyclopedia of photo booth/photography knowledge, Steve's got the friendliest personality and lightning-fast response times, and Wally and Eugene have been there for us through thick and thin, even when we've called in a full-blown panic (don't worry, it's all under control now!). The whole Darkroom Software and Imaging Spectrum crew truly care about our success, and they're a huge reason we're still rocking the photo booth scene!
What printers and software do you use?
We use Darkroom Core, Darkroom Booth, and Darkroom Booth for iPad. As far as printers go, we started with the Sinfonia CS2. We now have over 18 DNP DS40’s, and DNP 620A printers.
What else would you like readers to know about your business?
Don't get us wrong, we love rocking massive events across Texas and beyond! But at the heart of it all, we're a down-to-earth team who believes that fun is contagious. When we're having a blast setting up the perfect photo experience, that energy rubs off on our guests, and that's what makes it truly special.
Speaking of sharing the love, we're big believers in collaboration, not competition. We've actually helped launch over 10 different photo booth businesses in DFW, and guess what? We still send clients their way! Shea and I know there's enough fun to go around in this world, and seeing the joy photo booths bring is what really gets us going. After all, isn't it a beautiful thing when your career and passion become one big, happy party?
