In 1925, New York City witnessed the birth of a fascinating invention by Anatol Josepho—the automated photo booth, originally known as a photomaton. Fast forward nearly a century, and you might be surprised to learn that only about 200 working analog photo booths are still around. But for a pair of New Yorkers, Zoë Lazerson and Brandon Minton, these booths represent more than just nostalgia; they’re a passion project breathing new life into a beloved snapshot of history.
Zoë Lazerson, 27, and her partner Brandon Minton, 25, have a shared curiosity for analog photo booths, especially after spotting them in Paris. Back in their hometown of New York, they wondered why these charming relics were so scarce. “It is the earliest selfie,” remarked Lazerson, underscoring the booth’s historical significance.
Their quest for an analog photo booth led them to St. Louis, where they secured one and endured a 30-hour journey to bring it home to Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The booth, aptly named “Old Friend,” has been capturing the hearts and moments of a younger generation, who are drawn to the unique experience of physical photographs.
On average, “Old Friend” processes between 400 and 700 photo strips daily, with each session costing $8. Lazerson noted, “We’ve had the line up to an hour and a half,” indicating the booth’s growing popularity. Meanwhile, patrons like Marlon, who visited the booth on a sunny winter’s day, appreciate the tangible mementos it provides.
While thriving as a business, maintaining “Old Friend” isn’t without challenges. Analog photo booths demand constant upkeep, with some parts no longer manufactured. This was echoed by Meags Fitzgerald, a 37-year-old photo booth historian, who is part of a small, dedicated community of about 50 individuals keeping these machines running. “It’s a 70-year-old technology in most cases, and the parts are brittle and can break,” Fitzgerald explained.
Fitzgerald shared how the advent of digital technology led many companies to replace analog booths with digital models, often discarding valuable knowledge about their maintenance. Some booths were modified to appear vintage while hiding digital innards; others were simply scrapped.
Bre Conley, a former wedding photographer and passionate owner of around 50 photo booths, understands this struggle well. With 20 booths currently in operation across seven states, she focuses on restoring the rest. Her mission is clear: “My whole goal was really to get as many booths as I could and put them in places where anybody could use them.”
The endeavor isn’t free from hurdles. Conley faced a significant supply issue when the Russia-Ukraine conflict halted shipments of the special paper required for these booths. Resourceful as ever, she reached out globally to find alternatives, ultimately discovering a brand that fit the bill, albeit requiring some manual cutting initially. With increased demand, the paper is now available in precut rolls.
For these enthusiasts, the analog photo booth is more than an antiquated piece of technology; it’s a vessel of personal memory and shared experience. “Photo booths capture time and a memory that they can cherish and keep forever,” Conley observed. Lazerson added, “You have a private moment with yourself where you go in with friends or family, and it’s that connectedness that I think people are seeking.”
As the analog photo booth celebrates its centennial, the efforts of devoted individuals like Zoë Lazerson, Brandon Minton, and Bre Conley ensure its legacy endures. These quirky machines continue to offer a tangible slice of nostalgia, connecting generations through the simple joy of a captured moment. The journey may not always be easy, but for those committed to preserving this art form, it’s undoubtedly worth it.
Source: Yahoo
