When Heather and Adam Knauf decided they wanted to pursue a photo booth business, the decision was a natural one. "I’ve always had a love for photography, but I knew traditional photography, with all the hours of editing wasn’t the path for me," says Heather. "I wanted something more interactive and fun. That’s when the idea of a photo booth really clicked. Adam had photography experience but was pursuing his dream of woodworking when I first brought up the idea. It was the perfect blend of both our skills: creativity, design, and capturing moments in a unique way."
The concept behind it was inspired by the couple's own wedding. "I knew I wanted a photo booth at our reception, but quickly realized short notice and limited options available were either out of our budget or just didn’t feel unique enough," says Heather. "That’s really when my wheels started turning about starting a business."
As with photos, Heather says she always loved the idea of taking something nostalgic and giving it a modern twist. "That’s how we found Georgia, our pink and white vintage camper," she says. "The moment I saw her, I knew this was really going to happen. We officially launched InstaBurst Photos in January 2020, completely unaware of the wild ride we were about to go on. By that spring, we had a wedding booked and the couple asked if we had an indoor option. That request led to our Open Air booth and our first four backdrops. Since then we’ve expanded to over 20 unique options, each with its own vibe and style."
"Then came the Pilgrimage Festival," continues Heather. "Georgia was already booked, which opened the door for Adam to chase his dream, restoring a VW bus. We found Jasper in February 2021, and after six months of hard work, he made his debut at Pilgrimage 2021 in the Americana Music Triangle Tent. It was a blast, and now with three distinct booths, we’re able to offer something for every type of event."
In addition to all of the customizing the Knaufs can do for your event, including custom designing your photo overlay template with matching colors, fonts, logos, or theme, along with sending multiple mockups, there are several things that make them different from traditional photo booths. "Either Adam or I are on-site, running the booth and guiding guests every step of the way., says Heather. "You don’t have to worry if the booth is working. We're hands-on and fully present."
Heather adds, "We also offer on-the-spot printing, instant digital sharing via QR code (Wi-Fi dependent), and an online gallery delivered within 24 hours. It's fast, seamless, and designed to make your event unforgettable."
The Knaufs also aren't afraid to be challenged. "Transforming Jasper was definitely our biggest challenge but also one of our proudest moments," says Heather. "He started off cream-colored and covered in radio stickers. I changed my mind at least twice on the final color. I tried to save money and watch YouTube videos to learn how to reupholster the seats. Turns out to be a way bigger task than YouTube made it look. I quickly decided upholstering was meant for the professionals and took it in. The final touch was figuring out how to install a new backdrop inside the bus. I wanted something bold and fun, showing off that full 70’s vibe and that’s when I knew it had to be a shimmer wall."
InstaBurst is always seeking new ways to keep the photo booth experience fun and exciting. "We’re always dreaming up what’s next," says Heather. "Right now, our newest offering is the Audio Guestbook. It hasn’t even made it to the website yet. It’s a vintage style phone we bring to your event. Guests pick up the receiver, hear a short personalized message from you, then leave a voicemail after the beep. It’s an incredibly meaningful keepsake, especially as years pass. Hearing a loved one’s voice can bring so much joy." InstaBurstPhotos.com