Photobooth

We got a couples package for photos at this place as a wedding gift. When we went to their website to make an appointment we discovered that they were getting ready to close their shop for good. This should have been a warning that they do not run their business well, but my favorite cupcake shop went out of business a few months ago through no apparent fault of their own, so I was willing to give this place the benefit of assuming the same of them.
We made an appointment for a Wednesday afternoon since every single weekend appointment for the rest of their existence was already full. I took this as a good sign. When we got there a friendly man greeted us and asked us if we would like some beers (plus 2 stars fot that gesture), unfortunately they were out (minus 1 star) but he offered to run to the store. We took him up on our and he returned with some cold PBR’s. Right away we did our individual portraits. The girl gave us absolutely no direction other than to sit in the chair and look to the side. My husband wanted to have is «good side» photographed, but the girl refused his request to switch sides because I had already done that side. This was a blow to his confidence but she assured him that in the joint photos he could face the other way. For the joint photos we also got little direction and we had to wait so long to take the photo that we both ended up making insane looking contorted faces. After the photos were done being taken she brought us into the dark room to watch her process the pictures. That was pretty cool (plus 1 star). As the images appeared though my husband’s excitement turned to disappointment. He hated how he looked in every single one and he is usually quite photogenic and loves to ham it up, so it isn’t just a case of an insecure person who hates how they look in general. I didn’t look great in the pictures either, but I expected to look a little funky after seeing their sample pictures. Max on the other hand looked like a murderer or an escaped mental patient (minus 1 star). Max complained and they let us redo our photo one time (plus 1 star) but unfortunately the re-​do came out worse than the original. Oh well, both of our individual pictures came out decent so we decided to cut our losses and stop complaining.
This experience made me realize that people were probably much more attractive in the past than we give them credit for! There is pretty much no way to look pretty in a tin print!

Great place, which, unfortunately has CLOSED AS OF MARCH 31.

Had an appointment as part of our vacation trip. Paid a deposit. Drove all the way to SF and the photographer didn’t show up. Didn’t call. Didn’t answer his phone. Store was locked up tight. We left 20 min later.

Chouette magasin sur Valencia, croisement de boutique de photographe et de galerie d’exposition de photo. J’aime beaucoup la série de photos genre cadavre exquis, où deux photographes utilisent successivement la même pellicule argentique sans que le second sache ce que le premier a fait, aboutissant ainsi à une superposition aussi aléatoire que poétique.
Encore un endroit dans le quartier où on rentre pour le plaisir, et non pour la nécessité d’acheter quelque chose !

Yes there are lots of hipsters. Yes people still do use film.
If you are not turned off by either of the above and are a fan of analogue, you should visit. They have openings and special events that are open to the public where beer is typically provided. This is not when you should check the place out for the first time. The place gets packed and you can’t actually see any of the goods.
The tin type pictures are beautiful and pricey. Make an appointment and let them know how many are in the party in advance. Also, something you don’t want to do here on a Friday or Saturday night. Mid-​day weekend or weekday is a better bet.
You can get film, plastic cameras, polaroid, impossible project, camera accessories and photography paraphernalia here. There are also plenty of examples on the wall of what pretty things you can do with film. They also have workshops for those interested in tinkering. Overall a good resource in a digital world.

Very current, fun spot that any photographer or hipster will appreciate.
Come here to pick up a fun camera for your vacation or perhaps a bag to stick your vintage 35 mm into.

All parties require a photo booth these days, if you don’t have one it’s a major party foul. These guys have a very interesting twist on the concept, they do authentic old time-​y prints on tin. It’s not cheap (about $ 60 for a fairly small print and up), but it’s quite novel. I’m thinking of using them for an upcoming event. Will update my review if/​when I do!

Really important photography project and the photographer doesnt show. These things happen but the manager not calling bk to work a resolution is pretty unforgivable.
Have to say, nice idea, ut if u have a deadline dont come here.

Photobooth promised a juried exhibition back in March of 2013. A number of people submitted work. Winners were chosen. Then Photobooth sat on their thumbs. For months. Apparently the main exhibitor was having trouble getting his work in on time. Come October 2013 Photobooth cancels the show altogether, apparently because of scheduling problems. Other stuff is just more important. It’s a big f-​you to the artists who contributed and waited patiently. It’s a kind of unprofessionalism I’ve never witnessed before. Worst of all it’s being committed on artists by other professed artists. They should know better. They should find the time to host a show they had been promising for eight months.
I used to buy certain films at Photobooth despite the insane mark up just to support local business and the film community as a whole. Those days are at an end. Respect needs to be mutual, guys.

I’m kind of obsessed with this place.
As a professional photographer, I was a little cynical walking in, thinking this was yet another all hype-​no-​substance-​mission hipster spot, but I wanted to look at a Polaroid land camera and I’d heard this was the place.
I ended up spending over an hour at this lovely gem. Nathan helped me, and I can’t say enough good things about him, I had a ton of questions, some really techie, and some that really showed my lack of knowledge on the land camera. Nathan answered all my tech questions perfectly and didn’t make me feel goofy for asking the goofy questions. He was super patient in showing me how to use the camera, and talked me through how each camera was different. At times, the place got a little crowded, but I was not made to feel at all rushed.
My secret plan had been to purchase the camera on Ebay, but what with the 1 year warranty (What! on a 30 year old camera! That’s nuts! And Awesome!) and Nathan’s considerable knowledge I ended up purchasing the land camera from Photobooth, and I’m really glad I did! Even after I had made my purchase Nathan didn’t abandon me, he sat with me to be sure I knew how to load the film and how to clean the rollers.
I’m so wicked siked and I luurve my new camera!

Such an awesome place! I will definitely be going back. My sisters and I went in to take pictures for our Mother’s Day gift to our Mom and were pleasantly surprised. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating and offered us a beverage while we were waiting. Our photographer Kari was extremely nice and did a great job taking the picture, which was not as long as I expected. She did have to adjust the camera and get everything set up just right which takes some time, but this is an old technology and this is how it is done. The result is amazing! They even let us go into the processing room and watch as she developed the images. She explained the process to us and she checked to make sure everything turned out okay. We were on a time crunch and they were extremely flexible with our urgency. Great place, highly recommend!

My fiancé and I went to Photobooth for a couple portrait package ($ 300) with a lot of good will. It seems like a great concept, for the price we were sure we were going to get a professional experience, and we liked the idea of supporting a unique small business. Also, as a professional portrait photographer myself, I understand the value of a carefully crafted portrait.
Despite all the goodwill we walked in with on Saturday night, the experience had us walking out disappointed and even angry with how bad the experience was.
I’ll start by saying that the shop is clean, hip, and fun to browse. The three staff on duty were all friendly and polite. However, any random tourist off the street can get that experience for free. We were paying hundreds of dollars for a portrait experience, and that is where Photobooth fell far short.
Our photographer, Carrie, came out and said to relax and «get prepared», but then didn’t tell us what we were preparing for. As a photographer myself, I’m acutely aware that the studio portrait experience – with all the lights and camera – is unusual for most people, and benefits from some introductory words of explanation. This is even more important when doing a 200-​year-​old tintype process that involves huge lights, holding still for several minutes, and a camera so big you can’t see the photographer standing behind it. We got nothing from Carrie, and she also missed an opportunity to get to know us and what we were looking for.
Once we got started, Carrie made the classic amateur mistake of treating us like a still-​life, while she fiddled with the camera and light. There were long periods of silence anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds at a time where she would tell us to sit still and then proceed to adjust equipment. All the while, we had no idea if the picture was about to be taken, or if she had many more adjustments left to do. All this laid the foundation for being very stiff and uncomfortable — not what you want as your portrait is being taken! When she did speak up with a comment or some direction, it was often mumbled and confusing, with no energy and engagement. All of this added up to an impression that she either has very little experience with, or doesn’t enjoy photographing people.
There are lots of areas of photography where someone can get away with bad people skills – landscape, architecture, product. But not portraiture! People skills are very, very hard (especially while operating the camera and lights at the same time). But the few folks who charge $ 300+ for a portrait should be the people who have that skill.
My standards may be high because I am a portrait photographer myself, but Carrie’s lack of basic people skills and lack of ability to keep engaged with her subject while she was fiddling with the gear was appalling. My fiancé, who is a non-​photographer was equally (or more) appalled, and commented several times how uncomfortable Carrie was making her.
In addition to the lack of people skills, Carrie seemed to be missing the basic concept that she was providing a SERVICE. Yes, there was a product that we went home with at the end of the shoot. And Carrie was very focused when prepping, shooting and developing the plates. But what we were paying $ 300 an hour for was to be treated well, put at ease, and involved in the unique tintype experience.
Carrie was a very competent technician – fast plate preparation, quality plates, good composition and exposure, etc. But she was only that. A technician. There was no point in the whole experience where my fiancé or I felt like we were being handled by a photographer.
Carrie was nice and polite, and as I said was a good technician. But she scored zero stars as a photographer. In my opinion, this is totally unacceptable. A retail business cannot charge $ 300 for a service and offer anything less than a pleasant and professional experience.
I give the finished tintypes 3 Stars. Acceptable.
I give the experience Zero Stars. Unacceptable.
So after walking in the door with a huge amount of goodwill, I actually have to say that I wouldn’t ever go back, even at half the price. And I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to others. Disappointing.

I bought my man a tintype portrait for Christmas, and I bought another one for me. I wish the couples package wasn’t so expensive, or I would have sprung for that. But we don’t need 4 photos of us for several hundred dollars. I would have liked just one or two of the both of us. But that isn’t possible to do due to time spent to calibrate the setup for 2 people vs 1. :(
Even though I was bummed out about this, everyone there was really great. They even offered us beers (it was PBR — Mission special! ;)). I also liked that we could go in the developing room and see the process happen — super cool! The shop also has interesting stuff and photos all around to check out as you’re waiting for various things to happen.
My man turned out looking amazing in his photo, but me less so. I don’t really blame the photographers for that though… I usually don’t like posed pictures of myself. I generally am a more candid type girl.
If you are a vintage hound or photo nut, this is a must-​do.

Getting our tintype on. Be prepared to be impressed and shocked at meeting the 1800s version of yourself.
My husband is a professional photographer and we made our trip to SF *almost* for the sole purpose of getting this very special portraiture taken of us.
If you aren’t familiar with the tintype process… well…it’s just awesome. Michael was wonderful and took as much time as he needed to get the right light composition– as seasoned photographers, we appreciated it.
These are wonderful keepsakes we will treasure always… and will be coming back for more!

This is a review of the tintypes.
It was a surprise for me/​us from my honey. It is an understatement to say that photography is an interest of his. A tintype was a natural choice for him for a couples portrait. I thought it was a wonderful and thoughtful surprise. He decided on the couples package because it’s the only way that you can get a tintype of a couple: $ 300 for two individual portraits and two couples portraits. It’s a business, it’s their call, but in our case we would have been happy to pay $ 300 for 3 couples portraits, or a premium for a couples portrait.
From the portrait sitting which included four tintypes, we got two good tintypes: one couples portrait, and my honey’s tintype.
There were some things that I wish had gone differently, one I will take responsibility for, but the other I will not. If I did it again:
I would not have worn any makeup (exceptions, eyeliner… and maybe a darker lipstick). I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I do wear makeup. Makeup looks like a layer on your face. In a tintype all of those freckles and ‘imperfections’ are what make the image. Totally my responsibility.
In our case, I wish that I had not left myself in the photographer’s hands, and trusted my gut. But this isn’t my gig, I’m not a photographer. The novelty is the tintype, however, these are portrait sittings, and I left our portraits in the hands of the photog as a portrait should be. Really, you have no idea how you look. So someone has to position you and ‘style’ you. The result was literally one of the worst photos I have ever taken, and a silly couples portrait that wasn’t supposed to be silly.
My honey had to pay $ 75 (an average $ ³⁰⁰⁄₄) for the WORST picture of me EVER. You can’t just tear it up, it’s made out of f-​ing metal, and it’s hard to throw $ 75 in the garbage. Literally, I almost laughed out loud when it went in the case to dry and we took a look. Then I wanted to ask them to toss it and cry, because you want to look your best, at the very least… not your worst. Now no one is allowed to see it, except me, but I don’t really want to see it. In a few weeks, when I feel like I can really laugh about how bad the tintype is, then maybe we’ll bust it out for a laugh, but for now, it’s hiding.
Our second couples portrait we were told to smile shortly before the picture, and the result was a terrible picture of us, we both looked like total d-​bags. A bummer, because we were going to keep it serious. The last minute ‘smile’ is great when it’s not $ 75 a plate.
Everyone at the store was nice. Even though 2 out of 4, for one-​shot pictures, is pretty good, I just couldn’t bring myself to give this place 4stars for the reasons I listed above.
*** A follow up… the owner contacted me… +1 star, thank you for the follow up!!! ***

Anytime you can randomly walk into a store and be treated to instant, affable customer service by someone (bless you, Nathan, you rock) who is clearly passionate about what they do, it’s a treat. To have someone then spend the next 15 minutes telling you about his process, showing you around the store and giving you samples to look at with an absolutely no pressure to buy is simply the best.
Was in town for a quick visit and stopped by Photobooth because it looked interesting. After viewing the tintype samples, I’m convinced that I want one. I’m also convinced that this store is exceptional.
Whether you’re in the neighborhood or not, this store is worth coming to for a unique and special type of keepsake, or to stock up on your filmic needs.
And you can trust me on this one; I’m an Elite. ;)

After a lot of Pinot and several small plates at Beretta my out of town friend and I stumbled down Valencia and into Photobooth.
In my tipsy stupor I just had to have a photo of myself on Tin Type! I was curious to see an 1800’s version of myself.
The gal taking the photos was great — patient, meticulous. The first one of me didn’t come out great — I was wearing a cap and it ended up looking like I had a black mushroom on my head, so she re-​shot.
Before she snaps she had me tip my chin up or down, move slightly to one side or another, more adjusting of my head and face. .. then finally the moment comes! SNAP!
Watching it develop is part of the fun. Another person carefully put it in a black protective sleeve.
I’m absolutely going back. Next time (and more Pinot) I’ll spring for a $ 200 Japanese version of an old Polaroid. I have a friend who’s a cowgirl and I’m dragging her in here with her cowgirl shirt on — she’ll look so Annie Oakley I can hardly stand it.

I heart Vince! I met Vince in July, and when he told me about the space he was opening, I asked if he planned on allowing event bookings. I had my 30^th BDay party at PhotoBooth in late October, and it was incredibly fun. Me and quite a few of my friends got our TinTypes done, and it is generally agreed that this is the best photo of me ever taken.
I also bought this great Star Wars-​esque mini Polaroid camera, and flashed about 100 shots that night. It was a great kitschy was to remember the night.

As another reviewer noted, Photobooth is the kind of place that makes you glad to live in San Francisco. It could be too precious, as I am finding much about the Valencia Hipster Corridors & Environs to be. Maybe it even teeters on the brink. Nah.
Photobooth is part museum, part revival of mediums and apparatus of yesteryear (Poloroid is dead! Long live Poloroid!), part gallery, part retail, part portrait studio. They are warm and welcoming and the space is beautiful. The tintype portraits are stunning, and I intend to get one soon.

They cannot take pictures of people together unless you talk to them beforehand and make it a special order.
KNOW THIS.
It’s an one hour session for $ 450 if you wanna go more than one person in a shot.

Photography and film are a dying discipline. Im not talking about whipping out your phone recording some video and taking a snapshot. Im talking about the act of capturing images in chemical form, learning how to take in light, how to develop film and in the end creating a print by hand with an enlarger. Even as someone who deals with high tech day in and day out, I used to teach photo/​film back in the day, and my main camera relies on technology of the 1800s. The images are upside down, you throw a sheet over your head to cut out the bright light, and the rig weighs about 50 lbs. I have a Brownie, a Holga, and some of the newer tech being various polaroids. It’s funny with all this digital shit floating around, people use things like Instagram to make things look «artsy» and «vintage» but are they really aware of what those processes are? Probably not
Photobooth represents a bridge to the past. Tintype and polaroid portraits are mostly lost techniques now, however the brilliance of their imagery is timeless. They also provide hard to get film here as well as cameras like the Diana. It’s cool to see the folks here expressing their love of the craft and extending the life of its history. Do yourself a favor, go to the MOMA and look at the history in the permanent photo collection. Then come here and get your hands on some of the materials that are required to give yourself a personal lesson on historic photography.