Meet the booth pro
Monica Gunderlock
Half a decade in our industry and a list of celebrity clients that Vogue would be jealous of, Monica Gunderlock keeps herself and her boothing talents under the radar.
One thing that really stands out for me, Monica is such an advocate for supporting each other, learning from each other and making our entire industry better.
So, I decided it was time she started to shout about it!
Name: Monica Gunderlock
Business Name: Strike a Pose Atlanta
How long have you been in business: 5 Years
Favorite Software: I am not a “favorites” kind of person. Ask me tomorrow and my answer might be different. I can say that I love my Lumia M. I hear “that’s the coolest photo booth I’ve ever seen” whenever I take it out. There are a few new booths out there I have my eye on though…
What is your favourite software?
Again, not into “favorites”. I am most familiar with Darkroom Booth as that is what I have been working with since the inception of my business. This year I bought an iPad-based booth after swearing I would never… and I LOVE Snappic. I’ve also done a few Head Shots Booths with Photo Party Upload and from what I see, they have a whole lot of incredible features as well and now that I’ve secured my Mastermind Tickets for February, I am going to experience Curator’s software, and I am excited about that as well.
Tell us about the best event you ever did?
Are you seriously asking me to pick another favorite!?! Haha! I’ve have had a lot of really cool things come my way, from working with Netflix and Stranger Things to professional athletes/teams and celebrities but maybe my most exciting event landed me in New York City. I had the opportunity to work with Dave Chappelle last year here in Atlanta. To do it I had to cancel Thanksgiving travel to see my family… but they were totally cool with it… it was Dave F*CK!NG Chappelle! We did a photo booth for guests before the show started then moved the booth backstage for the VIP afterparty. In between we got to watch the show and I got to see Usher perform just a few feet away. I might have cried- I love him! Around midnight Chappelle’s team asked if I knew anyone in NYC who had the same gear (they love that booth, I tell ya) and would be able to provide the same service the next night. I told them I’d do it and hopped on a plane at 6am. With the help of the Photo Booth Community, I found Rob Burgos and brought him in to work with me- flying with gear can be tricky. The night was fantastic. The VIP room was filled with all the SNL comedians and celebrities. His team once again asked if we could go on to Washington, DC the next night. Since my family was on their way to meet me in NYC for a spontaneous family trip, I gave the booking over to Kimson Bui- if you’re reading this, you still owe me a drink!
You weren’t looking for a one sentence answer were you?
Your 3 Tips for success in the photo booth industry:
#1
INVEST IN YOURSELF
Make yourself a little better every day. The industry is ever evolving, and you should be too.
LEARN FROM EVERYONE
Read the posts and responses when people are having difficulty with something. You may experience the same in the future and you’ll have the knowledge and tools to troubleshoot much faster. The search bar can be a lifesaver.
NETWORK WITH YOUR PEERS
Get to know other photo booth owners in your area. You never know when you might need someone to save your ass or vice versa. White labelling each other is so helpful and you’ll have peace of mind personally knowing the person you are sending to your event. Shout out to Oky Arthur for being a rockstar at this! She saved my ass with media 5 years ago and we been friends since.
Follow Monica and her latest work on Instagram