6. How a Photo Booth Side Hustle Turned Into Fully Booked Weekends

What started as a single idea and about $3,000, turned into a fully booked rental business.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Amberlyn Richie built a photo booth side hustle from scratch while working a full-time job and raising a family.
After spotting a gap in her small-town market, she took action, landed her first event, and quickly found herself booked nearly every weekend.

We talk through how the business actually works—from 360 booths to selfie booths, digital vs print, and what it takes to run events without burning out. Amberlyn also shares what she’s learned about pricing, managing multiple bookings, and why staying in smaller markets can be a major advantage.

If you’re looking for a rental idea that works in real life—not just online—this episode will give you a clear starting point.

In This Episode:

• How she started with one 360 photo booth
• Getting fully booked through word of mouth
• 360 booths vs selfie booths (what’s the difference)
• Digital vs print rentals (and what customers actually want)
• Pricing, time minimums, and event structure
• Managing multiple rentals with a small team
• Lessons from early mistakes and upgrades
• Why small towns can be better than big cities

🛠️ Resources & Mentions:

• Canva (for templates and overlays)
• Photo booth event software platforms
• TikTok (for learning and marketing ideas)
• YouTube (learning setup and operations)

👤 Connect with Amberlyn:

• Website: Richie 360 Photo Booth Rentals | https://www.richie360photoboothrentals.com/
• Social: Richie Photo Booth Rentals (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)