Cynthia Gamboa shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Cynthia, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the biggest misconceptions about the photo booth industry is that it’s just about taking fun snapshots. In reality, it’s an experience-driven business that combines technology, entertainment, and branding. A well-executed photo booth is not only about creating memories but also about enhancing an event’s atmosphere, engaging guests, and in many cases, serving as a powerful marketing tool for businesses through branded content and social media sharing.
Another misunderstanding is that photo booths are all the same. At CamMi Photo Booth, we invest in professional-grade equipment, interactive features, and customized setups that align with each client’s vision. It’s this level of creativity and strategy that elevates a photo booth from a novelty to a centerpiece of connection and celebration. What we really do is help people and brands tell their story in a way that is memorable, shareable, and impactful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Cynthia, CEO and founder of CamMi Photo Booth, LLC. What started as a simple idea to bring more joy to celebrations has grown into an award-winning company recognized as a leader in the Chicagoland event market. For six consecutive years, we’ve proudly received The Knot’s Best of Weddings Award, which speaks to the trust our clients place in us to help make their events unforgettable.
What makes CamMi truly unique is that we’re not just about photo booths—we’re about creating immersive experiences. From 360 video booths to luxury balloon décor and branded backdrops, we blend creativity, technology, and personalization to ensure every event feels special and tailored.
Education is at the heart of everything we do. We invest heavily in our own learning, in training our team, and in advancing our software to stay ahead of industry trends. Beyond that, I’m committed to mentoring other entrepreneurs and uplifting our LatinX Photo Booth Community, which provides Spanish-language resources and support to professionals in this industry.
Right now, we’re excited about expanding our educational programming and building community at national conferences like PBX, while continuing to deliver innovative event experiences for both social and corporate clients. For us, the magic lies in the balance between fun and professionalism—helping people and brands tell their story in a way that is memorable, shareable, and impactful.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that the only path to success was to work hard, secure a stable job, and dedicate my life to climbing the ladder. That was the model I saw around me as an immigrant. My family worked diligently for better positions, but no one envisioned themselves as a CEO. In fact, the idea of becoming my own boss once scared my father. He even told me that pursuing small business ownership would be a waste of time, that it would not provide security, and that I should focus instead on finding a stable job.
Over time, I realized that true stability does not come from depending on someone else’s company. It comes from building and creating. I remember telling him, “The key is not to have a stable job; the key in life is to create stable jobs.” That belief fueled my journey to invest in myself, to hire myself, and to face the same level of difficulty that I would have faced in traditional employment, only now with the freedom to shape my own future.
Being an entrepreneur has opened doors I never imagined. It has given me the space to be creative, to build meaningful connections, and to empower others. The most beautiful part is that today, my father, who once doubted this path, is now working alongside me in the business. If you had told my younger self, or even my father, that this would be the outcome, neither of us would have believed it. Yet here we are, proof that courage and vision can rewrite the story we once thought we had to live.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, there was a time I almost gave up. Shortly after the world shut down in 2020, I was in tears and even bedridden for days. One by one, the clients we had booked began to call and cancel their events. In the years prior, my team and I had successfully completed well over 100 events annually, but in just one month, more than 30 events were cancelled. The uncertainty of those weeks was overwhelming, and for a moment, we wondered if our business would survive at all.
It was during those quiet, difficult moments that I discovered both connection and a new creative spark. For my daughter’s birthday, I built a simple balloon garland outside of our home. What began as a personal gesture of love quickly turned into a new service. We realized that even in the middle of a global pandemic, government restrictions, and shutdowns, people would always find a way to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and milestones.
From that one garland, a new chapter of our business was born. Today, we have created well over a thousand balloon garlands, bouquets, and arches for every type of occasion. What could have been the end of CamMi Photo Booth instead became the moment that reshaped us into a stronger, more versatile brand. Looking back, I am grateful for the pause. It forced us to innovate, to listen to what people truly needed, and to solidify our place in the Chicagoland market in an unmatched way.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value that I protect at all costs is the commitment to education. At CamMi Photo Booth, we believe that growth comes from continuous learning, and that principle touches every aspect of our business. We invest in our software and equipment to stay at the forefront of innovation, but we also invest in ourselves and our team so that the client experience is always elevated.
Education has been central to my personal journey as well. As an immigrant and a business owner, I understand how powerful it is to equip yourself with the right tools and knowledge. That belief drives me to mentor other entrepreneurs, build community through initiatives like the LatinX Photo Booth Community, and introduce Spanish-language education for professionals in our industry.
For us, education is not simply about staying competitive. It is about creating a culture of excellence, adaptability, and empowerment. By prioritizing learning, we ensure that every event we touch is not only memorable but also reflects the highest standard of creativity and professionalism.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I am gone is that I used my life to create opportunities for others. I want to be remembered as someone who did not just build a successful business, but who invested in people, in education, and in community. I hope people say that I encouraged them to dream bigger, to see themselves as leaders, and to believe that their stories and cultures mattered.
I want to be known as a woman who turned challenges into stepping stones, who wasn’t afraid to innovate when the world shifted, and who carried others with her along the way. Whether through CamMi Photo Booth, the LatinX Photo Booth Community, or the CUPS Bra Drive, my greatest hope is that my work showed people that celebration, connection, and empowerment are not luxuries—they are essential parts of life.
If the story told about me is that I left the world a little brighter, more inclusive, and more inspired than I found it, then I will have lived my purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cammiphotobooth.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cammiphotobooth/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cammi-photo-booth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cammiphotobooth
Image Credits
Photo Credit: CamMi Photo Booth, LLC
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