Reviewed by: Amelia Pilgrim
Only analog photobooth in Huntsville + how it ended up here 5 years ago
Reading time: 6 minutes
I have a personal rule: “never skip a photobooth pic!” And trust me—nothing beats a real, authentic film photo strip.
Lucky for me (and everyone in North AL), Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment is home to one of the country’s only remaining analog photobooths—and the only one in Huntsville. This July marks its fifth year capturing memories in Lowe Mill!
Keep reading to learn more about where the photobooth came from and the community behind it.👇
🎞️ All about the photobooth
The only analog photobooth in Huntsville + where it came from
Before permanently residing in Huntsville, Alabama, the photobooth was purchased by owner Breanna Conley-Saxon from a gentleman in New York. Bre is behind Autophoto, the woman-run business dedicated to preserving the art and craft of the photobooth since 2009.
- Fun fact: 2025 marked 100 years since the debut of the first analog photobooth!
The fully operating Model 17C analog photo booth is believed to have been built in the 1980s.
Though this booth was originally made for color film, it has been retrofitted and refurbished to be a black and white analog photo booth. A unique feature of this particular booth? It’s wood-wrapped, a rare and striking detail that makes it stand out (and incredibly heavy).
- 📍 Where: Lowe Mill 1st floor, across from Poftà Bunà International Cafe
- ⏰ When: Wednesday-Saturday 11AM-7PM
- 💵 How much: $5/cash, $7/card
When you pay for a photostrip, you’re supporting a small business and keeping the art of the analog photobooth alive.
“When you support the photobooth, you are supporting one of the tiniest businesses that exists because it’s such a small footprint—not only as a booth, but as the community itself is pretty unique and small.”
Ashley Vaughn, photobooth operator + owner of White Rabbit Studios + co-owner of Vertical House Records
Operated by local photographer, Ashley Vaughn
Bre approached long-time friend and photographer, Ashley Vaughn, to run the photobooth in Huntsville.
“Bre operates 50 booths across the United States. She hires techs in different cities where she puts the booths. So when she asked me if I would I be interested in operating a booth, I could not say yes fast enough.”
Ashley Vaughn, photobooth operator + owner of White Rabbit Studios + co-owner of Vertical House Records
Ashley didn’t just stumble into operating a photo booth. She has a deep love for photography and extremely impressive knowledge about photography and everything film. Ashley took her experience in traditional darkrooms and applied it to the booth’s unique, chemical-based process.
“It’s like taking everything I’ve learned and putting it into a tiny little booth.”
Ashley Vaughn, photobooth operator + owner of White Rabbit Studios + co-owner of Vertical House Records
Her love for photography runs deep—her father was a photographer who taught her the ropes, and that passion only grew as she explored darkroom photography in high school. Today, Ashley is an amazing photographer also known by her creative studio, White Rabbit Studios. She and her husband also own Vertical House Records, which is located at Lowe Mill with White Rabbit Studios.
Analog vs digital: How the photobooth works
This isn’t your modern, digital selfie kiosk. The booth at Lowe Mill is fully analog, meaning each photo strip is chemically developed inside the booth itself—no screen previews, no retakes.
“I love the way it captures light, because that is the most important thing with photography. The way each film stock has its own way of capturing the light, color and tone is different when you compare it.
Or, when you put it with a different camera body or a lens, you have an unending amount of experimentation. Film can create some unique pieces and memories that are literally stored in emulsions and just not in thin air.
I think because I grew up in a time where digital wasn’t an option, the magic was there of having to wait and see what the memories are and watch the development process. It’s just such a hands-on process that it just connects you with the art a little bit more.
I think digital is awesome and is easy and approachable for people to learn photography. However, there’s just nothing like the experience of film.”
Ashley Vaughn, photobooth operator + owner of White Rabbit Studios + co-owner of Vertical House Records
So, what exactly happens during that magical five-minute photobooth experience?
The photobooth process
- Insert $5 cash or $7 by card
- Take your seat + align your eyes with the booth’s lens (pro tip: adjust the stool!)
- Pose for four individual flashes—each one captures a unique image
- The exposed paper is cut + fed into a mechanical “spider” that swings it through:
- Water bath
- Developer
- Water
- Bleach
- Water
- Clearing powder
- Water
- Toner
- More water
- A built-in hairdryer dries the strip at the end
- Voilà: a one-of-a-kind photo strip, ready to cherish
Ashley maintains the booth meticulously. She runs weekly test strips to ensure perfect chemistry. If the images start to seem sepia, it’s time for a two-hour chemistry change. She also swaps the photo paper roughly every 800 strips.
Celebrate the booth’s 5th birthday!
This summer marks five years since the analog booth arrived at Lowe Mill, and Ashley is celebrating by putting a giant party hat on the booth and a special sparkly backdrop all July.
Ashley’s photobooth tips
- Read the booth: Find the eye line + make sure you’re centered
- Adjust the stool: Small height tweaks can make a big difference
- Plan your poses: You get four shots—make them count
- Bring friends: Share the experience with someone
- Have fun: It’s not just a photo—it’s a moment in time
For Ashley, the booth is more than a machine—it’s a vessel for memories.
She’s seen everything from proposals to baby announcements happen in that little space. And it’s true—some visitors even return monthly for updated portraits, turning a $5 strip into a treasured tradition.
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