Love Stories: Pop Shop Photo Booth

By Kate Devine

Duo Sara McDermott and Chris Shashaty have a great time running the best photo booth around, Pop Shop Photobooth. They'll be at our Valentine's Market ready to snap a perfect take away photo strip of you and your loved ones! 

When did you meet and what brought you two together? 
We met in high school but did not start dating until after graduating from college. We dated for three weeks and moved out to California together on January 25th, 5 years ago.

What was it like deciding to start your business together?
I (Sara) moved back to New Jersey for graduate school, Chris was on tour with the Jonas Brothers as their photographer, and traveling to National Parks while living in his RV, a 1977 Toyota Chinook. The Photo Booth was started as a side gig for fun and extra money. 
I asked Chris, "won't you come home and live in New Jersey with me?" So he did, and we decided to get this little business started for real. Things started to pick up, I put graduate school on hold and here we are! 

What is your favorite part about working with your partner?
We laugh our butts off. We laugh at each other, we laugh at people taking pictures, it never stops. While building a business comes with it's challenges, we have grown as a couple thanks to this endeavor. We have learned to better listen to each other and to work as a team in all situations. We are better at compromise and trusting each other's gut decisions. We're more on the same wavelength now than ever before. 

What will you be offering at the Valentine's Market?
We're always so buried in our phones planning ahead or posting about the past. Come enjoy the moment with a photo experience! Take photos with your loved one or sweetheart at Pop Shop Photo Booth! We provide a handmade backdrop, authentic vintage props and your photo prints in just a few seconds, but it  will surely last a lifetime. A great way to remember a sweet afternoon at Asbury Park Bazaar's Valentine's Market.