Ten Years of Snappic With Ryan Salinas: “Everything I Ever Wanted Came True”

Ten Years of Snappic With Ryan Salinas: “Everything I Ever Wanted Came True”

Ryan’s relationship with Snappic has always involved experimentation. Over the years, that has included putting photos on cookies, creating green screen 360 experiences and finding a way to make guests appear to breathe fire in a cinemagraph.

As he puts it, “Snappic works as fast as I can think.”

For Ryan, that flexibility means being able to follow an idea through, whether it takes an adaptable tool like VideoFX or a creative workaround. It’s a thread that runs through his work as an operator and the experience he shares with other members of the Snappic community. 

Today, Ryan is Creative Director at URBNEVENTS and Snappic’s Brand Ambassador. When we officially announced that role in February 2026, it recognised a relationship that already included years of teaching, creating workflows and representing Snappic at Photo Booth Expo. Along the way, he has continued running events, sharing what works and asking us for more.

For Snappic’s tenth birthday, we asked Ryan to look back at that relationship, the ideas that worked, the ones that probably shouldn’t have left the drawing board, and what he wants operators to think about next.

You’ve worked with Snappic in a lot of different ways over the years: as an operator, educator and now Brand Ambassador. How has your relationship with the platform evolved?

Snappic really has evolved with me and with the event industry as a whole. Snappic has always adapted to whatever the industry needed at the time, and usually fairly quickly. For example, during the pandemic, everyone needed a virtual booth solution, and Snappic was right there to give operators a way to serve our clients and still make money during a really stressful time for the world.

What do you remember about Snappic when you first started using it, and what initially made it stand out to you?

I remember I walked by the Snappic booth at PBX one year, back when I went by myself and nobody knew who I was. I was asking questions, and the answer to every single one of them at the time was, “Yes.” I am very much a tough critic, and Snappic was right there being able to meet all of my needs at the time.

Your work has always pushed beyond the traditional “photo booth” into more creative activations. How has Snappic helped you experiment with new ideas or build experiences you couldn’t have offered before?

One of the things I have always appreciated is that Snappic works as fast as I can think. The tool isn’t hindering me, it’s always helping me. There is always a way to achieve something, whether it be a workaround or a tool that is easily adaptable like VideoFX.

AI has changed the industry incredibly quickly. What has been most exciting to you about the way photo booth operators are using AI now, and where do you think we’re still only scratching the surface?

AI is rapidly changing not only our industry but the world. The thing that is very powerful to me is that right now AI is the worst it will ever be. It’s only going to get better. As AI gets smarter, I think it’s going to benefit us because client requests are almost always going to be accommodated now. We aren’t as limited by our tools. Clients will be able to give us outlandish requests that we’re going to be able to create much more easily.

You spend a lot of time teaching other photo booth operators. What do you think separates the operators who really grow successful businesses from those who get stuck?

I am reminded of an interview for an employee that I did a long time ago. I don’t remember the question we asked her, but I will never forget her answer. We asked something along the lines of what her work ethic was, and her response absolutely floored me and left me speechless. I’d never heard that answer from a candidate, especially one so young.

She said her goal was to never stop learning.

I’ve found that the operators who act like a sponge and absorb all of the information they can, regardless of how small the nugget of information is, will really grow the most. There are people who have been following me since my days of Super Boothers who are well over seven figures now. Those people have a common thread of never stopping learning.

What Snappic feature or update has had the biggest impact on the way you work, or opened up the most opportunities for your business?

AI Photos really have changed the world. We’re able to create products like custom trade show badges that really have revolutionised the way clients attract customers at events. The amount of customisation we have been able to build into prompts is truly extraordinary.

You’ve seen both the creative and business side of this industry evolve. What do you think clients expect from a photo experience today that they didn’t ten years ago?

This has never changed. My company’s philosophy has always been that we create things people cannot create on their phone. If a guest can create it on their phone, there’s no need for us to be there. We are there to provide extraordinary creative that guests cannot replicate. Whether it be GIFs, 360 video or an AI photo, a guest shouldn’t be able to replicate it on their own.

Is there a particular Snappic event, feature launch, community moment or memory from over the years that really stands out to you?

Ummmm… December 8, 2018. #iykyk

What’s the most ridiculous or ambitious photo booth idea you’ve actually managed to pull off?

I’ve had a ton of those. Most have been bad ideas. I remember when I thought creating a green screen mugshot booth was a great idea. Turns out people don’t want even a fake mugshot floating around on the internet. I think the most challenging events I’ve done have always been last minute, and always have been pulled off under the gun. Whether putting photos on cookies or putting people inside a video game with a green screen 360, Snappic has always been able to figure out a way to make it happen.

What’s a Snappic feature you now take for granted that would have felt completely wild 10 years ago?

Oh my god, it’s shocking to me that Snappic on iPhone has only been available since 2021.

What did I ever do before then?!

If you could go back and show 2016 Ryan what photo booths look like now, what would surprise him most?

That everything he ever wanted would come true. I truly mean that. Every feature and every crazy idea would become possible. Snappic on iPhone, GoPro, and now with Direct Printing by plugging the printer into an iPad.

What more could I ever want?!

What’s one trend in the photo booth industry you’re glad disappeared? And one trend you think is only just getting started?

Ugh, I hope I never do a mirror booth again in my entire life. And there are plenty of people who make money with that, and there is nothing wrong with that. Please, people, go ahead and enjoy yourselves.

Mirror booths are something that have never, and I do mean never, sparked joy.

One trend that’s only getting started is AI. However, I do think operators need to be careful when creating with AI. AI for the sake of AI won’t please everyone. AI with intention is going to be incredibly powerful.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen someone build or create using Snappic?

I miss the days of creating cinemagraphs, especially back when video had come out and we had to hack how it was created. There was one event I did where we created a fire-breathing cinemagraph. The guests looked like they were blowing fire, and the fire moved ever so gently. It was such an awesome effect that we created with such limited resources, but Snappic was still able to help me figure out how to make it happen at the time!

What’s one thing photo booth operators obsess over that you think matters way less than they think it does?

It’s the number one question I get asked at PBX: “What equipment do I use?”

This is what I want everyone to know. The equipment you use absolutely does not matter.

My background is in radio, TV and film. I have been taught by some of the most influential people in their professions. The common thread has always been that you need to learn to be good first.

Once you learn to be good, it doesn’t matter what equipment you use.

I wish operators would try out and experiment with more things first. Experiment and create for the sake of creating. Come up with prompts with real-life outputs, and then start pitching to clients. Right before the pandemic, a big Broadway show opened in New York City, and at the opening after-party there was a photo booth. It was the worst photo booth activation I have seen in my entire life. And I truly mean that. It was so incredibly lazy. Once again, a logo slapped on a photo.

At the time, I thought to myself: what if I got this event? What if I got this piece of business? What would I do? What would I pitch? So I went and created it myself, and pitched it to other clients. Creating the asset helped me book future business, even though I didn’t get the one it was originally intended for.

If you had to describe the last 10 years of the photo booth industry in three words, what would they be?

A wild ride.

What’s your favourite Snappic memory: event, launch, trip, disaster, late-night idea, anything?

There was one time where a guest adamantly believed that we were not on time for an event. When I went to log in to Snappic, I tried to look at timestamps and found out they didn’t exist. I messaged Snappic Support and, lo and behold, Julio answered me. I told him the situation, and within one hour of my message, timestamps were added to all photos on Snappic going forward.

It was my earliest contribution to Snappic and one that I’m incredibly proud of.

If Snappic gave you unlimited development resources for one feature, what would you ask them to build?

Snappic has given me unlimited development requests and they’ve consistently built everything I’ve ever asked for. AI Touchups, payments on a microsite, and much more.

Maybe I should ask them to start doing the events for me.

Looking ahead, what are you most excited to see happen in the next chapter of Snappic and the photo booth industry?

The industry is moving at a rapid pace. My job isn’t the same as it was even three months ago. There is a low cost of entry in this industry. I have seen photo booths available for purchase on TikTok for as low as $400. The next chapter of this industry hinges on those who have amazing creative that separates them from others getting into the industry.

Brand activations are requiring much more than they used to. Long gone are the days of taking a photo, throwing a logo on it, sending it to the guest and calling it a day. The individuals who will thrive are those who have a handle on the pulse of what guests want to post on social.

And finally, what would you say to the Snappic team as they celebrate ten years?

Happy 10 Year Anniversary Snappic!

Here’s to the next ten years of creating and innovating as the number one software provider in this industry!

There’s always another idea

Looking back through Ryan’s posts in the Snappic User Group, it’s easy to recognise the person behind these answers. The operator celebrating a client’s reaction to digital props in 2017 was already sharing the kind of practical experience that would become a larger part of his work as an educator. The person asking for music in 2018 already had plans for what he would make with it.

His ambassador role grew out of that history. Today, you’ll still find him explaining a roaming feature, answering an operator’s question or showing people how to build an experience they can take to a client.

That makes Ryan’s story a fitting part of Snappic’s tenth anniversary. His memories bring the software back to the events where it gets used: a client with an unusual request, a guest questioning an arrival time, an experiment that becomes a booking, or an idea that turns out to be a terrible mugshot booth.

In 2018, he told us adding music would make him unstoppable. In 2026, he’s talking about AI experiences, custom trade show badges and asking whether we can start running the events for him.

Keep creating with Ryan

Ryan’s advice is to keep learning and experimenting. If this interview has sparked an idea for your own business, here’s where you can take it further.

• Find your next AI experience. Browse The Digital Studio by Ryan for AI photo prompts and video templates built for Snappic, or commission a custom prompt for your client’s brand or event.
• Learn from his event experience. Explore Ryan’s workshops and training, including modern headshot experiences and trading card activations. You can also watch the Printing for Profit replay or explore The Art of the Follow Up for help turning enquiries into bookings.
• Build the business behind the booth. Take a look at BoothProfit for pricing and package-building tools, browse Ryan’s Toolbox for the equipment and services he uses, or book a one-to-one consultation to work through your pricing, offers and operations.
• Learn together in person. Photo Booth Live comes to Houston on 8 November 2026, with industry speakers and networking for photo booth operators.

For his latest projects, training and announcements, visit Booth Beat and follow @ohheyyitsryan on Instagram.

Pick an idea, try something new, and see what you can create.