This year the analog photobooth turns 100. There are only about 200 working booths remaining globally. Fortunately, the digital and analog co-exist throughout Seattle’s bars and events venues. City Cast Seattle spoke to one Seattleite who set out to take self portraits in every one of Seattle’s photobooths to get the inside scoop on where they are and which ones are worth seeking out.
Rheese Romero is a self-professed photobooth enthusiast. Their interest in photobooths started on a trip to Tokyo, which coincided with a time of personal transformation. They had recently had a major surgery and cut off their hair.
“I stumbled into a digital photobooth that was on a street in Tokyo and I was pretty captivated,” Rheese said. “It was the kind of photo strip with four frames. In the middle it says ‘take your memory.’”
Rheese’s first photobooth strip from Tokyo, just after surgery. (Rheese Romero / Photomatic)
When Rheese returned to Seattle they started research to create a list of every photobooth in Seattle. Armed with a list of 30 locations, they set out to take a series of self portraits in every photobooth across the city. For Rheese, it’s not just a fun side quest, it’s also a way to create a personal archive.
“As someone who is medically transitioning, it’s a fun way to document the changes that I see in myself,” they said. “That is a big part of it for me personally.”
Rheese told City Cast that bonding with people over a love of photobooths has been a source of joy this year and “if I can inspire even one person to get in a booth that would mean a lot to me.”
Rheese’s favorite locations include:
“Not just because it’s one of the only analog booths. The pictures just look better.” Rheese says the booth is located near the restroom and is operated by Autophoto.
“Great for a night out with friends and the photostrips have cowprint.”
“It’s purely vibes based.”
“It’s dark in there so there are no light spots in the photos and it’s pretty goth.” Rheese says the photobooth is in the back near the restrooms.
Here’s the rest of Rheese’s list in no particular order:
- Rough & Tumble Pub: Rheese says the photobooth is Analog and operated by Autophoto
- Shorty’s
- Bait Shop: Rheese says the photobooth is in the back near the restrooms
- Montana: Rheese says the photobooth is all the way in the corner near the entrance
- Unicorn
- King’s Hardware
- Cha Cha Lounge: Rheese says the photobooth is by the cigarette vending machine and the bathrooms.
- Octopus Bar
- Southgate Roller Rink: Sam says this is in the corner near the entrance of the rink.
- Twilight Exit: Rheese says that this photobooth is sometimes broken
- Orange Dracula 5 &10: Rheese says this one has two booths on the lowest level of Pike Place. “Take the stairs down at the magic shop. There’s one booth inside the store and one near the stairs.”
- The Showbox: Rheese says the photobooth is to the left of the stage by the bar
- Cyclops
- Jupiter Bar
- Bonito Café y Mercadito
- Massive
- Linda’s Tavern
- The Runaway
- Comet Tavern
- Substation Seattle
- Kremwerk: Rheese says the photobooth is closest to the Cherry Pit entrance in the corner near the patio
- Donna’s
- Late Night Vintage Mall (Belltown)
- Owl N’ Thistle: Rheese says the photobooth is at the back near the restrooms. It is cash only, but there is an ATM onsite.
- SPIN Seattle
- Pacific Science Center: IMAX Theater: Rheese says the photobooth is in the lobby of the theater
- Revolver Bar: Rheese says it’s cash only!
- Chop Suey
- The Cuff Complex
