Meet Dusty Grimes of The Photo Machine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dusty Grimes

Hi Dusty, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in west TN and moved to Atlanta for college in the fall of 1998. After many great years there, my husband and I decided to move to Nashville in 2021 to be closer to family. I’d always worked in retail or restaurant…not ever really having a clear idea for a long-term career.

Back in 2018, I attended an event in Atlanta and saw a vintage camper-turned photo booth. I was enthralled by this and thought it was the coolest, most creative thing ever. At some point in the evening, I said to myself…”I’m going to do something like that one day”. From that point on, it was my goal, and I finally got the ball rolling about two years ago. I bought a camper from a gentleman in East Nashville, and started from there.
I knew I wanted my mobile photo booth to be different from all the others out there. There are several similar businesses across the country. However, most seem to fall into a single similar category….very beautifully restored campers done in either era-specific colors or soft pastels or neutrals. I wanted a theme….or a ‘kitsch’ factor if you will. It’s important to me to have an offering that will appeal to adults, as well as kids. That is what birthed what you now see as The Photo Machine.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No one has a completely smooth road when starting a new business. Of course, I’ve run into a few bumps in the road. When you put so much work into something, you want everyone to love it and rave over it, because you love it. When I got rejections early on, it did get under my skin, but I eventually learned to brush it off. Also, I’ve run into a few unprofessional agents at event venues. It’s frustrating when folks don’t give you the courtesy back that you give them. This is especially true when I know my service will be a great fit for the venue/event at hand. At the end of the day, we all should want to help each other grow and thrive.
All of these are learning experiences for me. I am learning constantly how to be a better, and more resilient small business owner. Kindness, courtesy, and honesty are very important to me.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What I want people to remember the most is that The Photo Machine is all about being FUN, RETRO, and WHIMSICAL!
There are other mobile photobooth offerings out there, but none with the same vibe and energy as what I bring to the table. The Photo Machine is good for any celebration you can think of. Most of the other similar mobile photobooths go for weddings only. It was important to me from the start to create something that both kids AND adults would love, with a sense of novelty and nostalgia, and I believe I’ve achieved that. Plus, there are lots of customization options for the interior backdrop, photo template, branding, music, etc. This is a proven crowd pleaser and everyone walks away with a memento of the event. Images can be texted or emailed for near-instant social media sharing, and I can do prints on the spot as well.
Please follow The Photo Machine on Instagram and TikTok. @thephotomachinenashville

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m also a gift-wrapping maven. I even have a separate Instagram account just for this hobby.
@dustythegiftwrapper

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thephotomachinenashville.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thephotomachinenashville/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089899593076