Pleasanton is home
We travel all over the Bay Area for events, from San Francisco ballrooms to Silicon Valley tech campuses. But no matter how far we go, there’s something special about loading up the car and heading home to Pleasanton at the end of the night. So I wanted to take a moment to share why we love calling Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley home.
Snapbox Collective was born in Fremont, but it grew up here. This is where we live, where so many of our favorite celebrations have taken place, and where being part of the community has shaped who we are as a business. Honestly, that’s one of the things I’m most proud of.
Pleasanton is also where we raised our family.
Where it all started
I've been a photographer since 2003, but Snapbox didn't start as a business plan. It started as a birthday party.
In 2013, my daughter was turning one, and I wanted something fun for our family and friends. So I pulled together my own camera gear and built a homemade photo booth. I had no idea what would happen next. Guests lined up, laughed, squeezed into silly group shots, and couldn't stop talking about it.
That little party in Fremont turned out to be the very first Snapbox event. Soon friends were asking if I could bring the booth to their celebrations too. My first wedding was for my good friend Eva, out in wine country. I showed up with a handmade booth and a tiny 6" monitor perched on a speaker stand, and I loved every minute of it. The app was ancient, the prints came out slow as molasses, and the whole setup looked completely DIY. But then friends of friends from that wedding started reaching out. One booking. Then two. Then local businesses. One event at a time, a little hobby grew into something so much bigger. When we moved to Pleasanton, that’s where we really found our footing. This is where we grew up.
Today, the Snapbox Collective brings together our photo booths and event photography under one roof. But at its heart, it's still the same thing it was on that first birthday: a way to bring people together and capture the joy of being in the same room.
Our First Official Event
A closer look at our very first Snapbox setup, with the welcome screen glowing “Congratulations Eva and Jared.” Every detail was made by us, from the hand-drawn “Prints Here” sign to the little tray waiting to catch each photo strip. Looking back, it’s amazing how far we’ve come, but this one will always be special.
simple
Our First Photobooth Sign
The hand-painted “photobooth” sign that greeted guests at our first wedding, sitting on a rustic crate with a pitcher of blush and peach roses atop a wine barrel. Little hearts tucked inside every letter set the tone for the night: made with love, meant for celebrating.
honest
Where It All Began
The original Snapbox booth, set up and ready to go at Eva and Jared’s wedding. Built by hand with a warm ringlight flash, a little touchscreen, and hand-lettered speech bubbles walking guests through it: four photos, one minute to print. Simple, scrappy, and full of heart, this is the booth that started it all.
LOCAL
What we love about Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley
Pleasanton has a way of feeling like a small town, even as it keeps growing. You run into neighbors on Main Street. Local shop owners remember your name. People show up for each other, whether it's a school fundraiser, a community festival, or a friend's milestone birthday.
And the Tri-Valley as a whole is such a beautiful place to celebrate. In just a short drive, you can go from downtown Pleasanton to rolling vineyards in Livermore, cozy neighborhood clubhouses in Dublin and San Ramon, or elegant venues tucked into the hills of Danville and Alamo. Every event feels a little different, and that's part of what makes this work so fun.
What I love most, though, is the people. Tri-Valley families celebrate big. They care about the details, they love bringing generations together, and they never miss a chance to make a moment memorable. That's exactly the kind of energy a photo booth was made for.
And of course, being local means having our favorite spots. My mornings often start at Inklings, which in my opinion pours the best coffee in town. When we're out with friends, you might find us at the Sunshine Saloon. For dinner, we love Nonni's Bistro and Ume Sushi, and lately we've been hooked on Harumi Sushi and Hibachi. And no Pleasanton list would be complete without the local icon, Meadowlark Dairy. If you grew up here or have lived here, you know.
Celebrating with our neighbors
Over the years, we've had the joy of being part of so many Tri-Valley celebrations. Backyard birthday parties. Wedding receptions at local wineries. Quinceañeras, anniversaries, and graduation parties. Neighborhood holiday gatherings where everyone already knows each other, and the booth becomes the place where the whole street ends up in one photo.
We also love working with businesses right here in our own backyard. One of our favorite traditions is Wellness Week with Workday's Customer Experience team at their Pleasanton headquarters. Every June for several years now, we've set up our booth right in the middle of their celebration, and it's become something we look forward to all year.
There's something really special about walking into a familiar space each summer, seeing so many of the same smiling faces, and meeting new team members too. Over the years, we've watched friendships form in front of the camera, and we've captured coworkers who started as strangers in one photo strip and ended up as close friends in the next. Getting to be part of a tradition like that, right here in our hometown, is exactly why we love what we do.
That's the best part of being local. We're not just vendors who show up for one night. We get to watch this community grow, celebrate its milestones, and become part of the stories people tell for years.
Why being local matters for your event
Choosing a local team isn't just about supporting a small business, though we're always grateful when you do. It makes a real difference in how your event goes. We know the venues. After years of events across the Tri-Valley, we know which ballrooms have tricky outlets, which vineyard spots get windy in the afternoon, and where the best light falls for photos. That means fewer surprises and a smoother setup.
We're close by. Being based in Pleasanton means shorter drives, earlier arrivals, and more flexibility. If plans change on event day, we're never far away.
We care about our reputation here. In a community where everyone knows everyone, word of mouth means everything. Every event is a chance to earn a recommendation from a neighbor, and we take that seriously.
We're part of the same community. When you book with us, you're celebrating with people who live here, shop here, and love this place as much as you do.
Thank you, Tri-Valley
To every family, couple, school, and business that has invited us into your celebrations: thank you. You've turned a homemade birthday booth into something I never could have imagined, and it's been a privilege to capture your moments.
Whether you're in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon, Danville, or anywhere across the Bay Area, we'd love to celebrate with you next. Reach out here and tell me what you're planning. Let's make some memories, neighbor!