Coral Cumming Howe: owner: Alaska Photobooth Co.

• Author: Stomierowski, Peg
• Position: View from the Top

Several years ago, the laughter began when Alaska Photobooth Co. rolled their first booth into an autumn wedding reception at the Native Heritage Center. Coral Howe, who grew up in Nome and Anchorage, continues to expand her Fairbanks-based business, inviting Alaskans to get silly at special events across the state, including at the Anchorage Museum's Andy Warhol exhibit. While photo booths in a vending machine format have been around since the 1930s, flat-rate rentals are joining a diversity of entertainment venues.

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NO KIDDING: As a small-business development specialist for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I'd witnessed how important creativity and passion are to success. I wanted a business that was fun, fit my quirky personality, involved my family and made a difference to Alaskans. It takes only moments in the booth before wild laughter spills out from behind the curtain, since it's impossible for folks not to make a funny face or kiss their sweethearts.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT:. In 2007, I was flipping through a magazine when I saw an old chemical photo booth being used for wedding entertainment. I loved the look of this old relic, and spent almost a year researching the idea. The deciding factor was a report showing that during tough economies, the entertainment industry grows.

ALL AGES: I expected to serve private events, weddings and school functions. I (knew children, teens and young adults would love it, and suspected boomer parents would be sentimental about the notion as well. I found that no matter what age, everyone loves getting into the booth. Our motto: Rare moments and wild laughter ... capture the fun!

ICEBREAKER: The extent of wider interest--a from professional associations, nonprofits and small businesses to corporations that sponsor our booths for fundraisers and gala balls--came as something of a surprise. These...