One warm August night, long ago, a ten year old me and my two ten year old best friends went to the movies by ourselves for the very first time. On a scale of 1 to 10 our excitement was a 12. Not only were we completely and totally free of our parents, but the boys we adored also happened to be attending the theater sans parents that very same night. Could life get any better?!

Prior to the movie, my girlfriends and I hung around the lobby chattering away, eyeing the boys from afar, and strategizing just how we would sit near them, nonchalantly of course, in the theater. Gathering our courage we waved to the boys and in fits of giggles escaped as quickly as we could into a photo booth housed conveniently in the lobby. It was in that very photo booth my two childhood girlfriends and I snapped a strip of four black and white photos that are to this day tucked safely away in a box of my most treasured keepsakes. When I look at the laughing girls captured in those four candid moments, I feel again, the innocence of youth, the joy of friendship, and the pure bliss of being a young girl free on a summer night...

Photo booths, such as the one from my youth, were once very common, very popular attractions. From coast to coast photo booths could be found snapping photos of goofy grins and lovers’ smooches in amusement parks, carnivals, five and dime stores, theaters and even bus stations. However, in more recent decades photo booths have begun to go the way of the drive-in movie theater and the turntable. With the advent of digital photography, traditional photo booths have become more difficult to maintain as they use photochemical processing. But, much like the Polaroid camera, the photo booth’s nostalgic appeal and historic charm make them attractive to people with a fondness for the vintage or pre-digital, such as myself; and to our delight photo booths are making a strong come back!

I’m 16 by Gina Hubbard

Digital Supplies: Kit: Coffee Klatch Collection by CK Scrappers (Coffee Klatch Scrappers), Software: Gimp 2.2, Fonts: Jeana, CK Script, Catholic Schoolgirl.

Design Notes: I wanted the layout to reflect Kyla’s joy in turning 16, so I created it from her point of view, wording the diary entry as if she had written it, and adding the doodles. I used two different handwriting fonts to mimic the note between Kyla and her classmate.

Journaling: Journaling on diary page reads: I got my license and Mom let me go over to the mall. I ran into Todd and Alli. I hit some stores and bought a new keychain. It's cool. I got my own key to Mom's car. On the way out I saw the photo booth and I just had to get a strip taken to remember today.

05-01-10 by Shannon Jones

Digital Supplies: Element: Divine Rocks Kit by Snips & Snails Designs, Software: Elements 8.0, Fonts:Arial, VT Portable Remington, You are Loved, Lobster 1.4.

Design Notes: The flourish overlays are cut from another piece of patterned paper and then changed with a blending mode of Luminosity to make them match the paper.

Journaling: You are most definitely my little Camera Ham!!! We went and walked around on Kirkwood with Abby & Penny after going to the library. You decided to be a big show off that day and I got some hilarious photos. These were taken down by Sample Gate on Indiana Avenue. I hope you always keep the laughter in your heart, my dear child! Love, Mommy

Mom's New Rider by Dora Phillips

Digital Supplies: Kit: Backyard Adventures Collaboration Kit by Kristen Rice and Kristin Aagard (After Five Designs), Stitches: Stitched by Anna White No. 04 by Anna Aspnes (Designer Digitals), Software: Photoshop, Font: Traveling Typewriter.

Design Notes: I finished my layout, but it just did not pop for me so I let it sit overnight. With fresh eyes, I added the orange elements and it worked for me. Sometimes walking away is the best design help.

Journaling: Zack resisted learning to ride his bike. Once he gave it a try, it was easy!