Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Slade.
Hi Courtney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My passion for photography started when I was 15. I asked for a 35mm film camera for my birthday that year, and it has been by my side ever since. After studying photojournalism at the University of Texas at Austin, I knew there was a world of adventure waiting for me to explore; so I packed my bags and never looked back.
I worked in the travel industry for many years, documenting people and landscapes from Asia to South America, and other places in between. But, after many years on the road as a traveling international photographer and guide, I decided it was time to unpack the suitcase for a while and create my own local business. I designed Hitch the Photo Trailer with you and your guests in mind…from the high-end technology behind the lens to the inviting and comfortable atmosphere inside the trailer, my photo booth is truly one-of-a-kind.
When I’m not taking photos, you can usually find me on the lookout for a great cup of coffee, a new mountain to snowboard, a body of water to jump into or working in my garden. I’m a Texas native who grew up on my family’s ranch in Marble Falls. I currently call San Antonio home.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has most definitely been like the roads I grew up on in the Texas Hill Country; blind curves, beautiful peaks, with an unnerving low water crossing every now and then.
In my opinion, it’s not supposed to be a smooth road. That would be incredibly boring. You don’t learn anything new when things are easy, it’s the challenge that keeps you on your toes. Not to say it should always be hard. There has to be a balance and understanding that most things aren’t going to just go your way. You’ve got to get creative and find that resilience.
But I think at the end of the day, when you replay what you’re the most proud of, it’s the time when you brushed the dirt off your boots and just kept putting one foot in front of the next until you finally realized you are standing at the top of a beautiful lookout and it all just makes sense.
I’ve struggled plenty with figuring out how to keep my business growing, especially in 2020 when everything shut down. There were no weddings on the calendar. All of the corporate events vanished. It wasn’t easy. I had to get other work. There was a time when I had four different jobs just to pay my bills, but I made it through that mess and I will forever remember that’s a place I never want to go back to. That memory alone is motivation to make my business even more successful now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a photojournalist by trade. I love telling stories. I love asking questions.
I graduated with honors from The University of Texas at Austin in 2011 with a Bachelors in Journalism and completed the photojournalism sequence. I thought I was going to work for a news organization right out of college, but no one was hiring. And when I say no one, I mean no one. News outlets were even getting rid of their internship programs. Everyone was panicking with the rise of social media without really knowing what that was going to look like. So I got a temporary gig until I landed a job as an international photographer and trip leader for a travel company.
I love photographing landscapes. Nature is my happy place, it’s where I feel most like me. I love photographing the rich, beautiful colors of the outdoors. I think that is my style or speciality if I had to pick one.
I think my photo booth business emulates my photography; happy, full of life, and reminders of good memories. I wanted to create something that would make people smile as soon as they saw it. Same goes for my personal photography.
In March of 2018, Hitch made its way all the way from Aurora, Oregon to San Antonio, Texas. It was the first time I’d laid eyes on my sweet photo booth and it was definitely love at first sight. I’d seen photos of course, but when you finally see what you’ve been envisioning and designing parked in front of you in real life, there’s a huge amount of joy and a smile that doesn’t fade.
The interior of Hitch was completely designed by me for you, our photo booth guest! From the custom flooring to the herringbone pattern on the countertops and the perfect little retro fridge tucked in between, my mission is to invite you into an environment with appreciation for the past with the modern touches of today. You can’t help but smile as soon as you step inside.
The original VW Turquoise Green paint color is iconic. It’s like that favorite pair of jeans that you can wear year round and goes with everything. Dress it up, or keep it simple, the color palette is a classic that will never go out of style.
Outside of the cozy interior, I wanted to make sure my guests feel like they can hang out with Hitch. From the safari window that serves as the perfect bar height or a place to watch your friends make silly faces at the camera to the seating arrangement out front with cocktail tables to hold your drinks and snacks, Hitch isn’t the photo booth that wants you to just take a quick pic and run. Hitch is more than just a photo booth, it’s that extra-something special our guests can’t stop talking about.
Contact Info:
- Email: court@hitchphototrailer.com
- Website: http://www.courtneyslade.com/ , https://www.hitchphototrailer.com/
- Instagram: @hitchphototx
- Facebook: @hitchphototx
- Twitter: @hitchphototx
Image Credits:
Image with bride and groom in front: Jackie Willome Photography.
