Charles Guinto and Leo Cabal are the co-founders of The Lounge Booth, an experiential photo studio that has worked with brands like Sephora, Netflix, Disney, Universal Pictures, Poosh, Pinterest, and the Golden Globes. They’re based in Los Angeles.
How they got their start:
Guinto: “I came to the U.S. from Guam with my family (there were 10 of us under one roof). Nothing was ever handed to us, so I learned early that if something doesn’t exist, you have to create it. I worked everything from lab tech to automotive photography and later as a DP on commercial shoots. Those experiences ultimately led me to find my true passion behind the camera in fashion and live events.”
Cabal: “I came up through wedding photography, which taught me how to read people and capture genuine moments under pressure. Charles and I met through our freelance work and quickly realized we had complementary skills and a shared vision for what photography could be.”
Both: “When COVID shut down the events industry overnight, we went from fully booked to zero jobs. A friend challenged us to bring high-end fashion energy into an event setting, and that one conversation became the spark. We launched The Lounge Booth at a wedding as an experiment. The response was overwhelming; guests kept asking how they could book us for their own events. One person looked at their portraits and said, ‘This isn’t a photo booth; this is a photo shoot!’ That moment gave us the confidence that we were onto something real.”
Charles Guinto (left) and Leo Cabal. Photo: Courtesy of The Lounge Booth
What sets their work apart:
Guinto: “We blend editorial photography with live event execution. Our backgrounds in fashion and wedding photography give us an edge in directing people and creating beautiful, intentional images, not just candid snapshots.”
Cabal: “But what really sets us apart is the human connection. We take time to make every single person feel comfortable and seen, whether they’re a celebrity or someone who hates being photographed. That’s when the magic happens. Guests often say, ‘I didn’t know I could look like this,’ or ‘This is my new LinkedIn headshot.’ We don’t just capture moments; we give people confidence.”
Both: “And then there’s the technology piece. Guests receive a full gallery of high-quality portraits sent directly to their phones within seconds. That real-time delivery is something very few, if any, companies in our space are doing. It transforms how people engage with events. They’re not waiting days for content. They’re sharing it immediately—and genuinely excited to do so.”
What innovation means to them:
Cabal: “Innovation, for us, isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about solving real problems in creative ways, and asking, ‘How can this be better for the human on the other side?’ and ‘What experience do people actually want?’ When we started, traditional photo booths felt stale and impersonal. We asked ourselves: What if we could give every guest the experience of a professional photoshoot, but make it accessible, fast, and fun?”
Guinto: “That’s why we build systems that remove friction from the event experience. Guests are often asked to wait in long lines for photos and then wait weeks to receive galleries. We redesigned that process so they receive 10-15 editorial-quality portraits within seconds, delivered in real-time to their phones. The challenge is making the experience efficient without making it feel rushed, and that balance is the art.”
Both: “A lot of our inspiration also comes from our Filipino roots, specifically the concept of bayanihan, which is about lifting each other up. That keeps us grounded and drives us to keep pushing boundaries and evolve, whether it’s perfecting our real-time content delivery system or finding new ways to make people feel confident and celebrated.”
Photo: The Lounge Booth
Memorable moment:
Cabal: “One that stands out was our first Gold Gala for Gold House. It’s such a big celebration spotlighting influential Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders across various industries. Being trusted to be part of that moment was an honor and a testament that we can hold our own at major industry events. It reinforced that The Lounge Booth isn’t just capable of delivering at that level; we belong there.”
Guinto: “It’s also the moment we realized our work is about how we make people feel and solidified our purpose: to make everyone feel seen and celebrated. Gold House brought us in because they wanted all of their guests to get the VIP treatment behind the camera. We loved seeing everyone light up. Even people who usually hate photos walked away smiling saying, ‘I didn’t know I could look like this.'”
Their vision for the future of the industry:
Cabal: “We see the industry moving toward interactive, immersive moments that people actually want to engage with. There’s also a shift toward authenticity. People want experiences that feel genuine and personal, not cookie-cutter.”
Guinto: “We also see the future becoming more accessible. Experiences that once existed only at private, invite-only events are beginning to open up to the public. For example, we’re inspired by what’s happening across Asia, where photography pop-ups and portrait studios are part of everyday culture, where anyone can step in and walk away with beautiful images.”
Both: “Our vision for The Lounge Booth is to keep redefining how content is captured and experienced at events. We’re scaling our creative capabilities, expanding our team, and continuing to innovate at the intersection of fashion, technology, and human connection. Ultimately, we want to be remembered not just for beautiful photos, but for the confidence and joy we help people discover in themselves.”
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