How Self-Portrait Project Uses SpotMyPhotos to Scale Self-Expression

At a glance

With a vision rooted in social change, Andy Lin and the Self-Portrait Project had the creativity, passion, and technical know-how to build a unique experience for self-expression. All that was missing was the photo delivery piece of the system. That’s where Self-Portrait Project leaned on SpotMyPhotos. That partnership helped lead to a 122% increase in revenue for the Self-Portrait Project in the first year of using SpotMyPhotos.

The Vision: The Mirror as a Camera

Andy Lin didn’t set out to build a photo booth company. He set out to build a social movement.

With a background in philanthropy and social change (documenting displaced populations in regions of chronic instability worldwide), Andy was obsessed with the concept of agency. His philosophy was simple: “If a decision is being made about you, you should be part of the decision-making process.”

He applied this to photography. He built a system using a two-way mirror and a remote control for all of us to use. When in front of the mirror, you are both the photographer and the subject of the photo. You look at yourself in the mirror and click the button. It is a moment of pure self-expression.

Privacy Enabling Self-Expression

By 2020, Self-Portrait Project had perfected capture, but not delivery. After building delivery solutions on their own, Self-Portrait Project connected with SpotMyPhotos at PBX in 2023. Out of that encounter, a new partnership was born, and Self-Portrait Project integrated SpotMyPhotos into its workflow. It turned out to be the missing link for Self-Portrait Project.

By utilizing SMP’s private photo-sharing platform, the delivery mechanism finally matched the philosophy of the camera:

• Agency: The guest takes the photo.
• Privacy: The guest sees only their photo.
• Speed: Zero scrolling. Zero friction.

This solved the “public gallery” problem that arises when sending out gallery links to everyone post-event. And it enhanced the freedom for guests to express themselves when a part of the experience, guests could be their authentic selves in front of the mirror, knowing their images wouldn’t be shared in a public feed for strangers to see.

Unlocking Growth

With the premium quality of the Self-Portrait Project experience, the demand for the offering continued to increase. Higher value clients, looking for an authentic experience for their events, which were still being grounded in privacy, compliance, and data analytics, started seeking the Self-Portrait Project out. In 2025, the company is projected to generate 5x what it did in 2022 (pre-SpotMyPhotos).

“A big part of our growth is because SpotMyPhotos really appeals to experiential marketing agencies who are looking for something different... tech-forward, really clean, efficient delivery service.”

Andy Lin
Creator & Creative Director, Self-Portrait Project

The Operator’s Takeaway

By moving to a private, seamless delivery system, Self-Portrait Project proved that you don’t have to choose between high volume and high intimacy. You can have both—and you can grow bookings and your client base because of it.

“SpotMyPhotos was a huge part of that reason for growth. People were asking us back because their minds were being blown. It was a perfect complement to our existing physical system.”