
Cristina San
Co-Owner, 6 Degrees Photobooth
Cristina San is the co-owner of 6 Degrees Photobooth, a high end photo booth experience in Winnipeg that has become a staple for many local brands and events. She owns 6 Degrees Photobooth alongside her husband and their collaborative approach in operating the business has been rewarding because of their shared goals, values and long term vision for the company. Cristina has always been entrepreneurial minded and a leader by nature. She loves building a team and creating opportunities for her staff to help them thrive. Cristina is always thinking creatively and trying to develop new skills that will drive her to the next level as an individual and leader. Cristina has two amazing children and as a family, they love to travel whenever the opportunity arises.
What inspired you and your husband to start 6 Degrees Photo Booth? Was there a gap in the industry? A passion for photography? Or something else that motivated you both?
6 Degrees Photobooth was inspired by Sambath who is the founder of the company. When he approached me with the idea of starting the business, I hesitated at first. Once he explained his vision and the gap of high quality photo booth services in our local market, I warmed up to the idea. We quickly found our place in the market by branding our company very strategically with a higher end feel and beautiful set ups while reaching out to large brands and events that we felt aligned with our services. Beautiful aesthetic was key but quality photo and video were top priority and always will be. Our clients deserve to have beautiful photos and memories to look back on from milestone occasions.
Sambath is a self-taught photographer but didn’t necessarily want to take the traditional route of being a wedding or brand photographer and he thought photo booths were a unique approach. 6 Degrees Photobooth started as a side hustle. As the business became more successful, we realized its potential and Sambath went all in. I parted ways with my teaching job about 2 years later. My official entry into 6 Degrees Photobooth felt very natural and timely. Now, Sambath leads the front end operations of the business like the set up, logistics and live events. I operate more of the administrative tasks on the back end. We both collaborate on the creative aspect of 6 Degrees and its business development. Our roles feel balanced and we understand each other’s limits. Building our team will be important so we can focus on growing the company.
As your business has grown, how have you approached leading and nurturing your team to ensure they share your vision and dedication for your company?
Working in the events industry is not easy, despite it being a lot of fun! It’s essential to have a team who is personable, interactive, creative and comfortable with a fast paced environment. First and foremost though, we look for individuals who will contribute to a positive team culture. We train our team to understand the importance of high end experiences and ask our team to have open conversations with us, no matter the issue. It creates a safe space built on trust. As leaders, we always want to be approachable. Our team also needs to appreciate the culture of a start up because in many ways, we still are one. What’s really neat about that is they can be a part of the growth with us. It feels rewarding to build a company where its people can contribute to ideas and solutions that will be a factor of our growth. The last thing I would say is that we let our team know exactly how they are making a difference. When you can understand how your role directly impacts a company, you will realize the importance of why you are there and strive to do your best.
6 Degrees Photobooth is a household name for anyone looking to add an elevated experience to their events in Winnipeg. You have now expanded into Saskatoon, Calgary, and Ottawa - what made you decide to move into these cities? Can you share some insights or challenges you faced and the strategies you’re employing to successfully scale?
Our decision to scale was because we built a foundation in Winnipeg and knew our model worked. The cities we selected have several high end events and brand activations every year similar to our target market here in Winnipeg. It also felt like the right time to introduce our brand to new provinces. The biggest challenge we are facing is feeling like we are starting over again because things are different in other cities. We’ve been very fortunate that a high percentage of our business in Winnipeg has come from referrals and word of mouth, so we need to think differently about how to approach other markets.
How do you and your team stay innovative in your industry?
In our industry, photo/video equipment and technology can become outdated very quickly. It’s exciting to be innovative but these changes also mean we can never be too complacent. We are constantly reinvesting in the newest and latest trends and services that will be a must have for our target market. Our clients are always looking for new ideas and it's exciting when we can be the first to deliver. While we will always have original services like our timeless printed photos, we need to think ahead at the big picture and continue to push the boundaries to stay relevant and ahead of the game. Our vision is to be an experiential activation company that can deliver high end experiences of all kinds.
Community support is invaluable for businesses. How has your membership with Knew House, and other networks contributed to your personal and professional development and success?
Investing in myself as an entrepreneur is absolutely vital to personal and professional development and Knew House has definitely helped me with this. As an owner, running a fast paced creative company, I am constantly looking for ways to keep learning and connect with like-minded individuals who understand the challenges of running a business. As a natural teacher, I also love to share my knowledge and personal experiences with others in the hopes they can take inspiration from my story. Knowing I can help someone, even in a small way, is very humbling and rewarding.
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