As a professional photographer of about 15 years, Sarah Sta. Ana understands what it takes to make a moment look and feel just right. So, when she and her husband, Randolph—also a creative with years of experience in graphic design—stumbled upon an old-school bus doubling as a photo booth on the West Coast, they couldn’t help but see the potential in the idea. Yet for the Sta. Anas to bring the vision to fruition in their hometown of Aldie and the surrounding area, the bus had to be just right.
“We knew it had to be a showstopper; she really had to look the part,” explains Sarah. “Eventually, we found this bright-orange 1971 VW camper in Michigan after searching online with different vintage auto dealers, and she immediately stood out. It’s hard for people to look at the Marigold bus without smiling.”
Now, about a year after debuting the Marigold Bus & Booth to the world and adding the concept to the Sta. Anas’ photography business, Santa Ana Photography, the interactive space has been featured in dozens of events from Richmond to Baltimore, with weddings being the most common. The husband-and-wife duo work together to create custom-made logos, props and even guest books, providing newlyweds the opportunity to relish in the goofy moments their guests enjoyed on the day they tied the knot.
And, right as the global pandemic took hold of the region, Sarah and Randolph added Magnolia the Photocamper to the fleet, giving potential clients a second, equally funky option to consider. Plus, the couple will be adding a boomerang option and a luxe, open-air booth this fall, all while maintaining an unmistakable vintage vibe.
This post originally appeared in our August 2020 print issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletters.
