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    Photos on wheels

    Snap 'n go: Vintage Volkswagen bus transformed into mobile photo booth

    Whitney Radley
    Whitney Radley
    Jun 28, 2013 | 2:49 pm

    Photo booths have become ubiquitous at the modern wedding, replete with twee props and customized backdrops. That fact was not lost on Brittany Havican, a self-taught Houston photographer who shoots weddings and other special events when she's not working her regular nursing job.

    Meanwhile, her husband, Austin, had been eyeing vintage vans with a hankering to fix one up. When he came across a 1978 Volkswagen bus, painted a spotty orange and in need of some love, the wheels began turning.

    "What if we can get the bus to pay for itself, and have fun in the process?" he wondered. After a few days of careful consideration, Brittany gave the idea for PhotoMoto — a mobile photo studio — the green light.

    The Havicans purchased the bus early this year and spent the better part of three months doing repairs, learning as they worked and making fast friends with other VW lovers. PhotoMoto debuted at its first gig, a wedding on April 20, as a gleaming, picture-perfect beauty.

    "It's an ongoing process," Austin told CultureMap, indicating a couple of cosmetic and equipment improvements he still plans to make to the bus. Even as-is, it's as easy to use as your average kiosk: Slide into the back bench, smile for the camera, pose for four frames and watch the strips print out — about a minute from start to finish.

    Events have been steady since April, with an appearance at Pop Shop Houston in mid-May, a spot at Free Press Summer Festival in June, a Reddit meetup and a Whole Foods local vendor fair a few weeks ago.

    Wedding appearances are also getting booked up. Brittany explained that everything is fully customizable, from the handmade props to the logo printed at the bottom of the strips. Also, Austin pointed out, the bus is so compact that it can be rolled inside almost any building.

    Look for PhotoMoto to be camped out in front of Domy Books on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. with Pride-appropriate props, and on July 12 at The Big Show 2013 opening at Lawndale Art Center. Bring a few bucks and get ready to cheese.

    After several months of repairs, PhotoMoto rolled out in April.

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    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Austin restaurant chain bowls over River Oaks and more popular stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Dec 27, 2025 | 11:00 am
    Honest Mary's restaurant exterior
    Photo by Becca Wright
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including restaurant openings and a major acquisition for MFAH. Plus, where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Houston. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then visit this guide to the best Christmas weekend events.

    1. Meet the men behind River Oaks' new destination for bowls and broth. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Honest Mary’s founder Nelson Monteith and COO Andrew Wiseheart joined CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the Austin-based restaurant that just opened its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

    2. Houston's only Michelin-recognized Tex-Mex restaurant now open in Bellaire. It didn’t take Sambrooks Hospitality Group long to turn Mandito’s into Candente. First announced in September, the restaurant’s second location officially opened December 22.

    3. 25 Houston restaurants celebrating New Year's Eve with caviar, bubbles, and more. Houston restaurants are ringing in the new year with indulgent menus featuring caviar, lobster, and steak, along with plenty of bubbly.

    4. Houston museum acquires historic Masonic lodge property for new greenspace. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has acquired a prime parcel to expand its campus in the Museum District.

    Holland Lodge masonic building The building at 4911 will be torn down for the new greenspace. Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M./Facebook

    5. Houston's richest residents, best suburbs, and more top city news in 2025. As 2025 comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined Houston this year. These are the City Life stories that captured Houston's attention.

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