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Key people at WanderSnap.
WanderSnap was founded by Jen Loong (Founder & CEO).
WanderSnap operates an online marketplace that connects individuals and businesses across Asia with freelance photographers. The platform facilitates on-demand photography services for a wide array of needs, including travel, events, and commercial projects, by leveraging a diverse network of photographers proficient in various styles and equipment, such as DSLR, drone, and underwater photography.
The company was co-founded in 2016 by Jen Loong, who serves as CEO, alongside Lee Emmert as CTO and Ev Tchebotarev as COO. Loong, drawing on her experience with prominent brands like Groupon and Lululemon, identified a significant gap in the market for accessible, high-quality photography. This insight led to the creation of WanderSnap as a solution to seamlessly connect those seeking professional images with skilled local photographers.
WanderSnap serves a broad customer base, from tourists desiring memorable travel snapshots to businesses requiring imagery for marketing and product catalogs. The company's vision is to establish itself as the premier photography ecosystem in Asia, democratizing access to professional photographic services and empowering freelance photographers with a robust platform to showcase their talents and secure assignments across the region.
WanderSnap was founded by Jen Loong (Founder & CEO).
Wandersnap is a mobile photo booth rental service operating primarily in the Catskills and Hudson Valley regions, delivering fun, interactive photo experiences via a converted horse trailer photo booth.[1][9] It serves event hosts for weddings, corporate functions, birthdays, and other occasions, solving the need for affordable, memorable entertainment that captures candid moments with props, backdrops, and rustic charm.[1][5] Founded in 2019 by photographers Lydia and Eric Rubin, the company emphasizes exceptional customer service and joy-filled memories, with early roots in a lifestyle shift from New York City to the Catskills Mountains.[1]
Separate references exist to a digital "Wandersnap" platform by Jen Loong, an online service connecting users with local photographers for everyday and event photography, though details on its current status or scale are limited.[2][3] The primary, active entity appears to be the Rubins' photo booth rental business, focusing on experiential services rather than tech scalability.
In 2019, Lydia and Eric Rubin relocated from New York City to the Catskill Mountains, seeking a quieter life while leveraging Lydia's over-a-decade-long photography expertise.[1] This move inspired Wandersnap: they transformed a horse trailer into a mobile photo booth to share their passion, targeting local events in the Catskills and Hudson Valley.[1][9] Early traction came from catering to diverse occasions like weddings and parties, building a reputation for rustic, joyful experiences that honor life's milestones.[1]
A distinct backstory involves Jen Loong creating an online Wandersnap platform to match holidaymakers or locals with freelance photographers, highlighted in entrepreneurial profiles around 2017-2018, though no recent updates confirm ongoing operations.[2][3][6]
For the Jen Loong variant, the differentiator was a marketplace model linking users to local photographers for on-demand shoots, emphasizing convenience and community giving.[2][3]
Wandersnap operates at the intersection of experiential events and light tech enablement, riding the post-pandemic surge in localized, authentic celebrations where digital fatigue favors tactile, in-person fun like photo booths.[1] Timing aligns with rural tourism booms in areas like the Catskills, fueled by remote work trends drawing urbanites to nature-focused escapes since 2020.[1] Market forces favoring it include demand for affordable, Instagram-worthy event add-ons amid wedding and corporate recovery, plus a shift toward boutique services over generic rentals. It influences the local ecosystem by elevating regional event vendors through high-touch photography, though it remains niche rather than broadly disruptive.
The Jen Loong platform tapped into the gig economy for photography (e.g., similar to early gig-matching apps), predating platforms like Thumbtack but focused on travel and events in Southeast Asia-adjacent contexts.[2][6]
Wandersnap's trajectory points to geographic expansion beyond Catskills/Hudson Valley, potentially franchising the trailer model or adding digital sharing tools to amplify social proof and bookings.[1] Trends like experiential economy growth, AI-enhanced photo editing, and sustainable event tech (e.g., eco-friendly props) could propel it, especially as hybrid events blend virtual and physical memories. Its influence may evolve from local darling to regional player, humanizing events in a screen-saturated world—echoing the Rubins' dream of spreading laughter through captured joy.[1]
Key people at WanderSnap.
