• Better Know a Local Business: TapSnap

I love getting a chance to share local businesses with you. Today I want to share TapSnap with you (not to be confused with SnapChat... which I've heard people make that transposition before).

Owner Keith Jared operates the camera, snapping some shots of Jessie and Daisy (of Wildomar Queens fame) at the ribbon cutting for the Valley Resource Center this past May.

A sample of what the photo looks like after the TapSnap magic is applied to it.

TapSnap is an "out of the box" photobooth that livens up your events. 

It's "out of the box" for two descriptive reasons. 

First, there is no enclosed "booth" to this photobooth, and then, in the figurative sense of the phrase, it's not your run of the mill photobooth experience either.

You stand in front of a green screen, adorn yourself in a prop or two, and then you are put into a scene. 

City Councilmember Dustin Nigg and his daughters at Wildomar's 10th birthday at Marna O'Brien Park. 

This type of photobooth is generally best when aimed at events that will have at least 50 people. 

TapSnap is a great idea for weddings, trade shows or corporate parties. Non profit events are also ideal situations to have TapSnap at.

Though the service comes with a price tag (the equipment is top of the line, the high quality photos are printed quickly and aren't limited) the costs can be recouped by getting sponsors to the event (see the photo above as an example).

All participants get a physical copy of the photo, and also a link that can be used to share the photos on social media right then... or to download for other uses later.

They have a tagline of phototainment since they are more than just background photographers, they help entertain too. They engage with the attendees, and the whole process is a fun part of the event.

Keith Jared, owner of TapSnap1215 and Joseph Morabito, Wildomar Rap writer and city council candidate. A hearty thanks to the waiter that took our picture, though next time I might look for someone not quite so tall to do the honors. ☺

Keith and I chatted over breakfast at Yellow Basket, and I learned many interesting things about him. He's a 20 year Navy man, he retired as an E-6. 

AD1 E-6

NAS Miramar

VF 124 Training Squadron

Westpac USS Ranger

VFA AV25

You can tell that I didn't serve, because I don't really know what that means, but I'm guessing that the vets in the area know exactly what it means... assuming I wrote it down correctly that is. ☺

His interest in photography stems back to his days at Sylmar High School. His primary interest was architecture, but took photo as an elective in his senior year and excelled at it. 

He was hoping to get a sponsorship to study architecture once out of high school, and eventually he did get that letter of acceptance, but not until he had already signed on with the US Navy and returned from bootcamp.

Throughout his career in the Navy he continued with his love of photography. To the point that his wife was known to say on occasion, "You'd forget me before you'd forget that camera."

He'd shoot weddings for friends, and motocross that was on base in the Philippines. He'd use the photo equipment that was part of the hobby shops on the base to develop and print the film.

He reminisced about the times that celebrities would stop by and get a chance to fly. He mentioned Chuck Norris and Bo Jackson as two examples. 

He noted that Chuck Norris was rather shy, and not as tall as you might expect him to be (according to the internet, he's 5'10". I still wouldn't want to mess with that world famous beard of his... and he's 78). After his flights, which were about once a month, he'd come around and chat with the maintenance crews. 

Even with Chuck Norris's world famous beard, I'd take Bruce Lee in a fight over him every time, and he's been dead for 45 years. 

One time Bo Jackson flew a backseat mission, and managed to get the pilot to bend the rules a bit. Touch and goes weren't allowed with celebrities, on the off chance something were to go wrong, but Bo finagled it somehow, and the pilot got into some hot water over it. 

From then on when a celebrity would come in to fly in the backseat, the pilot would be reminded, "No Bo Jackson this time."

He did graphics work while at Edwards Air Force Base and was the go to guy for graphics on flight deck helmets back in the day. He made many flyers and posters for nonprofits and fundraisers, such as the Children's Center of Antelope Valley. 

A look at one of Keith's posters.
Designed for the Antelope Valley Annual Charity Gala,
called the Heartsounds Masquerade Ball 2003.

Of the various photobooth options he could have chosen from, he opted for TapSnap because of their superior quality over others that are out there. 

I asked Keith how it was that he made Wildomar his home. He had been living in San Marcos with his family and they realized they could use a bigger house. 

He has extended family in Temecula, and had been spending a fair amount of time in the area. When they went to make a home purchase, they fell in love with the North Ranch neighborhood and have lived here for nearly three years at this point.

Keith is a good guy and a great conversationalist. If you see him around town, be sure to chat him up. If you have a wedding coming up, or other event that a photobooth would be an asset to, contact him for more details.

Contact Info

TapSnap1215 Facebook page
TapSnap2015 Instagram
LinkedIn Page
Website

Phone: 951-609-3588

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If you have a suggestion for a "better know a local business" blog, let me know. No promises, but there's no harm in asking. ☺

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Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.
– Bruce Lee

Wildomar Rap splits the difference by being both useful and useless at the same time.

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