M.J.

This renewed excitement surrounding photo booths is part of the reason Gen Zers and college friends M.J.

“I love taking pictures. That’s literally how it started,” says M.J.,

At first, M.J. and Ryan struggled to find a manufacturer that would allow them to purchase a single booth rather than multiple, which is all they could afford at the time.

Inspired by the popularity of photo booths in South Korea — where booths can be found on just about every corner in the city’s busiest district, Hongdae — M.J. and Ryan wanted to create a booth that took photos from above, to inspire people to “always dream high and look up.”

M.J. and Ryan, who run Genic full-time, say they hope to purchase more booths and expand to more locations throughout L.A. and beyond.