This summer, we launched our Sustainable Earth Small Business Awards (SESBA) and selected 15 winners who showcased outstanding sustainability commitments. Our new podcast, The Green Scene, dives into conversations with SESBA winners about their journey as sustainable business owners.

In our 14th and final episode of 2022 SESBA winners, MISGIF: Picturing a Sustainable Photobooth, we sat down with Jessie Whitfield, the owner of MISGIF. The company provides interactive photo booth experiences to clients hosting virtual and in-person events, resulting in high-quality GIFs to keep forever.

Jessie takes sustainability to heart, considering the impact that MISGIF has on the local community, critters, and the environment. When the company was founded in 2017, Jessie wanted to create an alternative to the traditional print photobooth by giving users digital photos and videos instead. This helps cut down on waste created by photos left at events or thrown away later in life, where ink from these photos can impact soil and water once it reaches the landfill.

MISGIF operates from a home office to avoid the water, heating and cooling, and electricity usage associated with renting a space. Lights in the MISGIF office have been retrofitted with longer-lasting LED bulbs, faucets were equipped with aerators to conserve water, and employees are considerate about unplugging appliances that are not in use. 

At events, they have made conscious decisions to get rid of common photo booth props, like feather boas and balloons. Jessie expresses how real feather boas can lead to animal cruelty and synthetic boas use materials and dyes that harm the environment throughout production and when they are disposed. They also avoid using balloons in backdrops as they take hundreds of years to biodegrade. In terms of their backdrops, they have an array of options depending on the event being hosted. Since the founding of the company, all backdrops are air dried after cleaning to avoid excess energy used for driers and none of the backdrops used have been disposed! 

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In a male-dominated industry, Jessie has been able to push MISGIF forward as a competitive, woman-owned company. For small businesses looking to blaze the trail in innovation and sustainability, Jessie recommends looking for resources like Sustainable Earth’s small business courses, Local First Arizona, and more.

Connect with MISGIF

If you’re interested in having MISGIF present at your next event, check out their website! Stay updated with their socials by following them on Instagram and Facebook.