This week I was invited to preview a new interactive art installation called POP! at the Galleria Dallas. It’s a series of 24 retro-themed photo spaces, complete with lighting effects and props. I ended up exploring this Instagram playground for an hour and a half and left with dozens of really fun pictures! Here’s everything you need to know about POP! by SNOWDAY Dallas before you go.
What exactly is POP! and how does it work?
If you have lived in the Dallas area for the past couple of years, you are probably familiar with the Christmas photo booth extravaganza SNOWDAY Dallas, even if you don’t realize it. If you’ve seen friends you know or bloggers you follow posing in a series of Christmas-themed rooms with elves, igloos, and candy cane murals, chances are the pictures were taken at the 2019 or 2020 SNOWDAY Dallas installations that took DFW Instagram by storm.
POP! is the latest setup that SNOWDAY has designed for Dallasites to use throughout the summer months. You won’t find any reindeer antlers or string lights, but instead you can frolic through a rainbow garden, navigate a mirror maze, sit below a storm cloud, or even climb inside of a washing machine! There is something cool to discover around every corner.
Taking Photos at POP! by SNOWDAY Dallas
While POP! has 24 specific rooms visitors can use for photos, the different angles and possibilities are endless for savvy photographers. Before you step into the first art installation, one of the employees at POP! Will hand you a wristband with a unique QR code attached. In six of the rooms you can scan the QR code on your wrist and one of the onsite cameras at POP! will take photos on a timer and send them directly to a link on your phone.
Here’s how the photo booth process works.
Step 1 – Scan your wrist band. The camera will start counting down from five.
Step 2 – Get into position. (Sometimes it helps to plan out your pose beforehand so that you can be ready as soon as the countdown begins!)
Step 3 – Pop! The photo booth camera takes your picture and sends it to a unique URL connected to the QR code on your wristband.
Step 4 – You can view your high res photo at the link and make sure you like it. If you’re happy with it, you can download it to your camera roll right away for free!
The photo booths were easily my favorite rooms at POP! because they often used professional-quality camera lighting, they were higher-resolution than iPhone photos, and they make it possible for everybody in your party to easily be in a picture together without having to use a tripod. I loved that setup!
My Top Tips for POP!
1 – Make sure someone helps you set up your wristband and have your photo link open in your phone’s browser. Bookmark the link to your favorites so that you can always find it and easily download your photos throughout the exhibit.
2 – Don’t forget to take some videos! There are so many interesting themed rooms and funky props that are perfect for Boomerangs, Instagram Stories, or TikTok.
3 – If you want your outfit to compliment all of the room scenes, dress in neutral black or white. There are so many different bright colors and I liked the fact that my black and white dress with a denim jacket didn’t clash with any of them.
4 – Take your time and explore everything. Some of the rooms are set up like a mini maze, and others are hidden around a secret corner. If you rush past something, you might miss out on the full experience!
5 – It’s possible to enjoy POP! solo, but it will be way more fun with a buddy or two. Thanks to the unique photo booth system, you won’t have to use a tripod or ask a stranger for help in many of the themed rooms. But there are still some pretty cool photo spots that don’t include an onsite camera. Plus, bringing a friend or a date lets you make memories together and take some really cute pictures!
Know Before You Go
POP! Is located inside the Galleria Dallas, on Level 1 next to Grand Lux. There is free parking for all shoppers at the Galleria.
Tickets for POP! range from $22 – 32 for adults and $8 – 12 for kids. The prices differ based on peak times, like weekdays vs. weekends. Toddlers under 3 get in free, and there is a military and senior discount.
POP! staff recommends that you buy your tickets online ahead of time to avoid waiting in a long line. There are a limited number of tickets per 30-minute time slot. You can purchase tickets on their website here.
If you’re looking for a fun place to beat the heat and take some awesome pictures, grab a friend and spend an afternoon at POP! this summer! If you’re looking for more ideas for summer fun in Dallas, check out this page.
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