I tried a photobooth in NYC that matches you with a mystery soulmate — but there's a big catch

Business Insider reporter Sydney Bradley tried out a "missed connections" photobooth in NYC.

Sydney Bradley/BI

Between a flash flood warning and running late for dinner plans in Manhattan, I figured I'd have just enough time to snap a photo in a photobooth.The photos weren't for my own vanity, though. It was in the pursuit of … love!Dubbed the "Missed Connections Booth," the photobooth is a collaboration between Matchbox (a dating startup), Meet Cutes NYC (a popular social media account), and Faceplace (a photobooth vendor).Here's how it works: Fill out a 26-question survey, pay $10, take some photos of yourself, and a compatible match will print alongside your strip of selfies."The whole thing is very rom-com coded," Liam McGregor, Matchbox's cofounder, told me.Since opening in mid-July, foot traffic has been steady, with 3,500 people getting matches, McGregor said, and some days have had lines wrapped around the corner. He added that the age demo stopping by typically falls between 18 and 35.

The "Missed Connections Booth" is located outside the Santo Taco Union Square location.

Sydney Bradley/BI