Trade shows are a treasure trove of opportunities for companies to raise brand awareness, generate leads and interact with potential customers and clients in person. But with dozens, if not hundreds, of booths vying for attention, standing out can be tough. Setting up a compelling photo booth is one of the best ways to draw your people in and create a memorable experience. Of course, just having a camera and a backdrop isn’t all that you need—you need to create an interactive experience that is visually appealing enough to share.
Build a Creative and Themed Setup
A simple background is simply not enough when there’s competition for eyes. The theme of your photo booth should match your brand while still being a little silly or creative. So for viewers in the tech space, you might want to integrate a more futuristic, “digital world” theme, complete with LED lights and AR filters. If your brand is in travel or hospitality, for example, then a tropical vacation backdrop with props such as surfboards, sunglasses, and palm trees can make people relaxed and give holiday vibe.
Add Personal Props and Accessories
Props give each photo booth an added layer of fun. Ditch the one-size-fits-all hats and glasses and create company-specific props! These may include branded signs, oversized products, or theme-themed accessories. If you sell fitness equipment, props like tiny dumbbells or resistance bands could lead to fun interactive photographs.
Even digital props, integrating Augmented Reality (AR) filters—Snapchat-style overlays that put your brand right on the guest.
Utilize Tech for a Level-Up Experience
Photo booths in their various forms are familiar to trade con-goers, so give them an experience that speaks to the future! Consider integrating:
GIF and Boomerang Features: Instead of only still photos, enable guests to capture short, looping GIFs or boomerangs that are more attractive to social media.
Green Screen Effects: Transport visitors to another place with backgrounds that can be customized to fit your brand’s narrative.
Slow-Motion and 360° photo booth.
The more interactive and fun the photo booth is, the more people it attracts.
Using Branded Hashtags to Encourage Social Media Sharing
A photo booth is about more than just taking pictures — it’s about getting people to share those pictures. While gearing up for your big day, ensure that you provide easy ways for guests to instantly upload their photos to social media by offering email or SMS sharing options.
Develop a branded custom hashtag and motivate participants to use it when posting. For instance, if your company name is “GlowTech,” an event hashtag such as #GlowTechMoments would connect any photo booth pictures to your brand on social media.
Provide Instant Prints With A Personalized Design
While sharing digitally is essential, print outs are still a compelling way to market. There isn’t a person that does not like a souvenir from events and an instant branded print is something that they can take home or place at their working place.
Make sure your prints include:
✔ Your company’s logo
✔ A QR code for your website or social media ✨
✔ A frame or design with style that showcases your brand
This enables a more personalized experience like letting attendees personalize their print materials.
Appeal to Attendees Beyond the Booth
Don’t just let people take their photos and walk away — use the moment to start conversations. Teach your booth personnel how to talk to visitors, inquire about their interests, and tentatively mention your company’s products or services.
Or you can go a step beyond that by adding gamification to it. Add a “Spin-the-Wheel” or “Scratch-to-Win” feature where the photo itself can win them discounts, freebies, or special offers.
Set Up a Live Display Screen
Show live photos of your booth on a big screen next to your booth. When people see other people having fun, they’re more likely to pop by and join.
Invite guests to view images as they are taken in the booth by setting up a slideshow that rotates automatically, or social media wall that updates to include the latest photos. There FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and makes others go visit.
Create a VIP Experience
An excellent way to make your photo booth pop is to give it an exclusive touch. Provide an exclusive, VIP-only photo shoot for a small handful of attendees, influencers, or event speakers. This could involve:
✔ A luxury-style backdrop
✔ High-end photo quality your own professional lighting
✔ A unique gift bag or product sample for participating
When you make certain things about your photo booth more premium, you are adding a level of desirability to your brand.
Feature It In Influencer and Event Collaborations
Invite industry influencers and or keynote speakers to come by your photo booth if they are at the trade show. When they take photos and post them to share with their followers, it extends your brand’s reach and generates extra buzz.
Additionally, you can partner with the event organizers to be highlighted in their promotional media blasters or included in the official event hashtag program.
Re-engage the Attendees After the Event
Your photo booth can’t just be a one-off experience they have to be part of a bigger marketing strategy. Gather attendee emails (with permission) and follow-up with a thank you message that includes their photo, a discount code, or an invitation to find out more about your business.
You can also reuse event photos for marketing on your own end—posting them in newsletters, blog posts, or social media campaigns to help the effects of your trade show.
Final Thoughts
A good photo booth can be a very serious game-changer at your trade show, bringing more visitors, generating brand awareness as well as creating engaging content that will live longer than the event itself. To stand out above the noise of a trade show, add creative theming, technology, social media, and personalized engagement that will make your photo booth the can’t miss attraction! A great photo booth can create a lasting impression, whether your a startup looking to make an impact or an established brand looking to increase connections with your audience.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS
