Anyone who has worked a trade show knows the problem. Thousands of people walk past your stand, most of them avoiding eye contact, and the ones who stop are usually after a free pen. You need a reason for people to step in, and a reason for your team to start a conversation.
A photo booth does both. Here's how to use one properly on an exhibition stand, whether you're at the NEC in Birmingham or any other trade show in the UK.
Why a photo booth stops footfall
Most stand ideas ask visitors to do something they don't really want to do: scan a code, fill in a form, sit through a demo. A photo booth asks them to have a bit of fun for a minute and walk away with something. That's an easy yes.
It also works in a few quieter ways:
- People attract people. A small queue and a bit of laughter on your stand is the best signal you can send down an aisle. Busy stands look worth visiting.
- It gives your team an opener. "Fancy a photo?" is a much easier first line than "Can I tell you about our software?"
- Visitors take your brand home. A branded print goes in a bag, onto a desk or into a phone. A leaflet usually goes in the bin.
- It works for groups. Colleagues visiting together will happily jump in as a team, which gets you talking to several people at once.
Which booth works best on a stand?
Not every booth suits a trade show. Here's how we'd think about the main options.
ICON Booth: the all rounder
Our ICON Booth is solid oak with a DSLR camera and studio lighting, so the photos look properly good. It's hosted by our team, which matters on a busy stand: someone is there to wave people in, keep things moving and leave your sales team free to talk. Unlimited instant prints and digital sharing are included. Corporate hire starts from £595 + VAT.
Photomatic: the head turner
The Photomatic is a one-of-a-kind enclosed vintage booth. It looks like nothing else in the hall, which is half the point. It's self-service and can stay all day (up to 8 hours), so it suits long show days well. From £795 + VAT.
AI photo booth: for brand activations
If your stand is about showing off your brand or a product launch, an AI photo booth lets visitors see themselves in a scene or style that ties back to your message. It's a strong talking point and gives your team something to discuss beyond the photo itself.
Headshot booth: the useful one
A headshot booth gives visitors something they genuinely need: a decent professional photo for LinkedIn or their work profile. At a business show, "come and get a free headshot" is a very strong hook, and it suits brands that want to be seen as helpful rather than gimmicky.
If you're not sure, think about what you want people to do. Want buzz and a crowd? ICON or Photomatic. Want to tell a brand story? AI booth. Want to be the stand everyone recommends to their colleagues? Headshots.
Branding your prints
This is where the booth earns its money. For corporate events we can put your branding on the prints, the backdrop and the online gallery.
A few tips for print design:
- Keep the logo clear but not huge. People want a photo of themselves, not an advert with a face in it.
- Add your stand number or website. Anyone who picks up the print later knows where to find you.
- Match your stand graphics. Same colours and fonts make the whole thing feel joined up.
- Use a branded backdrop. Every digital photo shared afterwards then carries your brand too.
Planning space and power on your stand
This is the bit that catches people out, so sort it early.
Space. A booth needs about 8ft x 8ft. On a small shell scheme stand that's a big chunk of your floor, so plan your layout around it rather than squeezing it in at the end. Corner stands and open sides work best because the queue can spill into the aisle without blocking your own team.
Power. We need one standard socket, ideally within 2m of the booth (we can run extensions up to 10m). At big venues like the NEC, power is not automatic. You'll usually need to order it through your stand services or the organiser's exhibitor manual, and there are deadlines. Order it when you book your stand extras, not the week before.
Paperwork. Exhibitions love a form. We carry £10m public liability insurance and we're used to invoices, POs and supplier forms, so send them over and we'll get them back to you.
Multi-day shows
Lots of trade shows run over two or three days. A few things to think about:
- Hours. Show days are long. The Photomatic can stay up to 8 hours, and extra hours on other booths are £100 each, so it's worth working out your real opening hours before you get a quote.
- Overnight. Check the venue's rules on leaving kit on your stand overnight and talk to us about it when you book.
- Keep it fresh. You can change the print design between days, for example to tie in with a talk you're giving or a product you're pushing that day.
Using the photos afterwards
The show finishing is not the end of the value. You'll get an online gallery after the event, and there's a lot you can do with it:
- Share a selection on LinkedIn and tag the companies who visited.
- Use the gallery link in your post-show follow-up emails. "Here's your photo from our stand" is a friendlier opener than "Just following up".
- Pull the best shots into your next show's marketing so people know what to expect.
- Show your internal team and leadership how busy the stand was.
Briefing your stand team
A booth only brings people in. Your team still has to talk to them. A quick briefing before doors open makes a big difference:
- Agree the opener. Something simple like "Grab a photo while you're here" and then a natural follow-up question about their business.
- Split the jobs. With a hosted booth, our team handles the photos. Your team handles conversations. Nobody should be stuck fiddling with props while a good lead walks off.
- Work the queue. People waiting for the booth are standing still on your stand. That's the perfect moment for a chat.
- Don't hard sell in the booth. Let people enjoy it, then talk once they're holding their print.
Exhibiting at the NEC?
We cover Birmingham and the NEC, along with the rest of the UK. Our Birmingham and NEC photo booth hire page has the local details, and our corporate events page covers branding, invoicing and everything else your events or marketing team will want to know. Travel is quoted on top depending on where you are.
Ready to check your date?
Trade show dates are fixed months ahead and good booths get booked up, so it's worth getting in early. Send us your show dates, stand size and opening hours and we'll tell you what fits. Get in touch here or call us on 0114 470 1215.
