First things first: what is a brand activation?
More than just a party, but not a permanent experience, a brand activation is an immersive, interactive experience for consumers to get to know your brand, product, services, or mission. It’s often used for new product launch, rebranding, or to re-engage consumers with your brand.
Sometimes, brand activations are just a one-night party, kind of like a launch party. Other times, it’s a temporary install either at your place of business or somewhere related. And sometimes it’s a cross-country experience.
And a brand activation experience takes more than a party planner to pull this off. You need brand experts, designers (graphic design, interior design, architectural design, you name it). You need a marketing team to advertise the experience and keep it going while it remains open.
And you need someone to record the experience, to help you remember it. That’s where a photo booth comes into play.
1. What’s an event without the pictures?
You spent all the time and money on your event or install, you don’t want people to just forget about it, do you?
It’s that whole “proof or it didn’t happen” idea. Whether you go for a digital booth, virtual booth, or hand out printed photos so event guests can show them off at home or work, photos keep those memories alive.
The pros of a digital photo booth: Guests can instantly share their photo booth pictures to social media. Add a custom hashtag for the activation, and you have some good, lasting brand memory on social media. Also, no printed picture means nothing for guests to have to hold onto at your event; they can print it on their own time.
The pros of a photo booth with printed pictures: Guests get a printed photo from the photo booth to display at home, work, school, wherever. The print will last, and won’t get lost on their phone. But what about social media sharing? you may ask. Create selfie stations, tell them to tag your brand and use a hashtag. While a photo booth can help guests share your brand on social media, they’ll often share it own their own.
2. It’s not just for taking pictures. The photo booth is an experience at your activation.
There’s something about a photo booth where people just let loose and go wild. Throw their inhibitions to the wind (within reason!). Whether you offer custom props, use a branded backdrop, or build a custom photo booth set just for your brand activation, the possibilities are endless—and there are lots of photo booth owners who love working with creative clients who think outside the box.
Think more than just taking a picture. Make the photo booth part of the experience.
Create the custom props. Make a background that makes them says “WOW.” Design a photo set that creates an unforgettable scene.
3. Many photo booth companies offer installs or virtual options
This is the perfect option is you want a photo booth with digital images. The photo booth company will install their photo booth at your location and leave it. If you choose to go this route, be sure to ask the photo booth owner about regular service checks and to make sure their booth is insured for this use.
Don’t want a physical booth at your event? That’s where a virtual photo booth comes into play. A virtual photo booth lets users take their own photo and add a “virtual” frame on their image. These images are really easy for event guests to share on social media. As a bonus, those images they share will have your activation branding on it, giving your brand that extra boost.
4. That photo booth picture is an easy event giveaway
If you’re already adding the photo booth to the event, may as well make the output part of the party package.
Offer printed photos as part of the swag for your activation. Photo booth companies offer templates for their 2×6, 4×6, or 5×7 prints—and often you can design your own branded frame for the print.
Another swag idea is to package the print in photo folders or paper picture frames. It’s an inexpensive addition to your event, but helps create a longer-lasting experience because of the branding potential of these photo booth giveaways.
5. Doesn’t need to take up much space.
You might have such a big install or such little space in general that you think a photo booth won’t fit. Not true!
While you can create an experience with the photo booth, you don’t have to. Many photo booths just need about 2 square feet for the camera (really!) plus space for enthusiastic guests to have their photo taken. Plan for an 8′ x 8′ space.
But there is another option… the handheld roaming photo booth! This requires someone to walk around with the camera (typically an iPad) and take pictures of guests. This option takes up the least amount of space, and as an added bonus, you get to interact with the photo booth attendant (they’re the one who takes the pictures). Roaming photo booths typically offer digital images only.
So are you getting a photo booth for your brand activation?
What activities or events you have at a brand activation? The sky’s the limit. Dream big, or crush it with something smaller but more memorable.
But having a photo booth helps guests capture their memories. It’s a worthwhile investment that will help keep people talking about your brand.
Need to package your photo booth prints? We create custom-branded photo folders and paper frames. Easy for anyone to use, and it gives your branding an added boost.