Wedding expos connect brides and photographers — but they also introduce those same brides to dozens of other photographers. So how do photographers stand out? Factors like the quality of your portfolio and approachability are important, but that won’t do you much good unless your booth actually catches their eye in the first place. Creating a unique display is key to bringing brides to your booth — here are six ideas for grabbing their attention.
Use color.
Most vendors use white or black tablecloths, but color could be a good way to stand out. Colorful photos, of course, help, but using tablecloths and backdrops besides the usual white and black help too. Just make sure you choose a color that reflects your work or your brand — try matching the tablecloths to the color scheme in your largest display photo, for example.
Think height.
Picture the expo space filled with tables all roughly the same height. A good way to stand out from across the room is to build a display that’s tall. Just how you build that display varies — perhaps making your backdrop stands do double duty or hanging large canvases — but it’s the height that often stands out from across the room.
Embrace brand identity.
Color and height is great — but your booth design should also match your brand identity. Don’t opt for a red tablecloth if your images are largely soft pastels. Look to your logo and even more importantly, your work, to find inspiration for your booth. Don’t decorate with sleek modern designs if your work is inspired by vintage film.
Think large prints.
Bigger prints don’t just show off the resolution and quality of your work, they’re also easily visible from across a crowded aisle. Large photos are eye-catching, make sure at least one of your prints exceeds the usual 11×17.
Use multiple albums.
Once you’ve caught their attention, photo albums are great ways to display large volumes of work. Flipping through an album can keep a bride at your booth longer while you are finishing up a conversation with another — so having multiple albums is a good idea to keep more brides a bit more patient. Along with having a printed album or two, a digital display flipping through even larger galleries can also help waiting brides stay a little longer.
Give brides something to keep.
One of the most important displays is one that brides can take with them — giving them easy reference for your name and phone number. Business cards, flyers and postcards are common — even booklets detailing what to expect with sample images and a contract. Don’t be afraid to get creative — giving brides something useful with your name and contact information on it gives them a reason not to pitch it at the end of the show. For example, a helpful wedding checklist magnet may earn your business name a spot on their fridge.
Wedding expos can be powerful marketing tools for photographers. And while there are many aspects to running a successful bridal show booth, catching a newly engaged couple’s attention often starts with a great display.