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Not Normal Conference Photography: Create Headshot Experiences for Event Attendees

Conference photography is great, but if you organize these kinds of events, consider setting up a headshot booth as a fantastic value-add for attendees.

I've been thinking about a project I worked on a few months back that illustrates this perfectly. I should also point out I'm not a conference photographer, so I guess this is a non-conference photographer's suggestion on how to use a headshot photographer at your next conference.



professional photographer Mil Patel is taking a headshot of a client


 

Hey, I'm trying something new. Don't have time to read? No problem! Listen to this AI-enabled audio version of this post. This is an experiment, so please let me know what you think of the format.




The podcast was made through Google's Notebook LM.

 


Picture this: You’re organizing a conference. You’ve got the venue, speakers, catering—all the usual stuff. But you’re still searching for that something special. Something that’ll have attendees talking long after the conference ends. Well, let me tell you about an idea that did just that for the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO).


A "Wow" Factor for Busy Organizers


OAO approached me with a challenge: They wanted to give their attendees something unique and valuable. Their idea? Professional headshots, right there at their conference.

Now, like I said, I’m not your typical conference photographer. I specialize in creating headshot experiences. At first, I wasn’t sure how this would fit into a packed conference schedule. But after talking it through, I realized this could be exactly what conference organizers like you are looking for.


Why Headshots? Why Now?


Think about it. How many professionals do you know still use an old graduation photo on LinkedIn? Or worse—a badly lit selfie? (We’ve all seen them, right?)

Offering professional headshots at your conference gives attendees something they need but haven’t made time for. It’s practical, it’s valuable, and most importantly—it’s memorable.


Efficiency Meets Quality

With 400 people to photograph over two days, we needed a system. I explained to the organizers, “We need three minutes per person—get them relaxed, get the shot, get them moving.” I’ve done enough of these events to know that efficiency is key.


Ontario Association of Optometrists-Conference Photography Headshots of members with logo in centre.




Attendees Loved It

You never really know how these activations will go over, but this one was a hit. Time slots were filled, and lots of smiles (not just in the photos). Around 85% of attendees ended up posting their new headshots on LinkedIn or Instagram and tagging me—that’s always a great sign of satisfaction.




Attendees left the conference with a tangible, valuable asset for their professional lives—giving the conference organizers credit for making it available for these busy attendees. Bonus was they had great engagement after the event as they were tagged along with me in the post by the attendee.


A job well done!




Why Headshot Experiences Work for Conferences

  • Makes your event stand out

  • Provides real value for attendees

  • Helps build connections with organizers

  • Generates social buzz (LinkedIn & Instagram)

  • Enhances the professional feel of your event


If you’re a conference organizer or venue looking to offer attendees something they’ll love during and after the event, let’s talk. I’d love to chat about the OAO experience and what we can create together. Get in touch!

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