Citizens Bank Boosts Trade Show Engagement with Innovative Photo Booth by OutSnapped
by Nicholas Rhodes,
Last Updated on 08/08/2024
At realtor conferences, every lender has the same playbook: a logo backdrop, branded pens, maybe a raffle.
Citizens wanted something more memorable, and, more importantly, a reason to keep the conversation going after the show.
The Challenge
Trade shows are crowded. Every booth is competing for the same few seconds of attention, and attendees have seen every giveaway imaginable.
Citizens needed a way to draw people in without shouting, give them something worth stopping for, and turn that interaction into a follow-up opportunity not just another business card in a pile.
The Experience
We built a "Wish You Were Here" postcard photo experience that turned booth visits into personalized keepsakes.
The experience was simple:
- Realtors stepped in for a quick photo.
- They chose from city-specific postcard backgrounds tailored to each event, from Boston landmarks to the Atlantic City boardwalk.
- OutSnapped created a branded postcard-style image they could instantly save and share.
- Guests received their photo by email, while Citizens collected permission-based contact information for future follow-up.
- A live slideshow showcased recent photos, naturally attracting more attendees to the booth.
The experience traveled easily from event to event, whether Citizens wanted a fully staffed activation or a ship-and-deploy setup.
Why It Worked
It made Citizens feel local.
Boston backgrounds for Boston events. Atlantic City boardwalks for Jersey shows. Citizens showed up as a lender that understood each market not just another national bank.
It turned a fun moment into a lead.
Realtors received a personalized keepsake worth saving. Citizens received an email address worth following up on. No clipboard required.
It broke up the trade show routine.
In a hall full of nearly identical booths, a live photo experience gave people a reason to stop, smile, and start a conversation.
It scaled.
The same concept worked across multiple markets with either staffed or ship-and-deploy setups, making it easy to repeat without rebuilding the experience each time.
Why Photo Booths Work at Trade Shows
Trade show attendees don't stop because they need another brochure.
They stop because something catches their attention.
- It's a reason to stop. A photo experience stands out in a sea of branded booths.
- It's a fair exchange. Attendees receive something they'll actually keep, and brands collect permission-based contact information.
- It's a conversation starter. Live slideshows attract a crowd and keep people engaged long enough for meaningful conversations.
- It travels. Ship-and-deploy setups make it easy to recreate the same experience at every event.
The Results
Citizens brought this activation to realtor conferences across the Northeast, returning to the format because it consistently delivered.
At one four-day expo alone, the booth generated:
- 355 photo sessions
- 290 branded photos
- 65 animated GIFs
- An average of 89 qualified leads per day
Instead of collecting a stack of cold badge scans, Citizens left each event with memorable customer interactions, fresh contacts, and an activation they could confidently bring back year after year.
What We Built
Capability | What It Meant for Citizens Bank |
"Wish You Were Here" postcard photo booth | A distinctive, city-specific experience that made the booth worth visiting |
Local landmark backgrounds | Positioned Citizens as a lender that understood each market |
Live event slideshow | Drew attention and encouraged attendees to stop and participate |
Email delivery with permission-based data capture | Turned personalized keepsakes into qualified follow-up opportunities |
On-site and ship-and-deploy options | Flexible deployment across multiple trade shows and markets |
Want to Stand Out at Your Next Trade Show?
If you're a bank or financial brand trying to stand out at conferences and trade shows, you don't need a louder pitch. You need a memorable moment people actually want to participate in.