on the job: headshot booth at the 2024 pa conference for women
The Pennsylvania Conference for Women attracted nearly 9,000 women to Philadelphia this year. Our team was there in 2022 and 2023 so I was happy to be back at it with my right hand woman, Theresa. I love what the event stands for and am so grateful I was able to be involved in my own way. If you are unfamiliar with the conference itself, here’s how they identify their mission:
“The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is a non-profit, non-partisan, professional and personal development event for women that features renowned speakers sharing inspirational stories and leading seminars on the issues that matter most to women, including health, personal finance, executive leadership, small business and entrepreneurship, work/life balance, branding and social media marketing, and more.”
I teamed up with my friends at Villanova School of Business, one of the main sponsors of the event, to provide free headshots for conference attendees. To enhance the value of their booth, alongside career coaching and resume reviews, VSB decided that offering updated headshots to as many attendees as possible would be a great addition. Last year we were able to photograph over 960 people, we were ready for the challenge!
Just like last year, we opted for two photographers and two photo stations in order to double our efforts. That way we could photograph as many faces as possible in the five shooting hours we had to work with.
We set up two identical backdrops, one for each photographer, to maximize efficiency. With support from the amazing team at Villanova who handled registration and managed the steadily growing line, we worked hard to keep things moving smoothly. Another added benefit from the headshot booth is the opportunity to network with others while waiting in line. If you check out our recent reel on Instagram, you can see connections happening in real time!
After the conference, the photos got a quick edit from yours truly and were then uploaded to an online link for viewing. Each person who had a photo taken was able to then download their photo a few days after the conference. Once it was all said and done, we had photographed over 1100 people!
The simple addition of a corporate headshot booth is a win-win for everyone involved. Attendees walk away with a high-quality headshot they can use to refresh their LinkedIn profiles or resumes, while your event gains a memorable, shareable experience that sets it apart. Headshot booths naturally spark conversations and foster networking, giving attendees a fun and professional talking point. Plus, they show off your commitment to attendees' career growth, adding a personal touch to the event. As a bonus, they also drive foot traffic to key areas, creating opportunities for sponsors and nearby sessions.
I love what this conference is all about, and I love that I was able to add something tangible for so many attendees. If you have a conference or large gathering coming up, let’s chat. Maybe your guests would benefit from a similar offering.