The Magic of AI-Powered Photo Booths: Capturing the Nostalgia at Sens Retro Neon Night
Last month, Our friends at the Ottawa Sens asked us to create a special themed photo booth to rally fans and boost social shares as the Sens returned for a home game against the Seattle Krakens. The Canadian Tire Centre was hosting its Retro Neon Night, so we gathered our gear and set off to help fans time-travel to the 80s in style.
Two fans in Ottawa Senators hockey jerseys laughing with an event staff member as they view their video results.
Our client wanted a fun and interactive photo experience for fans in attendance that would also serve as a social media marketing tool. For the occasion, our classic 360 Photo Booth got a makeover—a virtual one, that is. The custom-branded enclosure we created for other Sens games was a great starting point, but wasn’t quite retro enough to fit the event’s theme. We wanted to build an entire neon environment for guests to take fun videos throughout the night. Enter AI technology. Ah, the future.
Our talented animation team created a virtual background of a 3D room filled with neon everything. Even the Sens logo and ‘Go Sens Go’ slogan were lit up with vibrant hues. We used AI to segment people from the green screen background and then replace it with the branded video we produced. While the physical photo booth enclosure consisted of a regular green screen, what appeared on the camera interface was a totally futuristic neon-style room.
Close-up of a professional camera and lighting setup on a green screen stage, with a tablet displaying a neon Ottawa Senators logo.
A computer monitor displaying images of Ottawa Senators fans on a neon-lit green screen stage.
We added coloured LED lights above the enclosure and played 80s music to complete the immersive experience and make the set feel authentically retro. Inside the photo booth, guests simply scanned a QR code to activate the equipment and, with the help of our onsite Director, posed as the 360 camera captured a video from all angles. The footage was then quickly edited on-site, incorporating branding materials, upbeat music, and a custom-branded outro. Guests passing by thought the outputs on the display screen were taken in an actual room!
Once the immersive photo experience was done, guests simply scanned a QR code outside the photo booth to instantly receive their video results and easily upload them to their favourite social media platforms. It was a strategically branded and completely sharable photo experience for fans to enjoy as they cheered the Sens on.
A group of Ottawa Senators fans in jerseys raising their arms in a victory pose on inside the photo booth set.
The benefits of photo and video experiences are plentiful, especially if you’re looking to enhance the event experience, boost engagement and interaction, and get a leg up on your marketing strategy. As a cutting-edge photo and video experience business, MDRN Activations is always on top of new technology to create memorable branded and event experiences.
AI-powered photo booths can be customized to fit the theme or branding of your unique events. They can offer themed backgrounds, overlays, and interactive features, leaving a lasting impression on your target audience like never before.
Experiential marketing efforts, like photo booths and custom photo/video activations, have become increasingly important in today’s digital age. Consumers often seek authenticity, personal connections, and memorable moments in their brand interactions. It allows businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors and build stronger brand loyalty by creating genuine connections with their audience.
A young fan in an Ottawa Senators jersey scans a QR code at a digital kiosk with a smartphone.
Incorporating AI technology into our services allows for highly customizable and dynamic photo experiences that cater to your event's unique needs and themes. These experiences are designed to be shareable, memorable, and capable of generating buzz and excitement—which is precisely how your brand can up its game in today’s competitive marketing landscape.
Check out some of the 360 booth videos posted on the official Ottawa Sens social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.