CHICAGO EVENT + CONFERENCES
Chicago Conference Headshot Stations
Elevate your next corporate event with a professional headshot station. High-volume, high-quality portraits for attendees, available in Chicago and nationwide.
THE ATTENDEE EXPERIENCE
The Ultimate Attendee Experience
(And Lead Generator)
Providing a professional headshot station is one of the highest-value offerings you can bring to a conference. It drives massive foot traffic and provides a tangible benefit that attendees remember long after the event ends.
More importantly, it is a powerful lead-generation tool. We capture attendee emails on-site to facilitate the instant delivery of their images. This provides you or your event sponsor with a highly qualified list of engaged attendees long after the conference ends.
Drive Foot
Traffic
A headshot station consistently draws the longest lines at any conference. Attendees plan their schedule around it.
Capture Qualified
Emails
Every attendee provides their email to receive their images. You walk away with a verified, engaged list from the event.
Instant
Delivery
Attendees receive their retouched images on-site, same day. They can update their LinkedIn before they leave the building.
What Event Clients Say
★★★★★
"He arrived early with a smile on his face and was extremely kind and professional, even when we had a couple last minute changes on location. He delivered 100 high quality headshots for our group in less than a week!"
— Meredith M.
★★★★★
"These were a benefit of attending an event and it was a really nice surprise. Cameron made it so easy and got a bunch of great shots."
— Matthew K.
★★★★★
"We used Second City Headshots to do all of our corporate headshots during a company event. The headshots turned out great! All of our employees were happy with the experience and the pictures!"
— Erica D.
INCLUDED IN EVERY EVENT
Instant Delivery, Retouched
Every attendee receives retouched images delivered to their inbox on-site, the same day. No waiting. No follow-up. No upgrade required.
PREMIUM ADD-ON
Advanced Retouching
For attendees who want a deeper level of editing, advanced retouching is available for purchase directly from their gallery after the event.
Build Your Event Headshot Quote
WHERE WE WORK
From Trade Shows to Company Retreats
Not every event is a conference. The headshot station model works across a wide range of corporate formats, and the logistics shift slightly depending on the setting. Here is where we most commonly work and what makes each one different.
Conferences and summits are the highest-volume environment. Attendees are already dressed professionally, they have downtime between sessions, and they are actively thinking about their professional presence. A headshot station at a conference draws consistent traffic throughout the day and often becomes the most-talked-about activation at the event.
Trade shows and expos have a different dynamic. Foot traffic is less predictable, and attendees are often in a hurry. We build the station for speed without sacrificing quality, and the instant delivery means someone can have a new headshot on their LinkedIn before they reach the next booth.
Company off-sites and retreats are the most relaxed environment. The whole team is together, they are in a good mood, and there is usually time built into the schedule. These sessions often double as a team headshot day, giving the company a consistent set of images from a single session.
Networking events work well when the headshot station is positioned near the entrance or a high-traffic area. The wait time itself becomes a networking opportunity, and attendees leave with something tangible from an event that would otherwise produce nothing but business cards.
PLANNING YOUR EVENT
What We Need From You
How it works on the day:
Attendees check in on-site and step in front of the camera. Each session takes under two minutes. Every attendee receives their AI-assisted retouched images the same day via email, delivered to a private gallery. There is no waiting, no follow-up, and no extra cost to the attendee. Retouching is included for every image at every event, regardless of package.
Throughput:
We photograph approximately 20 to 25 attendees per hour at a single station. For events expecting more than 100 participants, we recommend either a longer session window or a second photographer running a parallel station. We will advise on the right setup when you request your quote.
Space requirements:
A single station needs approximately 10 by 12 feet of floor space. We prefer placement near high-traffic areas such as registration, the main entrance, or a hallway between session rooms. Avoid direct sunlight if possible for consistent image quality.
Power and connectivity:
We need access to a standard power outlet within 20 feet and reliable Wi-Fi for same-day image delivery. A dedicated 15 to 20 amp circuit is sufficient for a single station.
Setup and breakdown:
We handle all equipment transport, setup, and breakdown. Setup takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes before the first attendee. Breakdown takes 20 to 30 minutes after the last session. We arrive early and leave clean.
Multi-day events:
For conferences running two or more days, we can staff the station for the full duration or for designated time blocks. Scheduling tools and QR code check-in are available for events that want to manage attendee flow in advance.
We have worked in hotel ballrooms, convention center breakout rooms, rooftop venues, and open office spaces. If the space has power and a wall, we can make it work.
FOR SPONSORS
How Sponsors Use the Headshot Station
The headshot station is one of the few conference activations that attendees actively seek out rather than walk past. That makes it unusually valuable as a sponsorship placement.
Because retouching and instant delivery are included in every event package, the attendee experience is already premium. A sponsor does not need to cover additional costs to offer a high-quality benefit. What sponsorship adds is branding. Custom email delivery templates, branded gallery pages, and custom backdrop or graphic panel options are all available. Every time an attendee opens their images, which can be months or years after the event, the sponsor's brand is in the frame.
Every attendee who uses the station provides their email address to receive their images. That list is delivered to the event organizer or sponsor after the event. Unlike badge scans or business card drops, every person on this list made a deliberate choice to participate. The quality of the lead data is meaningfully higher than most other conference lead-generation methods.
For trade shows specifically, the headshot station can be positioned as a booth activation rather than a conference-wide amenity. Attendees visit the booth, get their headshot, and provide their contact information in exchange. The result is a warm lead list built entirely from people who engaged directly with your brand.
ADD-ON SERVICE
Event Photography While You’re There
If you have a headshot station booked, adding event photography is a natural extension. Everyone is already gathered, dressed professionally, and in the same place. It is one of the most efficient ways to build a library of authentic team and event content.
Event photography captures what headshots cannot: the energy of the room, speakers at the podium, team interactions, award moments, and candid shots that show your organization in motion. These images are useful for internal communications, social media, recruiting materials, and annual reports.
Additional event coverage is available at $250 per hour. Mention it when you request your quote and we will build it into the schedule.
PRICES
Conference & Event Pricing
Event pricing is based on the duration of the conference, the expected volume of attendees, and your specific delivery and lead-generation requirements. We travel nationwide for multi-day events.
Custom quote based on event size and duration
Nationwide travel available
Instant delivery of retouched images included
Advanced retouching available as an individual upgrade
Attendee email capture included
Frequently Asked Questions About conference Headshot Stations
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A conference headshot station is a professional photography setup at a corporate event or conference where attendees can get a high-quality headshot taken on-site. Second City Headshots provides the equipment, photographer, AI-assisted retouching, and same-day delivery. Every attendee receives their finished, retouched images the same day at no additional cost.
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Yes. AI-assisted retouching is included for every image at every event. Attendees receive polished, finished images the same day, not raw files. There are no upcharges for retouching and no waiting period.
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Attendees provide their email address on-site and receive their retouched images via email the same day, delivered to a private gallery. They can update their LinkedIn before they leave the building.
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No problem! They have that option to purchase when they receive their individual galleries.
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We photograph approximately 20 to 25 attendees per hour at a single station. For large events, we can bring a second photographer to increase throughput. We will advise on the right setup when you request your quote.
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Event headshot stations are priced by time, not by the number of attendees. A half-day session (up to 4 hours) is $1,850. A full-day session (up to 8 hours) is $3,200. There are no per-person overage fees regardless of volume.
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A single station requires approximately 10 by 12 feet of floor space, access to a standard power outlet within 20 feet, and reliable Wi-Fi. We handle all setup and breakdown.
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Yes. We travel nationwide for multi-day conferences and events. Travel costs are included in the custom quote.