How to Build Instagram First Backdrops Without Being Basic

Many a starry-eyed kid comes to NYC to see their name in lights. But event planners dreaming of the big time? They want to see their events shine far and wide on Instagram. How do you achieve viral victory on social media? Start with a photo backdrop for your event that will bring out your guests’ innermost diva.

Use Your Photo Backdrop to Tell a Story

Make Instagram photos of your event worth at least a thousand words. When guests post their photos on Instagram, their followers should be able to tell a few things about your event. 

• • Event’s theme: Whether it’s casino night, 1920s speakeasy, or Hollywood glamour, make sure your backdrop incorporates elements of your theme to give viewers on Instagram a healthy dose of FOMO. 
  • Client’s brand name: Building Instagram-worthy backdrops for events is all about the branding. Whether it’s the newly married couples’ names, a 60th anniversary celebration, or a product launch, the stars of the event should be evident in the photo backdrop. 
  • Screams fun: You want an Instagram background that people can’t help but smile at. How to do that? Read on. 

Include Interactive Elements

Bring out the smiles when you let them play and have fun. Interactive elements encourage creativity. The result is infinite variations that make each Instagram post feel new and fresh.

Simple props, like chalkboards, oversized anything, and mirrors, go a long way towards keeping people engaged in posting photos at your event. But consider using technology to make your Instagram background irresistible. 

• • LED screens displaying the view from the top of Everest or the Empire State Building.
  • Green backgrounds that allow users to choose their backdrop from a predetermined selection.
  • LED message boards that users can write or draw on. 

Evoke Emotion

Combine visual elements that make participants feel something. 

• • Excited: Incorporate reds. Make the composition of the backdrop complex and interesting, with one strong visual element that serves as the focal point.
  • Relaxed: Use shades of blue and green. Keep visual elements symmetrical and balanced. Incorporate plants, flowers, and other natural elements. 
  • Happy: Think yellow, like a big, smiley happy face. Include surprising and fun elements, like a clawfoot tub that people can pile into. 
  • Sophisticated: Use black, but not too much, as it can be intimidating. Clean lines and minimal décor create a modern, elegant backdrop.

Get the Lighting Right

No one wants to break a sweat and melt their makeup standing under a canopy of blazing LED lights. And likewise, no one wants to be the one lost in the shadows in the group photo. 

Let Them Borrow Your Camera

Don’t break the group up by forcing one person behind the camera to take the photo. Set up an easy-to-use tablet on a tripod. Guests can also enter their email addresses to receive the photo, and you can watermark the shots with your logo. 

Incorporate Your Logo Subtly

Speaking of logos, subtle is better. No one will want to use your Instagram backdrop if it feels like it only exists to prop up your brand. Ensure that your brand makes it into the shot, but that it doesn’t distract from the other elements. 

Find More Tips at The Event Planner Expo

Finding Instagram fame as an event planner takes vision and grit. But you don’t have to go it alone. You can build your network, meet event vendors, and learn from the best at The Event Planner Expo. Spend three glittering days being inspired and taking in the newest event planning trends.