How Aviator Nation Turned A Custom Photo Booth Into A Festival Brand Experience
At The Malibu Chili Cook-Off
Festival Brand Activation | Malibu, CA | Custom Enclosed Photo Booth
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Festival Brand Activation | Malibu, CA | Custom Enclosed Photo Booth
The Malibu Chili Cook-Off had no shortage of things to do, from carnival rides and games to food and live music. For Aviator Nation, the event’s presenting sponsor, we brought a custom enclosed photo booth wrapped in festival graphics, with branded photo strips for guests to take home. The booth placed the sponsor at the center of the action while inviting festivalgoers to stop for a photo.
We had a good three days in front of the crowd. Our booth paired a retro design with the festival’s colorful identity. Guests could walk away with a photo of the weekend and the people they spent it with.
Metric | Results |
Photo Sessions | 809 total sessions |
Total Shares | 719 shares |
Total Reach | 52,122 |
Total Impressions | 176,358 |
Booth Type | Custom-wrapped Enclosed Photo Booth |
Client: Aviator Nation
Event: Malibu Chili Cook-Off presented by Aviator Nation
Location: Malibu, California
Date: September 5-7, 2026
Event Duration: 3 days
Estimated Attendance: 7,000 attendees
Aviator Nation’s Malibu Chili Cook-off had all the elements of a memorable Labor Day weekend. Our part was a custom photo booth that carried that event identity into something guests could do together.
One thing that the enclosed format always brings to an event is nostalgia. There is a familiar excitement to that experience. The exterior is designed to catch the eye among a sea of attractions. The bold graphics blended well with the festival’s theme.
Inside, guests sat for their photos and left with a strip printed with the event name and sponsor. Aviator Nation’s presence ran from the booth guests walked up to through to the photos they brought home.
A festival gives people plenty of ways to spend their time. But we were not there to compete with the entertainment and carnival rides. Rather, we want our booth to be another activity that festival-goers will enjoy.
Our job was to give it enough personality to hold its own. The event graphics tied it to everything else on the grounds, while the classic curtain entrance made the activity familiar. The enclosed design also gave guests a break from the surrounding noise. They could step behind the curtain for their photos, then head straight back into the festival.
We used the booth exterior to draw people in and the print layout to send the branding home.
Immediately at first glance, the interior bench and black-and-white checkerboard floor are visible. The red curtain added color at the entrance and privacy during each session. Together, they gave the setup a classic photo booth feel, with a dedicated place to sit and pose and the camera framing guests inside.
The wrap covered the booth’s front panels. A tiger illustration sat above the Malibu Chili Cook-Off lettering, with Aviator Nation’s presenting credit directly below the event name. To grab attention, we added yellow, red, and orange stripes beside the entrance.
For the prints, we opted for a light blue background with three stacked photos. The footer carried the event name, Aviator Nation’s presenting credit and AV logo, and the year 2026. The Boys and Girls Club of Malibu logo appeared there, too.
Pairs and small groups sat together, smiling and switching up their looks between frames. Three images per strip gave them room for different poses. The event branding was positioned under photos of the guests themselves, connecting the sponsor to the awesome event.
We had a high number of photo prints, which shows that physical keepsakes are a large part of this activation. Text messages and downloads also appeared in the report, providing guests with digital copies alongside the print.
Our analytics recorded that in 809 photo sessions, there were 801 prints. But more importantly, those sessions resulted in 719 total shares, translating to 541 views, a reach of 52,122, and 176,358 impressions.
These results give the event team a reference for planning future brand activations. These data also help show what the booth contributed to the event.
The booth’s nostalgic format matched the event’s creative direction. For Aviator Nation, the branding landed at two moments: when guests walked up to the booth and when they received their photos. The participation we recorded supports pairing a recognizable activity with custom event graphics.
Here is why. A photo booth at an entertainment brand activation in LA is not just a fun add-on. It works as a content engine. Every session creates shareable assets. Every influencer who receives a branded digital file becomes a potential organic post. Every guest who walks away with a physical print holds a reminder of the brand experience. It is something they are likely to display, share, or talk about.
Stay Golden Photo Booth has built its reputation in Los Angeles and Orange County on this level of execution. Our open air booth setups, custom green screen builds, and branded digital delivery systems are designed for the demands of professional film and media events. This is not the same as a standard party setup. It is built for high-level brand activations that require precision, speed, and quality.
Stay Golden Photo Booth partners with brands and event teams across Southern California to create photo experiences for everything from festivals to product launches. We combine custom booth designs with professional photography to give guests photos worth keeping and sharing.
We build the experience around your campaign goals, customizing the booth wrap, print layout, and digital graphics to match your brand. We also have trained attendants on site throughout the event. For a sponsor presence like Aviator Nation’s, that means carrying the branding from the installation into the keepsake.
We also handle digital delivery and post-event reporting, so your team can review participation and sharing. If lead capture is part of your brief, we can cover collection and opt-in options during planning.
Explore our brand activation photo booth services to see what we can build for your next event. Tell us what you’re planning and request a custom quote.
Let’s discuss how Stay Golden Photo Booth can help you create a memorable guest experience while building your marketing database.
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Author at Stay Golden Photo Booth
Thomas Praxedes is the retired Marine behind Stay Golden Photo Booth. He brings 9 years of photo booth experience to weddings, corporate events, and brand activations across Southern California. He focuses on a seamless experience, high-quality photos, fast setup, and trained assistants. He writes guides based on what works onsite and shares practical tips from real events to help you plan smarter.
