BNI Networking Carnival Event Tintypes

A Carnival-Themed Networking Event with a Twist

Networking events don't have to feel like networking events.

Instead of simply putting a bunch of business professionals in a room with name tags and hoping everyone starts talking, this BNI event leaned into a full carnival theme. The result was an atmosphere that encouraged people to get out of their usual professional mode, have some fun, meet people from other BNI chapters, and actually enjoy themselves.

That made the tintype booth a particularly good fit.

A tintype isn't something you take on your phone and forget about five minutes later. Each portrait is made using a historic photographic process, creating a one-of-a-kind physical photograph that guests can actually take home.

For an event built around meeting new people and creating connections, it gave everyone another reason to stop, introduce themselves, and have a little fun.

A Tintype Photo Booth is unlike a Traditional Photo Booth

My Colorado tintype photo booth combines historic photographic equipment with the experience of a modern event activation. Instead of an automated booth, guests step in front of a large-format historic camera and have their portrait made as an actual tintype photograph.

For this type of event, I bring an Agfa Ansco 8x10 view camera from the early 1900s paired with a Charles Burr lens dating from 1877. The combination produces portraits with a distinctly vintage character that you simply can't replicate with a standard digital photo booth.

Guests receive a physical 5x7 tintype portrait as a keepsake from the event. There is something pretty great about watching someone see their finished portrait for the first time and realizing that they just received something that was made specifically for them.

It's part photo booth, part historical photography experience, and part conversation starter.

The Village Workspace: A South Denver Venue Built for Community

The event took place at The Village Workspace, located at 7173 S. Havana Street in Centennial, Colorado. The venue sits in the south Denver/Denver Tech Center area, making it a convenient location for businesses and professionals coming from throughout the Denver metro.

The Village Workspace isn't simply a traditional coworking office. It was created around the idea of bringing people together, with coworking, private offices, meeting spaces, wellness studios, and dedicated event space all under one roof. The Village has grown to include more than 80 offices and wellness studios as well as an event center designed for meetings, conferences, celebrations, and other larger gatherings.

For businesses looking for event space in Centennial, Greenwood Village, or the Denver Tech Center, there are a variety of options depending on the size and style of the event.

Meeting and Event Spaces at The Village Workspace

The Village Workspace offers several different types of spaces, including:

• Private offices for individuals and teams
• Open coworking areas for flexible work
• Meeting rooms for smaller gatherings
• Conference and boardrooms for professional meetings and presentations
• Training rooms for larger groups
• A ballroom/event center capable of accommodating larger events and celebrations
• Wellness spaces and studios for fitness, yoga, and other wellness-focused activities

The Village specifically promotes meeting and event spaces ranging from smaller rooms for intimate meetings to larger training spaces and a ballroom that can accommodate events of up to approximately 200 people.

That flexibility made it a natural setting for a BNI gathering where the goal was to bring together a large group of professionals while still creating smaller opportunities for conversation and connection.

Learn more about The Village Workspace.

The Team Behind the Carnival-Themed BNI Event

Great events don't happen because of one vendor. They happen when a group of talented people each bring their own specialty to the table.

Event Planning: Good Ol'-Fashioned Party

Good Ol'-Fashioned Party, led by Heather O'Connell, handled the event planning and brought the carnival concept together.

Heather and her team specialize in creating customized weddings, parties, corporate events, fundraisers, customer appreciation events, and other celebrations. Their approach is centered around creating events that feel personal rather than like another cookie-cutter function.

For this event, Heather's planning helped create the environment that allowed all of the other vendors to shine.

Music: Social Chemistry Events

Social Chemistry Events provided the music, with Carlos keeping the energy moving throughout the event.

Social Chemistry Events provides DJ and MC services throughout the Denver metro area, along with event coordination, photography, photo booths, lighting, videography, and other event services.

For a carnival-themed networking event, having music that keeps the room energized is a pretty important part of the equation.

Event Photography: Pink Poppy Media

Pink Poppy Media, led by Amanda Maughmer, was there to document the event.

Amanda specializes in branding, headshots, corporate events, products, and other professional photography. Her event photography focuses on capturing the energy, people, and moments that make an event worth remembering.

Having a professional event photographer working alongside a photo booth is a great combination. The booth gives guests an interactive experience, while the event photographer can capture the bigger story happening around it.

Drinks: Mix and Shoot Beverage

Mix and Shoot Beverage kept the drinks flowing.

Mix and Shoot is a Colorado-based mobile bartending and beverage company providing service for corporate events, weddings, private parties, and other celebrations. Their approach goes beyond simply showing up with a bar—they offer crafted cocktails, mixers, and customized beverage experiences.

Wine: Paul with WineShop At Home

WineShop At Home, represented at the event by Paul, brought the wine component to the party.

WineShop At Home offers wine tasting experiences, wine clubs, and wines produced by its Napa Valley winery. Their tasting model is designed to bring the wine experience directly to gatherings and homes.

Catering: Entrambi Catering

Entrambi Catering took care of the food.

Entrambi is a women-owned, Colorado-based catering company focused on scratch-made food and creating experiences around gathering and celebration. Their catering services range from casual brunches and social gatherings to corporate events, weddings, galas, and larger celebrations.

With food, drinks, music, photography, event planning, and an interactive tintype experience all happening under one roof, this event had pretty much every ingredient needed for a memorable night.

Bringing BNI Chapters Together from Across Denver

One of my favorite parts of the event was seeing people from BNI chapters throughout the Denver area come together in one place.

Networking can sometimes feel transactional. You meet someone, exchange a business card, explain what you do, and move on to the next person.

Events like this create a different kind of opportunity.

When you give people a fun environment, good food, drinks, music, and something unusual to experience together, conversations happen more naturally. The carnival theme gave everyone permission to relax a little and interact outside of the normal business-networking routine.

And the tintype booth became one of those little gathering points where people could meet someone new, jump in front of the camera together, and walk away with a physical reminder of the night.

A Successful Event for Everyone Involved

The event was a huge success, not just because people had a great time, but because every vendor had an opportunity to showcase what they do best.

Heather and Good Ol'-Fashioned Party demonstrated what thoughtful event planning can look like. Carlos and Social Chemistry Events kept the energy high. Amanda and Pink Poppy Media documented the evening. Mix and Shoot created the beverage experience. Paul brought the wine. Entrambi Catering brought the food. And I got to introduce a room full of Denver-area business professionals to the weird, wonderful world of historical tintype photography.

Most importantly, people from BNI chapters all over the Denver area had an opportunity to connect, laugh, eat, drink, dance, and make new business relationships.

That's what makes a great networking event memorable.

It's not just about exchanging information. It's about creating an experience that gives people a reason to remember each other.

Looking for a Unique Photo Booth for Your Colorado Event?

If you're planning a corporate event, networking event, wedding, private party, brand activation, or celebration in Colorado and want something more memorable than a standard digital photo booth, a tintype photo booth might be exactly what you're looking for.

My tintype booth brings a genuine piece of photographic history to your event. Guests get to experience what it's like to have their portrait made with historic photographic equipment—and they leave with a one-of-a-kind physical photograph.

It's a great fit for events where you want people to slow down, interact, and actually remember the experience.

From Denver and the surrounding metro area to mountain resorts and destinations throughout Colorado, I bring the tintype experience directly to your event.

Want a tintype photo booth at your next event? Get in touch and let's talk about your event.