Photographer at SILMO Paris
The World Optical Trade Show
SILMO Paris is one of the most visually demanding trade shows of the event season. Four days at Paris Nord Villepinte where hundreds of brands from over 40 countries compete through the design and staging of their stands, in an industry where aesthetics are at the very core of the business.
I work at this show as a freelance photographer, for exhibitors, stand builders and interior fit-out companies, to produce great images for their communication materials.
What a SILMO photo report covers
A stand at SILMO represents a significant investment. The photography needs to do it justice in full: the stand architecture, product staging, meetings with buyers and distributors, and atmosphere shots across the show floor. These are the images that feed post-show reports, LinkedIn campaigns, press materials and client presentations.
The work starts before the show opens, in discussion with the agency or project manager, to identify priorities: empty stand shots at opening, team portraits, key moments such as product demonstrations or award ceremonies. A shoot checklist is put together in advance so nothing is left to chance on the day.
Working with an event agency or stand builder
Most of my assignments on professional trade shows are coordinated with event agencies or stand construction companies. This approach has a direct advantage: deadlines and constraints are known well in advance, and the photographer is integrated as one supplier among others, rather than an external element to manage on the day itself.
I adapt to installation schedules, opening slots and the agency’s priorities. Files are delivered organised, named and in the agreed formats, with a delivery timeline confirmed at the point of booking. For agencies managing multiple exhibitors at the same show, it is possible to plan a shoot across several stands over the course of a single day.
Mahdi Aridj Photography
Mahdi Aridj Photography