Detroit Event Case Study: Premium Photo Experiences at The Parade Company’s 2025 Hob Nobble Gobble
How EXP PHOTO Elevated Guest Engagement at the
2025 Hob Nobble Gobble
The Hob Nobble Gobble is one of Detroit’s most anticipated fundraising events of the year, a black tie celebration that turns Ford Field into a fully immersive, family friendly experience in support of The Parade Company and America’s Thanksgiving Parade.
This event has a rhythm of its own: carnival rides on the field, live performances on the main stage, kids and adults dressed up for a night that feels equal parts gala and celebration. It’s a massive, high energy environment where every corner offers a different moment worth remembering.
This year marked EXP PHOTO’s third year partnering with The Parade Company, and our biggest role yet. What began as a single roaming photo booth has now expanded into three major photo experiences, each built to elevate guest engagement, streamline the workflow for staff, and deliver high quality, instantly shareable memories throughout the stadium.
A Partnership That Keeps Growing
The Parade Company didn’t ask us to simply “take pictures.”
They asked us to elevate the guest experience, modernize traditional moments, and create keepsakes worthy of a black-tie fundraiser at one of Detroit’s most iconic venues.
To do that, we deployed a nine person team, each trained for high volume, high energy events, and built three interactive experiences that ran seamlessly from doors open to the final song.
What happened next was one of our most successful nights with The Parade Company to date.
The DSLR Roamer
Capturing the Event in Motion
Imagine weaving through a carnival set on the 50 Yard line of Ford Field, kids spinning on rides, parents laughing, couples dancing, friends reconnecting.
This is where our DSLR Roamer shines.
Instead of guests lining up for a formal backdrop, our roaming team became part of the celebration stepping into the action to snap magazine quality photos right where memories were being made. Each image was instantly delivered to the guest’s phone, branded for the event and ready to share within seconds.
No waiting. No galleries to dig through later.
Just beautiful, in the moment content that made people say, “Oh wow — that actually turned out amazing.”
Reimagining a Tradition
The Hob Nobble Gobble Santa Experience
The Santa photo is one of the most cherished stops of the entire event. Generations of families line up each year to capture this moment.
This year, The Parade Company wanted to elevate that tradition, to make the experience feel special, polished, and worthy of a gala.
So we rebuilt it.
A beautifully lit, high end Santa portrait.
A custom designed Hob Nobble Gobble folding frame that’s elegant, gift ready, and keepsake quality.
And for the first time ever: instant digital delivery.
Parents loved it. Kids loved it. Grandparents loved it.
Guests left with a memory they could physically display and instantly share online or use in their holiday cards.
Within 48 hours, the Santa experience had already generated extraordinary engagement, a clear sign of how meaningful this moment is to families.
Premium Trading Card Activation Designed
Exclusively for Hob Nobble Gobble
We built a custom Ford Field themed trading card activation where each guest became the star of their own card, running out of the Detroit Lions tunnel, lights blaring, cameras snapping.
Behind the curtain, our four person production team moved fast, printing and assembling each card in real time. The final touch?
A premium magnetic acrylic case, sealed with a custom Parade Company label.
It felt authentic.
It felt collectible.
It felt like something you’d buy at the team store, except this one had you on it.
By the end of the night, we produced 689 trading card, and the line was steady until closing.
Guests couldn’t get enough.
Across all three photo experiences, guests generated thousands of views,
shares, and downloads within just 48 hours.
More importantly, they left Ford Field with memories they could hold in their hands, display
on their phones, and share with the people they love.
This is what modern event photography should feel like…fast, premium, personal, and
built for today’s digital world.
Why The Parade Company Continues to Choose EXP PHOTO
For three years, our partnership has grown because of one shared value:
Creating unforgettable experiences for Detroit families and supporters.
What we bring to an event like Hob Nobble Gobble:
A Detroit-based team that knows how to perform at scale
High end equipment and seamless workflows
Fast turnarounds with instant digital delivery
Premium keepsakes that elevate the guest experience
A collaborative approach their team becomes our team
Our goal wasn’t just to take photos.
It was to capture the spirit of the event in a way that felt worthy of the mission behind it.
A Night of Massive Engagement
Looking Ahead
As we collaborate with The Parade Company on future seasons, we’re
already exploring ways to grow:
New themed photo moments
Sponsorship expansions
Faster workflows
Elevated print and digital keepsakes
New experiential concepts for families and VIPs
The energy of this event keeps rising each year and we’re honored to help shape what comes next.
