Photo marathon
made to measure
Teams get tasks and a time limit, and decide for themselves where to go. The judging afterwards is the part everyone is waiting for.
The only trail format without a route
At a photo marathon, teams get a list of photo tasks and a time by which they have to be back. Where they go is up to them. There is no checkpoint they have to visit and no fixed order, just a clock that keeps running.
The tasks are deliberately written so that there are several possible solutions. "Four people and one chair" produces something different for every team, and that difference is what makes the judging fun later. Tasks with only one right answer are boring to look back on.
Why the judging is the highlight
At a photo marathon the judging is not a finale but the actual programme. All the teams sit together, the photos go across the screen task by task, and every entry gets comments from the room. That half hour produces more conversation than the hour before it.
We present that part ourselves, with a visible running score. Teams that made little along the way still take part, because there are fresh points to be won with every task.
Where a photo marathon fits
This format works in places where there is plenty to see and where teams can move freely.
- A city centre or village centre, with the surroundings as a backdrop
- A festival or event site, in between the programme
- A business park or large building, also as part of a team day
- A holiday park or campsite, with the family in mixed teams
Agreements about the photos
We agree beforehand what happens to the photos. By default we only use them during the judging and delete them afterwards, unless you want to keep them. If the organiser wants to share them with the participants afterwards, we arrange that through a single file or folder.
If strangers appear in a photo, the same applies as always in public space: ask first. We also steer this in the tasks, by writing them so that teams photograph each other and not the shopping public.
The difference from the other trails
The photo marathon is the only format without fixed points. With a scavenger hunt and an GPS route the course or the series of coordinates is fixed, and with Crazy 88 there is a long list of tasks, many of which can also be done in one place. Here movement is free and only what is in the photo counts.
Frequently asked questions
What do participants need for a photo marathon?
Participants only need a phone, and one per team is enough. No equipment, app or installation is involved. That makes this format usable at venues where you cannot set anything up, and at times when you only know shortly beforehand how many people are coming.
How is a photo marathon judged?
The judging takes place afterwards, with all the photos on a screen and the group watching. We go through the tasks one by one and show the entries for each task. Points go to the photo that solves the idea most cleverly, not to the most beautiful photo, because otherwise the person with the best phone would win every time.
How long does a photo marathon take?
A photo marathon usually takes an hour and a half to two hours, of which about half an hour is for the judging. Shorter is possible, but then teams do not reach the last tasks and it feels rushed. Longer rarely works, because after about two hours the energy has gone.
How much does a photo marathon cost?
A photo marathon with tailor-made tasks, a host and the judging afterwards starts at €195. A screen or projector is needed for the judging, and if you do not have one we bring one. After the first conversation you will receive a firm price.
Tell us about your plan
Interested in a photo marathon? Fill in a few details and we will send a price estimate within 1 working day.
A photo marathon for your group
Tell us how many participants, where it takes place and how much time there is, and we will send a proposal.