Archive note: This project sits in our events archive. Some external links from the original experience may no longer be available.
Creating an EXPO virtual tour
For this expo virtual tour, we travelled to New York, where we worked on a project for Canon USA. It is a real compliment for us as a photography company to help showcase the brand’s cutting-edge work.
What is Canon EXPO?
Canon EXPO takes place once every five years and gives visitors a look at new technology across imaging, film and innovation. From 250-megapixel sensors and 8K cinema cameras to head-mounted displays and cameras designed to capture full-colour footage in near darkness. Wired described this Canon EXPO at the Javits Convention Centre in New York as being like ‘walking around in a sci-fi movie, except everything around you is a functioning piece of technology’.
How the tour was created
As is often the case on this type of shoot, the photographer needed to be on standby waiting for the moment the stand was finally completed. As this is often down to the wire, we have to plan for this to be at any time of the day or night. Once we got the nod, the photographer shot each space, and then immediately backed-up and uploaded the images for our studio to begin on the post-production.
Working with Imagination and 360i (Dentsu), we built the interface for a twelve-node expo virtual tour so people could explore the EXPO online. The experience linked together key areas of the floor, letting viewers move naturally between zones, open information panels and watch related content. The interface was largely built in advance so that the tour could go live online as soon as the EXPO’s doors opened in New York.
Response to the virtual tour was overwhelmingly positive, with very strong engagement from audiences who could not attend in person.
What we delivered
- Twelve 360 scenes covering the key zones of Canon EXPO
- An interactive interface for clear, simple navigation
- Hotspots for product information and supporting media
- Fast turnaround to publish alongside the live event
Why an expo virtual tour helps
Large events are hard to capture in stills alone. A 360 tour preserves scale, flow and sightlines, lets remote audiences explore at their own pace and extends the life of the showcase once the doors close. If you are planning a virtual tour for an expo, trade show or conference, we would be happy to talk through a simple plan.
Event and marketing teams use it to extend reach beyond the venue, keep a record of the build and share the showcase with partners and press.
No. The tour sits alongside video and stills. It gives viewers control of the journey while films provide pace and narrative.
Yes. Interfaces and hotspots can be localised for international audiences.
You can view another exhibition tour we shot for Canon in Cologne here. You can also visit these links to see more of our exhibition and events tours. If you’re considering shooting an expo virtual tour to widen your exhibition audience, please do get in touch.
Page last updated: December 2025