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Show dictionary · Production Management

Step and Repeat

Also: press wall · logo backdrop

A step and repeat is a photo backdrop printed with a repeating pattern of logos, set behind a red carpet or photo line. The name describes the workflow: each guest steps in front of it, gets photographed, and the next steps up, repeating down the line.

In practice

The repeating diagonal logo grid exists for the camera: whatever crop a photo takes, sponsors stay legible. Production specs matter more than they look like they should: matte fabric or wrinkle-resistant material beats vinyl shine under flash, seams stay out of the money zone, and even front light without hot spots is the difference between usable and embarrassing photos.

Rigging is usually pipe and drape or a banner frame, sized so heads land inside the logo field (8 feet tall is the working standard). Event photographers will ask for the lighting before they ask for anything else.

How you’ll hear it

"Step and repeat goes at the ballroom entrance; give the photographer two soft sources at 45 degrees."

Related resources

Part of the eventools.io Show Dictionary, a free glossary of live event production terminology.