We’re excited to announce the Simple Booth HALO photo booth app now fully supports Sony mirrorless cameras.

Sony cameras are known among photographers for their high quality image sensors, stunning low-light performance, and industry-leading dynamic range. Now you can have all of these qualities in your photo booth captures, too.

HALO is the iPad-based photo booth app businesses and brands use to create memorable, on-brand photo experiences. Now it’s more flexible than ever, allowing you to either grab an iPad and go, or step up to a full DSLR photo booth for crisp, professional images.

Sony compatibility joins existing Canon camera support and is part of a bigger wave of updates from the past few months. These range from an in-app camera setup wizard to a smarter dashboard and an expanded AI studio for creating transformative experiences. Here’s what it all means for your business.

Introducing Sony Camera Support

Sony cameras are a favorite among event photographers, prized for sharp detail and reliable results. Now you can bring yours straight into the HALO app, with support for a growing lineup of Sony models. If you already shoot on a pro camera, this update is especially for you.

It’s a small change with a real impact on how you work:

• More flexibility. Use the Sony camera you already own instead of working around your equipment. More choice means less friction and less new gear to buy.
• Professional image quality. A DSLR photo booth delivers the sharp, polished photos and video that high-end and branded events expect. That’s the kind of result that gets shared—and gets you rebooked.
• Sony’s strengths, working for you. Autofocus is fast and accurate enough to keep up with moving guests, and low-light performance has dim venues covered.

How to Connect a Sony Camera to Simple Booth

Connecting a Sony camera to the HALO app is quick and easy.

You can plug it in over USB for long-event reliability, or go wireless over WiFi for more creative angles. Then select Remote Shoot (PC Remote) on the camera, and the new in-app setup wizard walks you through the rest. Choose whether to keep or discard photos on the camera, set your orientation, and you’re ready to shoot.

Ready to see it in action? This quick walkthrough shows the whole flow, from start to finish.

If your DSLR or mirrorless camera ever disconnects, the HALO app reconnects automatically or falls back to the iPad camera so your event keeps running smoothly. You can manage a connected camera anytime from the Preflight Check screen, including memory card backup and orientation, per camera.

Quick tip: Before connecting a Sony camera, update to the latest firmware. Some features rely on capabilities added in recent updates, especially on cameras released in 2020 or later.

The HALO app supports a growing lineup of Sony cameras. A few popular picks, by need:

• Versatile stills and video: Sony Alpha 7 IV, Alpha 6700
• Great in low light: Sony A7S III
• Events in warm temps: Sony FX30 (video-focused, with built-in cooling)
• Budget-friendly (stills only): Sony Alpha 6400 or A6100

For recommended settings and the full list of supported Sony models, see our Sony setup guide.

DSLR and mirrorless capture (Sony and Canon) is available now on the Core plan and up. For full pricing details, including plan options and credit information, visit our pricing page.

Plus, the Whole Platform Keeps Getting Better

We’re on a mission to make photo booths more accessible for businesses. Here’s a closer look at what’s new across the dashboard, the HALO app, and AI effects.

On the Web Dashboard

The redesigned dashboard brings your plan, devices, uploads, and presets into a single view.

From there, a wave of upgrades makes managing everything easier:

• A new account-wide uploads page to find any photo by preset, gallery, or device
• Upgraded license management with bulk controls
• Bulk archiving for presets, galleries, and devices
• Smarter preset sharing (assign Operator or Editor access) and copying
• Enable or disable layouts to hide one instead of deleting it
• Cleaner gallery editing with a live preview and LiveFeed side by side, plus email added to your sharing options

In the HALO App

The HALO app picked up some upgrades for on-site use, too:

• USB mic support for cleaner audio on video captures
• Per-camera DSLR settings for SD card backup and orientation
• Re-share your 10 most recent uploads right from the Queue screen
• Full localization in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Czech, with more to come

A Smarter AI Effect Studio

The new, streamlined AI Effect Studio makes creating and refining custom effects smoother than ever: test prompts, update settings, and preview results in one flow. The library is now 100 effects strong and growing, with fresh additions like Velvet Curtains, Y2K Icon, and Butterfly Send-Off.

Learn to build AI photo booth experiences in this comprehensive training video.

With the new Sony compatibility and this recent wave of updates, Simple Booth helps you spend less time on logistics and more time delivering experiences that delight guests and win business. And it all works as one connected platform, ready for whatever your next event calls for.

Capture Every Event Your Way

Here’s the best part about the constantly improving Simple Booth platform: you can keep your setup simple, or add powerful DSLR or mirrorless camera capabilities when you need them.

For many events or activations, HALO’s built-in tools deliver beautiful, share-worthy images straight from the iPad—no extra gear required. Glam adds a polished finish, background blur works like Portrait Mode, and AI effects can transform a simple photo into a whole new look.

When you want something more, connect your Sony camera. That turns your setup into a full DSLR photo booth for true professional-grade capture. Either way, you get the flexibility to deliver the right experience and turn it into real results.

The post Now Connect a Sony Camera to a DSLR Photo Booth appeared first on Simple Booth.

Demand is rising across weddings, sporting events, and corporate gatherings. Brands and agencies are actively building AI-based concepts into event briefs, product launches, and marketing campaigns.

Photo booth operators effectively delivering AI experiences can separate themselves from the competition and position their businesses to win higher-value opportunities as the market evolves.

To stay ahead of the trend, Simple Booth built a suite of AI-powered tools into our software, designed specifically for real-world event workflows.

Today, we’re officially introducing AI effects in Simple Booth HALO® and Virtual Booth.

Meet Simple Booth HALO

Simple Booth HALO® is comprehensive photo booth platform, built for service providers needing reliability, flexibility, and professional results. AI effects are now available in the HALO app and web dashboard, allowing you to transform guests in incredible ways.

For on-site activations, you can configure everything remotely, or make adjustments directly in the app. To go beyond the booth entirely, Simple Booth also offers Virtual Booth—a separate web-based experience that lets you deploy AI experiences digitally (no hardware required).

Now, let’s dig into what’s new and what it means for your business.

AI Effects: Out-of-the-Box Transformations

Photo booth users have always loved the moment they see their images, whether on a printed strip or a digital screen. AI effects take that experience to a new level with a complete visual transformation, giving guests results they’re excited to share right away.

Simple Booth’s approach stays true to the spirit photo booths with a modern twist. Here’s what sets our AI photo booth effects apart:

• Identity Preservation: Simple Booth’s AI effects completely transform groups of participants while keeping them recognizable. Simple checkboxes allow you as the host to control how the effect works and how much it looks like the original image. This includes preserving facial expressions, poses, and even applying automatic touch-ups for improved appearances.
• Built-in Safeguards: Enterprise-grade content safeguards are built directly into the system. This ensures generated images remain appropriate and brand-safe for corporate events and public spaces.
• High-Volume Speed: The experience is fast and seamless, optimized perfectly for live events with high foot traffic.

The best part? The looks on guests’ faces when they see the transformation. They can become an illustrated character, take a trip to another world, or see themselves as their favorite fictional character.

Want to see it in action? Watch our Learn to Build AI Photo Booth Experiences training video for a full walkthrough of building prompts and running AI effects.

Browse the Library of AI Effects

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. You can access Simple Booth’s growing library of pre-built AI effects, ready to demo or drop into your layouts for upcoming events.

There are 35+ effect categories and counting, including:

• Holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo)
• Seasonal (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
• Celebrations (Weddings, Birthdays, Graduation)
• Travel / Landscapes / Backdrops
• Art / Cartoon / Fantasy / Sci-fi
• Education / Professions / Sports
• Pop Culture / Movies / Millennial Nostalgia
• Glamorous / Toys and Figurines
• And much more!

New categories and effects are added frequently to reflect seasonal moments and cultural trends.

All of these effects can be copied and edited, so you can see exactly how they work and customize them to your use case.

Free Prompt Testing!

Once you’ve discovered a concept you love, Simple Booth gives you the room to get it right. There are no extra charges to test custom prompts outside of booth mode, so you can tweak and perfect your prompts freely before you ever go live.

Build Your Own AI Effects

Outside of the AI effects library, you can write your own custom prompts from scratch. Or, start with a short description and let the AI-generated “Expand Prompt” feature write the prompt for you.

As an alternative to using text, you can upload a reference image to generate the prompt instead.

You can also write prompts using your favorite chatbot, such as ChatGPT or Claude, and then paste the final result in the AI effect generator.

Prompts can include up to 10k characters, so you have a lot of room to create an environment, set the lighting, and even choose the camera quality.

After creating your prompt, easily test it out using one of the available stock images or by uploading your own. Once you’re satisfied with the results, you can save the generated image as the effect preview.

Finally, start capturing photos and see your AI effect come to life.

New to writing prompts or want to learn more? Explore the How to Write Effective AI Photo Booth Prompts blog article for additional guidance.

Let Guests Co-Create Their Result

To really amaze and delight your guests, add one or more custom guest input fields to your prompts. Using drop-downs or open text, guests can personalize their own transformation before AI generates the image.

Let them choose their own “superpower,” select an art style, or generate a caricature based on their lifestyle. When guests help shape the image, it feels more like them—and they’re more likely to share it.

Tell a Story Across Multiple Frames

We’re bringing the cutting edge of AI to the photo booth experience without losing what makes photo booths special in the first place—multiple poses and frames.

The first way is by building it right into your prompt. Today’s AI models can turn a single input into a full sequence of images. That means you can create a set of images that all look consistent, while changing the pose, angle, or moment, all from one photo taken in the booth.

If you want to take it further, you can assign a separate prompt to each individual frame, creating a progression from one image to the next. The participant in the booth takes an image for each frame that transforms a series of photos into a comic strip, multi-scene narrative, or branded visual story.

The result is a sequence of AI-generated images that feel connected, intentional, and built for sharing.

It’s a level of storytelling no other photo booth platform currently offers, putting you one step ahead in the market.

AI Virtual Booth: Expand Your Reach

The HALO app enables powerful on-site activations, but your reach doesn’t have to end there.

AI effects in Virtual Booth are perfect for remote brand campaigns, post-event social activations, and hybrid events, giving you the flexibility to deploy a fully branded AI photo experience on-site, digitally, or both.

Share a link or a QR code, and guests can participate from their own phones or computers. They snap a selfie, AI transforms it, and they receive a branded result instantly.

Because it runs the exact same AI effects available in the HALO app, everything you build for in-person events can be adapted for virtual activations with zero rework.

For service providers, this is the perfect digital upsell to extend your client’s reach before, during, or after an event.

Bonus: Graphics on Demand in the AI Layout Designer

Great AI portraits deserve excellent visuals to match. Until recently, building custom overlays and frames meant hiring a graphic designer, using separate tools, or paying for third-party subscriptions—plus a lot of back and forth to get it right.

Simple Booth’s AI Layout Designer eliminates that friction.

You can now write simple prompts to generate beautiful, custom graphics that integrate seamlessly with your logos and branded elements, without ever leaving the Simple Booth web dashboard or HALO app.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Faster Workflow: No confusing filetypes, pixel dimensions to enter, or background in graphic design required. Do all your design in the Simple Booth platform where it “just works.”
• Total Creative Control: You control frame placement, text, and backgrounds. The AI is there to help generate the assets you need, not make decisions for you.
• Guest-Editable Text: Let guests personalize their layout after capturing their photo by adding their name or a custom message to a text layer. It’s a small addition that makes the final image feel highly personal, perfect for magazine covers or trading cards.

With AI generating layout images on demand, and working seamlessly with your existing presets, you get more flexibility while saving time and money.

How It All Works Together

AI effects are built seamlessly into the Simple Booth platform, becoming a natural extension of our already easy-to-use tools and workflows.

Design your layouts, configure your effects, and set up guest inputs—all in one place. Then deploy through the HALO app, Virtual Booth, or both.

Once you’re live, everything runs seamlessly. Guests capture a photo, AI transforms it, and branded results are delivered instantly via QR code, SMS, email, AirDrop, or WhatsApp.

AI effects are more than a new photo booth feature, it’s a paradigm shift in what a photo booth can actually deliver. They turn guest captures into a fully immersive visual experiences, raising the bar for what clients expect at live events.

So get ready—by adopting this new technology early, you position yourself to stand out, win better contracts, and create experiences clients will love more than ever.

Getting Started & Pricing

AI effects are available now. You can explore pricing, plans, and credits on the pricing page, or start a 7-day free trial to test it yourself.

Existing users can jump into the AI effects page in the dashboard to start building and experimenting.

The post Introducing AI Photo Booth Effects: Captivate Your Guests appeared first on Simple Booth.

From trade shows and corporate events to brand activations, AI-powered photo experiences are showing up everywhere. Early adopters are already charging premium rates, and interest is beginning to grow in the wedding market as well.

As the technology becomes faster and more reliable, many event professionals are working to understand how to use AI-generated portraits effectively.

In online communities, posts about AI photo booths appear every day. Some ask how to get started while others share creative prompts and results.

In this article, we’ll walk through the foundation of a successful AI photo booth experience: how to think about and refine effective prompts.

The lessons here apply to any photo booth software you choose, and we’ll also highlight key features that make working with prompts easier in Simple Booth.

Let’s start with the basics and build from there.

What is a prompt?

A prompt is the instruction you write for an AI model to transform an image. It’s written in natural language, just like you would describe a scene to another person.

Prompts can be incredibly simple or highly detailed.

Here’s an example of a simple prompt:

Turn them into astronauts standing on the moon.

And here’s a more elaborate version:

Turn them into astronauts standing on the surface of the moon, wearing realistic modern space suits with detailed fabric textures and reflective visors. The Earth is visible in the background, glowing against a dark star-filled sky. Cinematic lighting, soft shadows on the lunar surface, high detail, sharp focus, professional photography style.

Both prompts aim for the same concept. The second one gives the AI more direction, which often leads to more consistent, detailed results.

One important thing to understand is that you can run the same prompt on the same image multiple times and get different outputs. Most AI image generation includes a degree of randomness to encourage creativity.

How to start writing a prompt

The beginning of a prompt matters.

You don’t need to say “Generate an image of…” because the AI already knows its job. Instead, use the opening to clarify what transformation should happen.

In AI photo booth experiences, one of the most important goals is preserving the person in the original image. After all, the result should still look like the guest.

A simple way to do this is by starting with language like: “Turn them into…” or “Turn the person or people into…”

This phrasing works whether the session includes one guest or a group.

From there, you can layer in details about:

• Environment
• Clothing
• Mood
• Lighting
• Camera style
• Level of realism

Start with the core idea first and then build outward.

The prompt writing process

We recommend a very simple process for learning to write prompts.

Here’s a good place to start:

1. Start with a short prompt and run it on an image.
2. See what the model comes up with.
3. If the model adds a detail you like, include that in your prompt and run it again.
4. If the model includes something you don’t like, add a note to your prompt not to do that again.
5. Run your new prompt on the image again, and repeat.

This iterative approach allows you to refine the result over time.

Longer, more detailed prompts often lead to greater consistency between photos. The experience looks more cohesive, and more guests receive the quality you intended.

There will also be fewer surprises — and AI is full of them.

That said, you usually don’t want a prompt to go on for pages. Two to three focused paragraphs is often a sweet spot. If you go too long, key details may get diluted.

Let AI help you write better prompts

If you want a shortcut to writing more detailed prompts, you don’t have to start from scratch.

In Simple Booth, the built-in Expand Prompt feature uses AI to help build out your original idea. You can start with a short concept and let Expand Prompt add structure, lighting, environmental details, and stylistic direction.

You can still refine the result manually, but this makes it much faster to move from a rough idea to a polished prompt.

If you prefer, you can also use external chatbots to describe an output image and generate prompt ideas. For best results, use a chatbot from the same AI provider your photo booth software uses, since similar training data can produce more aligned descriptions.

Once you feel like your prompt is complete, make sure to test it on a variety of images, including photos of individuals, groups, and a wide array of subjects that have different hair, ethnicities, genders, and poses. This is the best way to make sure your prompt will perform in the wild, and not just on one image that you developed it with.

What makes Simple Booth stand out

While the fundamentals of writing prompts apply to any AI photo booth software, Simple Booth includes tools designed to make the process more reliable—and more impactful—for live events.

From AI-assisted prompt expansion to pose and identity controls that help preserve how guests look in the original image, the platform is designed to reduce guesswork and unexpected distortions. This is especially important for professional events where consistency matters.

Simple Booth also allows you to choose between different AI models depending on your needs. Some prioritize speed, while others focus on higher quality results or group photos. Understanding which model to use can make a noticeable difference in output.

You can test and refine AI prompts in the web dashboard without using credits. Credits are only consumed when AI effects are actively run in booth mode or Virtual Booth.

And once your AI experience is live, you can amplify the energy by projecting a rotating stream of AI-generated photos using Simple Booth’s Live Feed feature — turning each transformation into a visual moment that attracts attention and encourages participation.

Because AI generation happens in real time, a stable internet connection is required when running AI effects at events.

Simple Booth offers a 7-day free trial with 25 complimentary credits so you can test everything free of charge before you go live.

For more information about AI features, plans, and credits, visit our Help Center or view the plans page for full pricing details.

Putting it all together

Writing effective AI photo booth prompts is less about finding the perfect wording on the first try and more about refining your ideas over time.

Start simple. Run your prompt. Adjust. Repeat.

As AI photo booth technology continues to grow in popularity across corporate events, weddings, and brand activations, the operators who understand how to guide the output will stand out.

Now that you understand the basics, head to the AI Effects page of your Simple Booth dashboard to explore the library of ready-made prompts and create your own.

The post How to Write Effective AI Photo Booth Prompts appeared first on Simple Booth.

Get ready for improvements that elevate every part of the Simple Booth experience and make running an iPad photo booth easier than ever. Version 5.0 of the Simple Booth HALO® app introduces a suite of powerful new features.

Here’s what’s new:

• It starts with a redesigned preset editor to make settings easier to navigate.
• From there, you can now design advanced layouts in the powerful new layout designer—this tool is like 100 new features in one and is guaranteed to revolutionize the way you create photo booth templates.
• Next, we have a new WhatsApp send option for worldwide photo delivery.
• You can also now write a custom thank you screen message that guests see at the very end of their session.
• Finally, we have a DSLR & mirrorless camera integration to boost image quality to the moon.

The best part? All of these features are available this week.

Explore the table below to see which HALO software plans support each new feature:

Earlier this year, we also introduced features like background blur, AirDrop sharing, and remote device management, making 2025 a banner year for new Simple Booth features and improvements.

Simple Booth HALO continues to lead the industry as the top photo booth app, with 30,000+ customers, a 4.7 star rating on the App Store (based on over 2,300 ratings!), and 40M+ moments captured.

Whether you’re a photo booth rental operator, brand or agency marketer, serving up interactive experiences at your portfolio of restaurants, or somewhere in between, this release will help you deliver memorable experiences in every setting.

Let’s dive deeper into each new feature and unpack the goodness.

Preset Redesign: A More Visual Workflow

This release introduces a completely redesigned preset editor that looks amazing and, most importantly, makes the setup process more clear and intuitive. Instead of scrolling through endless rows of settings panels, you now see the entire booth flow upfront and the settings groups that relate to each section.

With this streamlined approach, it’s faster than ever to build your booth flow, customize the design, and make sure you tailor every aspect of the user experience you need to. Plus, it allows you to preview the entire user journey from the start screen to photo delivery.

For operators running multiple activations—or handing setups off to staff—this redesign means a faster workflow, greater consistency, and less room for error. It’s a shift toward a more visual, user-friendly way of working that saves time and makes running a photo booth easy (and fun) just like it should be!

As you explore the redesigned preset view, you might notice one thing missing: the design panel.

That’s because Simple Booth built the most powerful design tool in the photo booth industry. It’s called the “layout designer” and it lives at the top of the new preset editor.

Layout Designer: Custom Designs Made Easy

The new layout designer lets you build advanced custom photo booth layouts directly inside the HALO app or the online dashboard—no additional graphic design tools required. Everything you need to design professional layouts is now in one place.

In the layout designer, you have complete control over every detail: where the photos go, how text and graphics are arranged, and even background gradients, motion types, and multiple layout options for each event.

Want a border around your photos or a background color behind them? Done. Need to align a logo, tweak fonts, or round the corners? Easy. You can even import assets from previous presets or choose from 60+ themes in the Simple Booth library, keep the graphics you like, and add your own twist.

Struggling to put a couple’s name on a photo strip is a thing of the past. New text layers allow you to choose the font, colors, alignment, and even shadow.

The layout designer was designed to handle everything operators need in one powerful, easy-to-use tool. Here’s a quick preview so you can see it in action:

Beyond the basics, you can:

• Design dedicated digital and print layouts.
• Add dynamic QR codes that link to galleries, uploads, profiles, or custom URLs.
• Offer multiple layout options to participants to choose from, each with their own motion type (still, GIF, Live GIF, Rebound, or video).
• Copy layers, undo/redo changes, and align elements with precision.

We left no stone unturned in building this incredible suite of design tools, including all the bells and whistles you’d expect from the top new photo booth template editor.

See how to create custom layouts in the online dashboard with this detailed walkthrough:

The new layout designer is built for everyone:

• Everyday people who want polished layouts without getting a degree in graphic design.
• Event professionals who need a faster, all-in-one setup tool.
• Creative teams who want flexibility to quickly bring branded overlays into events.

The goal is simple: make it easier than ever to create polished, branded designs that “wow” guests and encourage them to share.

And what better way to create shareable moments than to allow guests to personalize their photos?

Guest-Editable Text: Personalization at Scale (Bonus Feature)

Inside the layout designer, the new guest-editable text layers puts creativity directly in your guests’ hands. Instead of leaving with the same static frame as everyone else, guests can type their names, captions, hashtags, or custom messages right onto their photos before sharing.

Popular use cases include:

• Digital guest books where attendees leave names or notes.
• Company name badges or conference ID tags.
• Personalized captions or nicknames for keepsake photos.
• Trending styles like “baseball card” templates.

Here’s a quick preview of how the guest-editable text tool works:

Dynamic text sizing ensures every design looks polished, no matter the length of the message. Guests walk away with a personalized memento instantly—no editing required afterward.

See how to set up guest-editable text layers for your event, business, or brand in this video:

For operators, guest-editable text layers offer more interactivity without adding extra steps. It scales easily for large groups and adds the kind of personal touch that encourages guests to share their photos far and wide.

And once those photos are ready, the next step is making sure guests can receive them instantly—no matter where they are in the world. That’s where our new WhatsApp send option comes in.

WhatsApp Send Option: Global Reach, Simple Privacy

Great designs deserve to be shared, and the new WhatsApp send option makes it effortless for guests around the world.

Instead of relying on text messages—which can be costly or unreliable in certain areas—WhatsApp delivers photos seamlessly over WiFi or cellular. It’s fast, familiar, and trusted by billions of users, with built-in privacy protections guests already know.

Here’s a quick preview of just how easy WhatsApp delivery is for your guests:

With this option, guests can instantly send their photos or videos to themselves without worrying about carrier fees or SMS issues. For operators, it adds another powerful delivery method to your toolkit alongside text, email, QR code, and AirDrop—so every guest gets their photo in the way that works best for them.

Whether you’re hosting a festival, a corporate event, or a tourist activation, WhatsApp ensures guests walk away with their photos in seconds, no matter where they’re from.

And while WhatsApp makes receiving photos easier than ever, the DSLR & mirrorless camera integration takes photo quality itself to the next level.

DSLR & Mirrorless Camera Integration: Professional-Grade Photos

For years, our team of photographers and tech-lovers have dreamed of the day we could combine the quality of a DSLR camera with the simplicity of the Simple Booth HALO app.

Today, we finally can.

The new DSLR & mirrorless camera integration connects the HALO app to external Canon cameras for incredible, professional-quality photos and videos. You still get all the filters, editing tools, and seamless guest flow Simple Booth is known for—now paired with studio-grade image quality.

This integration is a game-changer for rental companies looking to move upmarket. It expands your setup options, unlocks premium photo quality, and opens doors to new clients who expect nothing less than the best.

Connect over USB for long-event reliability or wirelessly over WiFi for more creative setups. Either way, you get the best of both worlds: DSLR power with HALO ease-of-use.

Ready to see it in action? Here’s a quick demo and an example of a DSLR setup:

The DSLR & mirrorless camera integration works seamlessly across:

• Stills and layouts.
• GIFs and video.
• Filters and effects inside the HALO app.

This flexibility lets you deliver unique, professional results without sacrificing ease of use.

How it works:

• Connect your Canon DSLR or mirrorless camera (compatibility list coming soon) to the iPad using a USB hub to keep both powered for long events.
• Use a dummy battery or USB-C power to run continuously.
• Insert an SD card to temporarily store files before seamless transfer into HALO.
• During Preflight Check, HALO automatically detects your camera, shows a live preview, and lets you adjust exposure in-app.
• Bonus: connect wirelessly for creative angles and setups not possible before.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll see how to connect a Canon R50 to the HALO app:

Pro tips:

• Best starter camera: Canon R50 (flip-out screen + USB-C charging; a step up from R100).
• Camera settings: Program mode lets the camera manage exposure, HALO adjusts ISO/compensation. Manual mode allows for more control (try 1/60 shutter, f/4.0+ for groups).
• Focus: Enable continuous autofocus and People Detection if available.
• Video: Use an external mic for the best sound quality.
• Failsafe: If the camera disconnects, HALO automatically falls back to the iPad camera so events keep running smoothly.

Looking Ahead

While the current HALO hardware doesn’t yet support external cameras directly, this integration is a huge step forward. In the meantime, check out our Ultimate DIY Photo Booth Guide for DSLR + iPad setups, complete with gear lists and recommendations.

Photo quality has always been a top priority for our team, and this release is just the beginning of more enhancements to come.

Moving Forward: How These Features Benefit You

This release was built for today’s photo booth industry: event professionals who need studio-quality results at scale, brands and agencies creating interactive experiences, and international hosts who want sharing options that work everywhere.

With redesigned presets, powerful creative tools like layout designer and the text edit tool, global delivery through WhatsApp, and DSLR-level photo quality, you now have more flexibility and polish at your fingertips than ever before.

Our motto for product development is “simple, yet powerful,” and we’re excited to continue adding advanced options to our software, while keeping it as easy-to-use as possible.

From event pros to restaurant owners to global brands, Simple Booth is here to help you create experiences that guests remember—and share—long after the event is over.

We’d love to hear your feedback. Share your thoughts at marketing@simplebooth.com and let us know what you’d like to see in the next release.

So what are you waiting for?

Update your Simple Booth HALO app to v5 or higher to start exploring (available with iOS 26.1 or higher). You can also visit the Help Center for detailed guides and watch the announcement videos in this article to see each feature in action.

The post The Best iPad Photo Booth App Just Got Better appeared first on Simple Booth.

1. Background Blur filter for beautiful, polished portraits
2. AirDrop Sharing for faster, private, hassle-free photo delivery
3. Device Management for real-time monitoring and remote control of your iPad photo booths
4. Fast Image Previews which appear up to 12x faster than before
5. Marketing Image Library with 100+ professional images to help you promote your photo booth

These powerful improvements to the Simple Booth HALO® platform are designed to make your job easier and your results even more incredible.

You can catch all the details in our Spring Launch 2025 Video Announcement, hosted by Simple Booth CEO, Mark Hennings:

Now, let’s break down what these updates mean for you—and how they’ll help make your photo experiences even more impactful.

Background Blur: Bring Subjects into Focus

At the end of 2024, we asked our customers a simple question: What do you need most from your photo booth setup?

The number one request was surprisingly simple: better image quality.

That’s why we’re so excited to introduce Background Blur, a new image filter designed to keep your subjects sharp while softly blurring the background—creating a beautiful bokeh effect for polished, professional portraits in any setting.

Available on Core plans and up, Background Blur lives right in the Photo Design panel and can be turned on as an editing tool. It’s perfect for:

• Professional headshots that look polished and high-end
• Glamorous portraits with a clean, elevated aesthetic
• Busy environments like conferences, trade shows, restaurants, or activations where there’s a lot happening in the background

Once enabled, you can choose to keep it always on, turn it off, or set it to “auto” mode, which intelligently applies the effect to makes subjects look beautiful in different scenarios.

Traditionally, this kind of premium look could only be achieved with DSLR or mirrorless cameras—but now, you can get a similar result straight from the Simple Booth HALO app. No additional equipment required.

Plus, Background Blur works seamlessly with the Glam effect, color filters, and other editing tools to help your photos stand out even more.

As a result, Simple Booth HALO delivers the best photos of any iPad photo booth app with sharper subjects, cleaner compositions, and images your guests will love to share.

(Note: Background blur is not supported by video or Rebound formats at this time.)

Speaking of the guest experience: Image previews in the app now appear up to 12x faster, thanks to optimizations to our rendering algorithms.

Photos and GIFs with filters, frames, stickers, drawings, and digital props process quicker than ever—helping you deliver beautiful, share-worthy moments without the wait.

AirDrop Sharing: Fast, Seamless, and Reliable

AirDrop Sharing helps guests can receive their photo instantly—no typing in emails, phone numbers, or filling out forms required.

Available on all plans from Lite to Select, AirDrop is a convenient way to:

• Keep lines moving at busy events
• Reduce friction for participants
• Deliver photos faster than ever
• Put privacy first (no contact information required!)

We’re also adding AirDrop sharing for Simple Booth Classic app users.

(Note: AirDrop supports sending photos to iPhones only.)

If guests aren’t familiar with AirDrop, no worries—we’ve built clear, easy-to-follow instructions right into the user interface to keep the process smooth.

Like QR code sharing, AirDrop doesn’t require any personally identifiable information from guests. It can also work even when the booth is offline and has no access to the internet.

In a world of rising media costs and unpredictable supply chains, having another fast, reliable, no-contact sharing option gives you more flexibility to make sure your events run smoothly and reliable for a top-notch guest experience.

Now, let’s talk about the biggest update of all.

Device Management: Real-Time Control

Managing your booths remotely just got a serious upgrade.

The all-new Devices page on the Simple Booth dashboard is the first step toward a completely new dashboard experience that will roll out over the coming weeks

It’s built with photo booth operators in mind—giving you detailed oversight and responsive controls from anywhere.

Here are a few of the amazing new things you can do:

• Monitor all of your iPad booths in real time
• Verify which preset is running on each device
• Preview latest uploads to ensure content quality
• Track critical stats like battery level, available disk space, and upload queue status
• See Guided Access status to avoid interruptions during events
• Switch presets remotely—no need to be on site
• Rename your devices to stay organized

The idea is that you can discover problems early and fix them before they compound to keep everything running smoothly.

This is true remote photo booth management—perfect for operators who juggle multiple events, teams, or locations.

Need to change an event preset at the last minute? Want to check how the booth is performing mid-activation? It’s all just a click away. No more calls to staff or racing across town.

And this isn’t just a one-time upgrade.

We’ll be adding more device management features and rolling out revamped dashboard pages in the modern new style in the weeks ahead—making it easier and more intuitive to manage every part of your photo booth experience, from setup to wrap-up.

And while these tools make it easier to manage your photo booths behind the scenes, we also want to make it easier to market your photo booth.

Free Marketing Images Library

Great photo experiences deserve to be seen—and whether you’re running a business, planning an event, or simply sharing the fun, having the right visuals makes it easier to tell your story.

That’s why we’re releasing a Free Marketing Images Library with over 100 professional-quality images you can use to promote your photo booths.

This curated gallery includes:

• Beautiful photos from weddings, parties, and events
• On-trend flower walls, neon signs, and dynamic backdrops
• A variety of authentic poses and candid guest moments
• Matching GIFs and image layouts featuring the same professional talent

Whether you’re refreshing a website, designing a flyer, or building out your Instagram grid, these ready-to-use assets help you show up polished and professional—without the cost of hiring your own photographer.

And we didn’t stop there.

We’re also including a Sample Photo Booth Rental Agreement—a customizable starting point for customers who offer photo booth rentals.

From marketing to logistics, these resources are here to help you save time, show up confidently, and make the most of your photo booth—whatever your goals might be.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about having the right tools—it’s about having the right support behind you.

Spring Launch 2025: More Possibilities, Less Hassle

These updates and resources aren’t only about new features—they’re about giving you more ways to create incredible photo experiences with more confidence than ever.

Whether you’re managing a packed schedule of events, running booths across multiple locations, or simply looking for smarter tools to support your day-to-day, these improvements are designed to help you work easier, look more polished, and deliver moments your guests will love sharing.

(Note: To access these latest features, be sure to update your Simple Booth HALO® app to version 4.2.0 or higher.)

And the best part? This is just the beginning.

These updates lay the foundation for even bigger things ahead—and trust us, what we have planned for later this year will blow your mind (in the best way possible).

Update your HALO app today and stay tuned. You won’t want to miss what’s coming next!

The post Spring Launch 2025: Background Blur, AirDrop Sharing, and Device Management appeared first on Simple Booth.

So much has changed since we first released the Simple Booth Event Edition app in 2013. Here we are eleven years later, but in many ways 2024 was just as exciting and transformative as the year we started.

The photo booth industry is growing

We are seeing the photo booth industry develop more and more. Not only are group pictures, selfies, and video clips as popular as ever, but the types of photo experiences offered at events continue to broaden and diversify.

The biggest trends we saw in 2024:

1. 360 photo booths didn’t lose any momentum
2. AI photo booths started popping up everywhere
3. More locations embraced permanent photo booths

This is great news for entrepreneurs looking to start a photo booth business, as well as venues seeking a permanent photo experience for daily visitors and special events. With more opportunities to differentiate from competitors, businesses can offer unique services at profitable price points that appeal to a wide range of customers.

Considering that virtual photo booths were a brand new concept in just 2020, the continued expansion of the industry in all directions is quite remarkable.

Simple Booth continues to evolve

This year we released over 25 updates to the HALO app, including some big new features.

We kicked off this year with the launch of the new API integration for captured leads. This game-changing feature makes it easier than ever for businesses to grow their marketing lists and stay connected with photo booth participants.

In February, we rolled out multiple overlays, a highly requested feature that lets participants choose from a selection of designs to go over their photo. This opens the door to endless creative possibilities for both event hosts and participants.

The fun kept rolling through the summer. Our team took a moment to embrace the glam life, adding features like a glam filter for that flawless finish and new tools to simplify on-device editing management.

But 2024 wouldn’t be complete without diving into AI, so we introduced an AI-powered virtual background replacement. Say goodbye to green screens and hello to seamless, professional backgrounds—it’s a win-win for everyone.

For the details, check out our HALO 4 Release announcement, where we break it all down.

And then just before the holidays got in full swing, we introduced weekly plans starting at just $9 per week, making HALO software more accessible and flexible than ever before. Whether you’re in events, hospitality, retail, or any other industry, our goal is to provide solutions that you can use all year round.

We focused on our customers

2024 was about more than adding cool new features—our favorite part was taking the time to connect with you—our incredible customers.

We enjoyed reading the amazing feedback from customers (along with valuable constructive criticism we truly appreciate!). Hearing directly from you helps us improve and ensure we’re building tools that truly meet your needs.

But we wanted to dive deeper and really find out what HALO really meant to our customers. So our team conducted extensive customer interviews and published nine case studies highlighting how real businesses deploy HALO in creative and impactful ways. Many of these businesses have captured hundreds of thousands of photos and raved about the difference it made.

From a trip to the vibrant streets of New Orleans to learn how Creole Cuisine is spicing up marketing efforts, to a visit to Nashville where Ole Red is bringing the country lifestyle and photo booths together, we’ve been blown away by the stories of how HALO works for these amazing brands.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

This year, HALO has made its mark across a variety of industries.

We’ve seen it add a touch of elegance to the opera, bring excitement to sports arenas, amplify the electric vibes of the music industry, and charm mini-golf enthusiasts across the pond.

HALO has also shined in the event services industry, helping companies like Amore Entertainment and Just Call Malik earn six figures in revenue and capture countless memorable moments for clients.

We are so proud of what our customers have achieved, to be able to tell such captivating stories, and the part we get to play in them.

Bring on 2025

We can’t wait to carry this energy into 2025, and we have some exciting projects in the pipeline. Stay tuned for details on some major product announcements in the new year!

It’s been amazing to see how HALO owners use the hardware and app to elevate their businesses and create unforgettable experiences. Your creativity and business savvy continue to inspire us.

As a result of all the great things happening, we grew our team by almost 50% in 2024. New folks joined us and roles were filled in sale, engineering, and marketing. It’s been great to see how fresh perspectives and talents are helping us push boundaries and make new things possible.

Here’s to an incredible 2024 and an even brighter year ahead. From all of us at Simple Booth, thank you for being part of our journey.

Let’s make 2025 the best year yet!

The post 2024: Photo Booth Trends, Company Highlights, & Looking Ahead appeared first on Simple Booth.

But that vibrant green backdrop? It doesn’t exactly “blend in” at most venues or events.

Then there is the classic problem that anyone wearing green will mysteriously “disappear,” making green screens almost unusable for events like St. Patrick’s Day or Green Bay Packers games.

Finally, there’s a better way.

Introducing Virtual Background Replacement

Now, you can get all the benefits of a green screen with no screen at all!

Our newly updated HALO photo booth app (version 4) lets you magically teleport guests to a tropical beach, a famous city skyline, or a custom-branded scene that brings your creative vision to life—all without the hassle of buying, transporting, or setting up a physical backdrop.

In a little bit, we’ll give a quick rundown of how it works, along with some tips and tricks to help you pull off an unforgettable activation.

But that’s not all…

In addition to the new Virtual Background Replacement feature, we’re happy to share a ton of major improvements to the HALO 4 app, including:

• Fast App Launch: The app now loads presets and in priority order, so you’ll access your presets list more quickly, with the most recently updated presets loading first.
• Refreshed Design: The app’s overall style has been revamped for a more consistent and modern feel, especially in the settings.
• Improved Ease-of-Use: We’ve redesigned screens for selecting props, creating presets, editing galleries, and more to enhance usability and make the experience more visually appealing.
• Data Capture on Preflight: A new status item on the preflight screen will alert you if there are data capture settings issues, like having data capture turned on without any fields enabled, or vice versa.
• Preset and Gallery Info in Mission Control: You can now see current preset and gallery names in Mission Control, along with a button to sync the latest updates from the backend.

As you can see, our team has been focused on making HALO the most reliable and user-friendly photo booth app available, all with you in mind. These improvements are designed to enhance your experience and make every photo opportunity seamless.

These updates are part of a series of major feature releases we’ve rolled out in 2024, including:

• Glam Filter – Create a flawless look in every photo
• Multiple Overlays – Give guests the option to choose from different branded overlays
• API Integration – Pull data directly from Simple Booth into your business systems
• On-Device Editing Option – Lock down your settings to scale up to multiple locations

With all the recent improvements, there’s never been a better time to try Simple Booth or run it again with fresh options.

Now, back to the most exciting new feature of them all: virtual background replacement.

How Virtual Background Replacement Works

Virtual Background Replacement is now available on the Core plan and up to use at your event or venue.

To get started, head to the online dashboard to customize your preset settings for your next photo experience.

After opening up the preset you plan to customize, it’s time to dive into the design process.

Scroll to the Background Replacement panel, check the box to enable it, and make sure to select “Virtual” for the method.

Next, you’ll need some background images to upload, which is where the fun begins!

Finding the best background images

The background image is a key element in your overall design, and there are many creative directions you can explore.

There are many ways to find great backgrounds, whether by licensing images from stock photo websites, finding free open-source images on platforms like Shutterstock or Unsplash, or even creating unique images using AI prompts with tools like Canva or DreamStudio.

The best background images will also fit in with your stylistic choices for overlays and other branding.

It’s important to select a background image that complements your image orientation, whether it’s portrait, landscape, or square. This will depend on your iPad’s orientation and whether you choose the square crop mode.

For optimal results, we recommend the following sizes. For additional guidance, visit our Background Replacement Guide.

One vs multiple background choices

If you upload a single background image, it will automatically apply to each photo taken. But if you add multiple background images, guests can choose their own background before they take their photo, adding a more personal touch to their experience.

You can upload up to 50 background images, allowing plenty of room for creative possibilities. However, it’s best practice to choose 10 or fewer images if possible. This offers variety for an engaging experience without overwhelming the participant with choices.

By default, guests choose their background image before taking their photo, so that they can see a live preview and pose or interact with the background. You can also allow guests to choose a different background after taking their photo by enabling the “Background Replacement” feature in the “Editing Tools” panel, allowing them to see their background alongside all your other design elements.

Once you’ve uploaded your background images, you can test them with your other photo design elements to ensure everything feels cohesive. Open the HALO app on your iPad, launch your preset, and tap the start screen to launch the photo booth.

Try Live Feed to show it off

To create a truly immersive experience, consider pairing Virtual Backgrounds with our Live Feed feature, which projects photos in real-time using a projector, TV screen, or even your website. Many of our customers have found this combination to be an effective way to boost engagement and showcase their creativity during their event or at their venue.

Creating an immersive experience not only builds excitement during the event but also encourages guests to share their moments with friends and family on social media. This social sharing generates valuable user-generated content (UGC) that you can leverage for marketing—just be sure to follow all local regulations and best practices when handling user data.

For added control, on the Pro plan and up, you can use the Data Capture feature to include an opt-in for social sharing permissions. Guests on any plan can also choose to mark their photos as private (if the gallery isn’t already private), giving them control over their individual privacy. This way, they can fully enjoy the experience while feeling confident about how their images are shared.

Future Improvements

We’re excited about how these updates will enhance your HALO app experience and unlock new creative possibilities. The new virtual background replacement feature is designed to make event setups smoother and help you create even more immersive experiences for your guests.

Remember, the HALO 4 update brings many other improvements, including faster app launch, a refreshed design, and more intuitive screens for selecting props, creating presets, and editing galleries. You’ll also benefit from data capture alerts and better preset management in Mission Control, making the entire experience more streamlined and efficient.

As always, we’d love to hear how these updates are working for you and any suggestions you have for future improvements. Feel free to reach out to us anytime at halo@simplebooth.com.

A quick note: For events like Santa photos or Halloween, we don’t recommend using virtual background replacement. Costumes and accessories can be misread as background elements, leading to unexpected results. The feature also works best with plain or simple backgrounds — busy scenes can impact background accuracy. For the most reliable results in visually complex settings, we recommend using a green screen or no background replacement.

The post AI-Powered Virtual Background Replacement & More in HALO App Update appeared first on Simple Booth.

That’s why today we’re excited to announce a new feature that makes it easier than ever to manage multiple activations or locations remotely.

Ease-of-use meets access control

When you first launch the Simple Booth HALO® app, you have the option to create and edit presets from the online dashboard, on your iPad, or both. Making changes from the iPad is convenient when Wi-fi is unreliable or you are on-site and need to make last-minute changes. 

But other times, it’s critical to lock down your devices because you’ve already configured the settings perfectly from the online dashboard.

For example, branding may have been pre-approved by a client, there could be a brand ambassador who is only supposed to launch the booth and not change or create new settings, or it’s a permanent installation at a physical location like a restaurant, bar, or venue. 

In all these situations, it’s vital to have assurance that your settings won’t be changed on-site.

Now, peace of mind is as easy as the press of a checkbox.

On-device editing

With the new “Allow On-device Editing” checkbox available on the web dashboard, you can seamlessly limit access from devices in the field with a checkbox in your account settings.

The box is checked by default, which allows editing across all your devices in the field.

By unchecking this box, your marketing team will maintain full control over the settings on the web dashboard, while the on-site team will have a predefined list of presets to choose from. This simple change helps minimize errors and keep your activations on track.

Tip: At the same time, you may want to update your “Default Gallery Privacy Level” setting. This will help ensure that new galleries are created with the intended gallery privacy level.

The new setting is available to all users with web dashboard access (included in all HALO plans).

Next steps for large organizations

Disabling on-device editing is useful for any account that needs to limit on-site access. If you need even more control over which presets to launch, we have a solution that involves separate accounts linked together for full control over permissions.

For personalized advice on setting your account up for success, please reach out to our team using the form below.

We’re committed to helping your team succeed, whether you’re new to Simple Booth or a seasoned user, and regardless of your team size.

The post New On-Device Editing Option Helps Deploy Multiple Photo Booths appeared first on Simple Booth.

But in a world of social media influencers, anti-aging serums, and the ability to delete embarrassing photos with a click (where was this in the ’90s?), the bar for photo quality has never been higher.

What if you could capture the perfect moment and achieve that flawless, sought-after look?

Imagine air-brushed quality with creases erased and imperfections smoothed out… While soft, high-quality lighting (like our HALO’s luminescent ring light) plays a crucial role, there was still something missing—until now.

Introducing Glam

With the new Glam photo booth filter, achieving flawlessly smooth and radiant skin in every photo is effortless and instantaneous, no matter your skin tone or type.

Our Glam filter delicately smooths the skin while preserving the real you—keeping critical details and sharpness in other places like the hair and eyes.

Whether guests are walking the red carpet, celebrating at a wedding, or just dressing up for a special occasion, Glam has you covered.

It gets even better: you can combine the Glam filter with other Simple Booth effects, like a black and white photo filter, to create truly stunning visuals.

Glam seamlessly integrates with all our editing tools, filters, and layouts including still photos, GIFs, and Live GIFs. The possibilities with Glam are endless!

As the photo booth owner, you can set a default Glam level for all photos or let your guests adjust it themselves. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

For deeper skin tones or if you’re looking to amplify the Glam effect, try our “Glam-more” filter variation. It enhances radiance and smooths imperfections, providing an extra boost of Glam for every photo.

Go Glam

Looking this good isn’t just for social media influencers, the Kardashians, or Madonna fans anymore. With Glam now available in all Simple Booth plans and in the HALO app, everyone can enjoy that polished, photo-ready look!

The post Glam Photo Booth: Fresh Filter For a Flawless Look appeared first on Simple Booth.

An overlay is like a watermark or frame that goes on top of every photo, video, or GIF captured. It gives pictures a unique photo booth vibe that’s completely customized to your brand or event theme.

Before today, you could always add a single overlay in the HALO app to personalize your photos.

Now, you can have up to 20 per event!

Multiple photo booth overlays has been a highly requested feature and has a lot of potential use cases, including:

• At a sporting event, offer an overlay for each competing team. Fans will love it!
• Instead of an overwhelming logo cloud for all the sponsors at an event, you could create a custom overlay for each sponsor.
• Imagine you are a non-profit that supports multiple causes — you could create a unique overlay for each cause as a way for event attendees to show their support for the cause they are most passionate about.
• At a wedding, you could get creative with Team Bride vs Team Groom overlays.
• Simply offer overlays in different color options or styles to appeal to more people!

How it works

To start using multiple overlays, you need to be on the Core plan or higher (starting at just $14/week!).

First, open or create your HALO preset on the online dashboard and scroll down to the Photo Design panel. You can upload overlays from the HALO app on your iPad, too, but it’s easier for most people from their computer.

After deciding on your media type, layout, crop, orientation, and whether you want to include margins, you will find a section that says “Manage Overlays.”

Click the button and begin to upload your overlays.

Make sure your overlays are PNG with transparent backgrounds, so the picture will be visible through them, and they match the recommended size listed under the overlays section. For more information on designing overlay graphics, read our overlay creation guide.

You can also drag and drop to rearrange the order of your overlays — the first overlay is the one that will appear first and likely be seen the most.

When you launch the booth, photo booth participants can swipe to choose which overlay to apply for each photo session. 

The new Choose Overlay screen appears after the participant taps the screen or after the Choose Layout screen if “Participants choose layout” is enabled in your Photo Design panel. Then, the selected overlay can be displayed during the photo capture (aka countdown) if “Show overlay during capture” is on.

The new multiple overlays feature is available in the Core, Plus, Pro, and Select plans starting today.

Time to get creative!

Multiple overlays are a great tool to give participants more control over their photos and make them more personalized. Having diverse options will make your event more exciting and your galleries more visually impactful.

Make sure to tag @simplebooth on Instagram or Facebook and share how you’re using multiple overlays!

The post More Customization, More Fun—Introducing Multiple Photo Booth Overlays appeared first on Simple Booth.