College is a time of growth, meaningful connections, and exciting possibilities. As campuses grow and evolve, schools are looking for new ways to engage students. They also want to support career development and build school pride—both in and out of the classroom.
Over the years, photo booths have played a bigger role in this experience. They capture moments that bring students, faculty, and communities together, creating new opportunities for connection.
At State University, the Housing and Residence Life (HRL) Office encourages students to celebrate their unique stories and perspectives. By creating programs that reflect their identities, the office fosters a dynamic campus culture built on connection, belonging, and representation.
Simple Booth HALO® helps bring these meaningful moments to life.
HALO is known for its ease of use and exceptional lighting. It helps students, staff, and families build relationships, create memories, and feel more confident on camera. From high-energy events to casual drop-in activities, HALO supports State University’s mission to strengthen community and foster connections across campus.
Celebrate & Commemorate
For incoming freshmen, the college experience is filled with “firsts” worth celebrating—and capturing. The HRL Office uses HALO to help students commemorate milestones, from the first day of classes to National Selfie Day.
One of their senior staff members explains: “We are really tasked with supporting first-year students. And what we have found is folks really want to commemorate everything. So, we lean into that.”
“What we have found is folks really want to commemorate everything. So, we lean into that.”
– Senior Staff Member at State University
A big part of the booth’s success comes from where it’s placed. It shows up at key events like homecoming, parent and family weekends, and cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year and Diwali. Positioned at entrances and exits, the booth becomes an unmissable part of the experience for students and families alike.
As HALO’s popularity grew, its role expanded beyond the HRL Office programming. With a reservation system, other departments and groups use the photo booth for their events, making it a cherished feature across campus.
Cost-Effective & Ready for Anything
Before they owned a photo booth, renting from external vendors was expensive. It also came with limited customization and rigid scheduling.
“Reserving it through local companies was very costly,” they explained. “We were reserving this photo booth for $600 every time we used it. And we were like, okay, we use this six times a year. So, this is gonna pay for itself very quickly.”
An in-house booth with the right software plan saves money and makes event planning more flexible. With the booth readily available, the team can organize, troubleshoot, and adapt when unexpected situations arise.
When a group of 50 high school students experienced a bus breakdown, the HRL Office quickly set up HALO and a popcorn machine in the lobby to keep them entertained. “It was the perfect opportunity to introduce them to who we are,” they recalled. “A popcorn machine and a photo booth go a long way.”
“It was the perfect opportunity to introduce them to who we are. A popcorn machine and a photo booth go a long way.”
– Senior Staff Member at State University
With HALO, the HRL Office can respond quickly to opportunities, documenting events in real-time and providing memorable experiences without delays.
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Meeting Students Where They Are
A big reason the photo booth works so well is its ability to adapt to each event.
“We balance that,” explains Rick. “What kind of energy does this event need? And how do we reflect that in our photo booth environment? What backdrop are we using? Is today a plain white day? A tan day? How can the photo booth support us in that?”
The booth setup changes with the event. It can be lively with music and balloons, or quieter during finals week. This flexibility keeps the experience welcoming and appropriate, encouraging participation from students, staff, and parents alike.
Even at alumni events like reunions, HALO offers a relaxed opportunity for meaningful connections. “We just encourage them to come up when they’re ready,” highlighting its ability to engage diverse audiences without the pressure.
Boosting Engagement Across the Board
Since adding HALO, the HRL Office has seen a dramatic increase in event engagement.
At Parent and Family Weekend, the booth now captures 50 to 100 photos in a single day. In the past, events might only have a few candid shots. “Parents love it. Like, they absolutely love it,” they shared. “It used to be just snacks and a down spot for parents, but now the photo booth is a big part of the event.’”
“Parents love it. Like, they absolutely love it.”
– Senior Staff Member at State University
Students lead promotion for both events and the photo booth. They use flyers, residence hall signage, and social media. A campus-wide email to 10,000 on-campus residents also helps promote the booth. Even with limited attendance, it drives strong participation.
The photo booth has also spurred greater engagement from international students, who are increasingly using it for cultural celebrations. “We’ve seen a lot more requests for those,” they added. “We had six requests just this week, and the university was only open three days!”
“We had six requests just this week, and the university was only open three days!”
– Senior Staff Member at State University
A Thoughtful, Student-Driven Approach
Student feedback plays a key role in how the photo booth program evolves, influencing both personalization and photo-sharing practices.
Custom overlays are a student favorite and a signature part of the photo booth experience. “Everybody wants a custom overlay every time we do an event,” they shared. To streamline the process, they use a premade template to quickly create designs that capture each event’s unique vibe.
Students have also advocated for more privacy in photo-sharing. “There is activism on campus around how student photos are used,” they explained. In response, they moved away from campus-wide sharing. Now, they use Simple Booth’s direct send options, built-in privacy features, and their own campus system to securely deliver photos to participants.
By aligning with student needs, the HRL Office turned the photo booth into a powerful tool for connection and celebration. At the same time, they balance privacy and accessibility to create a respectful experience for everyone.
Bringing Energy and Lightheartedness to Important Work
The HRL Office has seen a significant shift in their events. What were once quiet gatherings are now vibrant, social spaces—thanks in large part to HALO.
“It has made our events more, honestly, more loud,” Rick explained. “They feel more like free spaces where folks can be silly and take up space.”
“It has made our events more, honestly, more loud.”
– Senior Staff Member at State University
The office often tackles heavy topics like exclusion and belonging. The photo booth offers a welcome moment of levity and connection. “We’re here because people don’t feel like they belong,” they shared. “If we can chip away at that for even five minutes while they’re taking a photo, then we’re happy to do that.”
Fostering Inclusion & Building Community
This mix of fun and purpose has made the photo booth a cornerstone for inclusion and community on campus. It shows how something as simple as a photo can create meaningful moments.
HALO’s portability and easy setup have further solidified its value. “We can just pack it up, put it in the back of a van, and go,” they emphasized.
The self-service functionality is another key draw. “What really attracts people to the photo booth is that it’s self-service,” they added. “Especially after COVID-19, when people became more conscious about being in crowded spaces.”
Because students can take photos on their own terms, the experience feels more comfortable and accessible. That, in turn, drives stronger engagement.
Looking Ahead: A Lasting Impact on Community & Culture
More universities are adopting photo booths to boost engagement. At State University, the Housing and Residence Life Office is leading the way with HALO, creating spaces where students feel seen and valued.
Senior staff members plan to expand the program to meet rising demand, especially with new buildings set to open. “We won’t get through another school year with just one photo booth,” they shared.
Plans include training student workers to manage booths at multiple events, ensuring smooth operations as the program continues to grow.
Departments like Student Affairs, Student Life, Campus Recreation, and Multicultural Affairs could also benefit from photo booths—using them to drive engagement, build connections, and celebrate student experiences.
“The photo booth really brings first-year residents together,” they shared. “If we can help them celebrate and feel valued, we’re happy to do that.”
“If we can help them celebrate and feel valued, we’re happy to do that.”
– Senior Staff Member at State University
What started as a fun activity has grown into a meaningful tool for building community and creating lasting memories. As State University evolves, HALO remains a key part of helping students feel a sense of belonging and pride.
Note: School name has been changed for privacy.
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