Running a photography business through waves of technological change takes adaptability—and Kurt Nielsen has always stayed ahead of the curve.
Based in Toledo, Ohio, Kurt Nielsen Photography has spent over 27 years capturing weddings, family milestones, and special events. As client expectations evolved, Kurt knew he needed something fresh to keep his calendar full—without losing the personal touch his business is known for.
In 2018, he discovered Simple Booth HALO®—a modern iPad photo booth app that lets guests capture photos, GIFs, and videos with instant sharing and custom branding. Its flexibility and ease of use made it the perfect solution for his roaming setups (“roamers”) that bring the booth experience directly to the guests.
What started as an experiment quickly became his signature service. With HALO powering the mobile photo experience, Kurt delivers engaging interactions, instant digital sharing, and seamless event management.
Today, his roamers are the most requested setup—and a major driver of his growing business.
From Portraits to Parties (and Everything in Between)
“We kind of do it all—family photos, weddings, high school senior portraits, and events,” Kurt said. “Not trying to put all my eggs in one basket.”
That mindset has kept his business thriving. By balancing traditional photography with a growing lineup of modern photo booth experiences, Kurt continues to adapt to client needs and seasonal trends.
His setup now includes four roamers, a robot, two LA Photo Party booths, three original booths, a 360 booth, and a stationary iPad setup—with roamers leading the pack in popularity.
“For the roamers, Simple Booth is perfect,” he said. “It’s so easy to use. We can send a new hire out, have them start working the crowd, and it just works.”
“It’s so easy to use. We can send a new hire out, have them start working the crowd, and it just works.”
– Kurt Nielsen, Owner of Kurt Nielsen Photography
For Kurt, HALO’s intuitive design means fast setups and fewer headaches. “It takes me maybe two minutes to get going. I turn it on and it just runs.”
That reliability matters, especially during packed weekends: “I can prep an event, create an overlay, and be live in 10 minutes. And if something goes wrong, I can fix it and re-upload fast—which is huge when you’ve got six events in one night.”
Creativity Keeps Em’ Coming Back
Kurt’s knack for creating memorable moments is a major driver of his success. Whether it’s a wedding, mitzvah, or corporate party, he’s always looking for ways to go beyond expectations.
At a Harry Potter-themed Bat Mitzvah, he set up a “Catch the Snitch” station using green screen effects and a handmade broomstick. “Everyone thought it was the coolest thing,” he said.
For weddings, he’s used roamers to capture standout shots—like a sparkler exit, turned into a GIF by walking backward in front of the couple. “I didn’t know how it would turn out,” he admitted, “but it looked amazing. The couple loved it.”
That kind of creativity keeps people coming back. “We’re thinking about offering multiple overlay options so guests can choose their favorite design,” Kurt said. “Little things like that make us stand out.”
Putting the Guest Experience First
Kurt’s photo booth setups have become a true highlight at events. “It’s funny—sometimes there’s a line at the booth all night. People just love it,” he said.
He’s leveled up the experience even more with Simple Booth’s glam filter. “I’ve kept it on at every event since it launched,” he said. “No one’s ever said, ‘I look weird.’ All we hear is, ‘Look how good we look!’ The most common reaction? ‘I need one of these at home.’”
“All we hear is, ‘Look how good we look!’ The most common reaction? ‘I need one of these at home.’”
– Kurt Nielsen, Owner of Kurt Nielsen Photography
His guest-first mindset has also been key to growth. “As a photographer, I don’t mind walking up and saying, ‘Hey guys, get together for a picture.’ They’re confused at first—then I tell them I’ll just text it to them. Once they see how fast it works, they’re hooked.”
The best part? His investment in the Simple Booth software paid off fast. “Honestly, it paid for itself pretty quickly,” he said. “Now, it’s just extra money coming in.”
“Honestly, it paid for itself pretty quickly. Now, it’s just extra money coming in.”
– Kurt Nielsen, Owner of Kurt Nielsen Photography
Built-In Branding That Sticks
Kurt’s strategic use of Simple Booth’s features helps his business stay top-of-mind long after the party’s over. One of his favorite tools? The pop-up ad in online galleries, which lets him promote his business without relying on printed materials.
“We add our business card as a pop-up in the galleries,” he said. “It saves a ton of money on printing. People still ask for a card now and then, but that pop-up gives us constant name recognition.”
The branding doesn’t stop there. “Every time someone takes a picture, my logo’s on it,” Kurt added. “They share it, and boom—free advertising.”
“Every time someone takes a picture, my logo’s on it. They share it, and boom—free advertising.”
– Kurt Nielsen, Owner of Kurt Nielsen Photography
That kind of seamless, smart branding—combined with the fun and energy of his photo booth experiences—continues to deliver results.
Kurt’s Simple Booth galleries have racked up more than 50,000 uploads over the years, a testament to both his packed event calendar and the lasting impression he leaves on guests.
Showing Up—and Staying Booked
Kurt’s success comes from a mix of consistency and curiosity. “Repetition is key,” he said. “Just being out in the community so people keep coming back to you.”
“Repetition is key. Just being out in the community so people keep coming back to you.”
– Kurt Nielsen, Owner of Kurt Nielsen Photography
At the same time, he isn’t afraid to lean into what’s new. “We try to be the first in the area to have the cool toys,” he said. “Right now, there are only two others around here with roamers. If you see one at an event, it’s usually through us.”
By saying yes to all kinds of events and embracing the latest tools, Kurt has become the go-to photo booth guy in his region—known for bringing the energy, delivering quality, and showing up where it matters. And with his longstanding photography business still going strong, he can truly offer it all.
With Simple Booth powering his most popular offerings, Kurt’s not just staying relevant—he’s shaping what guests expect from the modern photo booth experience.
Why Everyone Wants Kurt at Their Event
Kurt Nielsen has built his brand on consistency, creativity, and showing up for every kind of event. By blending his full-service photography business with modern tools like Simple Booth HALO®, he delivers experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Simple Booth is designed to work beautifully as an all-in-one photo booth solution—including both software and hardware—but Kurt’s roaming setups highlight just how adaptable the platform can be.
Whether he’s working the floor at a wedding or capturing candid moments at a local event, HALO gives his growing team the power to create, brand, and share with ease.
If you’re planning an event in the Ohio region and want professional photography paired with a photo booth rental experience your guests won’t stop talking about, Kurt Neilsen Photography is your go-to.
Learn more or get in touch at www.kurtnphoto.com.
Ready to expand your photography or event offerings with cutting edge photo booth technology?