Getting Started with Simple Booth HALO®

Everything you need to set up your booth and go live, from unboxing to your first photo.

Event Kit setup. Your HALO travels in a custom case with a portable stand. Assemble it, launch the software, and you're ready to capture. When the event's over, see Repacking your case at the end.

Install Kit setup. Your HALO mounts to a wall for a permanent spot. Hang the mount, attach the HALO, launch the software, and you're live.

Step 1What's in your case

The travel case is custom-cut to hold each part snugly. Here's what you'll find, top to bottom.

HALO body

At the top of the case. Set it somewhere safe.

Stand legs

Just below the body.

Stand riser

At the bottom of the case.

Grip head

The grip head and charger are both in the side compartments.

Step 1What's in your box

HALO body

Wall mount

6.5' power cord

You'll also need fasteners. Because we don't know your wall type, fasteners aren't included. Pick them up at most hardware stores using the guide below, and always follow the instructions that come with your fasteners.

Surface	Into wood studs	Into metal studs / anchors
Drywall	#10 wood screws, 1¼" or longer	#10 toggle bolts, 1¼", rated 50+ lbs
Plaster	#10 wood screws, 2" or longer	#10 toggle bolts, 2", rated 50+ lbs
Masonry	Any 3/16" x 1¼" masonry anchor (rated for hundreds of lbs). A hammer drill makes it easier.

Mounting to something else? Research your surface type and choose fasteners rated for 50+ lbs. When mounting to drywall or plaster, always find and use a stud, with anchors for the other half of the mount.

Step 2Assemble your HALO

Prefer to watch? See the full HALO setup video.

Release the legs.

Pull up on the ring marked in green on the base.

Rotate the legs into position.

Tilt or pull each leg out. Each one stops automatically when it reaches the right spot.

Lock the legs.

Release the lock so its grooves sit flush with the base.

Add the riser.

Place the riser in the base and secure it with the bottom knob.

Raise the stand.

Extend it and tighten the knobs. We recommend about 5 feet (1.5 m) off the ground.

Attach the grip head.

The clamp (1) attaches to the top of the stand. Loosen its handle just enough to slide it on, then position the smaller side so the round receptacle is horizontal, not vertical.

Attach the HALO.

Insert the silver pin on the back of the HALO into the round receptacle until it is no longer visible. Tighten the small handle, and loosen it slightly anytime to adjust the angle.

Insert the iPad.

Pull the faceplate off using the side tabs near the top, then rotate the interior swivel tabs fully behind the iPad to secure it. That keeps the camera’s view clear.

Plug in the iPad and replace the faceplate.

Hold the bottom of the enclosed iPad near the bottom of the HALO body and plug in the USB-C connector (1). Then align the faceplate and let the magnets snap it into position, making sure the USB-C cable isn’t caught underneath.

Power on.

Insert the power cord into the bottom-back of the HALO body and flip the switch beside it. The iPad starts charging right away.

Adjust lighting and exposure.

Set HALO's brightness with the side knob (1), then fine-tune exposure and other camera settings in the app's Mission Control.

Step 2Mount your HALO

Mark the location.

Use the wall mount plate to mark your fastener positions. We recommend about 5 feet (1.5 m) high.

Secure the wall mount.

Hang the mount following your fasteners' instructions. Make sure it's fully tightened and secure.

Insert the power cord.

The cord goes into the back of the HALO, so plug it in before mounting.

Mount the HALO.

Guide the silver pin on the back of the HALO into the wall mount's receptacle until it is no longer visible.

Secure the HALO.

Lock the equipment in place using the wall mount's securing screw (1).

Insert the iPad.

Pull the faceplate off using the side tabs near the top, then rotate the interior swivel tabs fully behind the iPad to secure it. That keeps the camera’s view clear.

Plug in the iPad and replace the faceplate.

Power on.

Plug the power cord into the wall and flip the bottom-back switch (1) to power on.

Adjust lighting and exposure.

Set HALO's brightness with the side knob (1), then fine-tune exposure and other camera settings in the app's Mission Control.

Hardware quick tips

Compatible iPads: the faceplate is made for specific iPad models. See the current list.
Repairs and replacements: start with the repair request form.
Simple Care: optional coverage for repairs and replacement parts. See what's included.

Step 3Launch the software

Download the app. Scan this code, or search Simple Booth HALO in the App Store, to install it on your iPad.

Connect to Wi-Fi. Open Settings on the iPad and join your network.
Turn on Guided Access. Still in Settings, go to Accessibility → Guided Access, turn it on, and set Display Auto-Lock to Never. This one-time setup is what makes the triple-click in the last step work. Prepare your iPad covers the rest.
Open the app. Tap the Simple Booth HALO icon on your iPad, the same app you just downloaded.
Log in. Sign in with your Simple Booth account. New here? Create one at simplebooth.com/signup and choose a plan. Already bought a software license? Email halo@simplebooth.com and we'll activate it for you.
Open your preset and launch. A preset controls how your booth looks and functions. Tap yours in the list, then tap Launch in the top-right corner. No preset yet? Create one in the app or in the dashboard.
Start Guided Access. Triple-click the top button (or the home button on older iPads) and select Guided Access. This keeps guests inside the app and makes a big difference to the experience.

Software quick tips

Before you go live

A few things to do first.

Review the Pre-Event Checklist: a quick pass prevents surprises later.
Lock down the iPad: turn on Guided Access and turn off notifications and auto-lock.
Update your app and iOS: install the latest HALO app version and iPadOS so everything runs smoothly.
Unattended installs: some owners turn off on-device editing in account settings. The Permanent Install Guide covers upkeep, updates, and who should hold the Guided Access passcode.

Mission Control

A hidden dashboard for quick checks while the booth is running.

Open it: on the start screen, place two fingers in the center and pinch outward.
Status: preset, gallery, Wi-Fi, storage, and license.
Adjustments: camera and screen settings.
Offline queue: pending uploads still sending.

Want the full picture? Scan for the complete Simple Booth onboarding guide, with account setup, iPad prep, best practices, and troubleshooting.

End of the day

Close the app so it starts fresh next time: swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then swipe the Simple Booth HALO app away. Lock the iPad screen when you're done.

Repacking your case

Keep the iPad in the faceplate. Leaving the iPad secured in the faceplate is a safe, protected way to transport it.

The foam is cut to hold everything securely in transit, so pack in this order.

Remove the top foam inserts.

They cradle the HALO.

Collapse and insert the stand.

There's a pocket cut out for the knobs.

Collapse and insert the legs.

You may need to flip or rotate them to fit.

Replace the top foam, then set the HALO on top.

There's a hole cut out for the silver pin on the back.