How This Nonprofit Keeps the Mission in Motion

Nonprofits across the U.S. are always finding creative ways to connect, fundraise, and drive change—even in the face of limited resources.

In Texas, the Junior League of Austin (JLA) has been driving change since 1934. Their mission is simple: advance women’s leadership for real community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Partnering with local organizations, JLA tackles big issues like food security and clothing for kids in need—and they’re always looking for new ways to amplify their mission.

In 2018, they became one of the first Austin nonprofits to adopt Simple Booth HALO®, a modern photo booth solution that helps boost engagement, spark conversations, and keep their mission top of mind. Since then, HALO has been a game-changer, helping JLA deepen connections, raise awareness, and even subtly promote fundraising at their biggest events.

Turning a holiday hit into an everyday sensation

In 2017, JLA rented HALO from a local event services company for holiday events. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that they quickly decided to purchase their own HALO setup, making it a year-round staple.

“We use it for anything and everything,” said Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair. From A Christmas Affair to leadership reveal nights and trunk-or-treats, HALO became a go-to feature at JLA events, offering a fun and interactive way for attendees to capture memories.

A Christmas Affair—one of JLA’s biggest annual fundraisers—features vendors renting booths to sell their goods, while JLA provides digital and printed Santa photos taken with HALO for a suggested donation. The event generates nearly $1 million overall, allowing JLA to support local businesses while raising funds for its community programs.

Amplifying the mission, one selfie at a time

What started as a practical way to save on event photography quickly became a powerful tool for engagement, outreach, and storytelling.

“People come to our events, and sometimes they don’t know what it’s all about. But having that touchpoint with someone at the booth gives us the chance to explain our mission.”

– Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair

“It helps people get more involved,” Angela explained. “When someone stops to take pictures, there’s usually a volunteer standing nearby who can start a conversation. People come to our events, and sometimes they don’t know what it’s all about. But having that touchpoint with someone at the booth gives us the chance to explain our mission.”

The branded photo borders also play a big role. “It reminds people where they were and how much fun they had, which often brings them back for future events,” Angela shared.

JLA has also found creative ways to adapt HALO, including pet photos with Santa. “HALO made it easier and less stressful than traditional photography setups, especially for animals that might not enjoy long photo sessions,” Angela said.

“We’re living in an Instagram world,” Angela noted. “Everyone wants a nice little vignette. HALO gives people a quick keepsake that’s fun and easy to share.”

“We’re living in an Instagram worlds. Everyone wants a nice little vignette.”

– Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair

More than a photo—building connections that last

HALO has become more than just an event feature—it’s now woven into JLA’s culture.

“It kind of grew organically,” Angela shared. “Once we had it, we realized we could use it anytime, for anything, without needing to rent a booth or hire a photographer. Now, people just request it on our internal site.”

HALO’s ability to drive visitor retention at events has proven invaluable. “Groups of friends will come by for a picture, then find more friends and keep coming back. It creates more opportunities for conversations and connections,” Angela said.

“Once we had it, we realized we could use it anytime, for anything, without needing to rent a booth or hire a photographer.”

– Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair

Beyond engagement, HALO has saved JLA time and resources. “People can take their own pictures in a nice space, without the need for someone constantly walking around with a camera,” Angela noted. That efficiency is crucial for JLA, which relies heavily on volunteer support and a minimal paid staff.

From engaging attendees to creating social media content, HALO has become a must-have tool for JLA—one they count on to keep their mission front and center.

Key features that make an impact

Through their experience with HALO, JLA quickly honed their strategy to maximize its impact and make the most of its standout features.

For JLA, a personal touch matters, so they keep each HALO experience smooth and memorable by having a volunteer photo booth attendant on-site—guiding guests and sharing more about JLA’s community programs along the way.

And who doesn’t love a little creative flair? “We use cool backdrops, physical props, green screen technology, and other fun add-ons. With 2,500 members, people bring in unique ideas—I’m always excited to see what we end up using,” Angela shared.

On top of that, HALO has been a game-changer for JLA’s social media visibility, especially at big moments like their leadership reveal event. “People love taking photos with their friends, and those pictures naturally make their way onto social media. It creates a fun buzz and attracts more people to what we’re doing—it becomes a self-fulfilling cycle.”

But it’s not just about photos—it’s about what those photos can do. HALO makes capturing high-quality group shots effortless, something traditional selfies struggle with. “Selfies only capture so much and can be awkward for big groups. HALO gets the whole picture, and attendees can share it instantly without needing to text photos around,” Angela explained.

For JLA, this organic social sharing is a powerful marketing tool, especially as a volunteer-driven organization. “Our attendees naturally market our events by sharing their photos, which saves us time and effort,” Angela noted.

“Our attendees naturally market our events by sharing their photos, which saves us time and effort.”

– Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair

Branding is another big win. “I love being able to add banners and overlays. It reminds people where they were and encourages them to return. For free event photos, we use branding as a kind of watermark. For photos like Santa pictures, we keep them unbranded and offer printed versions at a higher price.”

Thinking outside the booth

HALO strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and modern fun, making it a hit with all ages. “It feels like that old-school photo booth, but without being stuck in a tiny box. Whether it’s older generations reminiscing or younger ones looking for creative rebounds, it works for everyone,” Angela said.

The keepsake factor is huge. HALO photos help JLA events stay top of mind long after they’re over. Angela shared a personal example from their trunk-or-treat event: “Looking back at photos with my son reminds me to sign him up again. That event also had a teachable moment—we asked attendees to donate coats, and my son learned that doing something nice could also be fun.”

While digital photos are always available, JLA offers printed options for select events, like Santa photos—creating an extra revenue stream while enhancing the guest experience.

HALO has also helped JLA stay strong through tough times, including the COVID-19 pandemic. “It kept things cool, fun, and fresh. Even when people were hesitant to gather, HALO let us offer hands-off photo opportunities. It kept people engaged and reminded them of the fun they had, even when things were tough. Now we’re selling out events again—and that’s great.”

“Even when people were hesitant to gather, HALO let us offer hands-off photo opportunities. It kept people engaged and reminded them of the fun they had, even when things were tough.”

– Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair

Creating a space of their own

Five years ago, JLA events popped up all over Austin. That changed with the opening of their very own Community Impact Center, a dedicated space to host events and serve the community.

Now, the center welcomes everything from bar mitzvahs and weddings to corporate gatherings—offering an affordable option for members, community partners, and Austin residents. True to JLA’s mission, every dollar earned goes right back into their impactful community programs.

As a women-led organization, raising the capital to secure the space was a challenge, but JLA made it happen. “You give back, and then you receive a lot, too,” Angela reflected, highlighting the lesson in wealth generation their members gained along the way.

As for HALO? They haven’t added it as an event center upgrade just yet—but they see its potential as another revenue stream to fuel their ongoing community initiatives.

Bringing it full circle—helping others do the same

Angela sees huge potential for other nonprofits to benefit from photo booth experiences. “People love taking pictures and want to remember what they were part of. Especially at galas or unique events, having a professional setup makes a difference,” she said.

“People love taking pictures and want to remember what they were part of. Especially at galas or unique events, having a professional setup makes a difference.”

– Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair

She encourages organizations to get creative with backdrops and themes. “It has to be something fun—like a pumpkin patch or a holiday scene—not just a blank wall. That’s what draws people in and makes them want to take photos.”

Family-friendly events are another prime opportunity. “It’s nice for the whole family to be in a picture instead of someone being left out to press the button.” Plus, offering printed photos for a small donation is a simple way to generate funds while creating meaningful keepsakes.

For Angela, it’s all about balancing professionalism with flexibility. “What I love about HALO is that it’s all-in-one and easy to set up. We bring it out for absolutely anything and everything—it doesn’t always have to be formal or profit-driven. Sometimes it’s just about engaging members and making them happy, which keeps them coming back year after year.”

“Sometimes it’s just about engaging members and making them happy, which keeps them coming back year after year.”

– Angela Lipscomb, JLA’s Technology Chair

Whether it’s boosting engagement, promoting their mission, or simply bringing joy to community events, HALO has been a game-changer for JLA—and it can do the same for others. As Angela put it, “It’s such a great tool. We love having it, and I hope more organizations find out about it. We were one of the first, but I’m sure we won’t be the last.”