College is a time of growth, meaningful connections, and exciting possibilities. As campuses continue to grow and evolve, educational institutions are seeking new ways to engage students, support career development, and foster school pride—both in the classroom and beyond.
Over the years, photo booths have played a growing role in this experience, capturing moments that bring students, faculty, and communities together while creating endless opportunities.
At State University (whose name has been changed to respect school policy), the Housing and Residence Life Office encourages students to celebrate their unique stories and perspectives. By empowering students to create 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.
Known for its ease of use and exceptional lighting, HALO is a modern photo booth solution that helps students, staff, and families build relationships, create memories, and boost confidence. From high-energy events like move-in week 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 Housing and Residence Life Office embraces this by using HALO to help students commemorate milestones, from the first day of classes to National Selfie Day.
Rick Spencer, 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.”
– Rick Spencer, Senior Staff Member
A big part of the photo booth’s success lies in its strategic placement at key events like homecoming, parent and family weekends, and cultural celebrations such as 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 Housing and Residence Life Office programming. With a reservation system in place, other departments and student groups now use the photo booth for their events, making it a cherished feature across the campus community.
Cost-Effective & Ready for Anything
Before the Housing and Residence Life Office had its own photo booth, renting from external vendors proved expensive, offered limited customization, and came with rigid scheduling.
“Reserving it through local companies was very costly,” explains Rick. “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.”
Owning their own HALO photo booth, paired with the right software plan, has not only saved money but also made event planning more flexible. With the booth readily available, the team can organize, troubleshoot, and adapt when unexpected situations arise.
Just recently, when a group of 50 high school students was stranded in the lobby during a tour due to a bus breakdown, the Housing and Residence Life Office quickly set up HALO and a popcorn machine to keep them entertained. “It was the perfect opportunity to introduce them to who we are,” Rick 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.”
– Rick Spencer, Senior Staff Member
Having HALO on hand allows the Housing and Residence Life Office to respond quickly to opportunities, documenting events in real-time and providing memorable experiences without the delays of external coordination.
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Meeting Students Where They Are
A key factor in the photo booth’s success is its ability to seamlessly adapt to the energy and needs of 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?”
From lively setups with music and balloons to quieter configurations during finals week, the booth is carefully aligned with the event’s mood. This thoughtful flexibility ensures the experience feels welcoming and appropriate, encouraging participation from students, staff, and parents alike.
Even at alumni events like reunions, HALO offers a relaxed, low-pressure activity. “We just encourage them to come up when they’re ready and when they’re able,” Rick shares, highlighting its ability to engage diverse audiences and foster meaningful connections.
Boosting Engagement Across the Board
Since adding HALO to their event inventory, the Housing and Residence Life Office has seen a dramatic increase in engagement at events.
For example, at Parent and Family Weekend, the booth now sees 50 to 100 photos taken in a single day, compared to only a few candid shots taken by a photographer in the past. “Parents love it. Like, they absolutely love it,” shares Rick. “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.”
– Rick Spencer, Senior Staff Member
Students take charge of promoting the events and the photo booth through flyers, digital signage in residence halls, and social media. Additionally, a campus-wide email to all 10,000 on-campus residents highlights when and where HALO will be available, driving participation even with a fraction of students attending.
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,” Rick 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!”
– Rick Spencer, Senior Staff Member
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,” shares Rick. To streamline the process, they use a premade Canva 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,” Rick explained. In response, they’ve shifted from sharing photos campus-wide to a more controlled, private approach, utilizing Simple Booth’s direct send options, privacy features, and their own campus system to ensure photos are sent securely to participants.
By aligning with student needs, the Housing and Residence Life Office elevates the photo booth as a powerful tool for connection, celebration, and personalization, all while balancing privacy and accessibility to ensure a seamless and respectful experience for everyone.
Bringing Energy and Lightheartedness to Important Work
The Housing and Residence Life Office has noticed a significant shift in their events, which have transformed from quiet gatherings to vibrant spaces filled with connection and play, with HALO playing a big part in that change.
“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.”
– Rick Spencer, Senior Staff Member
In an office addressing heavy topics like exclusion and belonging, the photo booth offers a welcome opportunity for levity and connection. “We’re here because people don’t feel like they belong,” Rick 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.”
This mix of fun and purpose has made the photo booth a cornerstone in fostering inclusion and building a sense of community on campus, demonstrating how something as simple as a photo can create meaningful moments.
HALO’s portability and self-service features have further solidified its value. “We can just pack it up, put it in the back of a van, and go,” Rick emphasized, highlighting how its flexibility supports events across the expansive campus.
The self-service functionality is another key draw. “What really attracts people to the photo booth is that it’s self-service,” Rick adds. “Especially after COVID-19, when people became more conscious about being in crowded spaces.”
By allowing students to take photos on their own terms, HALO ensures comfort, safety, and accessibility, enhancing its appeal while encouraging meaningful engagement.
Looking Ahead: A Lasting Impact on Community & Culture
As more universities adopt photo booths to foster engagement, State University’s Housing and Residence Life Office is leading the way with HALO, creating inclusive spaces where students feel seen and valued.
Looking ahead, Rick and other 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.
The success of this initiative has already sparked interest across campus. Departments like Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs have adopted their own booths, with the History Department expressing interest as well. “The photo booth really brings first-year residents together,” Rick 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.”
– Rick Spencer, Senior Staff Member
Beyond Housing and Residence Life, departments such as Student Affairs, Student Life, Student Activities, Campus Recreation, Intramurals, and Multicultural Affairs could also benefit from the power of photo booths to drive engagement, build connections, and celebrate diverse student experiences.
What began as a fun activity has grown into a meaningful tool for fostering community and creating lasting memories. As State University continues to evolve, HALO will remain a vital part of shaping spaces where students truly feel a sense of belonging and pride.
Looking for a fun and creative way to engage students on and off campus?