Kurt Nielsen Photography – Toledo Events and Photo Booths Blog

December 1, 2025December 1, 2025

Moments That Matter: How Great Lakes Santas Brings Christmas Magic to Children in Ohio & Michigan One Visit at a Time

Santa holding a smiling 4 month old baby girl inside Kurt Nielsen Photography's Santa's workshop

The holiday season is a time for joy, generosity, and meaningful traditions.
For me, one of the most treasured traditions each year is partnering with Great Lakes Santas, an organization of professionally trained Santas who volunteer their time to bring Christmas magic to children throughout Ohio and Michigan.

This charity embodies the true spirit of giving, and I’m proud to support their mission through our annual Santa Experience Christmas Mini Sessions in my Sylvania, Ohio portrait studio.

curious one year old baby girl sitting on Santa's lap looking up at him

Who Are the Great Lakes Santas?

Great Lakes Santas is a nonprofit group made up of real-bearded, professionally trained Santas who donate their time to brighten the holidays for families in need across Ohio and Michigan. Every Santa member meets strict professional standards and completes advanced training in child interaction, storytelling, safety, and ethical conduct.

But what truly sets them apart is their heart.

These Santas collect money through their membership dues and public and private donations. Our Santa Rance works strictly for donations to their charity, as do many of the other Santas in this group. 100% of their collected funds support their mission of helping children and families at Christmas.

It’s grassroots generosity at its finest.

mom and her golden retriever dog sitting in Santa's sleigh with Santa behind them in the barn set at Kurt Nielsen Photography

Our Partnership: Born from a Year That Changed Everything

In 2020, when COVID shut down public holiday events and so many children were suddenly unable to see Santa, Santa Rance Miller reached out to me with a simple question:

“How can we bring Santa to the children safely, so the magic isn’t lost this year?”

Together, we created something entirely new for the Greater Toledo community:

Santa talking to a two year old boy in front of a christmas tree inside Kurt Nielsen Photography

The Santa Experience Christmas Mini Sessions

A private, child-led, interactive Santa mini photo shoot that is designed to feel magical, unrushed, and deeply personal, while producing stunning, heirloom-quality photos.

For the sixth straight year, this time-honored tradition continues, and each year grows more special than the last.

two children decorating cookies with Mrs. Claus inside Kurt Nielsen Photography's Santa's workshop

What Makes Our Santa Experience So Magical?

Our Santa Experience isn’t a typical “sit, smile, and leave” photo session.
It’s 15 full minutes of uninterrupted time with Santa, but scheduled every 30 minutes so families have time to settle in and children can approach Santa at their own comfort level.

And we mean it when we say these sessions are completely child led.
We never force children to do anything they’re not ready for. Some run right into Santa’s arms. Some just want to decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus. Some want to check out all the toys in the studio and play. And yes… some cry. (And parents often LOVE those photos!)

Here’s what children can enjoy during their session:

Tell Santa what they want for Christmas
Bring and deliver wish lists or letters
Find their name on Santa’s Nice List
Listen to Santa read a Christmas story
Sit in Santa’s sleigh
Decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus (added last year—instant hit!)
Just relax, talk, and enjoy the magic of Christmas

two year old boy decorating cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Kurt Nielsen Photography

This isn’t just a photo session.
It’s an experience that families talk about all year long.

Why I Love Working With Santa Rance

Santa Rance is more than a man in a red suit. He’s the real deal.

He has years of experience working with children including teaching other Santas how to interact with children who have special needs at a professional Santa school.

He is endlessly patient, gentle, funny, and intuitive.

Every child feels seen. Every child feels safe. Every child leaves believing in the magic of Christmas.

Santa Rance never charges for sessions or appearances.

Instead, a portion of the proceeds from my Santa Experience sessions goes directly to Great Lakes Santas to help families in need have a Christmas.

If you’d like him for a corporate party, community event, or private home visit, I’m happy to connect you. He only asks for a donation to the charity.

a little boy is sitting on Santa's lap while holding Santa's Naughty and Nice List with his big sister standing beside them inside Kurt Nielsen Photograpy photo studio

You’re Invited: 2025 Santa Experience Mini Sessions

We kicked off the holiday season on Sunday, November 23, and the joy was contagious!

There are only two dates left with limited availability. Although it’s too late to schedule your Santa Experience Christmas Mini Session for today’s sessions, we still have a couple spots left for our last one on:

Thursday, December 11 — 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Cost:
$100 – includes 5 full-resolution digital images
Additional images are $10 each
All images from the session can be purchased for just $150 more

To schedule your session, please call my studio at:

(419) 885-7153

These sessions are for all ages — littles, teens, adults, grandparents — but please limit to immediate family because sessions are just 15 minutes long.

3 small siblings sitting with Santa, two are crying — Of course, not all are excited to see Santa!

Want to Help Great Lakes Santas Help Local Families?

The best part of the Santa Experience is knowing it directly supports children in need in our region. To learn more about our Santa Experience Christmas Mini Sessions at my Sylvania Portrait Studio, check out my website: Christmas Mini Sessions

Click to donate directly to the Great Lakes Santas website.

Why This Blog Series Matters

This post is part of my Moments that Matter series, where I highlight organizations that make Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan stronger, kinder, and more connected.

Capturing their stories is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.

If your nonprofit, school, or organization is hosting a holiday event or fundraiser and wants to create unforgettable memories, I’d love to capture the magic for you.

Contact me to schedule a time to talk about your event or portrait needs.

Together, we’ll create moments that last a lifetime.

November 8, 2025December 1, 2025

Moments That Matter: How Sylvania Area Family Services Is Changing Lives in Toledo—One Smile at a Time

Masquerade Ball 2025

As we step into the season of giving and thanks, I’m honored to share why the work of Sylvania Area Family Services (SAFS) means so much to me personally, and how my photography and photo booth services help capture the powerful moments at their fundraisers and community events.

Why SAFS Matters

SAFS has been a cornerstone organization in our community for decades. Their mission is to “strengthen individuals and families through programs, resources, and advocacy.”

Here are some of the key impact areas:

Food the pantry: SAFS’s food-pantry work and “Harvest” program support families facing food insecurity, especially now with the economy shifts and with SNAP benefits being delayed or less than usual, SAFS steps in with assistance.
Youth & family programs: They offer after-school programs, summer camp, youth diversion, and more to help children thrive.
Holiday and emergency support: Everyone deserves to celebrate the holidays and SAFS “Adopt a Family” program ensures that all their clients have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas despite their economic disparities.

Personally, the cause is close to my heart: my wife used their food pantry while going through a difficult divorce. That experience reminds me every day how essential SAFS’s work is, especially when the economy and public support systems are under strain.

How I Support SAFS Through My Photography & Photo Booths

At On Tap & Uncorked in September, my team was there with my mobile Walk-About Social Booths to help bring fun, engagement, and memorable imagery to the event. At the annual Spring Gala, we had our instant printing Portrait Booth to capture the guests and create memories. These aren’t just snapshots—each photo becomes a digital keepsake that supports the mission:

Engagement & joy: Guests at On Tap & Uncorked sampled drinks, bid on silent-auction items, and enjoyed live music while participating in our photo booth. That fun moment connects to the deeper purpose: raising funds so SAFS can do more.
Honoring heroes: At the Spring Gala, SAFS honored community leaders who work tirelessly for the mission. Our photo booths have captured the community coming together and the images that tell a story of impact and hope.
Brand-awareness through imagery: Every image shared publicly helps spread the word about SAFS’s work. From social media posts to newsletter features, these visuals extend the reach of the cause.
Interactive Experiences for Personal Guest Involvement: Because my focus is on providing interactive experiential activations for corporate events and weddings, bringing this level of service to SAFS events elevates the overall production, and reflects how valued the nonprofit is in our community.

Why This Matters Now

With the economy shifting and programs like SNAP under pressure, the community’s need is growing. SAFS is not just reacting, they’re proactive. According to a recent report, SAFS served over 18,000 individuals in 2024 alone.

When we attend events like On Tap & Uncorked, we’re not just having a good evening; we’re raising money, increasing awareness, and supporting the systems that help a neighbor in crisis. My photography and photo-booth services are just one piece of how “giving back” becomes visible, joyful, and shareable.

How You Can Help

If you’re reading this and you’re moved by the mission, here are three meaningful ways you can support SAFS (and the work we’re helping document):

Attend an event: Mark your calendar for events like On Tap & Uncorked or the Spring Gala. Enjoy the evening, contribute via auction or ticket, and know your presence matters.
Share the stories: Help get the word out. Share images, tag SAFS on social media, post a favorite photo booth shot from the event. When people see you supporting it, they’re inspired too.
Donate or volunteer: Whether a monetary gift, food pantry drop-off, or your time helping with youth programs, every bit helps. Visit SAFS’s website for ways to plug in.

Our Walk-about Social Booth is Toledo’s first mobile photo booth that can go anywhere!

My Invitation to You

If your organization is planning a fundraiser, gala, or special event and you’re looking for high-quality gallery-style photography and engaging photo-booth experiences that speak to high-end clients, I’d love to talk with you. Capturing moments that matter is what I do. Helping causes like SAFS reminds me why.

Let’s work together to ensure your next event doesn’t just look amazing, it leaves a legacy of community, generosity, and connection.

For more information on how I can help you not just capture moments, but help create them for your event, please visit my website.

June 22, 2025June 22, 2025

Event Photographer Case Study: The Hippo Classic Golf Outing at Catawba Island Club

Capturing Moments That Matter – While Elevating Brand Visibility and Guest Engagement

Client: The Toledo Zoo
Event: The Hippo Classic Golf Outing
Location: Catawba Island Club, Port Clinton, Ohio
Photography Sponsor: BMW of Toledo, A Yark Automotive Dealership
Lunch & Dinner Sponsor: COFC Logistics
Photographer: Kurt Nielsen Photography, Inc., Sylvania, Ohio

Overview

As a professional event photographer serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, I had the opportunity to work with The Toledo Zoo during their annual charity golf outing — The Hippo Classic — held at the picturesque Catawba Island Club, an exclusive destination with stunning views of Lake Erie. This premium event, designed to support the Zoo’s mission to Enjoy. Inspire. Educate. Act., offered an ideal blend of business development and philanthropy.

My role: deliver a seamless, branded, and engaging photographic experience for guests and sponsors — before, during, and after the event.

Photography Goals

Team Photos branded with event and sponsor logos
Instant photo delivery for social sharing and print takeaway
Event documentation of the scramble, lunch, dinner, and awards
Sponsor visibility with BMW of Toledo vehicle integration
Action shots of golf play and candid moments throughout the day

Our Solution: The Paparazzi Event Photography Experience

To enhance the guest and sponsor experience, I deployed my unique Paparazzi Event Photography Experience, a hybrid of professional event photography and instant photo booth delivery.

Key Features:

Facial recognition tagging
Instant galleries sent to guests via text or email
Fully branded photos for maximum sponsor exposure
Fully edited and optimized photos for best social sharing
Live uploads to a custom microsite for real-time access
On-site printing for immediate photo takeaway in keepsake folders

✅ The Paparazzi Experience ensures no one leaves wondering if they’ll ever see their event photos — they receive them instantly and share them effortlessly.

Event Highlights

🏌️‍♂️ The Golf Scramble

25 business-sponsored teams with 4 players each
Played “Par is Your Friend” format for faster play
Action and team photos captured on Tee 17 near the Pro Shop
Additional candid moments at the Tee 18 putting green

📷 Branded Team Photos

BMW of Toledo featured two luxury BMWs as a branded backdrop
Golfers were positioned between the vehicles for each team shot
Photos were printed onsite and ready by dinner under the beachside Pavilion

🍽️ Event Coverage

Lunch at the Side Door Bar pre-tournament
Full coverage of dinner and awards ceremony under the Pavilion tent
Documented interactions, sponsor recognition, and VIP moments

Measurable Results

📸 564 total photos captured
🧑 33 guests tagged using facial recognition
📁 Average of 4.1 photos per tagged guest
📤 Instant access to photos via text/email and microsite
🖼️ 100+ printed 4×6 branded keepsakes distributed

Why This Matters for Event Planners & Sponsors

Solving Key Pain Points:

No More “Where Are The Photos?” – Guests received theirs within seconds.
Built-In Brand Promotion – Branded, shareable content enhanced sponsor reach.
Increased Engagement – Social sharing amplified visibility for The Toledo Zoo, BMW of Toledo, and COFC Logistics, along with all of the other event sponsors.
Optional Data Capture – My software also supports GDPR compliant email/phone number collection for future outreach (available for future events).

About the Venue: Catawba Island Club

Nestled in the Catawba Cliffs, CIC is a scenic Arthur Hills-designed course offering luxury and tradition. Its pristine greens and lakeside views provided a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere — ideal for both business networking and high-end event photography.

Final Thoughts

The Hippo Classic showcased how intentional photography can do more than document an event — it can enhance guest experience, support brand storytelling, and create lasting impressions.

As an event photographer serving Toledo, Ohio, Catawba Island, and beyond, I’m proud to bring innovation, emotion, and efficiency to every project — especially those that support great causes like The Toledo Zoo.

Thank you Toledo Zoo, for allowing me to capture these memories

A special shout-out to Grace, Nicole, and the entire events team at The Toledo Zoo for creating an amazing and fun event. The behind-the-scenes work is endless but truly appreciated by all who participate! Thank you for entrusting me to capture the day.

📞 Interested in elevating your next golf outing or corporate event?

Let’s talk about how Kurt Nielsen Photography and the Paparazzi Event Photography Experience can transform your fundraiser, brand activation, or charity event.

🌐 www.kurtnphoto.com
📍 Based in Sylvania, Ohio – Serving Northwest Ohio, Southeast Michigan, and Nationwide
📧 kurt@kurtnphoto.com | 📞 419-885-7153

📷 disclaimer …

All photos used in the case study post are from the actual branded photo gallery that was sent to the players and guests at the event. These photos are optimized for instant social media sharing and look best on a cell phone. The full-resolution photos are sent to the event host after being fully edited. 📷

October 27, 2024October 27, 2024

Owens Corning Employee Service Awards

on the spot printed photos in photo folders for corporate events in Toledo

Owens Corning employees and their spouses pose for a photo at their annual service awards dinner

Thursday night, we had the privilege of capturing moments and making memories for the Owens Corning employees at their headquarters here in Toledo. This annual event honors the employees who make Owens Corning a Fortune 500 company and an important part of Toledo.

older couple posing with the Pink Panther life-sized bobble head at the 2024 Owens Corning Service Awards at their headquarters in downtown Toledo.

We started the evening with their Official Service Awards Portrait with the Pink Panther, Owens Corning’s mascot using our Portrait Printing Booth. This is more like a mobile portrait studio than a photo booth. We have a photographer take the photos for a more professional feel. For this event, the events team at Owens Corning set up a background using their Pink Panther mascot. This life-sized bobblehead adorns their halls and reminds them of the company’s history.

photo of a couple posing with a giant pink panther bobblehead at an owens corning headquarters employee appreciation party

corporate event specialists with photo booth and video booth entertainment options

indian couple posing for a photo booth at a corporate event in toledo

The attendees loved receiving a 5×7 print to take home as a momento of their career milestone.

While my team was positioned in the entrance area for the employees official photos with the Pink Panther, I was busy roaming with my Paparazzi Event Photography.

guests sitting down to dinner and making a toast at the employee appreciation dinner

From table shots to candids, I was there documenting the evening. The best part of this style of event photography is that the guests don’t have to wait to get their photos from the company. My Paparazzi Event Photography works with AI Facial Recognition and sends all of their images in their own personal gallery right to their phones. The guests can either input their phone number, email address, or WhatsApp number in the sharing station and only have to do that one time. The software then recognizes their face and sends any photo that they are in to them, even if they are just in the background! It’s crazy and cool at the same time.

guests at a table at an event at Owens Corning

candid event photo taken at the Owens Corning Employee Service Awards dinner

Rosie the Robot AI photo booth is taking a photo of a group of guests at the Owens Corning Service Awards dinner at their headquarters in downtown Toledo

Of course, no event is complete without a fun photo booth! And our Rosie the Robot AI Photo Booth kept the guests entertained during the dinner and social hour. Not only did Rosie take “normal” photos of the groups of guests, but she also did lots of fun AI face swap photos turning the guests into Superheros, Pirates, Grafitti Art, Business Portraits, and the evening’s most popular choice, Rock Stars.

AI created business portrait of a guest at the Owens Corning event using Rosie the Robot Photo Booth

Rock star created image using our AI photo booth

Needless to say, Rosie was a HUGE hit with the guest of the event and definitely was a head turning and drew a crowd all night long. Once the guests realized how fun the photos she create were, Rosie had a line the whole night. Some guests even wanted their photo taken with Rosie.

photo of a crowd surrounding our very popular and unique Rosie the Roaming Robot photo booth

Needless to say, we had a blast capturing and creating the memories for the guests at this year’s Owens Corning Service Awards dinner, and I’m pretty sure they did too. As a corporate event specialist, it makes me feel like a Rock Star!

For more information on how I can capture the memories at your next event, call me at (419) 885-7153. Visit my website for more information.

Kurt Nielsen Rock Star image created using facial swap technology in our Rosie the Robot AI roaming photo booth

October 4, 2024October 4, 2024

Toledo Zoo To Do

The Toledo Zoo to Do was definitely a night to remember. For the tenth straight year, we have been honored to be the official photo entertainment experience company for the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium annual PNC Zoo to Do Presented by Lexus Fundraiser. For this year’s Party with a Purpose, we had four separate photo and video experiences.

The first photo experience was with our Venture Booth using a green screen inside the Malawi Center for the Zoo to Do VIP Experience. The graphic arts team at the Toledo Zoo created all of our backgrounds and borders so that they would all match the graphics that were used for this year’s Sunset on the Savannah theme.

With this 2-hour experience, 105 individual photos were taken, 282 4x6s were printed and 73 people requested that their photos also be texted to them. We also supplied them with some fun zoo animal inflatable props that everyone loved and many used in their photos.

Our second experience for the pre-party on the African Adventure side of the zoo was our stationary Selfie Kiosks in the Arctic Encounter near the polar bear exhibit. We had two green screen digital photo stations and guests could instantly text their images straight to their phones.

For this 2-hour experience, 186 photos were taken. This experience was open to all and the guests could enjoy a few drinks and bites of food while watching the polar bears who were extremely active that day.

Some guests had fun creating a GIF with this experience.

After the main side of the zoo opened for the party, our staff headed over to that side. They transformed our Selfie Kiosks into our Walk-About Social Booths and continued capturing the fun.

Our Walk-About Social Booths roamed the main part of the zoo for the rest of the evening. Our Team took an additional 140 photos while roaming for a total of 326 photos captured by our digital booths.

Of the 326 photos taken with our digital booths, 294 were downloaded, and 50 people copied the link for their photos. 47 people shared their images straight from their text to Facebook and Instagram. The images shared directly from the text link to Facebook were then shared another 87 times with over 3,000 views on those photos alone. We don’t know how many that downloaded their photos shared them, but we have seen many that have been posted on social media. The average number of people in each photo was four and their average age was 40.

For our fourth experience at the 2024 Toledo Zoo to Do, our team from the VIP party moved to the Amphitheater and provided our 360 slow-motion video experience.

For this experience, we created 160 videos. Since videos are very large files, we text the videos to the guests. Most emails won’t accept files as large as the videos created by our 360. We also use royalty-free music so the videos won’t get taken down once shared on social media.

As with all of our photo booths for this event, the intro slide was also created by zoo staff.

Do you remember, Dancing in September to Venyx at the Toledo Zoo to Do?

Oh what a night! We were not only proud and honored but also humbled to be able to capture and create so many memories for the guests who supported our Toledo Zoo at the 2024 PNC Zoo to Do presented by Lexus. Thank you to the Toledo Zoo for choosing us to be your Photo Booth Experience provider for such an amazing event!

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024

Brad and Katie’s Wedding Photo Booth

Kurt Nielsen of Kurt Nielsen Photography posing with the bride and groom in the photo booth

Brad and Katie’s Green Screen Wedding Photo Booth

Brad and Katie were married on Saturday and had their Epic wedding reception at Graystone Banquet Hall in Toledo. And what a party it was! Our Original Green Screen Photo Booth was slammed all night long! We are pretty sure that every single person in attendance made it into the booth at least once!

Before their wedding day, Brad and Katie came into the studio to pick their background choices for their guests to use at the reception. We love it when our couples get personal. Brad and Katie picked a photo from their engagement session to use as a background choice and it was pretty popular. They are a house divided so they also chose a background that represented their love for the Ohio State Buckeyes and University of Xichigan Wolverines rivalry. Other backgrounds they chose was the Toledo Loves Love mural, a tie dye rainbow, a beach scene to represent their honeymoon, and a nod to Tiffany’s with their last name on the background. Check out some of these images from their wedding photo booth.

nephew of the groom holding a team groom sign in front of the bride and groom and their dog

friends of the bride and groom using props in front of the Toledo Loves Love mural

family of the bride posing for a photo booth photo

And it’s always fun seeing my past couples out and about. Katie was in Bianca and Jay’s wedding a few years ago, so it was awesome to see that Katie and Brad had Bianca in theirs.

former bride and groom posing for a photo in Kurt Nielsen's original green screen photo booth

Congratulations Brad and Katie! It was my pleasure to be your Wedding Photographer and I hope all your guests enjoyed my Original Green Screen Photo Booth! You’ll have to let us know how you liked the scrapbook your guests made at the reception! It looked like they had a blast creating it!

Click Here for more information about my Original Green Screen Photo Booth, including pricing. Click Here to see all of the photos from Brad and Katie’s wedding photo booth. Keep watching my Wedding Blog for photos from Brad and Katie’s wedding. Don’t forget to check out my website for all of the photo booth and photography products and services that I offer.