Event & Party Ideas From Studio Style

“Need an idea for nightclub & bar promotion? Try nightlife photography!”

Nightclub photographers are hired to walk around and take photos of people enjoying themselves at events. While posed shots of couples or groups of friends are the most popular type of photo, dance & party candids also make great shots.

An example of the type of paper frames that they put pictures in at the club.

Paper picture holders are great tools for nightlife photogs & event promoters to sell the pictures in. Photo frames add value to ordinary photos. Set up a laptop and a printer on-site, print photos & slide into an inexpensive photo holder to sell at the end of the night. Some event promoters also choose to give the pictures away for free as photo souvenirs.

Photography can work anywhere, but the bars & restaurants in popular tourist areas do best. Often times the people there are on vacation, at a special outing or celebrating a birthday or other occasion and are eager to have their picture taken there.

Another situation where club photography works well is if your venue is having a special event such as a company sponsored party or theme night.

Nightclub photography can add excitement and fun to a night out and are a memorable take-home keepsake for party goers. The use of custom-branded photo frames will also boost brand awareness and serve as added advertising for your next big event.

“Mailable vacation bible school follow-up photo frames are a valuable outreach tool.”

Looking for an idea to connect with families after VBS (vacation bible school) ends? Paper & cardboard photo frames are a fun & effective outreach tool. Take individual photos of the kids participating in crafts & activities, or take a group shot of the entire class. After VBS or church camp ends, mail each child a souvenir photo frame with their picture inside!

Send us your art, and we'll print custom photo frames for any VBS theme! Add your church's name, a thank you message or anything you'd like!

Photo frame mailers can be foil imprinted (hot stamped) or printed with your church name, or use a stamp or sticker to personalize them yourself! Add additional text to thank the child for coming and to invite the family to come back. Suggested text would be “Look at how much fun you had at VBS!”, “Glad you came, we hope that you and your family will be back for more fun activities!” or include info on upcoming programs.

Sending VBS follow-up frames as a gift shows your appreciation for the child’s enrollment, and at the same time reaches out to the family. Photo keepsakes are often hung on a refrigerator door or propped up on a desk, and serve as a constant reminder of your church and how much fun they had.

Custom photo folders are available for 4″ x 6″ and 5″ x 7″ photographs. We offer both Photoshop & Illustrator templates that you can download and lay out your own art, or send us a JPG or PDF to work with.

If you are looking for a pre-designed folder or a different size, we have those too! Some of our pre-designed folders include both a Western theme & Hawaiian Luau theme. We print custom folders for customers everyday and are experts at what we do! Give us a call to talk about creating cardboard or paper picture frames for your VBS or other church event.

“Take your camera outdoors and capture mother on June 15th for Nature Photography Day.”

Nature Photography Day first appeared in 2006 and has since become an annual celebration of nature photographers across the globe. According to PMA Newsline, the The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) designated June 15th as Nature Photography Day, a day to explore the natural world with your camera.

Learn

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has a great list of nature & wildlife photography tips which covers topics like insects, flowers, movement & night photo tips.

Explore

Discover nature on foot or by bicycle and set aside some time this June 15th to go on an exploratory hike or bike ride and stop to notice your surroundings. If you are stuck working all day, pack a lunch to-go and take a walk outside. Raining? Don’t worry, bring an umbrella! Don’t have a sitter for the kids? No problem, bring them along!

Share

Share your photographs with others! There is a public Flickr group where members can post photos that are taken on Nature Photography Day and time-stamped June 15.

If you are a member of the NANPA or thinking of becoming one, check out their Nature Photography Day event for members. Photos will be published in their newsletter Ripples and in an album on their Facebook page.

Inspire

Your photos inspire others. Use your photographs to encourage others to think about the affect that humans and development have on nature. Nature photography has the power to spark conservation efforts and rekindle an appreciation for our earth.

“Ideas and tips for your Easter Bunny photo events.”

Thinking of having a picture with the Easter Bunny event this year? Seasonal events are a great way to connect with the community and bring people into your business, raise awareness for a cause and create goodwill in the community. However, a great event comes from great planning. This article will help you plan and organize a successful event this Easter season.

From top left: Garden Arch Prop, White Wicker Chair from Pier 1 Imports, Happy Easter Banner on Etsy, Easter Bunny Imprinted Photo Event Folder from Studio Style (links to products at bottom of post)

The Bunny

This is a given! Make sure that the Easter Bunny can attend your event and pose for pictures with the kids. The Easter Bunny is very busy this time of year, so make sure to plan ahead! Many entertainment companies (think clown & magician businesses) have a bunny that can pose for pictures, walk around and work the crowd, pass out candy, entertain or even perform magic and other tricks. Don’t forget you could always buy or rent a bunny costume.

If the “real” bunny is unavailable, and a costume is out of your budget, try a jumbo inflatable bunny or giant plush rabbit. Cardboard cutouts can also work!

The Venue

Most malls host their own annual Easter Bunny events, but there are a lot of other great places to have an event. Have the Easter bunny visit your store, anywhere from small boutiques to large grocery store chains. How about a breakfast (or brunch) with the Easter Bunny at a restaurant or country club? A spring festival, parade or egg hunt? How about inviting the Easter Bunny to a local 5k race or other sporting event?  Try hosting a “Take your pet’s photo with the Easter Bunny” event at a pet store, animal shelter, grooming salon or dog rescue. Children’s hospitals are a great place to have the Easter Bunny stop in for photos & a visit. The zoo is also a great location and your guests will spend the whole day there. Park districts & chamber or commerces love to plan events around this holiday. We’ve even seen Easter events on trains and cruise ships!

There are a lot of opportunities for Easter picture events that go beyond the mall.

The Right Props

The most basic prop you’ll need is a sturdy place for the Easter Bunny & visitors to sit. Wicker chairs or benches are the most popular type of seating for Easter Bunny photos. White is a classic choice, but natural wood or black are more modern choices that are becoming popular.

For an indoor event (such as a mall or restaurant) a backdrop is needed to block out any distractions like store fronts or people walking by.

Outdoor events (like a community event at the park) do not need artificial backdrops. Use the outdoors to your advantage and pick a photo location that has trees, shrubs or flowers in the background. In an urban area (or an area that does not have a lot of greenery this time of year) try setting the scene against the brick wall of a building or other element that will make an interesting background.

While a chair and background are the two primary elements of an Easter photo shoot, there are lots of other props you can use. Try one or several of the following:

• Oversized Easter Basket Filled With Eggs
• Gazebo or Garden Arch (you can find them at a local wedding rental company)
• Artificial or Real Floral Garland
• Easter Banners or Flags
• Inflatable Easter Eggs or Carrots
• Potted Tulips, Daffodils or Other Spring Bulbs
• Forsythia or Pussywillow Branches
• Chalkboard With The Words “Happy Easter!” or “Easter Greetings!”
• White Picket Fence

Make a trip to your local craft & party stores and see what is available. Look to nature and visit a local garden center or florist, or even your own backyard for branches and flowers to use at your event. Party rental supply companies & even the home improvement store have options for larger props, tables & seating. With a little creativity you can even make your own unique spring & Easter themed accessories.

The Photographer

Book a photographer in advance to ensure that you’ll have someone taking pictures on the day of your event. Take in consideration the photographer’s background. A photographer that specializes in event photography or kids & families is going to be more qualified than someone who shoots wildlife photography.

The Giveaways

Give your guests something to remember their visit by. The most obvious giveaway would be a photo. Due to the nature of these events, the ability to print photos on site is necessary. If you do not have access to a on site printer, then using an instant camera is an old fashioned alternative that is still used quite often. Your budget and equipment will dictate this decision..

You’ll want to have a cheap paper picture frame to transport the photo home in. An Easter photo folder or cardboard photo frame will protect the photo from becoming bent or damaged.

Most paper frames can be customized with your logo, event name or other information specifically for you. This turns a simple photo souvenir frame into a promotional marketing piece! It’s a great way to have people remember your company or event.

Sometimes the event photographer will supply the frames at an additional cost. Other times the event coordinator or staff will order them. Communicate and see who will be ordering the photo holders and make sure you’ll have enough for your event, in the correct size you’ll need. Easter picture holders are most commonly available for Polaroid & 4″ x 6″ pictures, but custom ones can be made for other sizes.

Some other great souvenir ideas would be coloring pages with crayons, fuzzy bunny ears, candy, snacks or stickers. Including a coupon for your business, or a related business, is a great incentive for repeat business.

The Promotion

Advertise! Make sure the public knows about your event. Flyers, blog posts, Facebook updates & Twitter are all great ways to get your message out about your event.

Easter Bunny Events on Twitter

Try tying a promotion in with your event. If you are a restaurant, offer a special dining offer (like a unique Easter theme menu). If you are a store, offer a discount (try 20%) for that day only. Adding an extra incentive will get more people in your door and excited about the event.

Another option would be to donate all, or a portion, of the proceeds to charity. Give people a REASON to participate in your event.

With the right planning, a Visit with the Easter Bunny event can become a fun yearly tradition that will build awareness, bring profit & be a positive spring activity for your community.

Products featured in this post: Garden Arch Portable Prop from B&C Mortensen, White Wicker Chair from Pier 1 Imports, Happy Easter Garland from bekahjennings on Etsy, Happy Easter Photo Event Folder from Studio Style.

“Send guests home with a photo memento of their special Valentine’s Day at your restaurant, cruise ship, gala, party or event.”

Full-color printed photo folders for handing out pictures at your Valentine's Day event. These picture jackets can be printed with your logo, photos or artwork to create a specially designed frame that reflects YOUR business or event. It's a specially branded photo memento for your guests!

“Helping you make the most of your Santa photo events with custom paper picture frames.“

The Christmas season seems to start earlier each year. Love it or hate it, Christmas is a part of our culture and a holiday that many people look forward to. Every November Santa begins making his appearance at malls, stores, town squares, tree lighting ceremonies & holiday parties. He even shows up at restaurants for special “Breakfast with Santa” events which attracts the whole family for a morning of food & festivities.

All of these Santa events share one thing in common, photos.

It is no surprise that many people make it a family tradition to visit Mr. Claus and his elves for their holiday picture. His image is iconic, and having that special photo of the kids on Santa’s lap is priceless.

A photo folder imprinted with your logo or name makes a great frame for Santa picture souvenirs.

These events draw hundreds, even thousands of people to buinesses Nationwide, making this an excellent opportunity to connect with customers during the holiday season.

Some businesses chose to offer the holiday photos as a complimentary service to their customers. Other venues may charge for a printed photo, often times donating the proceeds to a local food pantry or charity in the spirit of the season. In fact, photos with Santa have become a popular fundraiser activity for many organizations.

Either way, presenting the photographs in an inexpensive paper or cardboard photo frame not only protects the photos from fingerprints & damage, but it’s also a great way to market your business or event.

There are two main styles of photo holders:

• Event Photo Frames – These look much like your traditional picture frame, often with an easel back, making it a cinch to prop up the picture on a flat surface. Optional personalization can go on the window border or the back of the frame.
• Event Photo Folders – This style holds the picture on the inside. These are especially nice when the customer is going to be carrying the photo home, as this better protects the picture. These folders also stand up on the desk for easy display. Optional personalization can go on the cover, window border, panel opposite the picture or the back cover of most designs.

An example of a printed photo folder for holding event pictures.

Sliding an event photo into a paper frame or folder creates an instant photo souvenir! With your logo or event name on it, this souvenir also becomes a reminder of your business or event. What a great promotional product giveaway!

We’ve created custom printed and imprinted Santa frames and folders for malls, stand-alone stores, community festivals, restaurants, fundraisers, schools, company events & holiday events both big and small. Call or write us today to learn how you can create a customized frame for your holiday event.

To get you started, here are a few of our most popular stock frames, available as shown or add your logo or personalization!

• 4 x 6 Santa Snowglobe Photo Folder
• 5 x 7 Holiday String Lights Photo Folder
• Polaroid Instant Camera Santa Claus Photo Easel Frame
• Fuji Instax Instant Camera Ho, Ho, Ho Photo Easel Frame

Don’t forget, we can also do something totally custom just for you. We hope that you have a fantastic Visit with Santa event this year!

Fall is a sensational time for hosting a gathering for friends and family. The changing leaves & crisp weather can inspire fantastic menus like butternut squash ravioli, roasted sweet potatoes, cranberry spinach walnut salad & of course pumpkin pie. All that time cleaning house and planning the menu, it’s important not to forget your table-scape. Creating a warm and welcoming dinner table for your fall parties is simple. Choose linens in autumnal colors – think rust, goldenrod, browns & greens. For a rustic seasonal feel, fill a bowl with apples, mini pumpkins & gourds in all shapes and sizes. Lighting is important and when chosen properly, will really make your dinner shine. For an outdoor dinner, try draping cafe string lights over branches in a tree or on a pergola. Inside, candles will add warmth to your table. White candles are a classic choice, while colored candles can coordinate with your decorating efforts. As delicious as some candle fragrances smell, stick to unscented. The added fragrance of the scented kind can interfere with your own delicious smells coming from the kitchen. Not to mention that some guests may have sensitive allergies.

Autumn Dinner Party Favor Idea: Flower Bulbs

Dinner party favors also serve as place cards to let your guests know where to sit, as well as creating a festive table setting!

Create a simple yet special party favor for your dinner guests to take home at your next fall get together. Since now is the time to plant bulbs in the ground for spring blooming, a goodie bag of flower bulbs is an excellent choice for an autumn dinner party favor.

This works especially well for outdoor or garden-themed parties, but is a fresh choice for any fall gathering. Dinner party favors do not have to be fussy or costly. The best favors are ones that are simple and thoughtful. Wrap a handful of flower bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and allium are popular choices) in a clear cello bag, swatch of fabric or burlap. Tie off with raffia, twine or pretty fall-colored ribbon.

To further personalize each favor, write each guests’ name on a tag. A simple colorful piece of scrapbook paper with a handwritten name or message works great and makes the gift personalized. You may also consider writing planting instructions on the back of the tag. Be sure to include the type of flower and it’s color, planting depth & spacing, as well as what month to plant.

Fosteriana Tulips, commonly known as Emperor's Tulips, blooming during the month of April in Northern Illinois.

Spring Blooming Bulb Planting Chart

• Zones 2-3 – Plant in September
• Zones 4-5 – Plant in October
• Zones 6-7 – Plant in November
• Zone 8 – Plant in December

For larger dinner party gifts, nestle the bulbs in a tissue lined paper tray.

Presenting your guests with a dinner party favor is a kind gesture and will sure to provide a fond memory next spring when the flowers bloom!

“Take a picture of your little pumpkin for a spooktacular Halloween photo greeting card or invite that will put the TREAT into trick or treat!”

• Halloween Party
• Costume Contest
• Apple Orchard
• Pumpkin Patch
• Pumpkin Carving
• Halloween Wedding
• Halloween Parade
• Haunted House
• Hay Ride
• Raking Leaves
• Halloween Birth Announcement

• Use a plain black photo holder card to make your picture stand out!
• Gelly Pens (especially metallic) work great on darker colored cardstock. Use a pumpkin orange pen to stay with the Halloween theme!
• Rubber stamps are an easy way to accent your card with spooky imagery. Choose a lighter color cardstock for most stamp inks, or use a highly pigmented metallic ink to stamp on darker papers.

Do you have a Halloween photo idea? If so, share it with us in the comments.

“Hey Polaroid fans! Fuji has an instant camera and you won’t have to go on a treasure hunt to find film”

In 2008 Polaroid announced that it’s iconic Polaroid instant camera & film, the one that made them famous, was being discontinued. Polaroid fans across the globe balked at this news and quickly formed groups like Save Polaroid in a grassroots effort to try to save their beloved camera. Born out of this movement was The Impossible Project which did, you guessed it, the impossible by creating a film compatible most of the old Polaroids out there. If you were lucky enough to find it in-stock, the high cost was prohibitive to all but the most die-hard fans. Equally pricey Polaroid film was (and still is) being auctioned on eBay if one is willing to pay.

But then Fuji came into the US spotlight with it’s Instax camera. With it’s rounded toy-like body, point & click ease and instananeous photos, it quickly became an acceptable replacement for most Polaroid users.

Fujifilm Instax 200 Instant Film Camera

The Fuji Instax is popular choice for parties & events where relatively inexpensive & easy event photography is desired.

Tips

• Bring extra batteries. In a Fujifilm test, the battery life of 4 AA-size (LR6) batteries in an Instax 200 lasted approximately 10 packs of film.
• Get up close and personal with your subject. Due to the small size of an Instax print, and the inability to zoom and crop later, it is best to frame your image properly when shooting.
• Take some practice shots. Before your guests arrive, ask an assistant or a volunteer to pose for you in the location where you’ll be taking the pictures. This will give you a sense of what to expect from your photos, and you’ll be able to make lighting adjustments as necessary.

Instant pictures, from a camera like the Fuji Instax, are a great choice for event photos. Instant printing = instant photo souvenirs!

Five reasons people love the Fuji Instax Instant Film Camera.

1. Nostalgia – Ever since American inventor Edwin Land invented the instant camera in 1947, people have been using instant photography to capture the memories in their lives.
2. Conversation Starter – With everyone owning digital cameras these days, the sight of a Instax will more than likely draw some attention.
3. Instant Gratification – Sure digital cameras can show you what your photos look like, but can they also print them instantly, too?
4. Fun Factor – Who doesn’t love a toy-like camera?
5. Event Friendly – Instant cameras are a popular choice for parties and events.

Own both? What do you think of the Fuji Instax camera? Tell us in the comments below.

Where to buy: Fuji Instax 210 at B&H Photo, Fuji Instax Film at Adorama & Fuji Instax Photo Frames at Studio Style. Plus a Fuji Instax Wide Photo Gallery on Flickr for your photo-viewing pleasure.

“A photo memory keepsake makes one of the best family reunion souvenirs.”

When else do you have the whole extended family together in one spot? Seize the opportunity and take a group photo. Future generations will thank you when they come across these photo memories that capture their family history.

This way to great family reunion photo gift ideas!

The easiest way to set up the shot is to use a tripod with a self-timer. Make sure the camera is turned horizontally to get everyone in the picture. Take several test shots, and if using a digital camera, take advantage of the LCD display screen to preview the image. Since this opportunity comes along only once a year, once a decade, or in many cases once in a lifetime, make sure to take several (or more) shots to ensure that you have the perfect photo!

In addition to a large group shot, it is a great idea to take photos of individual couples & their children. With all these photos, you can create a visual family tree!

If you are looking for a more unique option, consider hiring a photographer to take journalistic style photos during your family reunion. These are candid shots that offer a more natural approach than posed photographs. With this style of photography, you can capture some great photos of people laughing, hugging, socializing & enjoying themselves. For some great group photography tips, check out Tips For Posing Family Portraits from Spectrum Photography Tips.

Left: Vertical or Portrait (best for individual or couple shots) Right: Horizontal or Landscape (best for group shots)

Checklist 1 Month Before The Reunion:

1. Go over your guest list and see how many photos you will be giving away as souvenirs. Will you give a photo to each guest, or one per family unit?
2. Decide if you will be taking horizontal (group) or vertical (couple) photos, or if you will be taking some of each. Also decide which size prints you will be printing – 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″ or larger.
3. Choose a mailable photo holder. You can choose a folder style print holder (where the photo is inside) or an easel photo frame. To make your photo gifts extra special, imprint your family name, reunion date & location in foil. Some families even have a family logo! This would be great to print or imprint on your photo holders. Don’t forget the mailing envelopes!
4. Purchase a guest book. Even if you have many of the addresses or your family, having a guest book is a nice touch for any large event. Guests will write their names, addresses & personal message. You can later use this “address book” for sending out all of your photos! Since most guest books are designed with a wedding theme, think outside of the box and make your own with a blank bookstore journal or a family tree guest book.
5. Buy film or clear out your memory card. Make sure that your camera works (having  back-up camera is always a good idea). Charge your batteries, get your tri-pod and make sure that you have everything you need to take great photos. If hiring a professional, now is the time to reserve a photographer.

In the days after the reunion, process & print your film and insert into your folders or frames. Address your envelopes using your guest book information and mail out your family reunion photo keepsakes!

Having a personalized photo of your reunion is more memorable than a cheap reunion t-shirt or key chain, and will provide lasting memories for your family for generations to come.

For product information on mailable paper photo frames for the family reunion photo souvenirs mentioned in this article, please view our website.