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Where to Take Photos for Family Christmas CardsWhere to take photos for family Christmas cards

Where to Take Photos for Family Christmas Cards

Published September 1, 2024

You want to take the best family Christmas card photo, but you’re not a professional photographer, and you don’t know what kind of backdrop to use. You got this! With a little creativity, you can make just about any location work.

Check out this list of creative Christmas card photo location ideas. And we have ideas for everyone, whether you live in an urban, suburban, or rural area.

Local park, forest preserve, or natural area

When you get out into nature—no matter the time of year—background ideas abound. Go in summer when the prairie is full of flowers, in fall when the leaves are turning the brilliant autumnal hues, or in winter as the snow begins to fall.

A few factors to look for:

  • Find a consistent background. All trees, all shrubs, or all flowers. A busy background takes the focus away from you.
  • Watch the tree trunks! When composing the group photo, make sure it doesn’t look like a tree is coming out of someone’s head.
  • Be mindful of sunlight. Midday on a sunny day isn’t the best time to take portraits. The best lighting—for any type of camera—is in a shaded area where the light is even, and no one is left squinting in the sun.

Please keep these things in mind if taking a family Christmas photo in nature:

  • Stay on trails and grassy areas. Landscapers and land managers work hard to maintain these spaces. Whether it’s an ornately-designed park or a wild space, be mindful of where you step.
  • Watch out for the little critters. In many areas of the U.S., ticks are present until it snows or gets really cold, so be sure to wear bug spray if needed, and check after the photo shoot to make sure no unwanted visitors came home with you.
Two women and a young girl smile as the late afternoon sunlight hits them from behind. They are sitting in the grass, under a large tree.

Find a wall

Brick, wood, a colorful painted mural. Your family can lean against the wall, or have it in the background. If it’s in the background, use the portrait setting or larger aperture to blur the background a bit.

Consider a wall at your home first, then look at public places. Be considerate of private property; if it’s a business, just ask! They might be willing to let you take your holiday card photos at their location, especially if you tag them on social media if you share your photo.

A mom, dad, and their two young daughters smile as they stand against a light blue wall.

Evergreen trees

A row or grouping of evergreen trees provide a subtle texture in the background, a pop of color, and a hint of Christmas—even if there isn’t any snow on them.

At your home—with or without Christmas decorations

You don’t have to clean your entire house for this! Just the one area for your portrait. You can all sit on the couch, stand on the porch, in the backyard, or in the middle of the living room. Adding Christmas decorations is entirely optional!

A mom, dad, and their two daughters sit in a hammock in their backyard in the bright sunlight. It is a casual family photo.

With animals

If you have a dog, cat, bird, lizard, or even some fish, include them in the picture! You can get a nice, posed family portrait for your Christmas cards, or be a bit goofy. Get some candid shots of the dog being goofy, the lizard wearing a little hat, or your bird enthusiastically flapping its wings.

If you don’t have animals—but want some in your Christmas card picture—you have options! Here are some ideas:

  • Go to the zoo. Get your favorite animal in the background.
  • Petting zoos for a more intimate shot. Buy a small bag of feed for the goats and get ready to smile!
  • Go to a pond, get some ducks or geese in the background. Just let them do their thing, they’ll just happily paddle in the background while you smile and say cheese. But please don’t feed them bread.
  • Know a farmer? Ask them to borrow their cows. Ok, so not really borrow, but have them in the background of your image. This is perfect whether you live in a rural area or are just passing through. You can find farms like this through social media, on a list of CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), or even as a tourist destination.
A man and women lie on their stomachs in the grass with three schnauzer dogs.

At a party, celebration, or family event

If you want a formal photo, have someone take your picture at a wedding when you’re all dressed up. If you want something more casual, consider a birthday party or summer picnic. Any event will do. Just get the picture before the kids run around too much! Thanksgiving is an ideal time to snap a nice family portrait.

Where do you take family photos for Christmas cards?

We’d love to hear where you’ve taken your photos for family Christmas cards. Someplace weird, wonderful, or creative! Feel free to share what you’ve done below.

Hi, we’re Studio Style! We design and manufacture photo insert cards, custom photo folders, paper and cardboard picture frames, cello bags, and more. We work with professional photographers, event planners, party pros, and, well, people who like to take pictures! Check out our photo framing solutions at StudioStyle.com or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

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Mastering Night Photography: Tips & TricksMastering night photography: tips and tricks

Mastering Night Photography: Tips & Tricks

Published August 13, 2024

Night photography has many unique perks and is an incredibly fun and creative outlet.

But… it also has its challenges.

Taking photos at night is completely different than taking photos during the day. Let’s start with the main source of light for daytime photos: the sun! At night, you lose that important light source, instead relying on ambient light or additional artificial light.

Here’s the cool thing: night photography provides the photographer and the viewer with another perspective of a scene they don’t get during the day. For example, thunderstorms, meteors, northern lights, and fireworks, are much more brilliant—or just plain more visible—during the evening hours.

If you’re interested in adventuring outside with your camera at night, we’ve compiled some night photography tips that will help make your evening photo shoot a successful one.

Car headlights trail in a long-exposure photo taken on a misty night at a railroad crossing.

Recommended Equipment for Night Photography

First, let’s talk about your tools. The equipment listed below is immensely helpful in night photography.

If you’re serious about taking photos at night, you’ll want to consider investing in these pieces. Some of these are must haves (camera, tripod, and remote shutter release), some will just make your life a little easier:

  • DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
  • Tripod
  • Remote Shutter Release (aka Remote Trigger)
  • Extra Camera Batteries
  • Flashlight
  • Lens Hood

DSLR or Mirrorless Camera

The first item is the most obvious. But it’s important that you have the right kind of camera.

When shooting at night, you’ll want to manually change your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. It’s important to have a DSLR or a mirrorless camera so that you’re able to adjust these settings. “Point and shoot” cameras and smart phone cameras may have a lot of megapixels that allow you to take great photos during the day, but you can’t fully customize your settings.

Although most smart phones have a “night mode” or the option to change your aperture, it’s not the same; this is a digital version. Much like digital zoom can’t beat an optical zoom lens, a digital aperture adjustment isn’t the same as an optical aperture adjustment.

Tripod

A tripod is necessary in certain situations like long exposure photography. But not all-night photography is long exposure photography. If you have a lens that opens wide (aperture) of 1.8 or lower you may be able to do some hand-held photography with a high ISO. A general rule of thumb is if your shutter speed is slower than 1/50 of second then you’ll want a tripod.

On windy nights you’ll want to use the hook in the middle of your tripod. Many tripods have these so you can hook a sandbag to help weigh the tripod down, giving it more stability in the wind.

A photographer stands next to their camera on a tripod, which is pointed at skyscrapers at night.
Photo from Unsplash

Remote Trigger

Also known as a remote shutter release, this tool is very helpful in long exposure situations. Since your camera needs to be completely still, physically pressing the shutter release button can move the camera, even in the slightest. This can make your image blurry, and nothing ruins an awesome shot like some unintentional softness.

While you don’t need a remote trigger, this is the only way you can successfully use the “bulb” setting on some cameras.

Extra Camera Batteries

While extra batteries aren’t necessary for night photography, they can come in handy. Here’s why:

  • Long exposures can cause your camera battery to drain at a higher rate than normal.
  • Temperature can also affect battery life, so keep this in mind when shooting in cold temperatures.

Keep extra batteries close to you (like in your pocket) so your body heat can help keep them warm on cold nights. Or keep the batteries in a warm place and retrieve them as needed.

Flashlight

A flashlight can be helpful for finding your gear, finding your way, and safety reasons. You can also use a flashlight to “paint light” into your foreground. For example, if you’re taking a picture of a scene and exposing for the night sky, you can use a flashlight to brighten up the foreground to give your image some more depth.

A man stands on a wood pier, pointing a bright flashlight at the star-filled night sky. Bright lights illuminate the man from behind.
Photo from Unsplash

Lens Hood

This is a tool that screws onto the end of your lens that helps block light that hits your lens and causes lens flares. Lens flares often happen when you shooting directly towards the sun during daylight hours, but it can happen at night too. If there are a lot of artificial lights around it can sometimes be hard to avoid light rays hitting your camera lens. A lens hood helps with this dramatically. You don’t need this to shoot at night but it is helpful to have.

Hood is attached to a camera lens, which is sitting on a dark blanket with subtle light hitting the lens.

Technical Night Photography Tips:

Now that we’ve discussed the equipment that’s helpful in your night photography adventures, let’s move onto tips to use while you are shooting at night.

Shoot in Raw

Yes, shooting in raw causes large files and is not ALWAYS necessary, but it’s helpful if you want to do non-destructive edits.

When practicing night photography in urban or suburban areas there are often many different types of artificial lights. These different light sources can cast different colors on your scene, depending on the type of bulb that’s used. If you’re using auto white balance or are unsure of what white balance setting you should use, shooting in Raw will help with adjusting that color in post processing.

A lit-up carnival ride spins at night in a park, revealing colorful trails of light against the dark night sky.

Use Manual Mode

You’ll want full control over your camera settings for the best night photography. Shooting in manual mode at night is a great way to get to know your camera and its capabilities. Utilize your internal camera meter and adjust accordingly. If you’re shooting in an urban setting, you may find yourself surrounded by artificial light. Using a small aperture, (F22 or higher for example) will give lights a “starburst” effect to the rays of light it emits. This can be a cool-looking effect in your photos.

A river at night, surrounded by brightly-lit buildings and a bridge.
A river at night with light reflecting in the river. The water looks smooth because the shutter was open for 25 seconds.

These two photos above are of the same scene on the same night but with vastly different settings. The photo on the left was shot at an aperture of F4 and the shutter was open for 1.3 seconds. The photo on the right is shot with an aperture of F22 and the shutter was open for 25 seconds. Both shots were with an ISO of 400. The image on the left has more definition in the water whereas the image on the right has no texture/definition in the water due to the longer exposure. Additionally the light beams from the street lights on the right have that “starburst” look due to the small aperture whereas the photo on the left does not.

Safety first! Be aware of your surroundings.

When out at night, in low light, you need to be hyper vigilant and pay attention to what’s going on around you. Be careful when walking around, especially in more rural areas where there might not as much light. Keeping a flashlight with your night photography gear is a must!

Test Your Settings

Shooting at night affords you the opportunity to test which settings will give you the most desirable outcome.

For example, you may be shooting on a tripod but you set your ISO high—let’s say 1600. Being that it’s night, this high ISO setting might make sense. However, the higher the ISO, the more noise you have in your image. Since you have a tripod, you can experiment with adjusting your shutter speed and aperture so you can have a lower ISO.

If you don’t have a tripod and have to hold your camera instead, you’ll want to use a higher ISO so your shutter can be faster.

The northern lights appear over a house, in subtle shades of purple.

Additional Night Photography Tips

  • Venture out at dusk. Don’t wait until it is completely dark. Go while there’s still some light so you can get your bearings and get your creative juices flowing.

  • When shooting lightning, leave your shutter open for 15-20 seconds and adjust your aperture accordingly. You will never catch lightning if you are trying to time the shutter release at the same time as a bolt strikes. Wait until the lightning strikes with your shutter open, then once it hits, close the shutter.

  • Have fun! This one is a must. 🙂

Now that you have some helpful tips to help with night photography, go start shooting!

A bolt of lightning flashes behind houses and cars.

Hi, we’re Studio Style!

We design and manufacture custom photo folders, cardboard picture frames, photo mats, photo insert cards, and other event photo packaging solutions. We work with professional photographers, event planners, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and people who just like taking pictures. And we’d love to work with you!

Check out our solutions at StudioStyle.com or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos in this post were taken by our very own Amanda Pomplin, who is one of our customer service superstars. She went to school for Photography Technology, and before joining our team, worked as a lab technician and photo editor at a photo printing lab. She (clearly) photographs a variety of subjects, always capturing something creative (check out her landscape photography tips). We love seeing the end result. If you want to chat photography (and photo folders), ask to talk to Amanda!

Car headlights and taillights streak down a city street at night, with lights from the shops illuminating the area.

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Hiring a wedding photo booth? Here are some invaluable tips & stories from CaptureME Photo Booth.Wedding photo booth tips from CaptureME photo booth

Hiring a wedding photo booth? Here are some invaluable tips & stories from CaptureME Photo Booth.

Published June 13, 2024

We recently talked with Jess Santos, owner of CaptureME Photo Booth in Colorado, about what couples should look for when renting a wedding photo booth, what questions to ask, what to expect, and more.

If you’re looking for a wedding photo booth rental, read Jess’s answers first! She provides insights that only someone who really knows this business can provide.

Read on to learn what questions to ask when hiring a photo booth for your wedding.

Why have a photo booth at the wedding alongside a traditional photographer?

Jess: Photo Booths can be an icebreaker which can help get your party going. Not everyone loves the traditional photographer who roams around taking styled and posed photos. However, you add some silly outfits and signs with the funniest saying on them and even grandpa will join in the fun. A photo booth allows your guests to let loose and be themselves. Plus our photos double as a guest favor and everyone loves instant prints.

Key takeaways: Photo booths provide a casual, relaxed photo experience, plus everyone gets pictures to take home from your wedding.

A scapbook, Sharpie markers, glue sticks, and two metal buckets with lip balm and photo folders with on a table by a photo booth.

What questions should couples ask when renting a photo booth?

Jess: Always ask to see their output and event setup photos. Ask what equipment they are using and have an idea on what you’re looking for. Do you want a digital iPad Booth or a Booth with a DSLR Camera and Studio flash? Look for quality work when sorting out vendors. Be picky but keep in mind that quality does cost, but it doesn’t cost an arm and and leg. Don’t rush to book. Ensure you’re booking the right vendor who’s right for you and can provide the level of service you’re expecting to receive.

Key takeaways: There’s a difference in photo booth equipment and service; ask about it! Make sure their photo portfolio meets your expectations.

A dSLR photo booth set up with a touch screen below the camera hole. Photo booth folders, lip balm, and business cards sit on a table beneath the touch screen.

Do any of your clients have regrets after renting your booth?

Jess: We have an average of 75% referral rate. Most times my clients say they didn’t book enough time. No one ever books enough time, they are worried about budgets. I’ve also been told, “I wish I would have taken more photos.” We do our best to make sure the guest of honor makes it to the photo booth. We approach the Bride and or Groom and/or parents of the B&G to let them know where we are at on time and that we still need to get those family photos. We’ll remind them once or twice but if they are too busy or have other activities going on, it’s hard for them to find time to get into the photo booth.

Key takeaways: Either book extra time for your wedding photo booth, or schedule in time to get all the photos you need (ie, family, friend groups).

What’s your most memorable wedding photo booth experience?

Jess: We work a lot of weddings and with our referrals we see a lot of our past clients come through the booth as guests.  This one particular wedding we did was 9 months prior and I saw the B&G (now happily married for 9 months) standing in line. They got out of line, came over to give me the biggest hug you could imagine and said, “you made our wedding”  “we love the photos and the memory book you created for us”  “we look at that book every night.” It means a great deal to me to know that my passion for creating a memorable evening carries on longer than I could ever imagine.

Key takeaways: If you had a fun photo booth experience, let them know! Online reviews are great, or if you see them at another event, go say hi. Feedback helps small businesses thrive and grow.

Photo booth set up for CaptureME, with a white backdrop and full prop tables on each side.

What was the biggest disaster—and how could it have been avoided?

Jess: Our biggest disaster was setting up outdoors for a large corporate employee appreciation event. I knew 10 days out the weather wasn’t going to be great and that heavy rain was in the forecast. I reached out to the client many times with our concerns over the rain and was told the event is outdoors and the show must go on. I was assured that they had the proper canopies and that we’d be protected from the sun, wind, and/or rain. We arrived ahead of time to set up and when we arrived at our setup location we were provided canopies that were old with holes everywhere. I set up knowing this was not going to end well and within minutes of go time the rain was pouring down on us. There were no side walls to the canopies so rain was coming at us from all directions, including above us. Our equipment, the booth, printer, backdrop, props, basically everything was soaked. We no longer set up outdoors without a weather clause and a weather clause has to be signed prior to booking.

Key takeaways: Even if the weather forecast says sunny skies, have a back-up plan! Make sure you discuss this with the photo booth team before your event so everyone is on the same page. Like Jess has, ask about a weather clause.

How have you used Studio Style products with your booth?

Jess: We use Studio Style folders as part of our advertising.  We include a logo, a QR code to our website, our contact information and a “thank you” for visiting our photo booth which is included on the folders. This is a small expense and a great way to keep our logo, name, and business out in the general public. It’s cost effective as most clients keep their folders since they keep their photos in them.

Key takeaways: We love making photo booth folders for CaptureME! Check out a recent design we created:

Custom photo booth picture strip folder Studio Style made with the CaptureME logo printed on the front cover.
A collection of photo folders stacked in a metal bucket with picture strips in front.

About CaptureME Photo Booth

“Our photo booths are more than just machines – they’re interactive, customizable, and designed to bring people together.” Now THAT’S a statement to stand behind! CaptureME Photo Booth serves select cities in Colorado, including Denver, Fort Collins, Johnstown, Windsor, Greeley, Loveland, and Berthoud.

But this Colorado photo booth company doesn’t just do weddings. They also work birthday parties, corporate events, and any celebration in between.

If you’re in Colorado and looking for a photo booth for your wedding or event, check them out on Instagram or Facebook.

About Studio Style

We help party people get their event pictures home safe and sound. We design and manufacture custom photo folders, paper frames, photo mats, photo cards, and more. We work with party planners, event specialists, photographers, photo booth owners, and more. Learn how we can personalize your party at StudioStyle.com or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

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Foil Stamping vs. Printing: What’s the Difference?Foil stamping versus printing: what's the difference?

Foil Stamping vs. Printing: What’s the Difference?

Published March 6, 2024

Hello, there. My name is Amanda, I have worked at Studio Style for almost a year now. I’ve learned a lot since I have joined the Studio Style fam. One thing I have learned is not everyone knows about all our awesome personalization methods. From elegant foil stamped personalization to full-color digital printing, there is a wealth of creative options. I would love to share some knowledge from an official “insider.”

We’re party people here at Studio Style, in the most professional and chic way we can be. We love nothing more than some flashy branded party swag. And personalized photo folders and frames are a great way to remind party guests of the great time they had at your event.

We use a couple methods to help promote brands and adorn our products like foil stamping and high-quality digital printing. Some branding is best suited for one method over the other.

What is Foil Stamping?

Metal foil stamping plate with the imprint reversed
Metal plate for foil stamping
Rolls of metallic gold foil
Rolls of metallic foil
The convention imprint is on a black portrait folder in metallic gold foil
Plate + Foil + Heat + Pressure = Foil Stamping

If you like bling, foil stamping is for you. The first step in the process is converting a digital file of art to a physical die. A foil-stamping die is a metal plate that is etched or engraved into. The metal plate gets placed into a machine that uses heat and pressure to affix the foil to the paper surface of our products.

Since the process can cause some indentation, a heavier paper is ideal. Textured paper such as our linen stock is best for foil stamping (digital printing cannot be done on this paper). 

Textured white portrait folder with metallic gold foil wedding imprint on the front cover.

These products are perfect for foil stamping:

The look of a foil stamped logo gives a polished and classic look. Due to the method of application not all artwork transfers well. Artwork for foil-stamping should not contain fine lines, drop shadows, or textures and if they do, full-color printing is the better option. To achieve the best foil imprint outcome the digital artwork should start out as a black and white image. We cover all this and more in a separate post. 

If you don’t have a logo, you can even foil stamp simple text in various font styles. With several metallic and pigmented foil options to choose from, foil stamping can really make a statement. If your logo or event branding already pops or is super detailed or textured you will want to utilize one of our digitally printed products.

What is Digital Printing?

With full-color personalization options, digital printing is an ideal method to personalize your photo folders and frames.

Digital printing starts with a digital file that is rendered by a computer and sent to a printer. The digital printer then uses different kinds of ink or toner to place the image on the paper substrate. Digital printers are even capable of printing on fabric and vinyl surfaces. 

If a logo event branding is full color, has a color gradient, or a lot of fine details, printing is the better—and sometimes only—option. Digital printing utilizes CMYK colors which stand for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key, which is black. Different percentages of each of these four colors combined creates different hues of printable pigment.

The great part about digital printing on our photo folders and frames is you are able to fully customize them with your colorful logo or event branding. 

Black and blue custom printed photo folder for a branded event giveaway.

The following products are perfect for digital printing:

Our digitally printed folders and frames are perfect for those who have artistic talent and are knowledgeable in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. We offer templates for our custom folders and frames in PDF form so you can design your own.

We also have 100+ stock designs in various themes that you can customize. Even if you’re not an artistic person, give us your ideas and we can create a folder or frame for you.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our team at (800) 346-3063 or send us an email. We’re always happy to help!

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Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?A woman in a green hat excitedly leaps in the air. Text on image reads, A brief history: St. Patrick's Day

Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

Published January 3, 2024

Whether or not you’re planning a St. Patrick’s Day Party, we thought it might be fun to do a quick history lesson on this global celebration. Let’s find out why we celebrate this historic holiday.

Here we go!

The quick history of St. Patrick’s Day

Though he is a patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick wasn’t born there; he was born in Britain in 385 AD. At 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders.

An antique drawing of Saint Patrick chasing snakes.
Saint Patrick, chasing out the snakes (an allegory for when he converted the pagan Irish to Christianity).

Born the son of a deacon and grandson of a priest, Saint Patrick was forced to work as a shepherd in Ireland for siz years. He escaped from slavery, but eventually returned to Ireland, bringing Christianity with him.

So why do we party on celebrate this day?

Though it began as a religious holiday, this day is now a global celebration of Irish culture and heritage. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival!

Antique black and white photo of a Saint Patrick's Day parade in a city, on a crowded street. Tall buildings line each side.
St. Patrick’s Day has always boasted big parades. Here’s a parade, circa 1910-1915.

But why is drinking associated with St. Patrick’s Day?

Simple: the Lenten restriction on alcohol is lifted for that day.

Erin go Bragh!

Looking for St. Patrick’s Day frames or greeting cards?

Hi! We’re Studio Style, and we help party people get their picture home, safe and sound. We work with event planners, photographers, photo booth owners, and all sorts of party people to create memorable party favors to frame and protect event pictures.

Two St. Patrick's Day photo folders, one with a metallic green foil imprint on the front cover, the other printed green inside with a four-leaf clover. Green shamrock beads surround the folders.

Shop our themed photo folders and frames or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

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What are photo folders, and why are they such popular event giveaways?The complete guide to photo folders

What are photo folders, and why are they such popular event giveaways?

Published November 21, 2023

Hi! We’re Studio Style, and we specialize in personalized photo folders for framing event photos, photo booth prints, studio portraits, and party pictures.

If you’ve never used—or heard of—a photo folder before, we’re here to help. Let’s walk through what it is, how to use it, and how your event or company can benefit from using them.

Let’s go!

What is a photo folder?

A photo folder is a paper frame with a cover that folds over to protect the picture inside. They are available in all standard photo sizes including 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″, and 8″ x 10″, or we can make something completely custom.

Here are just some of the ways that photographers and event planners use photo event folders:

  • Studio portraits
  • Photo booth pictures
  • Event photography
  • Tourism photos, including cruises & resorts
  • Wedding & engagement portraits
  • Family & newborn photography
  • Pet photography
  • Prom & homecoming portraits
  • And more!

What are photo presentation folders made of?

Our paper photo holders are made from smooth cardstock or heavier cardboard papers (sometimes called paperboard). They are similar in style and design to vintage-style portrait folios (which are sometimes called bi-fold paper picture frames). Our portrait folders feature a textured, linen-weave finish.

Think of these paper portrait folders as the modern version of the folders you would find your grandparents’ or great grandparents’ portraits in.

Vintage portrait folder and modern portrait folder comparison.
Shown, on right: Vertical Contemporary Black Portrait Folder

Cardboard photo folders are memorable guest favors.

Whether you order blank or personalize with your logo or branding, these cardboard folders for pictures protect event photos—and create a lasting impression.

Here’s why:

The folder protects the picture, preserving the memory. The front flap covers the photo, protecting it from dust, fading, and fingerprints. Yet, you can display the photo in the folder.

If you add the event name or branding, people are more likely to remember the event. It’s funny how a logo can jog memories, but it does! To boost the memorability, add something interactive, like an event hashtag or fill-in-the-blank area.

Two Instax Mini paper frames sit on a kitchen table. Each frame has a hashtag that reads 'I'm on a natural high' and an area below the photo for people to write what their natural high is.
Shown: Custom Instax Mini Frame

Paper photo holders last.

We often hear people tell us they still have their folders or paper frames, even years after the event. You see, we make all of our cardboard picture frames, portrait folders, and photo cards in our St. Charles, IL facility—and we have designed them to last.

Slip-in folders work for any budget.

Cheap photo frame folders of high quality can be hard to come by. But our customers are thrilled with the quality they get for the price. See what our customers have to say.

Photo frame folders increase brand awareness.

Whether you’re adding just the event logo or are creating a custom cardboard picture folder, personalized folders enforce your company’s image or event branding.

Black golf photo folder, custom printed golf course photo folder, and a white golf ball textured picture frame.
Shown: Golf Photo Frame and Folders

Personalize your photo display folders with custom branding.

Our portrait folders are available with printed or foil stamped personalization. Most styles are available in horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) format. Can’t decide which folders you need? We’re happy to help.

Black and blue custom printed folder for a branded event giveaway.
Shown: Custom Printed Photo Folders with double-view window opening

Small event? No problem. Get low minimums on photo event folders.

We offer no minimums on many products, including some of our themed photo frame folders. Need bulk photo holders? No problem! Bulk pricing is shown online for applicable products. You can order online or call and speak with our team: (800) 346-3063.

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Mat Boards & Picture Frame Mats: A Beginner’s GuideA beginner's guide to mat boards

Mat Boards & Picture Frame Mats: A Beginner’s Guide

Published November 3, 2023

What are mat boards?

A mat board is a thick layer of a cardboard-like material that is used to protect your photo or artwork in a frame. Mats are typically made from either pressed wood or cotton pulp.

The mat board material serves as a protective barrier between the glass or acrylic in a frame and the surface of your artwork/photograph.

For example, if moisture seeps into a frame and there’s no protective barrier (mat board), it can be disastrous. Over time, moisture can cause the artwork to stick to the glass or acrylic, which will eventually destroy the photograph or art piece. Having a mat board as a barrier protects your photo or artwork from the glass or acrylic.

But mats are not only used for protection of an art piece; they’re also a decorative border around your photo or art print. The mat breaks up the spatial continuity of a complete framed piece. It can be used to lead a viewer’s eye to the art/photograph by bordering it with negative space. It also gives the artwork a finished look.

Blue, green, and gray mat boards lay on a wooden desk with a clay flower pot blurred in the background. The image shows the thickness of the mats.

Is mat board acid free?

Not all mat boards are acid free—but many are. Mat board quality depends on the material it’s made from.

There are three classes of mat board: decorative, conservation, and archival. Both decorative and conservation mat boards are made of pressed wood pulp and are made to be either acid neutral or acid free.

  • Decorative mat boards are acid neutral. The wood pulp is treated with calcium carbonate which neutralizes the acid and lignin that naturally occur in wood pulp.
  • Conservation mat boards are made of wood pulp where the acid and lignin are removed from the material.
  • Archival mat boards are usually made of cotton pulp which naturally does not contain either acid or lignin

Our mat boards are in the decorative class and are therefore acid neutralized (not acid free). They’re made out of wood pulp that’s treated to protect the board for degradation of the acid and lignin. So if you’re looking for a mat to protect your photos or art—but not necessarily preserve them for a lifetime—our framing mats will work great for you.

Is mat board the same as mount board?

No. Mat board serves as a layer between your photograph and the glass or acrylic cover. Mount board is for support under your photograph or artwork and serves as a stiff backing to assist in sturdiness.

How to frame with mat board?

First, determine the photo or print size you’re going to frame. That’s the inner size of your mat. Then, decide what size frame you want, and that’s the outer size.

For example, if your photo is 8″ x 10″, you’ll want a mat that is larger than that opening. An 11″ x 14″-sized mat board with an 8″ x 10″ would accommodate your photo beautifully.

Mat board size also depends on preference. How much negative (border) space do you want around your photo? Do you want a thick border or a thin border? Once you choose your image and mat board size then you’ll want to choose a frame that accommodates the size of the mat board’s outer edges.

Once you have your art or photo, the mat board, and frame then it’s time to assemble your finished piece!

Black frame with white mat board holds a photo of a sun backlit lighthouse and pier. The frame hangs on a wall between a window with a light curtain and a fireplace mantle that's holding a decorative vase and some candles.

Is mat board recyclable?

Yes. Mat boards made out of wood or cotton pulp are recyclable.

Mat Board vs. Chipboard/Cardboard

Chipboard is a thinner board made of wood pulp and/or recycled products. It’s also sometimes known as paperboard. Chipboard varies in size and thickness and is sometimes used as a backer board for photographs and artwork.

Chipboard is normally not “acid free” or “acid neutral”. Sometimes the board is covered in acid free paper that will help protect your artwork. However, this type of product is not considered “museum” or “archival” quality.

Cardboard is often made of several layers, and it’s usually thicker and sturdier than chipboard. Cardboard can come in many forms. The most common type is corrugated cardboard (what’s used for to make shipping boxes), which is made of two layers of heavy paper called liners, with a middle layer of paper folded like an accordion. The accordion is glued to the two outer layers. Corrugated cardboard is not usually acid free. It can be covered with an acid free paper to protect artwork for a limited amount of time.

Mat board is made from either wood pulp or cotton pulp; cotton pulp provides the most long-term protection. Mats are often labeled as “acid free” when they are actually “acid neutral.” Since wood pulp naturally contains acid and lignin, a chemical is added to wood pulp boards to neutralize the acid. Cotton pulp is naturally acid- and lignin-free so these types of mat boards are used for archival purposes.

Standard Mat Board Dimensions

Standard mat board sizes are typically the same size as standard photograph sizes:

  • 5″ x 7″
  • 8″ x 10″
  • 11″ x 14″
  • 16″ x 20″
  • 20″ x 24″

But mat boards are not constrained to these sizes. Professional framers and some mat board vendors can cut a mat board to a custom size. Need a custom-sized mat board? We sell mat boards cut to size.

What are some mat board uses?

Mat boards can be used to protect and display your:

  • Artwork
  • Photographs
  • Certificates, Awards & Diplomas
  • Posters
  • Sports Memorabilia

Can text or logos be added to mat board?

Yes! You can personalize decorative mat boards. At Studio Style we can foil stamp text, logos, monograms, or even a special message on a mat board. Learn more about our personalized photo mats or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

Green, white, and blue photo mats imprinted with company logos.

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From Mundane to Magnificent: Composition Techniques for Memorable Landscape PhotographyLandscape photography tips

From Mundane to Magnificent: Composition Techniques for Memorable Landscape Photography

Published July 26, 2023

If you have a vacation planned and you want to take some awesome landscape shots of your exotic (or not so exotic) vacation spot, we have some tips for you.

You don’t need to be a professional photographer or have a fancy camera to take great photos. Most times, a great image comes down to how it was composed. We’ve compiled some helpful landscape photography composition tips for you to reference during your next scenic trip.

Landscape photography is generally defined as images of a natural scene. A landscape photo can be of an ocean, a field, mountains, rivers, or basically any place found in nature.

Snow-capped mountains behind a river valley with green forested area in the foreground

A few bits of technical advice for taking landscape pictures

When you find yourself out in the world—either on vacation, hiking, or even a walk around town—you may find an exciting and beautiful view that you want share with others. If you don’t have a “fancy camera,” no worries! You can shoot landscape photography using your phone. With most phone cameras, you’re unable to change your aperture; the phone will set it for you.

And if you do shoot with a DLSR or mirrorless camera, stay tuned! This article is about photo composition; we’ll leave the technical camera aspects for another blog post. But a few basics:

  • When shooting a landscape, you generally want all the components in the photo to be in focus.
  • If you have a DSLR or a mirrorless camera with manual setting capabilities, think about the camera settings before you start shooting. If you’re not a professional photographer and don’t have a camera with manual mode, you can still shoot unforgettable landscape photos using your phone or point and shoot camera.
  • For shooting landscape photography, a smaller aperture (f/11 or smaller) is better. This allows you to have a larger depth of field; more of the scene will be in focus regardless of how close or far the objects are in your image.

We’ve put together a few easy-to-follow tips for better landscape photography. Follow these tips so you can take a unique image that doesn’t look like every other photo that you see on social media.

Instead of just whipping out your phone or camera and snapping a quick photo, pause and think of this:

How do you want your viewer’s eyes to navigate the photo?

A landscape photograph should be visually appealing and keep your viewer’s attention. This is why the composition of your image is so important. You want your viewer’s eyes to be able to explore your image easily and keep the viewer intrigued. Composition tools can help show the viewer’s eyes “the way” to navigate the photo.

Let’s talk about the following simple composition tools that will help you compose your next image:

Leading Lines

Finding “leading lines” in a scene can help compose an interesting photo and allow your eyes to have a clear path throughout your photo. Leading lines don’t have to be literal lines, but rather a change in the topography. Leading lines can also be actual lines, such as a road or a railroad track that navigates your eyes into the photo.

See the cracks in the foreground of the above image. The cracks create lines for your eyes to follow through the rest of the image.

Some craggy, snow-dusted mountains are in the background. A fissured, rocky landscape in the foreground has lines that draw you eye to the mountains.

Foreground/Middle Ground/Background

Another composition tool is including a foreground, middle-middle ground and background in your photo.

Take a look at the image below. This composition tool helps breaks up the visual texture of the image and gives the viewer’s eyes some variety. The water is the foreground, the trees being the middle ground, and the background being the mountains and sky. This breaks up the image into three parts, giving the photo more visual variety.

A clear river flows slowly in the foreground, a dense forest of evergreen trees are directly behind it, and a craggy, rocky mountain sits behind the tranquil scene.

Keep Your Horizon Level!

A quick way to ruin a landscape photo is having a crooked horizon. The horizon isn’t crooked in real life, so it shouldn’t be crooked in your landscape shot.

If you cant get the image level at the time of shooting it, fix it after by rotating your image using the crop tool in most photo editing apps. 

Gentle lapping waves from the ocean meet the beach at sunset.

Reflections

Reflections can help create a symmetrical composition in an image. These types of images can be taken near ponds, lakes, and even the ocean if it’s calm enough. The best time to take these types of photographs is when the wind is calm. Keep your horizon of the body of water straight in your frame. You may need to move your camera higher or lower depending on how you want your subject reflected in the water.

Mist rises off a glass-like lake at sunrise. Evergreen trees on a small bit of land are reflected nearly perfectly in the water.

Natural Framing

Find elements in your scene that can create a natural frame in your image. Trees, rocks, and flowers can all be used to frame your image.  The frame element can be on top, bottom, or on the sides of the image. It doesn’t necessarily have to be confined to around the outside of the image or on more than one side of the image.

Mist rises off a glass-like lake at sunrise. The landscape scene is framed by a tree on each side in the foreground, with a hill on the side of the lake.

Sharing Your Landscape Images

So you followed these tips and have captured yourself some really great shots. Now what? You should share them! Share them on social media, email them to family, or print them.

Now that you’ve printed them, share those prints. Send Granny one of those awesome photos you took. Is it Uncle Stu’s birthday? Send him one of your images in a photo card with a personalized message. Or if you want to make some money from your photos, learn how to sell your nature photography.

Get out there, create something beautiful.

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How to Frame Photo Booth Pictures: 4 Simple Ideas4 easy ways to frame photo booth prints

How to Frame Photo Booth Pictures: 4 Simple Ideas

Published June 12, 2023

The photo booth is often the life of the party. There’s just something about a photo booth: people relax and you capture more candid photos. But how do you frame photo booth prints?

Really, the options are nearly limitless, with professional-style print framing to DIY creations. Here, we have five budget-friendly framing ideas for photo booth prints from parties, celebrations, and events.

1. Plain paper frame for photo booth pictures

Sometimes, the best photo booth picture frame is the simplest. So why not go with a simple paper frame? Display on your desk, hang on the wall (with a thumb tack or picture hanging strips), or show it off on your fridge with some magnets.

But why put your photo booth print in a frame rather than just on its own? Simple: if left out, the print will eventually curl. And we don’t want that! A simple frame—even a lightweight paper frame—will help preserve your print.

A few more reasons a paper frame is perfect for framing photo booth pictures:

  • Budget-friendly giveaway. Great as a party favor (buy in bulk) or buy just one for yourself.
  • Blank frames for DIY event activity. For kids and adults alike! Decorate with stickers, markers, gel pens, stamps, or—if you’re brave—glitter.
White and black horizontal blank paper frames with subtle textured finish

2. Blank photo folders for 4×6 photo booth prints

These are perfect if you have a photo booth template with colorful graphics, either to match the theme, the décor, or the branding. With a blank photo booth folder, the cover folds over to protect the print inside the picture frame.

Photo folders are great photo booth party favors because:

  • The cover is designed to protect the print from fingerprints and drink spills
  • The photo folder is lightweight but sturdy enough to keep your print from getting creased

Here’s how photo folders work:

3. Custom photo folder with event branding or theme

Really want to go all-out? Then do it! Add your logo, branding, wedding monogram, your event message. Design it to match the event theme. It’s your event, your theme; run wild with it!

We offer foil stamped and printed photo folders and frames. The most popular photo folder for photo booth prints are printed. It’s a fast option for inserting prints into the folder or frame at the party.

2 by 6 photo booth picture strip folders for a wedding favor are displayed in a box.
2″ x 6″ photo booth folders with the couple’s names, all lined up for handing out after guests have their pictures taken. Photo courtesy of W Event Group.
Two Chirstmas-themed photo booth picture strip folders, each with event branding printed on the front covers.
Christmas photo booth folders with event logos and branding printed on the front covers.
Black and blue double-window photo folder holds images of smiling people.
Many event planners opt for completely custom photo folders with their brand design if one of our themed designs doesn’t fit their look.

Shown above: 2″ x 6″ Photo Booth Folders and Custom Printed Photo Folders

4. Upscale mat board photo booth frames

This is a nice gift option for event hosts, the married couple, guests of honor, or maybe everyone! Custom mat board frames for photo booth prints are an upscale gift option. If you make 4″ x 6″ prints, we have some picture frame mats to accommodate.

If you make 2″ x 6″ prints, you’ll need a custom picture frame mat—but the end result will wow. Interested? Let’s talk custom picture mats.

Black picture frame mat holds two photo booth prints. The mat has a gold logo imprint and reads Be the spark that inspires the world.
Shown: Custom picture frame mat in black with metallic gold foil imprint.

Let’s talk photo booth picture frames.

Hi there! We’re the party people at Studio Style, and we work with event planners, party people, and photo booth companies just like you. We think every event should have a photo booth at any event—including brand activations, for pictures with Santa, or any event, really!

If you need help deciding what photo folder or frame to pick for your event, let’s talk. Send us your ideas or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

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Why booking annual golf events is good for your photography businessHow photographers and photo booth owners ca book more golf events

Why booking annual golf events is good for your photography business

Published July 7, 2022

We make a lot of photo folders for annual golf events. Those events are awesome for vendors because they are a recurring event: book them once, and you can book them every year. Are you booking these events?

If you’re an event photographer or photo booth owner, you already work hard enough. Here are some tips and ideas for how to break into the golf event market—and easily book those annual events.

These are the golf event clients you should look for

Golf tournaments aren’t just for the pros: park districts, country clubs, schools, alumni associations, business groups, industry associations, and more.

Find their event schedule; if there is a golf event listed, reach out to see if they are interested in booking your photo booth.

What kind of golf events are there?

Knowing what kind of golf events there are will help you plan who to approach.

  • Tournaments
  • Invitationals
  • Opens
  • Classics
  • Derbys
  • Scrambles
  • Charity
  • Fundraisers
  • Reunions
  • Benefits
  • Client Appreciation Events
  • Women’s Events

What kind of photos do you take at golf events?

The event planners might have specific ideas on what kind of golf tournament pictures are best, but here are some of the standard photos taken at golf events:

  • Foursome photos. This is the most popular golf event photo. Take a picture of each team at the first hole, before the tournament begins. Some event planners might want photos taken at select sponsor holes.
  • Golfer portraits. For a memorable keepsake or gift, take a formal, posed portrait on the course.
  • Action shots. Capture them on the backswing or in the sandpit for some shots with great movement.
  • After-party pictures. Many tournaments host dinner, drinks, or an award ceremony after the event. Take group photos or set up a location to take group photos (like a photo booth).
Four male golfers stand together with their golf clubs on the green on a sunny day.
A golfer foursome photo is one of the most popular golf event pictures. Best taken at the start of the event.

Protect golf event prints & provide event favors with photo folders

Don’t send golfers home with a print thrown in their golf bag. Protect those prints with golf photo folders. Available to photographers and photo booth owners at wholesale pricing. Need help choosing the best photo folder to really wow your new clients? Get in touch or give our team a call at (800) 346-3063.

A woman in a sleeveless black dress holds a green golf photo folder on a sunny day in front of a landscaped green yard.

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