Category: Event & Party Planning

Photo Insert Cards – Customer Spotlight: Andrea with ResQDogs Group, Inc.

DIY photo insert card for pictures of dogs

Photo Insert Cards – Customer Spotlight: Andrea with ResQDogs Group, Inc.

Published November 28, 2016

At Studio Style, we love seeing how our customers use our photo insert cards for their 4×6 photos. We’re always amazed at their creativity — and we truly enjoy when they share their work with us, especially around the holiday season.

Andrea Shaw, President of ResQDogs Group, Inc. uses our photo frame cards to create these beautiful holiday collage cards with photos of her clients’ Airedale Terrier Champion show dogs. She also creates similar photo cards for all dog breeds. What do you think? Leave us a comment, or share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Red photo insert card with picture of a dog

Navy blue card with photo of a group of puppies sitting on a couch

Bronze holiday card frames a picture of rescued puppies

Natural flax card frames a Christmas picture of a dog

For 4″ x 6″ Photos

Traditional paper photo frame cards, also called photo slip in cards or photo holder cards—no glue or tape needed!

Slide your photo into one of our archival photo insert cards and make a personalized greeting that will last. Photo insert greeting cards are great for sharing photos for milestones and holidays, as well as for photographers looking for a professional photo frame card to showcase their photographs. Choose from our exclusive collection of Simplicity blank photo insert cards for photographs or our foil stamped photo insert Christmas cards.

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How to Grow Your Photography Business with Photo Folders and Paper Picture Frames

Published September 26, 2016

If you’re a professional photographer or a photo booth owner, we’d love to help you grow your photography business with our photo folders.

Custom photo folders are a perfect add-on for your events. It’s easy to incorporate them as an up-sell with your existing photography packages. Contact us at (800) 346-3063 to learn more about our wholesale partnership, or apply for our wholesale program online (valid resale certificate required).

Our wholesale photo folders come in foil stamped or full color printed designs. Choose from our stock frames or create completely custom photo folders with your own logo and artwork. We promise they’ll be a hit at your next special event or celebration, and they’ll help you grow your photography business. From corporate events, weddings, fundraisers, and beyond, here are a few reasons to use our folders:

Custom photo folders can boost your revenue

Offering photo folders with your packages adds to your income! You get our custom folders at a wholesale discount, and can sell them at retail value to your clients. They’re a perfect add-on and up-sell!

Print your own logo on the back of the folders

Get lasting exposure for your brand or studio, and send guests home with your business info! This is a great way to ensure referrals from the attendees.

Foil stamped white portrait folder stands behind a black photo folder with gold art deco design for a photo booth company.

Do your clients want their folders for free? Here’s how to make it work.

Encourage your customers to find photo sponsors to cover the cost of their photo folders and even your rental services. The sponsor pays for photography costs and in return, their logo and web address are printed on the folder for increased branding exposure with all of the event guests.

100+ square inches of branding space!

That means you have a LOT more room to print a personal greeting from the bride and groom, corporate branding and sponsor recognition or your own logo than what you’d get with a traditional photo booth template. We even have folders with perforated coupons that can be used for raffles at your events.

Custom printed photo folder with berry farm branding on front cover and inside window frame border

Photo folders protect your prints

A photo folder is just a paper frame with a cover that folds over to protect the print inside the frame. This ensures that prints from the event don’t get bent, ripped, or ruined from fingerprints or drink spills. The folder also helps event guests remember to take the print home with them! They’ll take home an upscale, personalized keepsake to remember all the fun they had.

Made in the USA

At Studio Style we don’t just sell folders, we make them, too. Right here in St. Charles, IL. That means we can offer quick turnaround for last minute events (7-10 business days), an in-house art department for design work and best of all … low minimums!

Want to see some photo folders?

We’d love to send you a sample pack with a selection of our most popular printed folders themed for weddings, holiday events, and corporate events. Your kit will include a variety of vertical and horizontal folders for 4×6 and 5×7 prints. We know it’s easier to sell the benefits of custom photo folders to your clients when you have samples in hand to show them. Request your samples now (while supplies last): Call us at (800) 346-3063, or email today! Our team has lots of other ideas to grow your photography business—just ask!

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Event Planning: 10 Reasons to Have a Photo Booth

Event Planning: 10 Reasons to Have a Photo Booth

Published July 5, 2016

Having a photo booth set up at your venue brings a fun, interactive experience to any event, party, or celebration. From weddings and birthday parties to corporate events and festivals, photo booths entertain, capture memories, and provide brand engagement opportunities.

At the 2016 WPPI Expo in Las Vegas, Studio Style had a chance to meet up with Ted Llamas, owner of Emoji Photo Box. His business is the Premier Photo Booth Rental Company and serves Las Vegas and Southern California. Ted shared his insights into the events industry, what it’s like to be a photo booth owner, and why photo booths are an essential part of every successful event. “I can’t imagine a big event without a photo booth. There is so much value to having one,” says Ted.

Top 10 Reasons to Have a Photo Booth at Your Event:

Entertainment value.

The novelty of a photo booth is something guests won’t soon forget, and their reactions will prove it. Ted loves hearing his customers remark, “You guys are awesome!” and “Your photo booth is so much fun!” But what really puts a smile on his face was when a party-goer says, “Man, thank God you were here. You really made the party!”

Break the Ice

A photo booth gives guests a chance to let loose, have a ton of fun and be themselves. It’s a great icebreaker activity for guests who may not know one another, and it allows for easy mingling and networking at business events.

Instant Party Favors!

Everyone gets to take home at least one (in most cases, many) personalized party favors. If you’re on a budget, skip traditional party favors and let the photos serve as a keepsake. Plus, Studio Style can create custom photo folders to protect your printed event pictures! Send guests home with an elegant photo souvenir that matches your event’s theme. No need to wait for the photographer to edit the images from the event! With on-site printing, your guests can have hard copies for themselves within seconds.

Colorful photo booth print with three pictures of kids having fun in the booth. The print is designed to look like The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Fun for All Ages

Young or old, anyone can enjoy a photo booth. The fun themed events are always the birthday parties, according to Ted. “We’ve had a lot of great themes, but one that stands out was a little girl’s 3^rd birthday party with The Very Hungry Caterpillar theme. We were able to make the ‘standby’ screen look just like the book, include the hungry caterpillar in the layout and have some props to go along with the theme. The little girl’s face was priceless – and to hear her saying, “cat-piller” every time a photo printed out, was just precious.

Raise Awareness

One of the most memorable events Ted has serviced was A Walk for Baby Lukey. The event was a 5K walk/run to raise awareness for Dandy Walker Syndrome. “A good friend of my cousin lost their infant son, Lucas to DWS. Although the loss of their child was devastating, they planned a wonderful memorial event for their son to raise awareness. The photo booth was placed near the finish line and everyone stopped by to take their silly pictures. It was a nice touch that played well with their theme of having fun and keeping it light hearted.”

Quick Prints for Everyone

“I think printing on-site is the standard and has always been. That is the staple of the photo booth,” says Ted. “People who know what a photo booth is will expect a printout, and those who aren’t familiar are blown away when they get a print in 10-12 seconds!” You don’t have to wait for a professional photographer to touch up and edit the images before sharing them with guests. Guests can grab them and go, and you’ll often be able to access your images online as well.

“I’m a big advocate for reprints for when a group of 4 or more enter the booth. I reprint enough copies for that group, which keeps everyone happy. I have been to a couple of weddings where I’ve taken a big group shot with family members I rarely ever see, and the photo booth operator only allowed two strips for our group of 8. As a photo booth owner, I was sad to see this happen.”

Online + Social Media Sharing

This area has grown over the last few years and it’s only going to get better. The software available today allows photo booth goers to upload their pictures to Facebook or email themselves right on the booth’s touchscreen, or on a separate iPad kiosk.

There are even a couple of software companies that have designed a way to create a whole subcategory of photo booths, with a “Hashtag Printer Station.” This is a separate unit comprised of a tablet, software, and a printer enclosed in a nice-looking box. It allows attendees to print out their own pictures from the event that they’ve already uploaded on Instagram using the specific hashtag of the host (bride/groom, company, etc) wants them to use.

Now, the print isn’t your normal 4×6 photo you pick up at Walgreens. This is a 4×6 (vertical) that looks exactly like your Instagram page, with your name, date, and even has the comments you made. You can customize this by adding the (bride/groom info/company info, etc) and your own information like a web address.

Customization

There are lots of ways to customize a photo booth experience for any type of event. You can customize the booth with themed backdrops and green screens to custom props and background templates. “For the event planners looking for a photo booth, all photo booths are not created equal. Cheaper isn’t always better. Do some research to find a company that can fulfill your needs. There are a lot of great photo booth rental companies out there, Emoji Photo Box is just one of them,” says Ted.

Survey Your Guests

Most photo booth software can be customized to include a quick pop-up survey for attendees to complete before their session can start. The questionnaire can ask the guests whatever the host or business wants to know, and shows up right on the photo booth screen. It’s a great way to capture leads or gather important business data from current and potential customers.

Increase Brand Engagement

Photo booths work well for business events when a company or organization is trying to grow their social media presence. Host an event and encourage everyone to take pictures and upload them to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using a specific hashtag. When consumers have fun and get engaged with a brand’s photo booth, they also leave with a cool souvenir that has the company’s brand all over it.

For businesses, it’s a no-brainer to have a photo booth. Not only does it get your guests, employees, and customers to interact during the event, but it also builds your brand exponentially. Ask your guests to tag themselves in the photos on your company Facebook page, or even hashtag your company’s brand and event info on Instagram!

More about Ted and Emoji Photo Box:

How did you get started in the photo booth industry? What do you love most about it?

I always knew I wanted to own my own business, but never really pinned down what I wanted to do. One day I was at a CVS waiting for my infant son’s medication and was flipping through a small business magazine. It was there that I found an ad for owning a photo booth.

After doing this for 4 years, I still love how the photo booth adds life to the party! Seeing people rush to the photo booth, seeing all kinds of funny faces and introducing the photo booth to those who have never experienced it (there are always some first timers at every event) makes me smile.

Tell us about Emoji Photo Box – what sets you apart from other photo booth rentals?

At Emoji Photo Box, we work as a team to cover all of the business aspects that come with owning a photo booth. Many companies lack in one area or another. I truly believe we that we prosper in customer service, communication, social media and staying up to date on new technologies.

Any sage advice for prospective booth owners to grow and market their business?

Social media is a must, but high tech doesn’t beat high touch. Get your booth (and your personality) out there. Do a free event. All events you service with your booth can create an opportunity to get you booked on another paid event.

Anything else you’d like to say about photo booths and their impact on the events industry?

Photo booths aren’t going anywhere. They are just as much a business branding tool as they are a form of entertainment for your guests.

There are a whole lot of photo booth owners out there and that number keeps growing. I believe this is one of the best small businesses one could own. I believe it so much, that I sell photo booths to people who are just getting started, or to photo booth owners looking for another booth to add to their fleet.

Even with the growing number of photo booth owners, I still believe that there are enough events for everyone.

We hope these tips help you plan your next event!

Do you have another reason photo booths create fun at any event (like brand activations)? Leave us a comment below! If you need photo booth folders to hold your event photos, we’d love to create them. Browse our custom photo folders or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

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Step It Up Events ® Revolutionizes the Photo Booth & Brings Life to Event Photography

Step It Up Events ® Revolutionizes the Photo Booth & Brings Life to Event Photography

Published February 8, 2016

We’re proud to announce Step It Up Events® as this month’s Studio Style Customer Spotlight! Step It Up Events® is a full service event branding company specializing in open photo booths, video photo booths & event photography for corporate and party engagement and entertainment. When you hire Step It Up Events®, you’ll get the benefit of a diverse and experienced team, including a top-rated photographer, creative artist, digital marketing strategist, social media guru, event planner, technology leader, and a customer service specialist. They’ll roll out the red carpet for you and your guests, with elegant custom photo station solutions plus an open, inviting and attractive presence that is branded to your event.

The Step It Up Events® team recognizes there is so much more to your event experience than just the pictures, and currently serves East coast customers in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

We had the pleasure of chatting with Howard Schram, Founder of Step It Up Events®, to learn more about what it takes to create a magnificent personalized event experience.

What sets you apart from your competition?

Step It Up Events® is NOT your everyday photo booth company. We are not a rental, we are a service. I founded Step it Up Events® with one idea, “Every celebration is 100% personalized for each and every event!” Having 20 professional award winning years in digital/social/mobile technology & marketing and seeing the industry gaps, I took it upon myself to create something different and build the bridge. The traditional photo booth (that creepy black box in the corner) is not attractive, and film strip pictures are not conducive to creating true memories. On top of that, there is no sharing integrated with the pictures from a traditional photo booth. Most companies use an iPad with multiple apps for photo sharing, which creates a broken experience.

So, I developed a photo booth experience that allows your guests to instantly engage with their photos. They can share them immediately via email, MMS text message, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & get 4X6 prints in 5.9 seconds. We are instant memory makers.

When did you know that this was something you could make a living doing?

Initially, didn’t know if it was going to take off or work at all. People usually think “Photo Booth” and they’d have a prefabricated thought in their mind. I created our brand, our software, bought $10k in quality equipment and then we finally had our first gig. It was pure chaos & it was a huge hit! We were a DJ killer. Now, we’ve been in business for over 3 years, and are seeing huge growth.

I love to quote the movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” I knew that I was on to something, and after crafting a voice and attempting to build my brand, I landed Verizon Wireless within 6 months of business. That was when I saw the tides start to turn.

Where do you want to take your business?

We are planning to double the business again in 2016 as we closed out the 2015 year with 77 successful events. We shared over 150,000 pictures though digital and social media, and printed over 56,000 4X6 pictures. We were awarded The Knot Best of Weddings for 2016, we have 2 ® registered trademarks and 2 waiting approval with the US Government. We launched a FREE app in iTunes for the iPhone, iPad & iTouch called THINK Photo Booth Fun. We are the only world-wide photo booth company that offers a completely free photo sharing app designed for pure fun and enjoyment. Read more about our THINK Photo Booth Fun app launch here.

The next BIG THING is franchising Step It Up Events®! We have begun the process, so be on the lookout!

Which Studio Style products are you currently using to for your event photos?

We use an assortment of 4X6 & 8X10 frames and photo folders. We love the excellent quality, and the amazing pricing. Using the photo folders and photos frames from Studio Style has helped our business by allowing us to offer upgrades that other vendors do not feature in their packages. It has made us look extremely polished. Plus, the customer service team is second to none! Kevin helps me brainstorm ideas on how to incorporate and market different Studio Style products into my event services all of the time.

What are some of your favorite things about working in the events and photography industry?

I personally love working with my clients and making them feel special. Planning for a special event can be very stressful. When my clients send me testimonials like:

“BEST VENDOR EVER!”, “If we were to describe the Step It Up Events® experience with one phrase, it would be “Game Changer,” and “Your services are top notch, from the planning to the big event! Planning a wedding and working with vendors can be stressful, but you made everything stress free and fun.” — it makes me feel validated, and makes me feel good when I go to sleep at night.

What’s your best advice for success in the events industry?

Be careful. There are a lot of dishonest people in the industry who just want to capitalize on your success, or spin off your ideas and dip their hands into your pocket. Stay right sized, do the right thing today for you, and everything will be OK.

What kind of hobbies keep you busy in your off hours?

I love to spend time with my wife, family & friends, ride my sport bike, mountain bike, kayak, play and hike with my rescue pit bull, and eat good food!

Step It Up Events logo

Connect with Step It Up Events® on the Web:

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How To Have A Successful Easter Bunny Event

How To Have A Successful Easter Bunny Event

Published February 3, 2016

Thinking of having a picture with the Easter Bunny Event this year? We have some Easter event planning ideas and tips to help you along.

Events like these 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. Read on as we help you plan and organize a successful event this Easter season.

First things first: Book 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 have a bunny that can pose for pictures, walk around and work the crowd, pass out candy, entertain, or even perform magic tricks. Don’t forget you could always buy or rent a bunny costume.

The Easter bunny visits a family at their house, and the Easter bunny stands in front of a black backdrop for taking pictures. Images from Funtime Services in Naperville, Illinois. — Left: the Easter Bunny visits a family at their home for photos. Right: the Easter Bunny waits in front of a backdrop for taking photos with guests at an Easter event. Photos courtesy of Funtime Services in Naperville, IL.

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!

Where to host your Easter event

There are a lot of other great places to have an event. Here are some ideas:

Have the Easter bunny visit your store—whether you’re a small boutique or large chain
Breakfast or brunch with the Easter bunny at a restaurant or country club
Spring festival, parade, or Easter egg hunt
Invite the Easter bunny to a local 5k race or sporting event
Take pet pictures with the Easter bunny at a pet store, animal shelter, grooming salon, or adoption center
Have the Easter bunny stop by the children’s hospital
Set up an Easter bunny photo booth at the zoo

Be sure to check with your local Park District or Chamber of Commerce, as they almost always have annual Easter Bunny events planned. We’ve even seen Easter events on trains and cruise ships!

Use the best Easter photo props

The most basic prop you’ll need is a sturdy place for the Easter Bunny and 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) don’t 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.

Easter Backdrop — Photo Credit: Vanessa Brown Photography
Backdrop created by OneStopBackdrop on Etsy

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 and party stores and see what is available. Check out Etsy.com for creative handmade props like this white fence backdrop. 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 and even the home improvement store have options for larger props, tables, and seating. With a little creativity you can even make your own unique spring and 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 and 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 custom printed 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 4″ x 6″ pictures, but custom sizes are available.

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. If you’re handing out treat bags, you can use our Free Printable Easter Treat Bag Toppers!

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.

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 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 proceeds from your event to a charity. Give people a REASON to participate in your event that they will feel good about. This also provides an option for cross-promotion with the charity, which can boost your event exposure and your audience, as well as opening other advertising channels and media coverage.

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

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Valentine’s Day Event Photo Ideas You’ll LOVE

How to frame your Valentine's Day photos

Valentine’s Day Event Photo Ideas You’ll LOVE

Published January 29, 2016

Are you hosting a Valentine’s Day Event or sweetheart party this year?

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and Studio Style has a few ideas to help you put on a Valentine’s Day event everyone will love. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, a school party, a daddy daughter dance, or corporate event, our Valentine’s Day photo folders make perfectly lovable mementos to send home with your guests.

Send guests home with a souvenir photo folder for a sweet memory

These foil stamped Valentine’s Photo Folders are versatile for any Valentine’s themed event, fundraiser, dance, or party. If you’re able to print your event photos on site, that’s a bonus, but it’s okay to mail these photo folders after the event too. These photo folders hold a 4×6 picture or photo booth print.

Black photo folder with red foil stamped heart design

Lightweight smooth finish recycled paper
Foil hot-stamped design on front cover
Holds one photo on the inside
Available for vertical or horizontal prints

These Happy Valentines Day photo folders feature a bright red Valentine’s Day Heart design foil stamped in the middle. These make great Valentine’s Day cards, and hold a 4×6 vertical or horizontal prints. Great for commemorating a Valentine’s Cruise or special outing with your loved one.

White photo folder with red foil heart design and fundraiser imprint on the front cover

Your Valentine’s Day event wouldn’t be complete without some personalization your Valentine’s photo folders with the event date, location, names or even a line from your favorite love song or poem.

Envelopes: Are you mailing your folders/frames? Portrait folder envelopes are available here.

This red heart photo folder makes a beautiful themed frame for a sweetheart dance, Valentine’s fundraiser, or school party. Simply slide your 5×7 or 4×6 photo in the top and

This red and pink Valentine’s photo folder combines modern polka dots with hearts. Although perfect for Valentine’s Day parties and events, this design is also suitable for weddings, anniversaries, dances, cruises and other special occasions. The heart theme also works well for National Heart Health Month, and for hospital and healthcare promos.

Make Your Own Valentine’s Day Party Invites or Thank You Notes

If DIY is your thing, we have a cool solution for you: photo insert cards. Just take your 4″ x 6″ print and slide it in the window frame border. You can get either blank cards and decorate it entirely yourself or we can foil stamp a message for you. Be sure to check out our other DIY Valentine’s Day card ideas.

White photo insert card holds an image of an adult woman giving peace signs while flashing a silly smile. The card reads XOXO, the Millers.

Valentine’s Day Goodie Bags

Valentine’s treat bags are great for classroom parties! These printed red and gold hearts cellophane treat bag are popular for DIY gift bags at all kinds of February events. Whether you give candy, nuts, cookies, or party favors, we offer plenty of sizes to fit any treat. Perfect for handing out at school or company Valentine’s Day parties, bake sales or any special occasion.

Someone is taking candy out of a clear goodie bag with a red heart pattern

Food-safe polypropylene (sometimes called poly) bags have many uses. Cello bags make great candy bags, favor bags, party gift bags, treat goodie bags, bake sales, and more. Unlike flat cello, our cello bags have gusseted sides for added room.

Let’s personalize your Valentine’s Day Event

You take the pictures, we’ll provide a practical—but cute!—way for party guests to get those photos home. Shop our entire collection at StudioStyle.com or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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How to Add Vintage Flair to Your Event Photo Booth

How to Add Vintage Flair to Your Event Photo Booth

Published August 25, 2015

How to Add Vintage Flair to your Photo Booth

Ah, the photo booth.

Invented in the early twentieth century by an ambitious Russian immigrant, the photo booth quickly won over the American public with it’s quick printing capabilities and intimate booth atmosphere.

Enclosed photo booths started appearing in cities across the U.S. wherever crowds gathered. They grew in popularity over the next several decades, and saw such famous visitors as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Truman Capote.

But in the later decades of the 20th century, Americans’ fascination with the photo booth declined. The once-popular photo booths were relegated to dusty corners at malls and shopping centers.

But all that changed about 10 years ago.

As the saying goes, “what’s old is new again,” and this couldn’t be more true for the humble event photo booth. Now they are at weddings, bar mitzvahs, corporate events, retail grand openings, first birthday parties, and graduation parties. Photographers across the U.S. are adding them as a package option for their event photography, and DIY photo booth tutorials abound.

But the fun part for you, the party planner, is all the glamorous details, and what’s more fun than a vintage 1920s photo booth theme? Whether you’re throwing a gala reminiscent of The Great Gatsby, hosting a small art deco-inspired soirée, or just want a 1920s-themed photo booth, we’ve searched high and low to bring you some of the best 1920s vintage photo booth ideas and inspiration.

Vintage Photo Booth Backdrop Ideas

Strips of wrapping paper. Sound silly? It’s not! Put one strip black, another of a subtle black and gold geometric pattern. Just be careful not to clash patterns or create something too loud.
Black table cloth. This is perhaps the easiest and thriftiest option, which is why it’s usually the most popular. A simple black table cloth from your local party supply store is a simple but great background.
Streamers. Choose two or three colors, and tape streamers to the wall, keeping them all straight, twirling all of them, or keeping some straight while twirling others.
Velvet. We’re thinking a red or black velvet curtain reminiscent of the theater. While an actual theater curtain might not fit your budget, check your local fabric store, especially the bargain bins. Or, hang a simple black backdrop, and put on red velvet curtain on each side, pulled back with a gold rope tie. Where to buy: Jo-Ann
Clear balloons filled with gold glitter. Easy and fun glitter balloons! Just add a spoonful of glitter to a clear balloon, blow it up (with helium), tie on a gold ribbon, and tape the ribbon to the floor. Fill up enough balloons to cover a wide enough area, and tie on varying lengths of ribbon. You can either buy these pre-made, or make your own glitter balloons.
Patterns to look for. Whether it’s a piece of fabric, a table cloth, wrapping paper, or wallpaper, look for big, regal patterns like damask or brocade, or for true art deco style, be on the lookout for bold geometric patterns.

Prop Ideas for your 1920s-Themed Photo Booth

Hats, hats, hats. Find period-style hats for the guys and the dames. For guys, look for bowler, derby, fedora, top hat, panama, gambler, or homburg. For dames, look for cloche, beret, toque, turbans, and of course, the flapper headband. Where to buy: Candy Apple Costumes
Mustache on a stick. Make your own, find some at the party store, or download some vintage-style photo booth printables.
Bow ties for the guys. You can either find a few clip-on bow ties (skip the over-sized ones for the vintage theme), or use a printable. Where to buy: Tie Bar (feeling crafty? Learn how to make your own clip-on bow tie.)
Lace gloves for the ladies. So that you’re fit for your elegant affair. Where to buy: Historical Emporium
Lace parasol. Look at pictures of people picnicking in the 1920s and you might see some women with lacy parasols, meant to shelter the sun. While a full-size parasol won’t work to well in a confined space, a child-sized or petite parasol would be perfect.
Feather boas and playful fans. Time to hit the party store again! Think glitz and glam.
Rotary Phone. Why not? Look on eBay or ask around; you might be surprised at who has one of those sitting in their attic.
Colorful silk flowers. Not your ordinary prop, but why should the bride and bridesmaids be the only ones with bouquets?

DIY Vintage Photo Booth Signs

Pointing to the photo booth. Free photo booth sign printables abound online. Check out some at Elegance and Enchantment. Creating your own? Look up some 1920s slang to make it even more authentic.
How to use the photo booth. Avoid the risk of losing pictures, having damaged equipment, or just confusing your guests. Kelly from A Side of Sweet provided a simple list of instructions for guests at her wedding.
How to pose and use props. Yes, this might sound silly, but it could be another way to add some vintage flair. Find some old photo booth pictures (old family photos from the 1920s will work, too), put them in a gold frame, and place them on the props table.

Protect Your Prints! Personalized Photo Booth Favors

Photo Booth Strip Folders. Help your guests protect their 2″ x 6″ photo booth prints. Personalize with your event details. Where to buy: Studio Style
Photo Holder for 4″ x 6″ Photo Booth Collage. Perfect for the larger prints! Choose a vintage design, or create one of your own. Where to buy: Studio Style (Psssst… the Vintage Props is our most popular design for events like this.)
An envelope. Get envelopes to coordinate with your color or design theme. Leave them blank, add a label, or personalize with some fancy calligraphy. Find these at any stationery supply store. For 4″ x 6″ photos, look for the A6 envelope size.

DIY Photo Booth Tutorial List

If you’re one of the brave individuals looking to set up your own photo booth, check out this list of tutorials from experts and beginners alike.

Offbeat Wed. No expensive camera needed, just your computer and a web cam. The ultimate budget-friendly option.
Simple Booth. Have an iPad? Here’s a really easy one for you. Buy the app, and set your iPad up on a tri-pod.
Photography Concentrate. Photographers Lauren and Rob Lim share their photo booth setup. This one is perfect if you have a dSLR and a separate flash unit.
dslrBooth. Photo booth software (Mac or PC) for those with Nikon, Canon or Sony dSLR cameras. Also works with webcams.
Viget. For a more professional setup with dSLR, lights, and live photo slideshow, see how the staff at Viget set up their photo booth.

If You’re Hiring a Photographer…

Sometimes it’s more fun to let someone else handle the technical side of setting up a photo booth, and that’s ok! You can still choose props, backdrops, and other photo booth decor. We’ve found that photo booth owners love working their clients’ ideas into their booth to help personalize the experience, so if you are hiring a professional, ask them if you can use your own props and backdrop.

Ready, Set, Go!

Whether it’s for your wedding or your kid’s birthday party, your photo booth will bring out the goofiness in your guests, and there’s nothing like a vintage theme to really get them to open up.

Are you doing a vintage photo booth theme? Let us know what your set up looks like—we’d love to see it!

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Personalized Event Folders – Print Your Own Custom Labels

Published July 16, 2014

In a rush? No time for custom imprinting? Print your own custom labels for instant folder personalization.

Photo event folders personalized with custom labels

Did your event sneak up on you? No time for custom photo event folders? What’s an event planner to do?!?!

We have the answer: custom labels.

While our professional foil imprinting services are by far the best complement to our folders, we understand that sometimes you need folders in a hurry.

When photographers and event planners come to us with a last-minute project, foil imprinting is usually no longer an option. In these cases, we suggest ordering our blank portrait folders or standard event photo folders. Then print off some labels at home or at the office, stick them on the cover, et voilá! Personalized photo folder frames, just in time for your event.

Although we do not sell self-adhesive labels, they can be purchased at any store that sells office supplies. Print your logo, artwork, or event name onto the labels according to package instructions, then just peel and stick your custom labels to our portrait folders. While it might not have the same classy look as a foil stamped portrait folder, it gets the job done. In the end, a custom photo folder is about event or company branding.

Custom labels work with any of our blank photo folders, including our portrait folders and foil imprinting services. Not sure what you want? Browse all photo folders. While printing your own custom labels is no substitute for the beauty of foil hot-stamped imprinting, it is an easy personalization solution when faced with a tight event deadline.

But hey, there’s always next year! Our standard production time on custom imprinted photo presentation folders is generally 7-10 business days. Please allow a few days for proofing your artwork or design, plus time for shipping. We see many customers begin the ordering process a month before their event. We usually start making custom Christmas foil stamped photo folders before Halloween!

With a little creativity (and a lot of peeling and sticking), custom labels really can turn a blank photo folder into a one-of-a-kind branded photo souvenir.

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Spin Art Card Frames: Kids Art Party

Published March 27, 2012

Looking for a fun activity and party favor rolled into one for your next kids art party? Have the kids make their own spin art!

But don’t send kids and party goers home with nothing to hold their art; send them home with a party favor that complements their creation.

Frame the spin art with inexpensive 5×7 photo frames from Studio Style, allow to dry, and send kids home with a fun and funky craft they’ll love to show off.

What is spin art and how does it work?

Spin art is a popular activity at carnivals, birthday parties, school fun fairs, summer camp, festivals, and park district events. Also called twirl art, spin art machines can be rented at carnival and party rental supply companies.

Paint (and sometimes glitter) is squeezed or dripped onto a paper card that is attached to a spinning platform creating an abstract piece of art. For decades, spin art has been a carnival staple because it is a fun and interactive arts and crafts activity that results in an instant novelty souvenir that can be taken home. It is also a proven money maker at fundraising events.

Why paper frames work perfectly for holding spin art

Most spin art cards measure 5″ x 7″, which fit nicely into one of our 5″ x 7″ paper photo frames. You can order these paper picture frames blank (with no order minimum!), or you can personalize these art card holders and frames with your event name or logo.

If kids aren’t sure which way they want to display their art, don’t worry; these paper frames come with pop-out easels so they can display them horizontally or vertically.

And while these cardstock frames are made of thick, recycled paper, they are light enough for mom or dad to hang up with a few pushpins or heavy magnets at work or home.

Looking for other frame options? Check out our entire line of 5×7 photo holders for spin art prints—we have more than 30 5×7 photo folders and frames to choose from, including many themed designs.

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DIY Free Photo Booth Strip Template Download

DIY Photo Booth Template for Photoshop | Courtesy of StudioStyle.com

DIY Free Photo Booth Strip Template Download

Published March 15, 2012

Say cheese! Download our free template to create DIY photo booth strips.

We love photo booths. Old is new again, and photo booths have seen a resurgence at wedding receptions, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthdays, bars, restaurants, parties, and events everywhere. It’s instant photo fun—what’s not to love?

While nothing can replace that old school fun of jumping into a photo booth and hamming it up with your friends, sometimes you just want the old fashioned photo strip look without renting a booth.

We know the feeling, and that is why we created this freebie just for you. Below are step-by-step instructions to create your own Photo Booth Strip Template in Photoshop.

Editing the photo booth picture strip template in Photoshop — This is what the template looks like when you open it. Add your photos underneath the top layer titled “Photo Booth Template”.

Free photo booth 2x6 template for Photoshop

Download Free Photo Booth Strip Template

This download is a layered PSD (Photoshop) file, just open and place your photos behind the template layer. Who knew it could be so easy to make your own 2″ x 6″ photo booth picture strip?

To save your finished design for printing, you can flatten the layers and save it as a JPG. You can also save it as a PNG or TIFF, but JPG is a widely-used and widely-accepted image format.

Try making your pictures black and white or sepia tone for a vintage look by applying your favorite Image Adjustment or Photoshop Action.

This photo booth template is for more than just photo booth pictures

Be creative! Print and cut them out to make your own DIY save the dates or wedding thank you cards, birthday party favors, or simply combine your favorite photos to post to Facebook and share with friends.

If you enjoy nature photography, add some of your favorites and print your own 2″ x 6″ nature-themed bookmarks (an inexpensive Christmas present!).

Or add photos of your kids a recent vacation, your dog at the park, or even a night out on the town. While you can frame these, 2″ x 6″ photo booth strips also look great hung on a fridge or cabinet with a magnet.

How to frame your 2″ x 6″ picture strips

If you’re printing a large volume of photo booth pictures, be sure to check out our inexpensive paper photo booth frames, available in more than 60 themed designs, including red carpet, sports, Christmas, and vintage.

Picture strip folders are perfect for photo favors, handing out as photo souvenirs to event attendees, wedding guests, or using as a thank you card. Customize a printed photo booth picture holder for any event or occasion.

2x6 Photo Booth Frames to Hold Picture Strip Templates — Design and print your own 2″ x 6″ photo booth picture strips. Shown here in our photo booth folders.

PS – Not sure if your event needs a photo booth? Here are 10 reasons why photo booths can boost an event’s success.

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