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Category: Event Photography

Vintage paper photo frames: Why they’re so wonderfully nostalgic

Most of us have been there: digging through grandma’s box of photos and family portraits. It’s filled with delicate loose prints, much-loved photo albums, and those old-fashioned, vintage paper photo frames.

“Oh, that was your great-great grandma,” says grandma as we hold the aged but sturdy portrait folder. The portrait is beautiful in and of itself; portraiture was a unique art in the early 20th century, and unless a photographer is using antique photo equipment, it’s hard to beat that wonderfully black and white or sepia-toned vintage look.

But it’s not just the photo that gets us; the vintage paper photo folder has that old paper smell, and it’s still holding up, after all those years.

Vintage paper photo frames and portrait folders were popular with photographers because it was a safe and easy way to give clients their prints. The photographers also knew the paper frames and folders would protect the prints.

What they might not have known is how much those vintage portrait folders would be treasured.


Why we love vintage portrait folders & paper frames

Long story short, we see the value in them—because of how people react to vintage paper frames. Even if it’s something that was created 100 years before they were born, that nostalgic feeling is evoked with a simple whiff of the paper.

When the digital photo era really took hold, we held on tight to the traditional portrait folders (and kept selling them) because, although more people were opting for digital images, digital images are quickly forgotten. GIFs just don’t have the same staying power as printed pictures (ask grandma). 👇

We love printed pictures
We love printed pictures! Follow us on Instagram for more quips and inspiration about the beauty of printed photos & portrait folders.

While our portrait folders and paper frames are styled a little differently than those of the late 19th century and early 20th century, the idea remains the same: frame your studio portraits in something that’s not only beautiful to display, but will protect your prints for years to come.

Our photo packaging solutions are quality-crafted in the USA—they always have been. They are made out of sturdy 20pt recycled paper stock that is acid-free and archival-quality. The materials might be different from the old, vintage paper picture holders, but the feel and nostalgia are the same.


How vintage-style paper photo holders are used

Although cardboard portrait folders and paper frames are used for more event photography these days, they are still highly sought-after by studio photographers. They are especially popular with photographers and studios using traditional photographic techniques, like tintype photography (shown below).

Modern portrait folder has the same look and feel of vintage paper photo frames
Studio portrait folder with custom stamped border decorations. This one is used to frame tintype photos. Image taken by forgottenfilm.us.

Where to buy vintage portrait folders & picture frames

If you want authentic vintage portrait holders, you’ll want to check out Etsy and ebay.

If you just want that authentic feeling, but are ok with a modern interpretation, we’re here for you. We have classic black and white portrait folders and textured paper frames that evoke that nostalgic feeling and protect your prints with acid-free, archival-quality paper. Best part: they come at a bargain price.

Some more bonus points for our vintage-style portrait folders & frames:

  • Acid-free & archival quality. While our folders are typically used for events, they are perfect for storing photos.
  • No glue or tape required. Better for long-term storage (less acid from tape means less change in photo color and clarity)
  • Unique storage solution. Rigid folders keep your treasured photos from creasing
  • Have a photography studio? Make them custom. We specialize in adding studio logos to our portrait folders using a traditional hot foil stamping technique. Just like photographers used to add their name to folders, you can, too.

Take a look at our portrait folders or paper frames. Not sure what portrait frame will work for your photographs? We’re here to help. Send us your thoughts, or give us a call: (800) 346-3063.

Vintage-style portrait folders for studio photography and event photos.
Sturdy paper portrait folders with a unique textured finish. Designed + made in the USA by Studio Style

The image at the top of this post features vintage paper frames and photo cards as curated by the Beinecke Library of Yale University. See their collection of images on Flickr.

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5 Reasons You Need a Photo Booth for your Pictures With Santa

Pictures with Santa are so. much. FUN!

But pictures with Santa have changed. Remember the scene in “A Christmas Story” when Ralph and little brother Randy went to a department store to an elaborate setup with Santa up top and a biiiiiig slide for kids to go down? When’s the last time you saw a setup like that?

While getting your picture taken with Santa might not be as big of an ordeal as it used to be, it’s still very much a thing. But how you have those pictures taken has changed. Santa (and his helpers) don’t wait for you to come find them; nowadays, you’ll find Santa at just about any Christmas event planned during the holiday season.

While you can do a DIY set up to take your own photos with Santa, we have an idea that will give your party guests some fun, memorable prints: hire a photo booth.

Don’t think a photo booth is worth the rental cost? Read on to see why photo booths are such a great idea for getting your picture taken with Santa.


1. Photo booths have been around for a long time… people know how to have fun in them!

Even if the setup a photographer uses is similar to what a photo booth setup looks like, if you call it a photo booth, peoples’ inhibitions seem to dwindle a bit. Throw in some props and you have instant fun! How much fun would your party guests have if the guests and Santa used props in their photo booth pictures?

So if you want some fun, relaxed, candid photos with Santa at your company Christmas party or holiday event, consider a photo booth.

A collage of three photos of people having their pictures taken with Santa.
Photo booths often offer a more casual environment than studio portrait setups. Smile how you want, pose how you want, and shoot, give Santa a smooch if you want! Photos by Say Ya! Photo Booth. Visit them on Instagram or Facebook.

2. You can choose a backdrop to match your event décor.

Most photo booth companies have many different backdrop offerings. Some even offer custom designed photo booth backdrops!

But you don’t have to feel limited to just a solid screen. If space, time, and lighting allows, most photo booth companies will let you design your own backdrop—even if that includes Santa’s sleigh! So go on, think big.

A festive holiday scene set-up with a gingerbread village backdrop with small evergreens and Santa's sleigh in the foreground.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to your Santa photo booth setup. Add the sleigh, trees, and a backdrop. Photo by Say Ya! Photo Booth. Visit them on Instagram or Facebook.
A decorated Christmas tree stands in front of a simple background of black and red curtains for a photo booth setup.
For this event, they put a beautifully decorated Christmas tree against a simple red curtain backdrop as vivid as Jolly Old St. Nick’s suit. The sparkling garland and classic white lights add festive holiday flair. Photo by PicBox Photo Booth Company. Visit them on Facebook.

3. You can get printed AND social sharing options.

When it comes to having pictures taken with Santa, most people want the print, and that’s it. And that is perfectly ok!

But what if you want to create an online experience to further the message of your event or brand? That’s where photo booths with social media sharing capabilities come into play.

These photo booths with digital downloads or social sharing options let you share your pictures direct to your social media channel of choice. Shoot, some even offer gifs! The possibilities here are nearly endless. If you choose a photo booth with social media sharing, be sure to have guests tag your company, event, or use a special hashtag so you can follow the experience online.

Be sure to ask around, though, as not all photo booth companies offer the social sharing option.


4. Easier for kids

Let’s face it, some kids get freaked out at the idea of sitting on Santa’s lap. Even if they recognize him as Santa, he’s still a stranger up close.

When it comes to Christmas party photo booths with Santa, you have a few options for getting pictures with the kids.

First, you can take the traditional route of the kid on Santa’s lap or standing next to him. For a lot of kids, this works great. Others… not so much.

In order to keep all the kids (and their parents!) happy, consider creating a photo booth setup for the whole family to enjoy. Wary kids will be more open to participating if mom and dad or their friends are all in the picture with them.

A large group of people wear silly glasses and other props while having their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Santa and Mrs. Claus posed with the kids (and their silly glasses!) on a comfy couch with the rest of the family behind them. Photo booths can allow for large setups, meaning the whole family can have their picture taken with Santa. Photo by Shutter Booth Charlotte. Visit them on Instagram and Facebook.

5. You don’t really need Santa.

Gosh, we hope that statement doesn’t put us on the naughty list. But there’s some practicality behind that statement.

If hiring Santa for your Christmas event isn’t in your budget, you still have some great options with photo booths to make it look as though Jolly Old St. Nick was there.

Santa Replacement #1: Backdrops

Back to the topic of backdrops… some photo booths might have a backdrop with Santa on it. So you just pose in front of a picture of Santa and call it a day!

Other photo booth rentals might offer green screens, so you can choose from their library of backgrounds, or perhaps even design your own.

Santa Replacement #2: Props

Every photo booth has props. And most Christmas party photo booth rentals offer Christmas-themed props as part of their package. So while Santa might not be there, maybe you can wear his hat.

Six people pose in a photo booth in front of a bright, sparkling silver backdrop. They are all wearing funny holiday photo booth props and smiling or making silly faces.
No Santa? No problem! We think these props work great. Photo by Shutter Booth Charlotte. Visit them on Instagram and Facebook.

If the photo booth doesn’t offer Christmas-themed props, ask them if it’s ok to bring your own. If you go the DIY-route, check out any arts and crafts store or yes, even Target or Walmart.

Santa Replacement #3: Custom Photo Booth Print Design

If you opt for printed photos at your holiday party photo booth, ask the photo booth owner if they offer designs on their prints. Many photo booth companies offer designed prints in their packages. Here’s a bonus: some of them even let you add branding! As always, ask these questions to get the most out of your event budget.


How to find a photo booth for your Christmas party

Need help finding a photo booth near you for your holiday event? Here are three easy ways to find a photo booth near you:

  1. Go to your search engine (ex: Google or Bing) and type in “photo booth near me”. The results will populate with local photo booth businesses for you to research.
  2. Go to Facebook and search for “[your city] photo booth”. Below the search bar, scroll sideways to look for “Pages” and you’ll find a list of pages for photo booth companies.
  3. Go to Instagram, tap the search icon and type in either “photo booth”. Scroll sideways below the search bar and tap on “Places”. Not all of these will be local to you, but many will. Another way to search on Instagram is to search for the name of your city, scroll to “Places,” and tap on the name of your city. This will give you a searchable map. If your local photo booth owners have added their business location, they will appear on this map.

If you’re taking photo booth pictures with Santa, send those prints home in a festive photo folder

At Studio Style, we design and manufacture a full line of photo folders and cardboard frames—and yes, we have LOTS of Christmas designs. Just choose one to go with your event, or design your own. Not sure where to start? We can help! Send us a message or call us at (800) 346-3063.

Happy party planning! 🎄🎅🎁

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September is Save Your Photos Month!

Your photos are precious memories that you can re-live forever…unless they disappear.

Every two minutes, humans take more photos than ever existed in total 150 years ago.  A lost or damaged phone, a computer crash, or even  a natural disaster could destroy your digital photos or prints. Don’t risk losing those captured memories. Back up and save your photos today! In honor of September being National Save Your Photos Month, we’re here with some tips to keep your favorite images safe.

Tips to Backup Your Digital Photos

  • Back up your digital photos on a regular basis to a jump drive.  Once the images are off your phone or camera, store them on your home computer or laptop, as well as a dedicated portable external hard drive. You can even use cloud storage to save your photos (more on that in a moment). Ideally, it’s a good strategy to have at least 3 digital copies of your most important photos saved on different devices.
  • Display and share your favorites!  Don’t cage your memories to a digital file or a shoebox… print them out and put them in a frame! Our mat board frames are an affordable option to show off your favorite prints at work or at home.
  • Organize and tag those images. Include dates, names, ages and locations on your prints and pictures.  Ask your family members about old photos now before the information is lost, and jot down notes on a notecard to place behind the photo.
  • Scan prints and old family photos. Paper and ink are not forever, so be sure to get some nice quality digital scans of your vintage prints and old family photos, and back them up!

Tools to Organize and Store Digital Photos

If you’ve got your photos backed up, but are struggling with how to find and organize them, these tools can help.

Adobe Photoshop Elements

This program is easy and fast to use.  Definitely worth the investment to ensure you can find those precious memories in the future.

Google Cloud Storage

Google Drive or Google Photos both offer free, secure cloud storage for your digital photos. If you max out the initial 15 GB of free storage that comes with your Google account, you can upgrade your storage plan for a monthly or annual fee.

For more tips on organizing your digital photos, visit here.

Fun Ways to Make Your Photos Go Further:

Custom photo ornaments
  • Make 4″ x 6″ photo greeting cards for holidays, birthdays, or thank you cards
  • Make an album or scrapbook from your recent trip
  • Use photo booth prints as giveaways and party favors at events
  • Make a custom calendar with your photos
  • Order a photo mug, photo coasters, art print, or personalized photo ornaments for holiday gifts

It’s easy to let our images sit on our phones or our computers without backing them up, or printing our favorites. But we’re taking more pictures than ever—an estimated  657 billion photos per year, according to Mary Meeker’s annual Internet Trends report. Back up your photos today to ensure you can share your favorite photo memories for years to come.

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Leverage the Power of Referrals to Grow Your Photo Booth Business

Want to grow your photo booth business without spending an arm and a leg on advertising? Referrals are the key. Here are a few tips to get more referrals:

1. Do a memorable job—every single time.

This means consistently delivering great communication, being prepared with backup equipment should a printer or camera fail, and delivering above and beyond what you promise. Put on consistently amazing events, and people will take note. When people have a great time at their wedding, party, or special event, they talk about it. Referrals from happy guests are the best way to build your photo booth, DJ, or event entertainment business organically.

2. Make the client and the guests feel special.

Take time to get to know your clients as best you can before the event. Your job as a photographer, DJ, or photo booth operator is to make sure your clients have a blast at every gig they hire you for. You’re there to help them create great memories. Throw in some fun surprises like unique props and signs (and custom photo folders) that will WOW them!

That’s a big responsibility– but we’re here to help. Custom photo folders and frames are an affordable way to exceed your client’s expectations. We’ll help you design the perfect photo holder to match the event theme. Surprise your clients with the folders as a complimentary value-add, or use them as an upsell to help you grow your bottom line after you’ve booked the event.

3. Ask for the referral.

After you’ve pulled off a great event, and you’re sure your client is happy, snail mail them a fun photo from the event inside a photo folder with a signed thank you note.  Add a P.S. line asking if they have any friends or co-workers planning an event that would be a good fit for your services. Let them know that it would mean a lot if they’d refer you to their friends and family.

4. Add your logo & contact info to your photo booth giveaways.

Add this to the back of each custom photo folder (free of charge on our printed designs), and you have an instant referral piece that goes home with every single guest. It’s a business card that sticks around. When they remember how much fun they had at the event, they’ll want to book your services for their next celebration, too. 

What are some other ways you’ve had success with getting referrals? We’d love to hear what works for you and your photo booth business. Leave us a comment below, or share with us on Facebook!

Use Custom Photo Folders For:

  • Halloween Events
  • School Field Trips
  • Banquets and Galas
  • Sporting Events
  • Corporate Events
  • Weddings
  • Fundraisers
  • Golf Outings
  • Prom & Homecoming
  • Bar & Bat Mitzvahs
  • Conferences & Trade Shows
  • Christmas & Holiday Parties
  • Anniversaries & Reunions
  • Baptism & First Communion
  • Birthday Parties
  • Graduation
  • School PTA Events
  • Pet Adoption Events
A collection of 2 by 6 photo booth folders lay on a table, each with event branding and logos

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How to Sell Custom Photo Folders to the Wedding Market

Photo Booth Owners: want to grow your bottom line? Add custom photo folders to your event packages! They’re a great upsell and make affordable, personalized party favors. They also protect your prints!

In this video, we chat about how to sell Studio Style photo folders to brides and the wedding market.  We came back from the 2017 Photo Booth Expo last month, and wanted to address a question we heard from some photo booth owners: “Now that we have our photo folder sample kits, how do we sell these to our customers?”

Here are some of the big takeaways:

  1. Chat with your bride about her theme. Mention that you can offer custom photo folders to match the colors and style of the wedding.
  2. Photo folders protect the prints. Slip the prints inside to keep them safe from fingerprints, creases, and food/drink spills.
  3. Pitch the photo folders as inexpensive party favors. This ensures that all guests get a nice personalized keepsake to take home.
  4. Our designs are fully customizable. Change the colors, the text, or add a special message from the bride and groom.
  5. Offer a discount when they book. As a photo booth owner or photographer, you get wholesale pricing, so you can use these as an incentive to get brides to book with you, or offer them at a special price to thank them for choosing your photo booth service.
  6. Quick turnaround time (7-10 business days for production). Assure the bride that you’ll gather all of the details she wants to be printed on the folders, and you’ll take care of the ordering process for her.
  7. Get to know our themed designs. You can use our product photos on your website and in your marketing materials to showcase. Have samples on hand to show your prospective clients, and let them feel the quality and durability of the cardstock first-hand.
  8. Call us at (800) 346-3063 or chat with us online at StudioStyle.com if you have any questions, or are ready to order!
White portrait folder with gold foil wedding imprint
Shown: Horizontal White Portrait Folder (with personalization)

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Photographer Spotlight: Melanie Taylor | Tips for Beautiful Event Photography

Melanie Taylor is a photographer who’s passionate about capturing stories on camera. She specializes primarily in event photography, but her talents and experience also span commercial and residential photography, candid and portrait photography, wedding photography, photojournalism,  styled interior architectural photography, and beyond. We sat down with Melanie to pick her brain about what it takes to be a successful professional photographer. We’re excited to share her tips and tricks learned over her 20+ years of experience with you!

Tell me about your journey to becoming a freelance photographer. 

I started shooting in high school. It was back in the days of wet labs and film. My first camera was a Canon AE1 with a 50mm 1.8. I had a big crush on Georgia O’Keeffe and my early work had a lot of flowers. When I started incorporating people, I loved it. I’ve never been much with a brush and paper, so photography gave me creative freedom. I put in years and years of wedding photography for bigger companies before I was comfortable shooting on my own. I got to mentor under lots of different photographers as a second shooter and with that experience, you start to see how to work on the fly.

Bridal portrait by Melanie Taylor Photography

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as a photographer?

It’s as much about the images as it is about how you make someone feel about themselves. I once worked with a wedding photographer who had a really big, over the top personality.  He’d exude positivity and enthusiasm, and knew exactly how to make people feel confident and relaxed. He’d be shooting a bride and groom and he’d say  “OH MY GOD– these look so good, you look so amazing,” and just kept the praise going. He did it so well that they believed it, and they felt more confident all day, without even seeing the shots he’d taken.  Half of it is making someone feel like they look really good, and then they’re going to do better for you during the shoot. I tried to absorb that and it’s definitely one of my stronger aspects.

I’ve photographed a lot of families – and sometimes the men can get weird and awkward.  They do this tense smile, and turtle themselves (rigid shoulders and neck) so it’s really important to help them relax and get them into a more natural pose, with the shoulders out, neck back, and a slight turn of the head.  To help them feel more comfortable, it sometimes helps to touch them gently and give them eye contact, which boosts their confidence. Don’t be afraid to say, “You look so good!” and tell them how beautiful their wife and children are. Bring some jokes into it, softly feel out their interests. 95% of the time it’s the women who are booking the shoot, so it’s helpful to quiz them a little bit. Ask what her husband is into, take note of any special interests, ask about his cars, favorite sports, just to have something to talk about.  “Oh, I hear you have this really big truck,” you say — then you can see when someone cracks and you break past that uncomfortable barrier.

Fireworks photo by Melanie Taylor Photography

What’s your favorite subject matter to photograph and why?

I really enjoy photographing events and the people enjoying them. It’s super rewarding to see people interacting and capture their feelings toward each other and the space where it’s all taking place. My favorite event last year was the 4th of July celebration at Rolling Green Country Club. So many happy people, amazing food, beautiful decor, and a huge firework display!

What’s the biggest challenge you face as a professional photographer?

It can be a highly competitive field. I’m very fortunate to be part of the Happy Tog group. They are like minded photographers who enjoy sharing knowledge and resources. With wedding photography, the biggest challenge is usually managing the client’s expectations and talking them down from anything that’s unrealistic.

Bride and groom sitting in front of a lush green background. Photo by Melanie Taylor Photography.

How do you prepare for a wedding shoot? Any rituals or special techniques to get to know the bride and groom beforehand?

When a couple inquires about a wedding, we always meet for coffee first. I want to get to know who they are and if we are a good match. We usually hang for an hour and talk about their priorities for the day. If they have a Pinterest board already, we look at it together. About a month before the date we spend another hour on the phone talking about the timeline and what are realistic expectations within it. The week before the wedding, we confirm addresses. On the wedding day, we relax and have fun!

Any advice for other photographers just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?

Find good mentors and DON’T work for free! There’s nothing like tons of experience to make you better. Just putting those hours under your belt will help you learn to work on the fly and adapt to the environment.

Engagement photo of man proposing to woman. Man is kneeling in moving water while woman stands against a colorful graffiti wall.

Can you tell me about the most fun photo shoot you’ve ever done? 

Last fall I had the opportunity to take pictures for an engagement. We had so many rainy weekends in a row that scheduling had been a problem. Finally, we had a 2-hour window on a Saturday morning. We tromped through the woods to a spot that had some colorful graffiti I had scouted earlier in the year. Well…now there was a raging stream halfway into it due to the rains. It was unexpected and I have to hand it to the guy, he kneeled down right in it and proposed. The water soaked his pants and shoes and made for an amazing image. It was so beautiful, I couldn’t help but let a couple tears flow!

How do you market your photography business? Can you talk about your social media strategy and what works to secure new clients?

I have my website, MelClicks.com (currently under construction). I use social media to tag photos of my clients, and request if they post that they also tag me. I also tag the venue in my posts which helps me build great relationships with the facility coordinators and gives the venue some exposure, too. I find that sharing amazing GIF images works really well for high engagement on social media! Posts with just text, not so much. Jimdo is my website provider and it’s been eye-opening watching the flow of traffic and that 99% of the time it’s being viewed on a mobile device. As always, the best advertising is referrals from former clients.

Woman in a red dress next to a man with a guitar. They are standing with the setting sun behind their backs.

How do you stay inspired?

I stay creative by being involved with the local photo community. Sometimes it’s a photo shoot that has nothing to do with my genre that gives me a burst of new ideas. Sure it can be tough to walk into an event where you might not know anyone, but the payoff can be a great new contact!

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