Category: Ideas For Your Business

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.

Emoji Photo Box print with the Very Hungry Caterpillar themed design

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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10 New Year’s Resolutions for Photographers

Published December 28, 2015

As the new year approaches, you may find yourself contemplating the past year, reflecting on your accomplishments as a photographer, and thinking ahead to how you can boost your photography business in the New Year. StudioStyle.com is here to offer up a few New Year’s resolutions for Photographers. Make next year the year you set goals to improve your photography, and distinguish yourself amongst your competition!

1. Define Your Strengths and Weaknesses.

Take a step back and think about the past year. Where did you excel with your photography? Where did you feel you could have done better? Now make a written list of 5 strengths, and 5 weaknesses. Are you great at delivering beautiful photos to clients in a timely fashion, but not so great at pulling in consistent gigs? Maybe you’ve got a knack for marketing yourself, but are struggling with your digital file organization. Writing out a list of a few things you excel at and a few things you could improve upon will help you plan your goals.

2. Networking & Prospecting.

Always think about where you can make connections. If you’re trying to drum up some more business, get in touch with past clients. Referrals are the easiest way to bring in new customers. Stay in touch with them on social media or send greeting cards to remind them of your services.

Many people prefer to hire someone they know for an engagement or family photo shoot. Ask other photographers you know for advice. Find local photography and freelance groups on social media to engage with. Offer your own advice, ask for feedback, or set up an online or in person critique among photography friends.

3. Show your Photography Locally.

Many schools and communities host local art fairs and shows throughout the year to showcase local artists. Consider renting a booth or some gallery space to display or even sell some of your work to the public. This will allow you to make connections within your community and practice your pitch.

Be sure to join your local Facebook community group. There is always someone looking for senior portraits, newborn photos, wedding portraits… you get the idea. It’s an easy way to get your name out in your community.

If you’re a nature photographer, we have some tips on getting your photography seen—within your community and beyond.

4. Attend a Photography Trade Show or Expo.

Try to make it out to at least one convention or trade show this year. It’s beneficial to see what’s hot in the industry, observe new gadgets and trends, and get new ideas for ways to market yourself and your work.

Don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new, and get ideas from what other successful photographers are doing. Most expos have a handful of workshops and well-known speakers in attendance, so there is always something to learn.

Top Photography Expos:

5. Branding Refresh.

To best decide if your photography business needs a brand refresh, go through this list of questions:

Have you developed a cohesive brand and marketing strategy for your photography?
How does your logo reflect your style and image?
What about a tagline?
Can you put your brand essence into words—in two sentences or less? Once you have it written out, make sure you practice your elevator pitch.
How would you market yourself to an audience of potential clients?
What does your photography do? What feelings and emotions does it invoke?
What elements do you focus on in the moments that you capture with your photography?

If your head isn’t spinning yet, get some helpful photography branding tips.

6. Update Your Website.

If your photography website is outdated, or if you don’t have one yet, you’re missing out on a lot of potential business. A quality portfolio is a must have for any serious photographer. A website is the best place to showcase your talents and get found by new customers.

Use your website to highlight your work, tell your stories, and tie in your branding elements. You can also use your website to collect leads for customers and host a preview of your clients’ photos. Whether you’re a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, sports, nature, fine art, or abstract photographer, a clean, well optimized website will make all the difference in your business.

7. Take Charge of Your Social Media Presence.

Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are great top social media outlets for photographers to engage with their fans and get their work seen. Another great platform for photographers is 500px.com, which allows photographers to “showcase their work, license amazing photos, and stay inspired.”

These platforms are highly visual and allow for great content sharing. Don’t forget about Twitter and Pinterest, they are also great platforms to share your photography and get others to share it too. Make use of relevant hashtags and tagging to help users find your work, and use these platforms to connect with other like-minded photo professionals.

8. Brush up on Your Editing Skills.

You want to put your best photos out into the world, right? Even if you’ve mastered the craft of composing the best shots, you’ll have some that just won’t make the cut. You need to narrow down the top photographs that showcase your talent for you clients and your portfolio. After the shoot, do an initial quick edit and sweep to determine which photos to put the final touches on. Then, take some time away from the photos and revisit them a day or two later for a fresh viewpoint. This will allow your brain to refresh and hone in on the details you may have missed the first time.

9. Plan a Passion Project.

While getting booked for more paid shoots is great, it’s also important to keep your passion for the craft of photography alive.

Plan a project for you—not for money. Is there a story you’ve been dying to tell with your photos? Maybe you usually do portrait photography, but have had an itch to start a nature photography blog for fun. Think about what first got you interested in photography, and why you chose to make it your profession, and make this the year you revive your passion with a photo project that fulfills your creative aspiration.

10. Organize Your files + Backup Your Photos!

This might not be the most fun photography resolution, but it is an important one that will make your new year feel less hectic, and more organized.

Here’s our best advice: set a consistent file naming method that includes the date and name of the client or project, and keep photos organized in separate folders by month and year. Most file import programs allow for bulk file renaming, so you don’t have to waste time doing this manually.

Invest in an external hard drive or cloud service for backups and keeping archived photos to free up space on your main device. Be sure to do backups on a regular basis—don’t want to lose your work!

Best wishes for you and your photography in the new year! We look forward to helping you present your photographs with our full line of personalized photo folders, photo cards, photo frames, and cello bags in the New Year.

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.

Cardboard Photo Frames For VBS: An affordable, practical, colorful way to present kids’ photos

Published July 1, 2011

Looking for an idea to connect with families after vacation bible school (VBS) ends? Paper and cardboard photo frames are a fun and effective outreach tool.

Why?

Because VBS participants can all get their photo packaged safe and sound in a frame or photo folder, and it’s an opportunity to say something else. You can reinforce the event theme, add a slogan, or even a Bible verse.

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

Colorful photo folder frame for vacation bible school sitting on a picnic table — Photo folders and paper picture frames are a budget-friendly way to help campers remember their VBS memories. A great gift for campers—or mom, dad, or grandparents! Shown: Custom Printed Photo Folder for a horizontal 4×6 photo.

What kind of VBS photos go in a photo holder?

Some camps set up a photo booth station (some VBS organizers use Instax cameras for this)
Photos of kids at craft stations
Group photos—either with teams, or if there are many different churches involved, with other kids from their church
A large group photo of everyone from camp

How to personalize photo holders for VBS

If you choose to order custom printed photo folders or personalized cardboard picture frames, add your event logo or graphics, along with some text. Consider adding a line like one of these to your custom VBS paper frames:

Look at how much fun you had at VBS!
Glad you came, we hope that you and your family will be back for more fun activities!
I feel blessed at VBS
Incorporate your theme, like “I had fun at {theme}”

Don’t forget to include ways to keep in touch, like social media icons, a website address, or even info on upcoming programs.

Make it an activity: DIY VBS picture frames

Want to make your own frames at VBS? That’s easy with inexpensive paper picture frames.

Cardboard photo frames are easy to work with, and you can use just about any craft material on them: markers, pens, stickers, washi tape, and stencils. We don’t recommend painting paper frames because the frames might curl and warp from the paint.

Oh, and you can use glitter, too… if you’re feeling brave.

What to do if you’re short on time but still want custom VBS frames

Order blank photo folders and add a sticker to the front cover.
Check out these double-sided folders. Simply slide a print-out with your event logo into one side of the frame. The other side is left open for frame your photo from vacation bible school.
We have a red carpet themed design that is in stock and ready to ship!

When to hand out VBS picture frames

You have two options: hand them out at the event, or mail them to participants after the event is over.

If you choose to hand the photo holders out at the event, you’ll want to either have a photo printer on-site, or have someone send the photos to a printer early enough so you have the photos back before the end of the camp.

If you choose to mail them to participants after the event is over, be sure to order envelopes for your folders or frames. It is important to note that some photo folders and frames will be larger than first-class mail size limits, so keep this in mind if you choose this route.

Need Cardboard Picture Frames for Vacation Bible School? We can help.

White and gray cardboard picture frames with church imprint in gold foil — We make photo folders and cardboard picture frames for all kinds of church activities and events.

With hundreds of affordable photo folder and picture frame options, we’re sure we can find one to suit your needs. Whether you need a 4″ x 6″ folder, 5″ x 7″ frame, blank photo holder, or a ready-to-ship photo event folder, we have options for everyone—and every budget.

Start shopping, contact us, or call us at (800) 346-3063.

We’d love to work with you to create the perfect cardboard or paper picture frames for your VBS or other church event.

How to Sell Your Nature Photography

Published June 15, 2011

Make money doing what you love by selling greeting cards of your photography.

Taking photos of nature and wildlife is a passion for outdoor enthusiasts. Nature photographers spend hours at parks composing beautifully proportioned images of landscapes or taking crisply detailed macro shots of a single flower.

Some are fortunate enough to work for National Geographic or have thriving careers in the photography industry. For many others photography is a hobby.

How do you take your hobby to the next level and make an income stream from it? An easy way to get started is by selling photo insert cards. It’s easier than you think to make nature picture cards, and we’ll show you how.

Recycled black and natural flax photo insert cards for nature photographs — Examples of nature photo cards. Blank greeting cards with a “picture frame” style front cover make it easy to insert your own photographs. Shown: Black insert photo card and Natural Flax insert photo card.

How to make nature photo cards

Select Your Best Photos & Make Prints. Take inventory of your photo collection and narrow it down to just a few of your strongest images. Make prints (usually 4″ x 6″) of these photos.
Assemble The Cards. With pocket-style photo insert cards, the front cover has a window opening to slide your photo in. This makes it easy to create instant photo greeting cards, and if you change your mind, you can remove the photo without damaging the image or card. Something to keep in mind: how much of the photo are you ok with being covered up by the window frame edge? Simplicity photo insert cards from Studio Style have a 3-½” x 5-½” window opening, so ¼” of your photo edges would be covered up when inserted into the card.
Add Your Personal Touch. Don’t forget to include your name, web address, and the title of your photo and location. Some photographers like to handwrite this on the window border or back of the card, some create printed labels to stick on the back, while others choose to have us foil stamp their cards for a truly professional look.
Consider Product Packaging. While not necessary, it is a good idea to insert your cards into a clear cellophane sleeve to protect it from fingerprints and moisture. Place cards in a bin, basket, or box at the front of your booth or by the cash register.

Cards with photo insert for nature photography — Photo frame cards are perfect for wildlife and scenic photography alike. Shown: Desert Storm and Navy Blue.

Where to sell your nature photo cards

Parks & Forests. A great place to sell photo cards is within gift shops at parks and tourist areas. Many larger parks and wildlife areas have gift shops on site to sell souvenir pins, walking stick medallions, iron-on patches, ornaments, commemorative pins, and other souvenir items. Greeting cards of photographs taken at the park are the perfect compliment to these other items! Visitors love to take home visual reminders of places they’ve been.
Local History Museums. An often overlooked place is your local history museum. People visit museums to learn more about specific regions, so selling cards featuring photos of that area is a natural fit.
Tourist Areas. There is great opportunity to sell your photographs to tourists visiting your area. Take photos of the natural surroundings in town, perhaps even expand into local architecture & landmark photography. We’ve seen photo cards at coffee houses, fudge shops, ice cream parlors, flower shops, apple and pumpkin farms, and general gift shops. Photo cards also do great when merchandised at the front counter of locally owned restaurants that require you to pay at the cash register.
Farmer’s Markets. Setting up a booth in a farmer’s market is a great way to meet new people, sell your cards and get fresh air all at the same time. If running your own booth is too much work or money, see if another vendor would be willing to partner with you. For instance, selling cards at a booth that also sells fresh cut flowers or handmade gifts is a smart idea.
Art Fairs. If you are already selling larger prints, why not offer some smaller gifts as well? Your photo cards are at a price point that most art fair goers will gladly pay for. Be sure to include your studio logo and website info to lead them back to your online shop for your larger prints.
Food Co-ops. While it might seem an unlikely place, it’s worth checking into your local food cooperative. While some are strictly member-only, stores that are open to the public often sell work from local artists and photographers.
Etsy.com. Etsy offers photographers a place to easily sell their photo cards and reach a wide audience. Try setting up your own Etsy shop and promote it with your blog, website, or Facebook page.

Sell your art and advertise your business with custom foil imprinting. Shown: gold foil on Black insert photo card.

Marketing & selling tips for nature photo cards

Advertise your business. Studio Style offers foil imprinted personalized on all of our cards with photo insert. Take advantage of this by adding your studio name and website to the back of each card.
Display Your Goods. For offline (in-store) sales, in most cases you’ll be responsible for your own card display. This can be as simple as a basket filled with your cards or a wire greeting card display rack.
Welcome & Inform With Signage. Try creating a sign with the name of your photography business, price and a short bio. Make it personable by including a photo of yourself. Any little bit of information can help make a connection between you & the customer. If selling to a local market or if your work has been acknowledged, make that a selling point. Example: “Martha Williamson – Award Winning Local Photographer”
Take Photos of Your Cards. For selling online, you’ll need crisp and attractive photos of your cards. Set aside an afternoon to do a product photo shoot. Optimize your images in Photoshop using the “Save for web” feature to create quick-loading optimized images.
Determine Your Selling Price. Do other photographers in your area also sell cards? Do some research and find out what they are charging and price yours accordingly. Generally speaking, you can easily sell cards in most markets at a price point between $5-$8 per card. Buying your insert frame cards and prints in bulk can help cut costs and keep more money in your pocket.
Think Seasonal. In most parts of the world, nature changes with each season. Varying your photo card selection by season will keep your work fresh and current. Don’t forget the time of year people send the most cards – Christmas! Create seasonal winter and holiday theme cards and make these available starting in early November.
Be Patient & Positive. Like with any new adventure, results can take time. Don’t become frustrated if your cards don’t sell right away, give it time. If your cards still are not selling, evaluate your photo choices, selling location and marketing efforts. Make adjustments and keep a positive attitude!

Recycled Photo Insert Cards | Made in the USA by Studio Style — Black and white nature photos look great in any color of frame card. Shown: Gold foil on Mint Green (discontinued).

Want to learn more about photo insert cards from Studio Style?

Selling photo art greeting cards is a great way to make extra money, express your creativity and gain exposure of your photography. Browse Studio Style’s collection of photo frame cards, including many that are made of recycled paper.

We have even more selling tips, marketing ideas, and pricing strategies for selling photo frame cards. Interested in selling photo holder cards for your photo studio or business? Learn how to sell photo greeting cards on our wholesale photo insert card resources page.

Watch this short how-to video to see how easy it is to use our photo frame cards and how you can personalize them.

Related: Don’t forget that June 15th is Nature Photography Day!

Do you have any photo card selling tips or ideas? Feel free to share your experience in the comments below!

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