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Big News: NowCandid's Capture App Version 4.0 is Here! ๐ŸŒŸ

Big News: NowCandid's Capture App Version 4.0 is Here! ๐ŸŒŸ

๐ŸŒŸ Big News: NowCandid Capture &ย Upload App Version 4.0 is Here! ๐ŸŒŸ

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Hey there, amazing photographers! Candy here with some exciting news โ€“ the NowCandid Capture &ย Upload App Version 4.0 is live! ๐ŸŽ‰

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This is a big update packed with new features, performance improvements, and UI enhancements to make your photo-taking experience even smoother.

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Test Your Setup ๐Ÿงช๐Ÿ“ฒ

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But first things first: itโ€™s crucial to test the new app version on your setup well before your next event. This ensures there are no issues with your particular combination of equipment and settings, and we have time to help troubleshoot any problems that may arise. ๐Ÿ“ธโœจ

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Before diving into the new features, make sure to test the updated app on your usual tablet/phone and camera setup. Doing this well ahead of your next event ensures everything runs smoothly, and you'll have time to address any potential issues. This proactive step is key to a successful and stress-free event. ๐Ÿš€
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New Features for both iOS &ย Windows๐ŸŒŸ

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Check out the fantastic new features designed to enhance your user experience:

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  • Dark OLED Theme: This new theme on the info page will help save battery life on OLED devices โ€“ up to 42% less power consumption at max brightness!
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  • Advanced Participant Search: Now you can search for participants by email or phone in addition to name.
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  • Custom Offer Positive ID Events: Weโ€™ve added app support for new Custom Offer Events.
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  • Toast System: Added a toast system to display error messages and other notifications promptly, without disrupting your workflow with pop-ups.

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Windows and iOS Specific Updates ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ’ป

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Windows:

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  • New Engine: Uses a new engine behind the scenes for better performance.

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iOS:

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These awesome new features, for the foreseeable future, will only be available on iOS (iPhone &ย iPad) and may come to Windows devices as well later on.

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  • Pre-Highlighted Faces: Automatically detect and highlight faces on the app, and Tap-A-Face will use the center of detected faces for accuracy - no more missed taps!
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  • Notifications: The app can now push important notifications to your device, and all notifications auto-dismiss when the app is opened.
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  • Nikon Camera Support: Image review is enabled while tethered if image review is enabled on the camera.
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  • Upload Reminders: Get notified if you still have images left to upload when the app goes into the background of your device.
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  • Enhanced Tap-A-Face: Shows selected face in email/number/name popups, helping ensure the correct face is chosen (so subjects can easily notice if they tapped the wrong face before entering their info).
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  • iOS 18 Support: Full support for the latest iOS version.
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  • UI Improvements: Fixed issues with group photo labels, brought back borders for selected images, and added workflow icons in event dropdowns for more Event Selection clarity.

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Performance Enhancements โšก๏ธ

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Version 4.0 is loaded with behind-the-scenes magic to boost performance and efficiency:

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  • More Efficient: Weโ€™ve completely redone a variety of app systems to enhance speed and reliability.
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  • Instant Updates: Header stats and image gallery statuses update even quicker now.
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  • Improved Filtering and UI Interactions: Enjoy much faster image gallery filtering and quicker UI interactions.

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UI Enhancements ๐ŸŽจ

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Weโ€™ve made numerous UI improvements to make your experience more enjoyable:

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  • Tap-A-Face UI: Tap-A-Faces are now cyan instead of yellow, and will zoom/scale based on image scroll/zoom for a more intuitive and smooth experience.
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  • Dark Mode Tweaks: Dark dropdowns, input fields, and more cyan text for a sleek look.
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  • Refined Controls: Checkmark & X symbols instead of yes/no for service indicators, updated image gallery UI, and improved secondary/cancel buttons.
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  • Improved Email Input: Email inputs now include space, dot, and @ on the keyboard for easier entry when collecting email addresses via the app.

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Thank you for being incredible users of NowCandid. Your feedback drives these improvements, and weโ€™re excited to see how version 4.0 enhances your photography business. ๐ŸŒŸ

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Cheers and sparkles,

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Candy ๐Ÿฌ

Related articles

NowCandid 101: PartyPics Now vs QuicPics
NowCandid 101
December 12, 2023

NowCandid 101: PartyPics Now vs QuicPics

9
ย minutes read
Hey there, it's Candy, your guide to the world of NowCandid!

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Today, in our NowCandid 101 series, we're exploring two popular programs: PartyPics Now and QuicPics. Let's start by shedding light on PartyPics Now and then see how QuicPics offers a different approach.

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PartyPics Now: A Sales-Focused Approach

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  • Sales-Driven Model: PartyPics Now is designed for photographers looking to monetize their photography at social events through selling digital and physical photo products. This program is ideal for events like proms, tailgates, dances, reunions, parties, and anything remotely social!

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  • Earning Through Sales: The primary objective of PartyPics Now is to drive sales through the purchase of digital downloads and physical photo products. Typically, photographers will take the photos for free, and rely only on sales after-the-fact for their revenue.

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  • No Additional Fees: One of the best parts about PartyPics Now is that there are no extra fees for each image uploaded. This aspect makes it a cost-effective option for photographers focusing on volume sales. We only make money when you make money, making it easy to make a profit.

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QuicPics: A Service-Oriented Model

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  • Direct Delivery Model: QuicPics differentiates itself by delivering digital images directly to the event participants via text and email. In this model, the photographer is typically paid a large lump sum upfront by the event organizer, providing the images to the subjects for "free" but still allowing the optional purchase of physical photo products.

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  • Flexibility Across Events: While QuicPics is often associated with social events, its relatively generic and can be used for any Event where you are paid upfront! Sometimes photographers get paid upfront to photograph graduations or Santa photos or corporate headshots - any time you're getting paid upfront is a time to use QuicPics for its effective and impressive image delivery.

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  • Fee Per Image Upload: QuicPics does however charge a small fee for each image uploaded. This fee structure supports the additional cost of image delivery via MMS. Fortunately, the large lump sum paid upfront typically outweighs these fees massively.

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  • Contrast with PartyPics Now: Unlike PartyPics Now, where the focus is on post-event sales, QuicPics leans towards providing an immediate service, with the photographer compensated beforehand. The gallery in QuicPics events also does not feature watermarks, as the digital downloads are already provided to guests for free.

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Wrapping It Up:

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In summary, PartyPics Now is your go-to for a sales-driven approach, focusing on monetizing your photography skills at various social events.

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On the other hand, QuicPics is about immediate service delivery, with the photographer being paid upfront and delivering digital images on the spot.

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Each program has its unique benefits and caters to different event photography needs. Choosing the right one depends on your business model and event type.

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Does a school not have the budget to hire you for a prom?ย Photograph it for free, and rely on sales to make your money.

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Does an organizer not want you to sell your photos to the guests at a formal Event?ย Have them pay you upfront, and provide free, quick digital downloads to the attendees as a service.

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As always, if you're unsure or need more guidance, I'm here to help!

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Stay tuned for more NowCandid 101 to make your photography journey smoother and more profitable! ๐Ÿ“ธ๐ŸŒˆ

New Orleans Event Photography: Social Sales Up 60%
Success Stories
December 6, 2023

New Orleans Event Photography: Social Sales Up 60%

7
ย minutes read

New Orleans Event Photography, led by the dynamic duo of Amy Lombardo and Brian Junod, has had quite the success at a recent social Event!

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Though they had successfully covered this annual social Event in 2022, their experience and preparation, combined with NowCandid's improvements over the past year, led to over a 60% increase in sales covering the same Event in 2023.

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Left: Amy Lombardo ย ย ย ย Right: Brian Junod

The Backstory

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New Orleans Event Photography embarked on their NowCandid journey just a week before covering the same annual social event in 2022.

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Despite the brief preparation period, they managed to prepare Microsoft Surface Go tablets to utilize NowCandidโ€™s Tap-A-Face, connected to the internet via LTE hotspot, to generate over $15,000 in sales. Typically, devices with LTE built-in are highly recommended, but in a pinch, an LTE hotspot works!

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This impressive feat marked just the beginning of their journey with NowCandid! Their 2023 results were even more impressive.

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Elevating Sales through Education and Experience

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Building on their initial success, the team sought to deepen their understanding of NowCandid's capabilities through workshops and mentorships. This proactive approach was key to their remarkable 60% sales increase.

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"With the mentorships and workshops we have done over the past year, we have grown the sales of the same event over 60%," they reported. This educational commitment catapulted their sales from over $15,000 in 2022 to over $25,000 in 2023.

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It's worth mentioning that their profit (before paying their photographers & crew) was well over $20,000. An almost 83% profit margin! Not bad for an Event where they were only taking photos for 5 hours.

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What were some of the lessons learned through workshops and mentorships?ย 

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Putting some of the more nuanced lessons aside, the basics were: more photographers, more images taken, using LTE-enabled tablets, and knowing when and how to utilize Selfie Check-In.

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While in 2022 New Orleans Event Photography had 4-5 photographers at the Event, in 2023 they had 7 photographers in total, with approximately 7 additional crew members there for support.

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Additional photographers allowed a significant increase in poses and images taken, while the additional crew streamlined the Event and allowed them to garner hundreds of Selfie Check-Ins as attendees arrived at the Event. Amy &ย Brian could not have succeeded at this Event without the help of their awesome photographers and crew!

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By having additional crew present to acquire Selfie Check-Ins, the photographers did not need to spend as much time on tapping faces (though there were still plenty of Tap-A-Face entries at their Event as well) allowing them time to take even more images.

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What New Orleans Event Photography Liked Most About NowCandid:

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Focusing on the Photography

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โ€One of the standout features that Amy and Brian emphasized was the ability of NowCandid to simplify the complexities of the photo sales process. This allowed them and their team to concentrate fully on their photography and increasing their volume.

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"It is nice to be able to just focus on the photography aspect knowing that the sales, marketing, and technical features are being handled by NowCandid," they shared. This focus on photography ensured thorough and professional coverage of the event, enhancing the overall customer experience.

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Ease of Use and Customer Satisfaction

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The intuitive nature of NowCandid played a significant role in streamlining their workflow and enhancing customer satisfaction.

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"Our customers have loved the experience of instantly receiving their photo proofs and being able to order on the spot," Amy & Brian noted. Instant gallery delivery not only simplified the process for the photographers, but also delighted their clients.

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Responsive Improvements and Growth

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Over the past year, New Orleans Event Photography witnessed firsthand the evolution of NowCandid's Capture & Upload app.

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"The NowCandid crew listens to feedback and has vastly improved the application since we first used it a year ago," they acknowledged. This responsiveness to user feedback demonstrates NowCandidโ€™s commitment to continuous improvement, aligning with the evolving needs of professional photographers.

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The story of New Orleans Event Photography and NowCandid is one of collaboration, innovation, and remarkable growth.

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Their journey showcases how the right tools, combined with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction, can lead to exceptional outcomes in event photography.

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NowCandid 101: The Capture & Upload App
NowCandid 101
December 5, 2023

NowCandid 101: The Capture & Upload App

8
ย minutes read
Capture &ย Upload Quick Bullet Points:

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Hello there photo wizards, Candy here! ๐Ÿ“ธ

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It's time for another session of NowCandid 101. Today, we're diving into the Capture & Upload app. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the NowCandid universe, understanding this tool is key to utilizing NowCandid effectively.

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โ€The Two Primary Functions of the Capture & Upload App:

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Tethering and Uploading:
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  • The device running the Capture & Upload app tethers to your Nikon, Sony, or Canon cameras.
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  • Images are uploaded to the cloud as you take photos, ready for immediate marketing and sales. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ซ
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  • This not only boosts sales, but also cuts down on post-event workload, and enhances your customer experience.
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Workflow Wizardry:
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  • The app is the backbone of specific NowCandid Workflows like Tap-A-Face, Scanner ID, Name Lookup, or Type & Take.
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  • It pairs photos with your subjects, ensuring every photo finds its way to the right phone or inbox, right away. ๐Ÿ“ฒ
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Platform Availability and Recommendations:

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  • You can find the app on both Apple and Microsoft App Stores.
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  • Whether a Microsoft Surface Go 3, or an Apple 10th Generation iPad, the app functionality is essentially the same - though the Apple experience may be a bit more consistent.
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  • Compatible with iPads, iPhones, and Windows tablets (like the trusty Surface Go 3).
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  • A pro tip: Opt for an LTE-enabled device to stay connected and upload images in real-time, saving you from poor venue WiFi quality and troublesome WiFi hotspots. ๐ŸŒโœจ

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Optional but Optimal for Selfie Check-In:

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  • Using the Selfie Check-In Workflow? The app here is optional but highly recommended.
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  • It allows for live-uploading, adding an extra layer of efficiency. However, you can also choose to upload images post-event using the NowCandid Web Dashboard. Once uploaded, images match with Selfies and begin marketing right away.

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โ€In the dynamic world of event photography, staying ahead is all about using the right tools effectively.

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The Capture & Upload app is one such tool, designed to make your work easier, faster, and more profitable. So why wait? Embrace the future of photography with NowCandidโ€™s Capture & Upload app, and watch your business soar! ๐Ÿš€๐ŸŒŸ

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That's it for today's NowCandid 101. Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and insights to keep your photography business on the cutting edge. Links to view the app store pages for each version of the app can be found below:

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Download the App (Windows)

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โ€โ€Download the App (Apple iOS)

Letโ€™s get in touch

If youโ€™re a photographer looking to add NowCandid services to your wheelhouse โ€“ set up a call by clicking the button below.

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How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text
How to customize formatting for each rich text

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Whatโ€™s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

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