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Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!📸🎉

Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!📸🎉
Hello, wonderful photographers!

Candy here, bringing you the first edition of our Recap series! 🌟

This blog post will cover alllllll of September's new features and changes worth mentioning! But going forward, we will be doing Weekly Recaps to keep you in the loop even faster.

We've been busy bees these past few weeks, and I can't wait to share all the fantastic new features and improvements we've made to help you shine even brighter. ✨

Psst... since this is our inaugural recap, we're covering updates from all of September, so grab a comfy seat—it's a bit longer than usual! Going forward, these recaps will be weekly and shorter, but just as sweet. 😉

1. Manual Gallery Assignment & Participant Creation 🛠️

We're thrilled to announce that manual gallery assignment and participant creation are now live! This means you can:

  • ○ Assign images to someone's personal gallery manually—perfect for those shots where the subject wasn't facing the camera, and face recognition didn't pick them up.
  • ○ Create participants manually, either one at a time or by uploading a spreadsheet.
  • ○ Instantly trigger marketing campaigns to individuals when you assign images to them, ensuring they receive their photos promptly.

We believe this will greatly enhance your workflow and support needs. Let us know how it helps you during your next event!

2. Tweaks to the Retail Site for a Smoother Experience 🛍️

We've made several improvements to our retail site to enhance the shopping experience for your clients:

  • ○ "Tap image to get started" text now shimmers on the initial gallery screen to guide users who aren't sure what to do next.
  • ○ Package creation improvements make it more intuitive for customers to customize their packages and select photos.
  • ○ Product renders in the cart: The view cart screen now displays product images next to every item, including items within multi-item packages, for increased clarity.
  • ○ Updated header and footer: Clear guidance on when to contact our retail support or reach out to you, the photographer, for assistance.

These tweaks aim to make the purchasing process as seamless and enjoyable as possible for your clients!

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3. Default Price Levels Are Back! 💰

Great news! The Default Price Levels from our previous NowCandid system are back and better than ever.

While you can still create custom offers, these ready-made Price Levels are optimized to help you maximize sales in various situations.

  • ○ Optimized for success: Designed to boost your sales potential.
  • ○ Versatile options: Suitable for a wide range of events and client needs.
  • ○ Easy to access: Gives you good Offer options in a pinch or when entering a new market.

For a detailed breakdown, click here.

4. New Image Notifications for Previous Purchasers 🛎️

We've improved our marketing system to better serve your clients and help keep those sales up:

  • ○ If someone purchases on Day 1 and is photographed again on Day 2, they will now receive a notification about the new images added to their gallery.
  • ○ Enhances customer engagement: Keeps clients informed and encourages additional purchases.
  • ○ Prevents missed opportunities: Even early buyers stay in the loop for new content.

This ensures your clients never miss out on their special moments!

5. Google Pay Added to Express Checkout Options 💳

We're excited to introduce Google Pay as a new express checkout option!

Our available payment methods now include:

  • ○ Traditional credit/debit card checkout
  • ○ Apple Pay
  • ○ Google Pay
  • ○ PayPal (and PayPal Pay Later)
  • ○ Venmo

And guess what? We have one more express checkout option coming soon! Stay tuned. 📢

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6. Capture App Version 4.4 for iOS & Windows 📱💻

The latest Capture App Version 4.4 is now available for both iOS and Windows, featuring:

  • ○ Keyboard support for Windows: Windows laptop users can now input phone numbers using the keyboard when using the Tap-A-Face Workflow.
  • ○ Performance improvements: Smoother and faster app experience.
  • ○ sRGB color checking: The app now ensures images are in sRGB format, preventing issues caused by Adobe RGB images.
  • ○ Event Selfie Check-In QR code display: Access the QR code directly from your device when needed.

Upgrade now to enjoy these enhancements!

7. Enhanced Folders Report 📊

Our Folders Report (which you can find using the Graph button on an Event's Management Page) just got more powerful:

  • ○ Sortable columns: Organize by images, participants, sales, and more.
  • ○ Real-time insights: Works live during events, allowing you to identify your best-performing photographers, mid-event.
  • ○ Actionable data: Mid-event reporting helps you provide immediate feedback to your team to boost performance.
  • ○ Download button: This report is now downloadable via the green button in the screenshot below as well!

Optimize your event management like never before!

8. Bulk Visibility Control for Image Folders 📁

We've added a handy button in the Manage Images page, when you have a folder selected:

  • ○ Mark entire folders as visible or invisible with one click.
  • ○ Use cases: Quickly hide a batch of images that need reworking, such as a blurry set.
  • ○ Saves time: Streamlines the process of managing large numbers of images.

Sometimes, mistakes happen! Now you can use this button to quickly hide images in bulk as you work to correct issues.

9. Customize "All Event Images" Gallery Settings 🖼️

You now have more control over the All Event Images gallery:

  • ○ Override default settings at the Offer level.
  • ○ Options:
    • Turn off the All Event Images gallery for Face Matching Events.
    • Turn on the All Event Images gallery for Positive ID Events.
  • ○ Recommendation: We suggest sticking with the defaults, but if you'd like to explore the pros and cons, click here to schedule a chat with us!

Tailor the gallery experience to suit any event's needs!

10. Simplified Selfie Check-In 📲

We've made the Selfie Check-In process even more user-friendly:

  • ○ Only requires a cell number OR email address.
  • ○ Encourages participation: Even though neither field says "optional," most people still provide both.
  • ○ Addresses Fringe Issues: Every now and then, someone doesn't have (or refuses to provide) a cell or email address. This change will account for those individuals!

Enhances guest engagement and reduces fringe support issues, with no changes on your part!

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11. New Unsubscribe Keyword: "NOPE"! 🚫

We've introduced a new, fun way for clients to manage their marketing preferences:

  • "NOPE": Clients can reply with this word to opt out of marketing for a specific event.
  • Future communications: They will still receive messages for future events unless they opt out again.
  • Accidental "STOP" replies: If someone replies "STOP" though, they'll need to send "START" to our marketing number to resume receiving texts.

This gives your clients more control while still keeping communication lines open for future events.

12. Seasonal Retail Themes: Apple Crumble & Candy Corn 🍂🎃

Get into the festive spirit with our new retail site themes:

  • Apple Crumble:
    • Autumn colors: Warm and inviting hues.
    • Falling leaves: Adorable "leaves falling" animation upon gallery arrival, check-in completion, and after checkout.
  • Candy Corn:
    • Halloween vibes: Shades of black and bright orange.
    • Candy corn confetti: Fun "candy corn toss" animation to celebrate the spooky season upon gallery arrival, check-in completion, and after checkout.
    • Haunted Retail Site: A few ghosts frequently fly across your customer's screens as they shop!

Delight your clients with these charming themes!

Note: the Leaves & Candy Corn only fall across the screen upon gallery arrival, check-in completion, and after checkout - these GIFs are simply showing it in a loop :)

Theme: Apple Crumble - Watermarking: Off

Theme: Candy Corn - Watermarking: Off

We hope these updates make your experience with NowCandid even more enjoyable and efficient.

Your success is our top priority, and we're always here to support you. 💖

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, don't hesitate to reach out. We're all ears! 👂

Until next week, keep capturing those amazing moments!

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

Related articles

Background Removal, NowCandid's Newest Feature!
Feature Updates
March 13, 2024

Background Removal, NowCandid's Newest Feature!

7
 minutes read
Hey there, photographers and NowCandid fam!

It’s Candy here, your cheerful guide through the NowCandid universe, and I’ve got some thrilling news!

Introducing Background Removal 🚀

What’s New?

We’ve rolled out a game-changing feature: Background Removal, available for all NowCandid Programs & Workflows!

How It Works:

Before uploading your images (into a Background Removal enabled Event), simply mark the folder for Background Removal. We'll then use top-notch AI to whisk away the background, leaving you with pristine cutouts as an additional option alongside the original image in your subject's gallery.

And, it happens live!

If you practice best business practices with NowCandid, you probably upload your images live as you take them with the help of our Capture & Upload app! Images live-uploaded to a Background Removal folder will be cutout in no time at all, adding themselves to the subject's gallery automatically and on-the-fly.

Note: Capture & Upload App Version 3.17 or newer will be needed to utilize background removal while live-uploading images.

Choose Your Backdrop 🌟

Variety Galore:

The ever-popular gray and white 'Dover' background, arches in various architectural styles, and scenic outdoorsy vibes, your subjects can view and pick any background that catches their eye!

Future Customization:

Later this year, you'll be able to add your own backdrops to the mix, pre-rendering the background-removed image onto a custom background for your Events. Stay tuned!

Get Certified & Dive In 📜

Certification Needed:

To unlock this fantastic feature for your NowCandid Account, a quick certification is required. Check out how at the following page: Background Removal Certification (link)

The Best Part? It's On Us! 💖

Absolutely Free (For Now):

For the time being, enjoy this feature at no extra charge.

We need some time to assess how often Background Removal will be used and how it will affect sales. So, for now, it's free! Think of this as our way of saying thanks for being part of the NowCandid family. We're excited to see how Background Removal can enhanceyour business!

Note: 📝

Currently, the background-removed PNGs are exclusive to the Personal and All Images Galleries, with no direct download of the files for you the photographer. So, your customers can buy them, but you can't currently use the service to generate image cut-outs for use outside the system!

We’re buzzing with excitement over here at NowCandid about the extra sellable images this feature can bring to your photography Events! 🐝

Whether you’re shooting portraits at a graduation, soccer game, prom, or anywhere else - Background Removal is set to elevate your photography game, turn one image into many!

Stay tuned, as we'll be rolling out more customization options as the year progresses. If you have any questions or need a hand getting started, just give us a shout. We’re here to help every snap of the way!

Sparkly wishes,
Candy 🌟
Capture & Upload App's Latest Update 3.17
Feature Updates
March 12, 2024

Capture & Upload App's Latest Update 3.17

6
 minutes read
Hiya, NowCandid fam!

It's Candy here, with some hot-off-the-press news about our Capture & Upload app that's going to make your photography flow smoother than ever. We've listened to your feedback and sprinkled some improvements on both Windows and Apple iOS versions in our latest update, 3.17. 🌟

Changes Across Windows & Apple iOS Versions of the App

1.     Whoops! We didn't make this very clear before. We've clarified the messages when you incorrectly log in to the Capture & Upload App with your email and app passcode.

2.     Plus, we've changed the login button to say "Login" instead of "Save" – because sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference.

3.     A little redesign magic has made the "Cancel/Close" button on the login less attention-grabbing, since people were sometimes clicking it thinking it was a next step! Whoops.

4.     The latest version of the Capture & Upload app will also need to be used in order to utilize NowCandid's newest Background Removal feature (link)!

Changes to Only the Windows Version of the App

1.      Get ready to feel the need for speed! We've made improvements to the app, which means less memory usage, zippy startup times, and an overall performance boost that'll have you clicking happily away.

Changes to Only the Apple iOS Version of the App

1.     Volume button as a shutter? Yes, please! You can now use the volume up/down buttons for those sneaky quick captures when using your device's internal camera.

2.     Embrace the old and the new with support for select additional Sony cameras. We used to only support newer versions of Sony cameras! Check out the list at the bottom of this post to see if your gear's on there.

3.     And if you're rocking an iPhone 14 or older (or 9th gen iPad or older), we're helping you troubleshoot with a "Camera Trouble?" popup if no camera is detected for 15 seconds on shooting screens—complete with a helpful link to Apple's Camera Adapter (link), which you'll need to connect your camera to these lightning-port Apple devices.

4.     For our Nikon D7000 users, no more connection woes. We've ironed out those kinks for you!

5.     Noticed some off-center UI on your iPhone when using the Capture & Upload App? We've fixed that up too, so your app experience is as picture-perfect as your shots.

What's Next?

Keep your eyes peeled for more updates and improvements, because we're just getting started.

In the meantime, enjoy the new tweaks and treats with update 3.17, designed to keep your NowCandid experience as seamless as your photography skills. And as always, if you hit any bumps or have a lightbulb moment on how we can do better, drop us a line!

Happy shooting, everyone!

Candy 🌟

List of Additional Sony Cameras Now Supported on Apple iOS

Note: These are in addition to the Sony cameras that already work with the Apple iOS version of the Capture & Upload app.

ILCE-7RM3
ILCE-7M2
ILCE-7M3
ILCE-6600
ILCE-6400
ILCE-6100
DSC-RX100M5
DSC-RX10M4
DSC-HX99

Note: Firmware updates may be required for some models of Sony.

Update Alert: NowCandid's Capture & Upload Hits Version 3.14!
Feature Updates
February 1, 2024

Update Alert: NowCandid's Capture & Upload Hits Version 3.14!

6
 minutes read
Hello, NowCandid family! 🌟

It’s Candy here, your digital guide and cheerleader, with some exciting news! We’ve had a whirlwind of updates from versions 3.11 through 3.14, making quick and impactful enhancements to the NowCandid Capture & Upload application.

While we didn’t stop to chat about each update individually, we’ve reached a point with version 3.14 where we’re thrilled to say the app is stronger and more feature-rich than ever!

So, let’s get everyone up to speed with version 3.14, ensuring you have the latest, most stable, and feature-packed version of our app.

Version 3.14 - The Latest & Greatest:

  • General Updates:
  • General improvements under the hood for a better user experience.

  • Windows-Specific Updates:
  • Dark mode is now consistent in the app, for easier viewing.
  • Helpful reminders to check your taskbar for app notifications.
  • Overall app performance boost, making it faster and more efficient.
  • Increased app memory usage for smoother operation.

Version 3.13:

  • General Updates:
  • Enhanced login process, ensuring access even without active events.
  • Improved user interaction for a smoother experience.

  • Windows-Specific Updates:
  • Better support for managing photo filenames, making sure every photo is saved correctly.

Version 3.12:

  • General Updates:
  • Updated visual cues, like brighter buttons, for easier navigation.
  • Quicker response times when interacting with the app.

  • Windows-Specific Updates:
  • New pop-up reminders for easier photo folder access.
  • Optimizations for camera connectivity and photo saving.

Version 3.11:

  • General Updates:
  • Simplified version numbering for easy tracking.
  • NowCandid logo now comes with version info for quick reference.

  • Windows-Specific Updates:
  • Streamlined update process with a clear path to the latest version.
  • Minor fixes and tweaks for an improved app experience.

We're thrilled with the journey from versions 3.11 to 3.14 and all the positive changes each update has brought!

These enhancements are designed to make your NowCandid experience even more seamless and enjoyable.

If you have any feedback or run into issues, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Let's continue capturing those unforgettable moments with ease and joy!

Keep snapping,
Candy 🌟

Let’s get in touch

If you’re a photographer looking to add NowCandid services to your wheelhouse – 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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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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