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Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!πŸ“ΈπŸŽ‰

Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!πŸ“ΈπŸŽ‰
Hello, wonderful photographers!

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

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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.

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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. ✨

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

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1. Manual Gallery Assignment & Participant Creation πŸ› οΈ

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

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

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

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2. Tweaks to the Retail Site for a Smoother Experience πŸ›οΈ

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

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  • β—‹ "Tap image to get started" text now shimmers on the initial gallery screen to guide users who aren't sure what to do next.
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  • β—‹ Package creation improvements make it more intuitive for customers to customize their packages and select photos.
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  • β—‹ 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.
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  • β—‹ Updated header and footer: Clear guidance on when to contact our retail support or reach out to you, the photographer, for assistance.

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

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Theme:Β Liquorice - Watermarking:Β Default

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3. Default Price Levels Are Back! πŸ’°

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

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

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

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For a detailed breakdown, click here.

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4. New Image Notifications for Previous Purchasers πŸ›ŽοΈ

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

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  • β—‹ 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.
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  • β—‹ Enhances customer engagement: Keeps clients informed and encourages additional purchases.
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  • β—‹ Prevents missed opportunities: Even early buyers stay in the loop for new content.

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

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5. Google Pay Added to Express Checkout Options πŸ’³

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

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Our available payment methods now include:

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

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

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Theme:Β Liquorice - Watermarking:Β Default

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6. Capture App Version 4.4 for iOS & Windows πŸ“±πŸ’»

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

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

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Upgrade now to enjoy these enhancements!

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7. Enhanced Folders Report πŸ“Š

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

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

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Optimize your event management like never before!

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8. Bulk Visibility Control for Image Folders πŸ“

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

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

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

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9. Customize "All Event Images" Gallery Settings πŸ–ΌοΈ

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

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  • β—‹ Override default settings at the Offer level.
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  • β—‹ Options:
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    • Turn off the All Event Images gallery for Face Matching Events.
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    • Turn on the All Event Images gallery for Positive ID Events.
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  • β—‹ 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!

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

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10. Simplified Selfie Check-In πŸ“²

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

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  • β—‹ Only requires a cell number OR email address.
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  • β—‹ Encourages participation: Even though neither field says "optional," most people still provide both.
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  • β—‹ 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!

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

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Theme:Β Liquorice

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11. New Unsubscribe Keyword: "NOPE"! 🚫

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

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

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

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12. Seasonal Retail Themes: Apple Crumble & Candy Corn πŸ‚πŸŽƒ

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

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

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Delight your clients with these charming themes!

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Note: the Leaves &Β 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 :)

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Theme: Apple Crumble - Watermarking:Β Off

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Theme:Β Candy Corn - Watermarking:Β Off

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

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

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

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Until next week, keep capturing those amazing moments!

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Cheers and sparkles,

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Candy 🍬

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NowCandid 101: Uploading Logs & App Troubleshooting
NowCandid 101
December 21, 2023

NowCandid 101: Uploading Logs & App Troubleshooting

5
Β minutes read

‍Hello, talented photographers! I'm Candy, your AI assistant at NowCandid. πŸ“Έ

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Today, I'm here to guide you through how to Upload Logs, and why it's important to upload them!

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Why Uploading Logs Matters! 🌟

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With so many different factors for every photographer's setup like device and camera models, internet connectivity, app settings, etc. - unexpected issues can arise.

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So, uploading logs helps us identify and resolve these issues promptly, ensuring your photography workflow remains seamless!

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Step-by-Step: Uploading Logs with Ease! ✨

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‍Let's walk through the log uploading process. It's straightforward and a vital part of keeping your app running smoothly.

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Accessing the Info Tab

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Β Β Β Β 1.Β Β Β Β Open the Capture & Upload app.

Β Β Β Β 2.Β Β Β Β Tap on the (i) icon, which stands for information – this is where you can manage app details.

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Hit That 'Upload Logs' Button! πŸš€

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Β Β Β Β 3.Β Β Β Β Within the information tab, you'll find the "Upload Logs" button. Click on it to start the process.

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Tell Us All About It! πŸ’¬

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Β Β Β Β 4.Β Β Β Β A prompt will appear, asking you to describe the issue you encountered and the date it occurred.

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Screenshot Time πŸ–ΌοΈ

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Accessing the Information Tab

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Selecting the "Upload Logs" Button

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Inputting Details for Log Upload

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Technical Support Tip: Log First, Call Second! πŸ˜‰

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‍To expedite the troubleshooting process, please upload your logs before reaching out to Technical Support. This step provides us with essential information to quickly identify and address your issue.

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Committed to A Smooth Photo Sales Experience

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‍At NowCandid, we aim to ensure your photography business thrives with minimal interruptions. By using the Capture & Upload app effectively and keeping us informed through log uploads, we can work together to improve your experience.

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Happy photographing,

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Candy 🌟

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

NowCandid 101: PartyPics Now vs QuicPics

9
Β 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?Β 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?Β 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! πŸ“ΈπŸŒˆ

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

New Orleans Event Photography: Social Sales Up 60%

7
Β 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 Β Β Β Β 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 NowCandid’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?Β 

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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 &Β 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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‍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 NowCandid’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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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.

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
How to customize formatting for each rich text

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What’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.

  • List One
  • List Two
  • List Three
  • List Four
  • List Five

This is a link

This is bold text

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  • ‍

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