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Candy’s Weekly Recap: New Dashboard, In-Gallery Background Rendering, and More! 📸 🎉

Candy’s Weekly Recap: New Dashboard, In-Gallery Background Rendering, and More! 📸 🎉
Hello, fabulous photographers!

Candy here, and I'm buzzing with excitement to bring you this week's jam-packed recap! 🌟

We've got some big news that's going to make your NowCandid experience even more delightful and efficient. So, let's dive right in! 🏊

🌐 The New Dashboard Is Here to Stay!

First things first—the new NowCandid Dashboard has officially become our main dashboard! 🎊

  • All-in-One Place: Every feature from the old dashboard (now called the Legacy Dashboard) has been brought over, plus so many more new features to supercharge your workflow.
  • New Accounts: All new NowCandid users will exclusively see the new dashboard, ensuring a seamless and modern experience right from the start.
  • Update Your Bookmarks: If you're a long-time user, it's time to say goodbye to old habits. Replace any bookmarks from dashboard.nowcandid.com with app.nowcandid.com. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on all the new goodies! 😉
  • Accessing the Legacy Dashboard: Need to peek at the old dashboard for any reason? No worries! There's a handy button on the new dashboard that lets you access it anytime.

We're thrilled about this upgrade and can't wait for you to explore all the enhanced features designed to make your life easier!

Names on orders withheld for privacy

🖼️ Photographer-Uploaded Backgrounds Render in Personal Galleries

Great news for those of you who love adding that extra flair to your images! Your uploaded backgrounds will now render directly on BGR (Background Removed) images right in your clients' personal galleries. 🌈

  • Visual Impact: Clients can instantly see how amazing their photos look with your custom backgrounds applied.
  • Boost Sales: By showcasing these options upfront, you can provide more options from the get-go it can be a more intuitive experience for your customers.

This enhancement creates a more engaging and personalized shopping experience for your clients!

Theme: Liquorice - Watermark: Default

🛍️ Retail Site Checkout Improvements

We've made some nifty changes to the checkout process to make it smoother than ever:

  • Split Process: The original checkout flow is now divided into a View Cart screen and a Checkout screen.
    • Better Visibility: Clients can easily review their cart contents before proceeding to checkout.
    • Facilitates Express Options: This change provides space to accommodate our growing number of express checkout options, making the payment process quicker and more flexible.
  • Enhanced Clarity: The new layout reduces confusion and helps prevent cart abandonment, as well as more clarity regarding subtotals and shipping costs.

Making shopping a breeze means happier clients and more sales for you! 💰

Theme: Liquorice - Watermark: Default

🎒 Bag Tag Product Now Has Live Rendering

Exciting update for the Bag Tag product:

  • Live Rendering: Clients can now see real-time previews of all art styles available for Bag Tags.

Offer your clients a preview of their custom creations to enhance their shopping experience! 🛍️

Theme: Liquorice - Watermark: Default

📝 Blog Now Accessible in the New Dashboard

Stay informed without ever leaving your dashboard!

  • Integrated Blog: Our blog is now hosted right within the new dashboard.
  • Easy Access: Get the latest updates, tips, and tutorials at your fingertips.
  • Stay Updated: Never miss out on important news that can help you make the most of NowCandid.

Knowledge is power, and we’re putting it right where you need it! 📚

🔐 Update Credit Card Info & Change Password Easily

We've streamlined account management features:

  • Change Credit Card Info: Update your payment details directly from the new dashboard.
  • Change Password: Easily keep your account secure with straightforward password management.

Your convenience and security are our top priorities! 🛡️

🌍 Now Supporting Photographers Worldwide

We’re expanding our horizons!

  • International Support: You can now select countries other than the U.S. during account creation and in your profile settings.
  • Global Community: Photographers around the world will soon be able to use NowCandid to grow their business.

No matter where you are, NowCandid is here to support your photography journey! 🌐

📞 Retail "Contact Us" Visualization

Communication made clearer!

  • Business Info Editor: In your profile settings, you can now visualize how your contact information appears to clients on the retail site.
  • Professional Appearance: Ensure your clients have the correct information to reach out to you when needed.

Clear communication builds trust and improves client relationships! 🤝

🕸️ New Font: Geist!

We're getting into the festive spirit!

  • Font Update: We've switched from Inter to Geist for both the web dashboard content and the retail site.
  • Spooky Vibes: Geist may not look spooky, but the name of the font alone adds a touch of whimsy appropriate for the Halloween season. 🎃

Enjoy a fresh look as you navigate through your dashboard and retail site! 👻

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

We're constantly working to bring you the best tools and features to help your photography business thrive. 🌱

As always, we're here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or feedback, don't hesitate to reach out! 💌

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

P.S. Don't forget to update your bookmarks to app.nowcandid.com to stay connected with all the latest features! 🔖

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GradPics™ Best Practices Guide 🎓
Feature Updates
April 2, 2025

GradPics™ Best Practices Guide 🎓

5
 minutes read
🎓 GradPics™ Best Practices Guide 🎓

Hey there, photographers!

Candy here, and Graduation season is right around the corner, and we're here to help you nail it with GradPics™!

Follow this handy guide filled with proven tips, tricks, and best practices to maximize your success and make your ceremony shoots smooth and profitable!

📸 Why GradPics™?

Before diving in, if you're curious about why GradPics™ is your best bet, check out this informative post. Here's the quick rundown:

  • Fast and easy Selfie Check-In™ collects accurate contact info.
  • Real-time photo uploads (or post-ceremony)—your choice!
  • Instant personalized gallery marketing and effective consent for Face Matching™.
  • FREE background removal for portrait stations.
  • No subscription fees or hefty e-commerce charges.

Simply put: It's easy, effective, and boosts your sales!

🤳 Mastering Selfie Check-In™

Selfie Check-In™ is essential to marketing your photos effectively. Follow these critical tips:

  • • Avoid sending pre-event Selfie Check-In links. It can cause day-of confusion and reduces day-of participation, making it harder to get 90%+ participation.
  • • Collect check-ins on the ceremony day at the venue’s holding area. Grads should show you the "confetti screen" to confirm completion.
  • • Print your QR code clearly on a reusable sign. Need signs? We've got you covered here!
  • • Always test your QR codes to confirm they're linked to the correct event.

Why it matters:
  • Collects accurate, updated contact info (personal and family).
  • Far superior to school-provided rosters featuring old contact info, no cell numbers, and edus.
  • Enables personalized gallery marketing, dramatically improving sales.

📢 Effective Communication with Schools

Collaborate proactively with school staff—graduation speakers, event coordinators, and volunteers—to ensure successful Selfie Check-In™ participation:

  • • Clearly explain the benefits—they want smooth photo distribution almost as much as you do!
  • • Offer schools the collected alumni data to assist their future marketing and fundraising efforts.
  • • Ask schools to remind grads and parents about Selfie Check-In™ ahead of the ceremony.

🚀 Be Proactive, Not Passive

Relying on signs alone isn't enough! Take these additional steps:

  • • Hire staff or allocate your photography team to encourage grads to check in.
  • • Consider asking schools or parent associations for volunteer help.
  • • Send engaging videos, graphics, or flyers ahead of time (without the actual Selfie Check-In™ link) to prepare grads and parents about what to expect.
  • • Prepare your customers for day-of Selfie Check-In™ to achieve 90%+ participation.

🌟 Photography Essentials

Great photography drives sales! Here’s how you maximize photo opportunities with GradPics™:

  • • Capture a variety of shots: buddy shots, processionals, pre-stage portraits, handshake moments, post-stage portraits, friends & family shots.
  • • Coordinate with the handshake presenter: request grads and handshakers turn towards your camera for the perfect shot.
  • • Tap-a-Face feature: Use NowCandid’s™ capture app to market family group shots directly.

📡 Always Have a Backup Plan

Internet issues happen. Here's how you keep rolling smoothly:

  • • Provide physical Selfie Check-In™ cards.
  • • Inform grads they can complete Selfie Check-In™ after the ceremony online.
  • • Leverage offline-compatible devices (Capture App and upcoming Selfie Check-In Station™ can both collect info offline).
  • • Work with schools to post Selfie Check-In™ links post-event if needed (available 30+ days).
  • • Enable Group-by-Face™ to simplify navigation within "All Images" galleries.

💲 Pricing Right for Maximum Revenue

Pricing too high can limit your sales. Remember:
  • • Avoid the temptation of setting premium prices for all of your graduations.
  • • Appropriate premium pricing is suitable only for certain graduations (law or medical schools).
  • • Lower prices can significantly boost your overall sales volume.

Real Example:

Now to be fair, this event was not a graduation - but he point still stands!

A recent customer lowered digital download prices from $26 to $20, resulting in:

  • • More orders overall
  • • 20% increase in total revenue
  • • Happier clients and long-term marketing benefits & residual sales

🗓️ Need Extra Help?

We’re here to support your success. Schedule a chat about graduation season and GradPics™ at Calendly.

Happy shooting! 📷✨

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Collage Printing, Digital Collages & More! ✨
Feature Updates
March 28, 2025

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Collage Printing, Digital Collages & More! ✨

5
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographers!

Candy here, and welcome to this week’s Weekly Recap.

We’ve got some fantastic updates in the latest version of the NowCandid™ iOS Capture App and more—so grab your coffee and let’s dive in!

Also, click here to check out GalleryGuard™, our newest image protection technology.

1. iOS Capture App Version 4.17 Updates 🍏

Collage Printing


We’re excited to announce a new way to showcase your photos—collage printing is now live!

  • • AirPrint Integration:
    Connect Photo Booth Mode to AirPrint printers to print 4x6 collages directly.
  • • Real-Time Customization:
    Subjects can view the collage as they customize each individual image.
  • • Flexible Copy Options:
    Print anywhere from 0 to 4 copies at the end of each session.
  • • Custom Collage Art:
    Photographers can upload their own Photo Booth Collage Art from the Event Management page (look for the button near LiveLoop™).

Smaller Capture App Tweaks

  • • Auto-Delete on Reshoot:
    Unused Photo Booth Mode images are automatically deleted when you hit “Reshoot.”
  • • Enhanced Print Option:
    A new print option now appears in the capture app's image gallery as well!
  • • UI Refinements:
    • ◦ The screen no longer dims when starting or closing the session.
    • ◦ Camera and orientation settings are now combined on the Photo Booth Mode landing page for easier use.

2. Digital Collages 💻

Digital Collages bring more creative flexibility, even without a physical printer!

  • • Integrated Delivery:
    In QuicPics™, digital collages are delivered just like all other images.
  • • Product Options:
    Available only as downloads and 4x6 prints on the retail site.
  • • Simplified Design:
    Crop and overlay art options are disabled to avoid customer mistakes.
  • • LiveLoop™ Compatibility:
    Digital Collages integrate seamlessly with LiveLoop™, showing no overlay art, since they already have art!

Vertical Image Orienttion Collage Example

3. Miscellaneous Improvements 🔧

A few extra tweaks to make your experience even better:

  • • Enhanced NSFW Filters:
    Our AI background generator on the retail site now features smarter, stronger NSFW filters.
  • • Stricter (Youth) Face Matching:
    Face Matching™ for younger subjects when using the "Strict (Youth)" option is now more precise.
  • • Spreadsheet Upgrade:
    The participant download spreadsheet now includes a column for each participant's personal gallery image count.

That’s this week’s roundup of updates, folks!

We hope these enhancements—from collage printing to digital collages and improved reporting—make your NowCandid™ workflow smoother and more fun.

As always, we’d love to hear your feedback!

Cheers and sparkles,


Candy 🍬

Big News: Introducing GalleryGuard™ – The Ultimate Image Protection! 🔒✨
Feature Updates
March 28, 2025

Big News: Introducing GalleryGuard™ – The Ultimate Image Protection! 🔒✨

5
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographers!

Candy here, and I'm thrilled to share some BIG news that’ll give you peace of mind when it comes to protecting your digital art.

For as long as ViewFirst™ photo systems have existed, safeguarding your images has been a constant challenge.

While offering a digital preview is a fantastic business model, there's always that worry about unauthorized screenshots and image theft.

The Image Protection Challenge 🛡️

  • • The Dilemma:
    Digital images are easy to view and share, but that also makes them vulnerable to being stolen—whether through clever workarounds or even just customers posting watermark-covered screenshots on socials.
  • • Industry Solutions:
    Some platforms hide faces behind logos or use messy, multi-colored watermarks to confuse AI, but these methods can compromise the aesthetic and customer experience.
  • • NowCandid™ Approach:
    Until now, we've relied on Scrolling Copyrighting—a good balance between visual appeal, customer satisfaction, and protection. However, with AI watermark removal making headlines, we wanted to step up our game.

Introducing GalleryGuard™ 👨‍🍳

Our digital chefs have been busy in the NowCandid™ kitchen, and their latest creation is nothing short of a Michelin Star-worthy innovation:

  • • iOS Protection:
    On iOS device browsers, GalleryGuard™ ensures that any attempted screenshots of our Image Galleries or Previews will result in a completely black screen. Let's see AI pull an image out of that!
  • • Desktop Defense:
    On desktop browsers, GalleryGuard™ applies an intense blur effect to the retail site when a screenshot is attempted, keeping your images safe without compromising overall aesthetics.
  • • Seamless Integration:
    The technology is live on most NowCandid™ retail pages and will continue to evolve, offering you superior digital image protection.

Sample gallery on Chrome on an iPhone 16 Plus

Sample gallery on Chrome on a Windows PC

What Does This Mean for You? 🎉

  • • Less Image Theft:
    Your valuable digital art stays secure from unauthorized screenshots and AI watermark removal.
  • • More Peace of Mind:
    Enjoy the confidence that your creative work is protected by industry-leading technology.
  • • Quick Note:
    While GalleryGuard™ currently supports only iOS & desktop experiences, we may expand its capabilities in the future!

That’s the scoop on GalleryGuard™—a breakthrough step in defending your digital art.

Thanks for being an essential part of the NowCandid™ community.!

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, drop us a line.

Cheers and sparkles,


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

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.

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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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