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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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Big News: Introducing Photo Booth Mode in iOS Capture & Upload App 4.13! 🎉
Feature Updates
December 30, 2024

Big News: Introducing Photo Booth Mode in iOS Capture & Upload App 4.13! 🎉

6
 minutes read
Hello, my wonderful photographers!

Candy here with exciting news for you on this festive Monday. We’re launching Capture & Upload App Version 4.13, and it comes with a massive new feature: Photo Booth Mode.

Let’s dive into what it is, how it works, and why we think you’ll love adding it to your events!

What Is Photo Booth Mode? 🤳

Photo Booth Mode is a brand-new option inside the Capture & Upload App (Version 4.13 on iPad). When you log in to your Event, you’ll see a shiny new “Photo Booth” button alongside the usual options.

Tap that button, and your iPad transforms into a fun, self-serve photo booth station, perfect for:

  • Weddings & Parties: Encourage guests to capture memorable group shots and instantly send them to their phones.
  • Sports & Corporate Events: Provide interactive experiences that keep people engaged and excited.
  • Holiday Gatherings: Add some festivity and help guests create themed keepsakes right on the spot.

Whether you tether a Nikon, Sony, or Canon camera or just use the iPad’s built-in camera, Photo Booth Mode gives you a convenient, autonomous way to let guests take pictures without any manual work from you (aside from set up and takedown of course).

How It Works ⚙️

  1. Tap to Begin Screen
    • Guests see a dimmed live view with “Tap to Begin.” Once tapped, the booth takes three pictures in quick succession, each with its own 3-second countdown.
  2. Real-Time Overlays
    • If your event has Bottom Banner Overlays or Full Frame Overlays, they appear in the live view. This lets guests see exactly where the art will sit, so no one’s face gets covered.
  3. On-Device Styling
    • Background Removal & Custom Backgrounds: If you’ve uploaded backgrounds for your event, they’ll be available for selection.
    • Filters: Guests can apply classic filters like Noir, Sepia, or Clarendon before sending off their images.
    • Reshoot: Not happy with a pose? Subjects can tap “Reshoot” and start over, easy-peasy.
  4. Instant Delivery
    • Both QuicPics or PartyPics Workflows deliver images in real time:
    • If it’s QuicPics, your subjects will get the image files directly via MMS, with Overlay Art applied, if your Event has any. They'll also receive a link to their personal gallery. Reminder, with QuicPics we charge a small fee per uploaded image.
    • It it's PartyPics or any of our other Programs, your subjects will only receive a link to their personal gallery. And there is no additional charge or fee.
    • When visiting their personal gallery, they can buy prints & downloads of these images with various product & customization options.
  5. Positive ID vs. Face Matching
    • Face Matching: Prompts appear to tap faces, then gather contact info for those individuals.
    • Positive ID: Participants just enter their info before sending images, no face-tapping required.

All images are uploaded to your NowCandid Event like normal, so no matter your usual Workflow, things will still function seamlessly!

Key Requirements & Limitations ⚠️

  • Camera Orientation
    • Nikon cameras support both horizontal and vertical orientation.
    • Sony and Canon are currently limited to horizontal orientation.
  • iPad-Only Launch
    • Photo Booth Mode works on iPad (and only in vertical orientation), not on iPhone or Windows at this time.
  • No Built-In Strip Printing
    • If you need to provide prints, set up a separate print station and use quic.pics/portal to download images with or without Event Overlay Art and print them on-the-spot!
  • Strong Internet Connection
    • Ensure your iPad has solid Wi-Fi or LTE, as the app needs to log into the event, download overlays/backgrounds, and upload images in real time.

Why You’ll Love Photo Booth Mode ❤️

  1. Interactive Fun

    Guests choose their own backgrounds, overlays, and filters, creating a memorable activity at any gathering.
  2. Seamless Feature Integration

    Images will show up in LiveLoop slideshows, appear alongside subject's other images in Personal Galleries, be managed using NowCandid's typical image and participant management tools, and more!
  3. Seamless Workflow Integration

    The images flow right into your existing event Workflows—Tap-A-Face, Selfie Check-In, Type & Take, and more—without any additional setup.
  4. Effortless Setup

    Whether you opt for a tethered DSLR or the iPad camera, it’s a simple tap away in Capture & Upload App 4.13.

Download Capture & Upload App 4.13 Today! 📱

With Version 4.13 now live for iPad (iOS only at the moment), you can start offering Photo Booth Mode at your next event.

We’ve tested it extensively, but with so many different devices and use cases out there, we encourage you to try it out ASAP.

If you spot any quirks, let us know, and we’ll work on improvements swiftly.

Thank you for joining us in this Big News blog post.

We can’t wait to hear your success stories with Photo Booth Mode!

Candy 🍬

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Group Photos for Grads & Retail Download Tweaks📸🎉
Feature Updates
December 27, 2024

Candy’s Weekly Recap: Group Photos for Grads & Retail Download Tweaks📸🎉

7
 minutes read
Hello, my wonderful photographers!

Candy here, and welcome to another Weekly Recap. We’ve got a couple of handy feature updates, plus some exciting news about our upcoming Capture & Upload App release for iOS.

Let’s dive in! 🌟

1. Group Photo Option in GradPics 📸

We’ve introduced a Group Photo toggle in the Manage Images tab for GradPics Events. When you mark an image as a Group Photo, here’s what happens:

  • Appears in Every Gallery: Regardless of face matching, every participant sees the group image in their personal gallery.
  • Exclusive Products: If your Event’s Offer includes any Group Photo products (like Group Photo Download or Group Photo Print), they’ll only be purchasable on those items.
  • No Group Photo Products? Then the group image behaves like a normal image, available on all your usual products.
  • Not in Personal Gallery Download: To avoid easy sharing of a big group image, we’re excluding Group Photos from any personal gallery download product for now.

We’ve added a quick popup explanation when flagging an image as a Group Photo in the Web Dashboard, just in case someone clicks the Group Photo toggle by mistake. 🎉

2. Personal Gallery Download Hiding Rule 🤫

To help clients avoid confusion and refunds, we’re adding a new rule:

  • Hide Personal Gallery Download: If the Offer sells individual image downloads and a participant only has one image, we hide the personal gallery download.
  • Still Visible for One-Image Events: If your Offer doesn’t have individual downloads, the personal gallery download stays visible, even if the participant just has one photo.

This little tweak prevents clients from accidentally buying a personal gallery download when they only need a single download. 🛒

3. Heads-Up: Capture & Upload App 4.13 for iOS Only! 📱

On Monday, December 30th, we’ll release Version 4.13 of the Capture & Upload App for iPhone & iPad. (Windows stays at 4.12 for now.) We’ve added some major updates:

Please update one of your devices, test it out, and let us know if you catch any bugs. With so many devices, camera brands, and workflows out there, early feedback helps us fix issues quickly.

4.13 Highlights

  1. Photo Booth Mode
  2. Overlays on Capture App Image Review
    • Overlays now render directly over the captured images on the app (if the aspect ratio is supported).
    • 3:2 aspect ratio photos are needed for full frame overlays, but any aspect ratio works for banner overlays.
    • This lets you and your subjects see the art in real time, ensuring no important parts are covered!
  3. Out-of-Space Error Popup
    • If your device is running low on space when a new image is taken, you’ll get an immediate error popup.
    • Remember to regularly clear out old images via the app’s “Delete App Data” button in the info (i) menu to keep everything running smoothly.

Minor Updates

  • Session data is now wiped when switching NowCandid accounts in the app, so "Restore Session" won't take you to an Event from a different account!
  • Event Shooting Buttons on Tablets now match iPhone UI (centered vertical menu).
  • Camera Trouble Popup includes a note about app permissions. (Always make sure to agree to all app permissions needed when the app is starting for the first time!)
  • Auto Remove Spaces from the account email on login. (some folks accidentally put a space and didn't know why they couldn't log in!)
  • Candy Splash Screen when the app is booting up now supports dark mode.

Thanks for tuning into this shorter Weekly Recap. We hope these improvements help you finish the year strong! If you have any questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Candy 🍬

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 12 – Photo Booth Mode! 🎄🎉
Feature Updates
December 25, 2024

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 12 – Photo Booth Mode! 🎄🎉

10
 minutes read
Hello, my festive photographers!

Candy here, and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate.

We’ve arrived at the 12th Day of Christmas, and I’m thrilled to unwrap our biggest new feature of 2024—Photo Booth Mode in the Capture & Upload App!

The new NowCandid Capture & Upload App Version that includes Photo Booth Mode will be going live at the end of December,... this very month!

Let’s get into the holiday spirit and explore everything this mode has to offer. 🎁

What Is Photo Booth Mode? 🤶

Photo Booth Mode is a brand-new option inside our Capture & Upload App—you’ll see a shiny new “Photo Booth” button once you log in to an Event and create a Folder (after the update of course).

Give that Photo Booth button a tap, and voilà: your iPad turns into a photo booth station where guests can snap fun pictures with minimal hassle!

  • Multiple Camera Options: Tether a Nikon, Sony, or Canon camera, or use your iPad’s front-facing camera, depending on your particular photo booth setup.
  • Solid Internet Connection Required: The app downloads any custom overlays or backgrounds you’ve set on the web dashboard, and live-uploading images of course requires an internet connection, so stable Wi-Fi or LTE is essential!

It’s perfect for holiday parties, corporate shindigs, weddings, or any event where a lighthearted photo booth can bring on the smiles!

The Photo Booth Flow ⏱️

Here’s how Photo Booth Mode keeps your guests engaged:

  1. Tap to Begin Screen: A dimmed live view awaits guests to tap and start. Once they do, the booth will let them know to get ready for three photos.
  2. Three Countdown Shots: Each shot has a 3-second countdown followed by a short preview of the taken pic after each shot. If your event uses a Bottom Banner Overlay or Full Frame Overlay, it shows up in the live view, so no one ends up hidden behind the graphics!
  3. Instant Delivery & Overlays: In Events using the QuicPics Program, each photo is sent via MMS with the overlay art included! And with every NowCandid Program, a gallery link is delivered where retail site users can download images and order photo products.

Guests can hop in, pose, and receive fun, branded photos—no fuss required! 🎉

On-Device Backgrounds & Filters 🎨

Before finalizing those memorable pics, guests can personalize them right on the device:

  • Background Selection: If you’ve uploaded custom backgrounds on the web dashboard, the app fetches them before the booth session. Guests can pick from these in addition to several default backgrounds, great for holiday vibes or brand-specific themes.
  • Filter Options: Classic filters like Noir, Sepia, Clarendon, and others let participants get creative.
  • Reshoot Button: Not happy with the shot? Guests can “Reshoot” and start the session over at any time.

This ensures a lively, interactive experience that encourages guests to come back for more snaps. ⛄

Positive ID vs. Face Matching 🧐

After styling, the next step depends on your event’s workflow:

  • For Face Matching Events: Guests are guided to tap the faces they see on-screen, and then can enter contact info for each face! If this is their first or only reference photo for the Event, it will also match them to shots taken outside the Photo Booth!
  • For Positive ID Events: A simpler approach: participants just type in their contact info and send off the images! Easy peasy.

Either way, photos head straight to their phones via QuicPics (if you’re using that Program) and will always land in their personal gallery. 🔔

Seamless Integration with NowCandid 💖

Photo Booth Mode plugs right into your existing NowCandid features:

  • Selfie Check-In & LiveLoop: Photo booth images appear in your LiveLoop feed if you’re displaying one at the event. Selfie Check-Ins can still match participants to their booth photos too if they don't self-identify during their photo booth session!
  • QuicPics & PartyPics: The images upload instantly, letting your guests receive them right away via MMS (with QuicPics), or find them in their personal gallery for easy purchase or free download (with every Program).

It’s the same NowCandid ecosystem you know—just dressed up in a festive booth format! 🎄

Requirements & Limitations 🎅

A few notes to keep in mind:

  • Camera Orientation:
    • Nikon supports horizontal and vertical live view.
    • Sony/Canon currently only support horizontal orientation for tethered cameras.
  • iPad-Only for Now:
    • Photo Booth Mode works on iPad in vertical orientation, not on iPhone or Windows.
  • No Built-In Printing:
    • If you need on-site prints, consider setting up your own print station with a computer and a printer! Use quic.pics/portal to access your Event images, and then download images with or without overlays to print them on-site.
  • We Value Feedback:
    • Missing something? Let us know! Your input shapes our next updates.

Why Photo Booth Mode Is a Holiday Treat 🎁

  • Interactive & Fun: Guests love choosing backgrounds, filters, and overlays, making the booth a memorable attraction.
  • Fully Integrated: Works seamlessly with QuicPics, PartyPics, LiveLoop, Face Matching, and more.
  • Revenue & Engagement Boost: Branded overlays, holiday backgrounds, or sponsor tie-ins can lead to higher sales and delighted clients.

This mode is a surefire way to add a dash of cheer to any event—holiday-themed or otherwise! ✨

That’s all for now, folks.

We hope Photo Booth Mode adds a dash of magic to your season and beyond.

And thank you for following along with our 12 Days of Christmas!

Enjoy this new feature, and as always, keep capturing the moments that matter most.

Reminder: The new NowCandid Capture & Upload App Version that includes Photo Booth Mode will be going live at the end of December, this month!

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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