Hey there, NowCandid fam!

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Candy here, your friendly AI assistant, ready to sprinkle a little more magic into your NowCandid experience. 🍬✨

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I’m thrilled to tell you about a fresh feature that’s going to keep you and your team even more connected and informed—our brand-new Inbox within the web dashboard! 🎉

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We get it—emails can sometimes slip through the cracks.

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Maybe your inbox is overflowing, or maybe your NowCandid account emails go to an address you don’t check as often. And if you have a big team? Let’s just say things don’t always get shared as quickly as you’d like. 😅

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Whatever the case may be, we wanted to make sure you never miss a beat with us. That’s where the new Inbox comes in!

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💌 Why the Inbox is a Game-Changer

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Our new Inbox feature is designed to keep all of our important NowCandid updates right where you need them—on your dashboard! This means no more hunting through emails or worrying about who saw what.

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From now on, whenever there’s a big update, an important feature release, or a must-know maintenance alert, it’ll be sitting in your Inbox, waiting for you and your team to check it out. 📥

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Here’s what this means for you:

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- Never Miss an Update: Important notifications will now be at your fingertips on the web dashboard, so you’re always in the loop!
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‍- Easy Team Access: If you have multiple users on your NowCandid account, everyone can check the Inbox to see what’s new. No more worrying if a message got forwarded or not!
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- Clear and Organized: Find everything in one place! From maintenance alerts to feature highlights, it’s all right there, so you can stay informed and focused on capturing those amazing moments. 📸✨

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🌟 Still Sending Emails, Just in Case!

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But don’t worry! We’ll still be sending email updates too—this is just another channel to ensure you have all the information you need. Consider the Inbox your backup plan for staying connected, because hey, we know things can get hectic!

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So, whether it’s an exciting new feature, a critical update, or just a little love note from me (Candy! 🍬), you’ll find it in your Inbox from now on.

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💖 Cheers to Staying Connected!

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We’re here to support you every step of the way, and with this new Inbox, we’re making it even easier for you to focus on what matters most—your photography and your clients.

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Cheers, sparkles, and all the confetti...

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Candy 🍬✨

Hello, my fabulous photographer friends!

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Candy here, ready to sprinkle some sparkle on your day with our latest Weekly Recap! 🌟

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We've been hard at work enhancing your NowCandid experience, and I've got all the juicy details right here. Let's dive in! 🏊‍♀️

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1. Retail Site Enhancements 🛍️

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We've made some fantastic improvements to the retail experience for your clients, aiming to boost your sales and make shopping a breeze!

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• Diamond Gloss Upsell for Packages💎 When clients add a package containing prints to their cart, they'll now see a Diamond Gloss upsell popup. They can choose to add that finish to every print in their package.
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• ‍Clearer Product Naming📝 The Medium Res Gallery Download (only offered and always offered when you're doing a QuicPics or QuicPics GO Event) now automatically renames to Free Gallery when there's no high-resolution personal gallery offered. Just like the individual download does!
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• ‍Smart Cart Management🛒 If a client has already added the Personal Gallery Download to their cart, it will be hidden from the shopping screen.

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2. Dashboard Improvements 🖥️

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We've focused on making the dashboard more user-friendly and informative, so you can manage your events and participants with ease.

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• Quick Access to Folder Stats📊 An Event's Folder Stats button is now visible right from the Event List page.
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• ‍Enhanced Order Details🔍 The Order Details popup in the Sales Report now shows the quantity of each item ordered.
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• Flexible Participant Management👥 When manually creating or editing a participant, the phone number field is now optional.
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• Advanced Report Filters📈 We've added new advanced settings to the reports, allowing you to filter out or include $0 sales and hidden events. This gives you greater control over your data analysis!
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• Marketing Control🛍️ Marking an event as Invisible on the web dashboard now automatically stops its marketing.

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3. Capture App Version 4.6.9 Updates 📱

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We've rolled out some important updates to the Capture App to enhance functionality and prevent errors.

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• BGR Folder Activation Confirmation🎨 To enable a BGR (Background Removal) folder on the app, users must now check an "I understand" box. Helps new team members avoid accidentally enabling BGR when it's not intended, saving you time and resources.
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• ‍Improved Phone Number Validation📞 The app now prevents the use of obviously fake phone numbers like 333-333-3333 or 444-444-4444.
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• ‍Auto-Refresh Event List on iOS🔄 When returning to the app on iOS devices, the event list will now auto-refresh. Reduces the chance of seeing outdated event details, keeping you informed on the go.

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4. Mobile Dashboard 2.1.0 Updates 📲

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Our Mobile Dashboard app just got even better, helping you manage your events from anywhere!

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• Support for QuicPics GO🚀 QuicPics GO events are now fully supported, with appropriate icons and labels.
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• ‍Sortable Folders Report📁 Just like on the desktop dashboard, you can now sort the Folders Report in the mobile app. Swipe down to refresh and get real-time data mid-event. Great for tracking photographer performance on the go and providing immediate feedback.

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We're always here to support you!

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So please, feel free to share your feedback or questions.

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Thank you for being an essential part of the NowCandid community. Keep capturing those unforgettable moments and creating smiles! 📸😊

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Cheers and sparkles,

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Candy 🍬

Are you ready for the Holiday Season?

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Maybe not since we have roughly 10 weeks to go. For most photographers, the winter months can bring a noticeable slowdown, but this also presents the perfect opportunity to seize seasonal event opportunities like Santa Portraits and holiday parties.

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These festive events are in high demand, and with the right tools, you can make the most out of them!

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We want to share a success story from a Santa Portrait Event that took place in the last few years, along with how NowCandid’s Workflows can help you maximize your success this holiday season.

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Santa Portrait Station Success

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Rachel S., a photography business owner from South Florida, a few years ago landed a Santa Portrait event at a Zoo and turned it into a HUGE win. With Candid's Scanner ID Workflow, Rachel was able to use the same techniques of a typical sports or school picture day and apply them to the Holiday Zoo Lights Santa Event.

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To manage the event, Rachel used the Scanner ID Workflow, and generated blank QR cards to pass out to people while they waited in line.

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The QR codes were scanned by the guests who then paired their contact info with their QR code! Once they got to the front of the line, Rachel's photographers would scan the next guest's QR with their tethered device, and then take their photos!

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The device tethered to the camera would then upload the photos right after they were taken!

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With the contact info and pictures both in the system, gallery links were then automatically texted directly to the subjects, right away.

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Overall, this event garnered over $42,000 in it's first year!!! Not bad for a couple weeks of work!

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NowCandid Workflows: Make Your Holiday Events a Breeze

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One of the key elements to success in high-volume holiday events is efficiency—and that’s where NowCandid’s Workflows come into play.

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These workflows streamline the process of capturing, organizing, and delivering photos, allowing you to focus more on your artistry and client experience.

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Here are two workflows you’ll want to use during your Santa sessions and holiday parties:

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1. • Scanner ID: The Workflow Rachel used! It's great for efficiently collecting guest contact info while they are in line, letting you move the line along more quickly OR have more time available for additional photos. Contact info is essential for instant image delivery and post-shoot marketing.
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2. • Type & Take: This works similarly to the Scanner ID Workflow, except you type the subject's contact info into your tethered device before photographing them. It is not as time efficient at Scanner ID, but it doesn't require you to print out many blank cards before the event!

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Seasonal Retail Theme to Add to the Experience

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The holiday fun doesn't stop at the event—it continues when your customers view and purchase their images! With our Candy Cane retail theme, your clients are immersed in the festive spirit as soon as they visit their personal image gallery.

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Our themes include delightful touches like falling snowflakes, which gently drift across the screen. These animations help enhance the shopping experience and keep customers wrapped up in the magic of the season.

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Use Overlay Art to Add a Special Touch

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If you're looking to elevate the experience further, NowCandid offers Overlay Art, allowing you to add optional customized overlays to your clients' images.

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These titles add a festive, personal touch to the photos, making them feel extra special, whether it's a corporate holiday party, a Santa session, or a family Christmas gathering.

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Imagine sending clients their Santa Portraits, complete with a “Merry Christmas 2024” overlay or a custom-designed title that reflects the spirit of the season. It’s little touches like these that make clients feel valued and excited about your services—leading to more referrals and repeat business.

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Why You Shouldn't Sleep on Holiday Opportunities

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The holiday season offers some of the most lucrative photography opportunities of the year, especially when it comes to events like Santa Portrait sessions, corporate holiday parties or large family and friends gatherings.

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With many photographers considering this time a "slow season," there's an opportunity to stand out from the crowd by offering fun, engaging photo experiences that families, organizations, and individuals will love.

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Adding these events to your services can also build lasting relationships with your clients—because who doesn’t want to make holiday memories they’ll treasure forever?

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Don't Miss Out: Prep for the Holidays Now

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The key to success is preparation. Start planning your Santa sessions, promote your holiday event photography, and make sure you're using NowCandid’s powerful tools to handle your Events with ease.

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And remember: festive cheer isn’t just for clients. By embracing the holiday season and seizing these photography opportunities, you can fill your calendar and finish the year strong.

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Cheers, and may there be many holiday events in your future!

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‍Candy 🍬