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Expanding Your Photography Business with NowCandid: Exploring Niche Opportunities

Expanding Your Photography Business with NowCandid: Exploring Niche Opportunities
In the world of professional photography, niche events often present untapped opportunities that can be both rewarding and profitable.

With NowCandid's innovative services and systems, photographers can now explore these niche markets with confidence, creating new business avenues that were previously considered unviable. Here’s how you can leverage NowCandid to seek out and thrive in niche photography opportunities.

The Power of NowCandid in Niche Markets

1. Military Deployments

The United States military has troops deployed in countries all over the world, with over 150,000 troops typically stationed outside the US at any given time. Many members of the US military, essentially, take turns being stationed at these international locations. When a new group is about to be sent out on deployment, they will often have a deployment ceremony, and notably, these deployment ceremonies are not often well-photographed - despite being great portrait opportunities.

Members of the military will often be wearing their uniforms, many of their friends and family will attend the Event, and there are often high-ranking political or military figures speaking at the ceremony as well. Basically, it can be a big deal! Anecdotally, one deployment ceremony we attended in Oklahoma City for a group of troops being deployed to Africa for a year filled out the Paycom Center (where the Oklahoma City Thunder, an NBA team, competes). The governor of Oklahoma at the time as well as several other high-ranking figures spoke at the ceremony.

Once the ceremony concluded, all the families and military members in their uniforms spent the next hour or so taking pictures of each other with their phones, struggling to get good lighting, avoid wind, avoid a crowd in the background, etc. It was a perfect opportunity for professional photographers to provide their services, though there were none to be found.

By being aware of a deployment ceremony happening in your area, you could work your way into the Event as a portrait photographer, setting up multiple portrait stations at the Event. Military deployments are deeply emotional and significant events for families and service members, and people are generally dressed in uniforms and formal outfits. Capturing these moments can be nearly historical for those involved, and providing professional photography services will be MUCH appreciated by those photographed.

The prices you set are up to you, but by providing images for sale in real-time to these subjects, you can both provide a very appreciated service to those about to be deployed, as well as generate some amazing revenue for your photography business.

2. Community Fairs and Carnivals

Community fairs and carnivals are vibrant and bustling with activities. However, these events often lack professional photography services. With NowCandid's real-time photo delivery you can deliver images and fun instantly to attendees.

There are two ways to approach this, either being paid substantially upfront by the Event's organizers or sponsors to provide free and instant images to subjects via QuicPics...

OR using PartyPics Now to instantly deliver image galleries where subjects can purchase downloads and physical products to generate revenue in that way instead.

Which of these two methods is more profitable really depends on the Event and the situation - but feel free to Contact Us to discuss which might be profitable for your specific Event! We are always here to help.

3. Fitness Community Events

The fitness community thrives on events like marathons, CrossFit competitions, and triathlons. While large marathons are typically already covered by photographers, the smaller events are perfect for professional photography, as well.

These communities have large social medial audiences and are in constant need of images that are capturing the determination and achievements of participants. So, providing the images you take to the event organizers is always a selling point.

And thanks to Selfie Check-In and NowCandid's Face Matching, you can easily distribute and sell action photos you take of these athletes and competitors to generate significant revenue! Participants love to buy action photo downloads to share their accomplishments on social media.

4. Craft and Art Fairs

Craft and art fairs showcase the creativity and talent of local artisans. By getting a booth space at a fair such as this, you can be accomplishing two things at once!

  1. You can promote your photography business to the outgoing and socialite-infused crowd that tends to visit craft and art fairs, and demonstrate what you're capable of both in terms of skill and technology (thanks to your partners at NowCandid!). This could lead to lots of brand awareness and future bookings for you and your photography company.
  2. In the process of demonstrating your photography skills and technology, you will be taking portraits of subjects and selling them! Having a nice backdrop, a professional camera, and maybe some props can lead to some pretty sellable photos that fair-goers just might purchase!

5. Hobby Conventions and Immersive Experience Events

Hobby conventions, such as comic book conventions and gaming events, are filled with passionate participants and selfie stations that aren't typically staffed by photographers. These events are perfect for professional photography, capturing the unique and vibrant atmosphere.

In addition, anime conventions, comic conventions, gaming conventions, and renaissance fairs are loaded with people in well-designed costumes that took lots of hard work and preparation. By taking professional photos of these individuals, you can generate a lot of sales, as they may want the physical photo products you provide or the high-quality digital downloads that they could post to social media right away.

Plus, you can always provide photos to the Event organizer at the end as well, giving them promotional content for future Events of their own.

Making Niche Events Profitable with NowCandid

NowCandid's advanced technology and real-time delivery system make it possible to turn previously unprofitable niche events into lucrative opportunities. Here's how:

  • Instant Image Delivery: Attendees receive their photos instantly, making them more likely to purchase and share these images.
  • Well-Composed Images: Professional photos enhance the value of the event and are desirable mementos for attendees.
  • Data Collection: Collecting attendee data allows for targeted marketing of their photos, directing them to their pictures the moment they click a marketing link.
  • Physical Products: NowCandid provides a wide variety of photo products your subjects can purchase, giving everybody regardless of differing tastes something to get excited about.
  • LiveLoop Feature (Optional): Displaying images via slideshow in real-time during certain kinds of Events adds excitement and encourages more attendees to participate in photo sessions.

Conclusion

By leveraging NowCandid's innovative tools and workflows, photographers can successfully tap into niche markets that were previously considered unprofitable. From military deployments to community fairs, fitness events, and immersive experiences, the possibilities are endless. NowCandid not only enhances the event experience for attendees but also provides photographers with a profitable and sustainable business model.

Ready to explore new opportunities and expand your photography business?

Connect with us at NowCandid and discover how our services can help you capture and capitalize on every moment. If you have any questions or need further assistance, our support team is here to help you succeed.

https://calendly.com/nowcandid-training

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Transforming Event Photography: How Rachel Sherman Elevated Her Business with NowCandid’s QuicPics
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May 1, 2024

Transforming Event Photography: How Rachel Sherman Elevated Her Business with NowCandid’s QuicPics

5
 minutes read
Rachel Sherman, owner of TSS Photography of South Florida, discovered the game-changing benefits of NowCandid's QuicPics program through a networking opportunity that not only enhanced her business but also solidified new partnerships.

A Chance Meeting Leads to Opportunity

It all began at a Network Lead Exchange (NLX) meeting where Rachel met Mia, a member of NLX. A friendship quickly formed, catalyzed by shared professional values and a mutual dedication to community service. Rachel knew she could lean on NowCandid when she received a last-minute request to cover a “Galantine’s Day Lunch Celebration” through Mia’s referral.

Despite the tight schedule, Rachel rearranged her commitments to cover the event, leveraging the QuicPics program to deliver high-quality, timely photos.

Instant Gratification and Enhanced Visibility

The event was a win-win for all involved. Rachel provided timely and professional photography services, greatly enhancing the experience for attendees who were thrilled to receive instant access to their images. This instant delivery allowed them to share their photos on social media right away, amplifying the event's reach and engagement online.

Meanwhile, the host appreciated the immediate availability of high-quality images which could be leveraged for further marketing efforts.

This efficient service not only helped Rachel cement her reputation as a top-tier photographer but also showcased her ability to add significant value to events by boosting their visibility and attendee satisfaction.

Seizing the Moment with QuicPics

Seeing the QuicPics program in action, Mia was additionally impressed by the custom graphic banners Rachel created for each event, that include the event name and sponsor logos, which prompted her to secure Rachel’s services for the Weston Bar Association's networking luncheon.

Rachel attended the luncheon as a guest, providing a supportive presence while her team easily managed the Tap-A-Face workflow.

Exclusive Partnership Announcement

The collaboration was so successful that at the end of her speech, Mia announced TSS Photography as the Exclusive Photographer for the Weston Bar Association.

This partnership marked a significant milestone for Rachel, demonstrating the powerful impact of effective networking combined with the right technological tools like NowCandid's QuicPics.

A Model for Success

Rachel Sherman’s experience illustrates how integrating innovative tools like NowCandid’s QuicPics can transform a photography business from simply capturing moments to becoming an integral part of community engagement and business growth.

Her story is a testament to the potential that professional photographers can unleash when they combine skill with cutting-edge technology.

For those inspired by Rachel's story and interested in leveraging QuicPics for their own events...

Create your free NowCandid account to learn more about how this tool can elevate your photography business to new heights.

Learn How NowCandid Can Help You Remarket Your Pre-NowCandid Images🌟
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April 22, 2024

Learn How NowCandid Can Help You Remarket Your Pre-NowCandid Images🌟

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For those who are new to NowCandid, let me tell you that NowCandid does a lot to help you continue to make sales on the images that you put through our system!

Things such as:

  • Long-Term Hosting: We keep galleries online for at least 15 years.
  • Ongoing Marketing: Annual Event reminders & occasional consolidated Event marketing.
  • Sales Reinforcement: "Order More" QR codes on print products to encourage reorders.

So, if you're using NowCandid for your current and future Events, those Events are all set to generate plenty of residual sales as the years go by!

However, did you know that NowCandid can be used to easily remarket images from your past, pre-NowCandid Events?

As a photographer, you have probably used other software and sales solutions in the past. That's okay! NowCandid is not a jealous business partner, and we are just happy you're here for us to help you now.

So let's talk about how we can help you get more sales out of those past Events of yours.

The Power of Remarketing 🔄

First off, let me say that this will only work in situations where you have:

  • Pictures of Individuals: Such as headshots or portraits.
  • Corresponding Contact Information: You need to know which contact info goes with which image files.

If you have past Events with those two things readily available, then you can use our oft overlooked FaceMatch Import Workflow to create what we often call a FaceGroup in your NowCandid Dashboard.

You can then use that FaceGroup (pictures of individuals corresponding to an uploaded set of contact information) in any of your NowCandid Events!

Meaning... you could create a NowCandid Event, utilize a FaceGroup of some school picture headshots you did, and then upload to that Event that class's graduation pictures, school pictures, dance pictures, or anything else you'd like to remarket!

Once the "reference images" from your FaceGroup are in the Event as well as your past images of that same group of people - the images will match up using our Face Matching processes and begin a marketing campaign and sales effort that will help you generate some sales on those old images right now, as well as occasional residual sales over the years and years to come.

Your Portfolio, Forever Profitable 💼

As an example, a new NowCandid user performed the exact processes we described above to "remarket" graduation pictures from 4 of the graduations they photographed last year.

Within a month of remarketing those 2023 images, this user generated about $1300 in sales and shipping!

That $1300 will be in addition to the sales they will be able to make as the years go by, thanks to the residual sales tactics we mentioned earlier.

Unlocking New Sales with Old Memories 🔑

So, if you dear reader are in a position to utilize some of the portraits and contact info you've collected in the past, consider using NowCandid to remarket them! Doesn't matter if they're 1, 3, 5, or even 10+ years old.

NowCandid does not charge you any subscription or hosting fees, so even if you were to make $0 in sales, it won't cost you a thing.

We only make money when you do, and we only want to help you earn more and work less!

Get Started Now 🚀

Ready to give your vintage images a new lease on life? Schedule a walkthrough with our specialist, Darwin, and let's get those images working for you once more. Click here to book your session: NowCandid Training

NowCandid is committed to helping you earn more with less effort. Let’s turn those archived galleries into a flourishing sales channel, starting now!
Graduation Success: Candid Color Photography's Triumph at an Oklahoma Advancement Ceremony
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Graduation Success: Candid Color Photography's Triumph at an Oklahoma Advancement Ceremony

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Candid Color Photography (CCP) in Oklahoma City recently orchestrated a resounding success at a local medical school's advancement ceremony.

With only 100 graduates attending the ceremony, CCP generated an impressive average revenue of roughly $49 per person in just 31 days. This achievement underscores the potential of graduation photography when executed well!

While $49 per graduate is incredible, aiming for $20 per graduate is a more consistent target to aim for and achieve for both high school and college graduations. This benchmark is attainable with proper execution, although many events (such as CCP's) can surpass this figure!

Candid Color Photography has been a longtime user of NowCandid & GradPics Now, and is able to get the most out of the program thanks to their experience with the platform! But even in the beginning, they were able to see immediate improvements when switching to NowCandid for their graduations. In 2022, CCP transitioned 82 graduation ceremonies to the GradPics Now program, resulting in a significant 22% increase in sales per person on average, compared to their previous year's sales per person at those same ceremonies.

This switch not only boosted their sales, but it also led to an ~8% discount in their previous production & software costs. NowCandid's Workflows also saved them countless hours in post-event labor compared to their previous workflows.

While there are many factors that can impact your sales averages, here are some of the most important ones CCP keeps in mind at every graduation ceremony they photograph.

Key Strategies for Graduation Photography Success

Quality of Images:

Ensure each photo is properly lit and tightly cropped to create sellable images that appeal to your buyers.

Efficient Data Collection:

Utilizing Selfie Check-In with high participation rates ensures efficient data collection and marketing opportunities. Positioning staff with QR codes at strategic points, like check-in or holding areas, can streamline the process and enhance participant engagement.

Selfie Check-In in combination with using our Capture & Upload app will also allow you to sell to parents and graduates during the ceremony! In our experience and research, speed is one of the most underrated factors in increasing your sales.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, using Selfie Check-In facilitates the next item in our list in a huge way.

Volume of Images:

Using Selfie Check-In frees you from the shackles of sequencing, alignment, and keeping things in order. With it, you can be free to photograph graduates in any order, and add as many extra shots of your subjects as you can.

Beyond standard portraits and handshake moments, with Selfie Check-In enables capturing dynamic processional shots, candid buddy images before the ceremony, and family celebrations post-event.  Employing multiple photographers can facilitate comprehensive coverage.

These extra photos can significantly increase sales volume, as more photos translate to more sales opportunities. In addition to more sales opportunities, it also creates bigger personalized galleries to be marketed to your subjects! Bigger personalized galleries means bigger orders from your buyers.

Preparation is Key:

Having all necessary materials ready, such as your Event's Selfie Check-In QR code, charged batteries and backup equipment, and a clear plan for photo stations, handshake photo timings, and post-ceremony family shots, is essential. Coordination with educational institutions for logistical and promotional support can also yield better outcomes.

Graduation Success Stories from CCP

CCP’s methodical approach has been mirrored in the experiences of individuals like Jason J., Eric M., and Bruce H., whose stories of successful graduation photography projects highlight the effectiveness of these strategies.

Read more about their graduation success stories:

     -     Jason J. - Using Face Matching to its Fullest

     -     Eric M. - School’s Out, Earnings In: A Teacher's GradPics Now Success

     -     Bruce H. - How Bruce H. Used GradPics Now to Increase Sales

By adopting CCP’s proven methods, photographers can transform any graduation event into an even more lucrative opportunity.

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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