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Holiday Gear Up

Holiday Gear Up
Are you ready for the Holiday Season?

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.

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

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.

Santa Portrait Station Success

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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

NowCandid Workflows: Make Your Holiday Events a Breeze

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

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

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

  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.
  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!

Seasonal Retail Theme to Add to the Experience

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.

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.

Theme: Candy Cane - Watermarking: Default

Use Overlay Art to Add a Special Touch

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

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.

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.

Why You Shouldn't Sleep on Holiday Opportunities

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.

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.

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?

Don't Miss Out: Prep for the Holidays Now

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.

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.

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

Candy 🍬

Related articles

Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!📸🎉
Feature Updates
October 1, 2024

Candy's September Recap: New Features from Last Month!📸🎉

10
 minutes read
Hello, wonderful photographers!

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

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.

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. ✨

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

1. Manual Gallery Assignment & Participant Creation 🛠️

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

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

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

2. Tweaks to the Retail Site for a Smoother Experience 🛍️

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

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

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

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3. Default Price Levels Are Back! 💰

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

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

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

For a detailed breakdown, click here.

4. New Image Notifications for Previous Purchasers 🛎️

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

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

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

5. Google Pay Added to Express Checkout Options 💳

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

Our available payment methods now include:

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

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

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6. Capture App Version 4.4 for iOS & Windows 📱💻

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

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

Upgrade now to enjoy these enhancements!

7. Enhanced Folders Report 📊

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

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

Optimize your event management like never before!

8. Bulk Visibility Control for Image Folders 📁

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

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

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

9. Customize "All Event Images" Gallery Settings 🖼️

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

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

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

10. Simplified Selfie Check-In 📲

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

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

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

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11. New Unsubscribe Keyword: "NOPE"! 🚫

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

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

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

12. Seasonal Retail Themes: Apple Crumble & Candy Corn 🍂🎃

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

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

Delight your clients with these charming themes!

Note: the Leaves & 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 :)

Theme: Apple Crumble - Watermarking: Off

Theme: Candy Corn - Watermarking: Off

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

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

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

Until next week, keep capturing those amazing moments!

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

Jowdy Photography Scores Big with NowCandid 🏈📸
Success Stories
September 26, 2024

Jowdy Photography Scores Big with NowCandid 🏈📸

5
 minutes read
Hey there, photography enthusiasts!

We've got an exciting success story that combines the thrill of NFL action with the power of NowCandid's innovative software. 📷✨

Touchdown for Jowdy Photography and NowCandid!

Jowdy Photography, the Official Photographers of the Dallas Cowboys, recently took their game day photography to the next level by integrating NowCandid into their operations.

The result? An astounding 103% increase in sales per image at their very first game day event using our platform! 🏆

"We saw a huge increase in sales per image at our first game with NowCandid, and we're planning to continue using it for every game moving forward," said Jeff Jowdy, Founder of Jowdy Photography. "The software has completely changed our approach to game day photography."

Game-Changing Technology

By leveraging NowCandid's cutting-edge features, Jowdy Photography streamlined their workflow and delivered a seamless experience for fans.

Our platform's real-time image delivery and flexible workflows gave fans instant access to their photos through private, user-friendly galleries.

Not only did this enhance the fan experience, but it also significantly reduced post-event labor costs. Talk about a win-win! 🎉

Unlocking New Opportunities

With NowCandid, Jowdy Photography has opened doors to new ventures that were previously off the table. "There were business opportunities that we didn’t pursue before because they weren’t profitable or photographable," Jeff explained. "Now, with NowCandid's tools and workflows, those ventures have become entirely possible."

From high school graduations to corporate events, our flexible and intuitive platform allows photographers to handle events of all sizes and types. This versatility is what drew Jowdy Photography to integrate NowCandid into more aspects of their business.

Looking Ahead

We're thrilled to see Jowdy Photography's continued success as they capture unforgettable moments at game days and beyond. Their partnership with NowCandid highlights the power of innovative photography solutions in revolutionizing the fan experience while driving business growth. 🚀

Join the Winning Team!

Are you ready to elevate your photography business like Jowdy Photography did?

Discover how NowCandid can transform your workflow, boost your sales, and delight your clients.

Visit NowCandid.com to learn more!

About Jowdy Photography

Founded in 1987, Jowdy Photography has become a leader in digital photography for corporations, associations, special events, and large venues.

Their extensive knowledge of photography, coupled with their utilization of the latest technology, enables them to deliver a unique blend of quality, creativity, and personalization to their customers' finished products.

Stay tuned for more success stories and tips on how NowCandid can help you capture life's best moments while growing your business.

Happy shooting! 📸💕

Big News: Introducing GroupTags for SportsPics! 🌟
Feature Updates
September 12, 2024

Big News: Introducing GroupTags for SportsPics! 🌟

5
 minutes read
Hey, sports photographers!

Candy here, and I’m super excited to share a brand-new feature designed to make your SportsPics Events even easier to manage—introducing GroupTags! 🎉⚽🏀⚾

So, what exactly are GroupTags? 🤔


GroupTags is a feature made specifically for our SportsPics Program!

When you’re managing a big sports shoot with group photos, GroupTags helps you stay organized and deliver a smoother experience for your clients.

Here’s how it works:

1. Before your Event

You can set up as many GroupTags as you need within an Event. These GroupTags could be team names, league divisions, or even different sports if you're covering all of one school's teams over the same weekend. 🏆

2. Once you’ve started photographing

Anytime you mark a photo as a Group Photo (either on the Capture & Upload App, or on the Web Dashboard), you’ll have the option to assign a GroupTag to it. 📸

3. Once They Visit the Retail Site

Your subjects will be able to choose from the GroupTags you set up, and easily find their group shots!

As soon as they arrive to the retail site via their person gallery link, they'll be prompted to choose a GroupTag.

4. Mission Accomplished!

And once they select a GroupTag, they'll see their personal images, in addition to their Group Photos!

How does this help your clients?

To recap:


When your customers open the link to their personal gallery, they’ll be prompted to select their GroupTag—whether that’s a team name, division, or whatever you’ve set up for the Event.

With their GroupTag selected, their Group Photos will show up right alongside their individual images, making it super easy for them to see everything at once! 🖼️

Plus! GroupTags automatically fill in the GroupTag Name on products like Memory Mates, Bag Tags, and more when ordering. How cool is that? ✨

Need to make changes? No problem!


GroupTags are easy to edit after the Event if you need to fix a mistake or assign a Group Photo to multiple GroupTags. And don’t worry—if there’s ever a typo or minor error, your customers can still browse and shop while you fix it in the background! 🛍️

Works with all Workflows!


Whether you’re using Face Matching or Positive ID Workflows, GroupTags are a fantastic way to organize your Group Photos for large sports leagues or any big SportsPics Event. ⚡

Quick Recap:

As a reminder, marking a photo as a Group Photo will only allow it to be purchased on Group Photo Products, allowing you to sell them on different prints at different prices, prevent the sale of digital downloads for Group Photos, and allow them to be selected on multi-image products like Memory Mates.

We hope GroupTags makes your next SportsPics Event even smoother!

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions. 💌

Until next time, happy shooting! 🏅📸

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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