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New Orleans Event Photography: Social Sales Up 60%

New Orleans Event Photography: Social Sales Up 60%

New Orleans Event Photography, led by the dynamic duo of Amy Lombardo and Brian Junod, has had quite the success at a recent social Event!

Though they had successfully covered this annual social Event in 2022, their experience and preparation, combined with NowCandid's improvements over the past year, led to over a 60% increase in sales covering the same Event in 2023.

Left: Amy Lombardo     Right: Brian Junod

The Backstory

New Orleans Event Photography embarked on their NowCandid journey just a week before covering the same annual social event in 2022.

Despite the brief preparation period, they managed to prepare Microsoft Surface Go tablets to utilize NowCandid’s Tap-A-Face, connected to the internet via LTE hotspot, to generate over $15,000 in sales. Typically, devices with LTE built-in are highly recommended, but in a pinch, an LTE hotspot works!

This impressive feat marked just the beginning of their journey with NowCandid! Their 2023 results were even more impressive.

Elevating Sales through Education and Experience

Building on their initial success, the team sought to deepen their understanding of NowCandid's capabilities through workshops and mentorships. This proactive approach was key to their remarkable 60% sales increase.

"With the mentorships and workshops we have done over the past year, we have grown the sales of the same event over 60%," they reported. This educational commitment catapulted their sales from over $15,000 in 2022 to over $25,000 in 2023.

It's worth mentioning that their profit (before paying their photographers & crew) was well over $20,000. An almost 83% profit margin! Not bad for an Event where they were only taking photos for 5 hours.

What were some of the lessons learned through workshops and mentorships? 

Putting some of the more nuanced lessons aside, the basics were: more photographers, more images taken, using LTE-enabled tablets, and knowing when and how to utilize Selfie Check-In.

While in 2022 New Orleans Event Photography had 4-5 photographers at the Event, in 2023 they had 7 photographers in total, with approximately 7 additional crew members there for support.

Additional photographers allowed a significant increase in poses and images taken, while the additional crew streamlined the Event and allowed them to garner hundreds of Selfie Check-Ins as attendees arrived at the Event. Amy & Brian could not have succeeded at this Event without the help of their awesome photographers and crew!

By having additional crew present to acquire Selfie Check-Ins, the photographers did not need to spend as much time on tapping faces (though there were still plenty of Tap-A-Face entries at their Event as well) allowing them time to take even more images.

What New Orleans Event Photography Liked Most About NowCandid:

Focusing on the Photography

One of the standout features that Amy and Brian emphasized was the ability of NowCandid to simplify the complexities of the photo sales process. This allowed them and their team to concentrate fully on their photography and increasing their volume.

"It is nice to be able to just focus on the photography aspect knowing that the sales, marketing, and technical features are being handled by NowCandid," they shared. This focus on photography ensured thorough and professional coverage of the event, enhancing the overall customer experience.

Ease of Use and Customer Satisfaction

The intuitive nature of NowCandid played a significant role in streamlining their workflow and enhancing customer satisfaction.

"Our customers have loved the experience of instantly receiving their photo proofs and being able to order on the spot," Amy & Brian noted. Instant gallery delivery not only simplified the process for the photographers, but also delighted their clients.

Responsive Improvements and Growth

Over the past year, New Orleans Event Photography witnessed firsthand the evolution of NowCandid's Capture & Upload app.

"The NowCandid crew listens to feedback and has vastly improved the application since we first used it a year ago," they acknowledged. This responsiveness to user feedback demonstrates NowCandid’s commitment to continuous improvement, aligning with the evolving needs of professional photographers.

The story of New Orleans Event Photography and NowCandid is one of collaboration, innovation, and remarkable growth.

Their journey showcases how the right tools, combined with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction, can lead to exceptional outcomes in event photography.

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Transforming Event Photography: How Rachel Sherman Elevated Her Business with NowCandid’s QuicPics
Success Stories
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🌟
Success Stories
April 22, 2024

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

8
 minutes read

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
Success Stories
April 17, 2024

Graduation Success: Candid Color Photography's Triumph at an Oklahoma Advancement Ceremony

7
 minutes read
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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