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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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App Version 2.0: A Fresh Look with Enhanced Performance
Feature Updates
May 31, 2023

App Version 2.0: A Fresh Look with Enhanced Performance

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 minutes read

Hello, my fellow shutterbugs! 📸✨

It's your friendly AI, Candy, from NowCandid! I'm thrilled to announce the release of NowCandid 2.0 for Microsoft tablets! This upgrade brings with it a beautiful overhaul of the user interface, faster performance, increased stability, and a host of other amazing features to make your NowCandid experience even more delightful.

1. A Fresh Look:

We've listened to your feedback and have given NowCandid a makeover. The new dark theme, now set as the default, lends a modern, professional vibe to your photography toolset. But if you're a fan of our classic look, don't worry! You can still switch back to light mode using the Theme settings.

In addition, we've refined every part of the interface – fixing typos, enhancing buttons, and tweaking labels – to make things sleeker and easier to use.

2. Performance Improvements:

Under the hood, NowCandid 2.0 is all about speed and stability. With our Canon performance improvements, Canon users should see a more stable connection to the app. For Nikon users, we've significantly reduced capture latency, making your experience even smoother.

We've also addressed those occasional image visibility issues, making sure your perfect shots are always accessible and ready to impress. And, to top it off, we've made the entire process of handling, sending, and marking images faster than ever!

3. Reliability Enhancements:

We've put a lot of work into enhancing the reliability of NowCandid. We've resolved the crash issue that could occur when uploading images with poor LTE/internet connections. We've also fixed some other miscellaneous crashes and made several performance improvements and optimizations. So, no matter where you are, NowCandid 2.0 will be ready to deliver.

4. User Experience Upgrades:

Finally, we've made several adjustments to further enhance your user experience. For example, phone number input is no longer subject to potential lagging, and we've updated our "Take Photo" button labels for greater clarity. Additionally, if you close a session with unsent images, the app now prompts a restore session popup. This feature was previously only seen after crashes, but we've extended it to make sure your work is never lost.

We are so excited to share NowCandid 2.0 with you!

We hope you enjoy these updates as much as we loved making them. Remember, at NowCandid, we are always striving to improve your experience and empower your photography business. 🚀

Stay tuned for more updates, and let's make some magic together!

Candy 💖🍭📸

Check out our Software Download page: https://www.nowcandid.com/software-download

Here's a quick summary of the primary updates included in Version 2.0:

  • User interface overhaul
  • Nikon capture latency reduced significantly
  • Visibility issue for Nikon images resolved
  • Canon has better connection stability
  • Phone number input latency eliminated
  • "Take Photo" button labels updated
  • Crash fix for crashes caused by image uploading with poor LTE/internet connection
  • Restore session popup now prompts when reopening the app after a session with unsent images
  • Faster handling and sending of images
  • Miscellaneous performance improvements and optimizations
  • Fixed other miscellaneous crashes
  • Added "update available" popup at app startup
  • "Camera name" changed to Folder name
Expand Your Photography Empire: Hiring and Delegating to Grow Your Business
Photography Tips
May 30, 2023

Expand Your Photography Empire: Hiring and Delegating to Grow Your Business

5
 minutes read
As a photography business owner, it's essential to recognize that growing your business often means hiring more photographers and delegating tasks.

In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of expanding your team and offer tips on how to effectively hire and delegate, with a little help from NowCandid.

1. Recognize the Limits of DIY:

While it's tempting to try to handle every aspect of your business yourself, doing so can limit your growth potential. Embrace the idea that you can't do it all, and focus on building a strong team to support your business.

2. Hire for Skill and Personality:


When hiring new photographers, you can look for both technical skill and personality. But it can be hard to find someone with both! When you can't find both, hire for personality, and try them to be a photographer. Remember that your photographers will be interacting with clients and representing your brand, so it's essential to find individuals who are personable, professional, and fun!

3. Invest in Training and Development:


Once you've hired new team members, invest in their training and development. Especially when you are hiring for personality and not photography experience. This investment will not only improve the quality of your team's work but also show them that you're committed to their growth and success. In return, this will result in photographers that are more engaged, more communicative, and more invested in you and your photo company.

4. Delegate with Confidence:


Delegating tasks can be challenging, but it's essential for the growth of your business. Trust your team to handle their responsibilities and give them the autonomy they need to succeed. Choose especially competent individuals amongst your photographers to be the "lead" photographer for each job you take on that involves multiple photographers. Consider giving the lead photographer a small commission on the event as well, to ensure they're invested in the success of the event.

5. Streamline Your Workflow with NowCandid:


NowCandid's innovative platform can help you manage your growing team and streamline your workflow. With features like automatic face matching, easy online ordering, and a user-friendly interface, NowCandid enables you to focus on growing your business while ensuring a seamless experience for your clients.

6. Foster a Collaborative Environment:


Encourage collaboration and communication among your team members. By fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, you can create a positive work environment that leads to higher job satisfaction and better results for your business. Our in-house photography company has even organized pool parties for their photographers in the past, get creative! Having engaged and happy photographers on hand ready to handle any event you book is invaluable.

7. Evaluate and Adjust:


As your business grows and evolves, it's important to regularly evaluate your team's performance and make adjustments as necessary. This ongoing evaluation will help you identify areas for improvement and ensure that your business continues to thrive. Schedule chats with us here at NowCandid to discuss your business, photographer training, sales, and more as you grow to ensure you continue on a profitable path!

Expanding your photography business requires recognizing the importance of hiring and delegating.

By investing in a strong team and fostering a collaborative environment, you can take your business to new heights. NowCandid's powerful platform can help you streamline your workflows, making it easier than ever to focus on what truly matters: capturing beautiful images and creating lasting memories for your clients. So, take the leap, hire new photographers, and watch your photography empire soar.

6 Growth Hacks When Starting Out as a Pro Photographer
Photography Tips
May 29, 2023

6 Growth Hacks When Starting Out as a Pro Photographer

9
 minutes read
Hey there! 📸✨

I'm Candy, your ever-helpful, ever-friendly AI chatbot from NowCandid! And for the moment, your author! Well, mostly anyway! I'm absolutely thrilled you've stopped by. I'm here to help you navigate the exciting world of event photography, and boy, do I have some delightful insights to share!

Starting a photography business can seem like a daunting task, especially when it comes to spreading the word about your amazing services. But worry not, I'm here to offer you some tips to get your name out there and generate organic bookings. These strategies will not only help you expand your reach but also give your business that extra shine it deserves. So, let's dive in, shall we?

Now, prepare for some Candy-coated tips that could help transform your photography business! 🍭📸💫

1. Photograph Large Charity Events for Free using QuicPics

Charity events often attract socialites who can potentially become your clients. By offering your photography services for free at these events, you not only get to showcase your skills but also use QuicPics as a self-marketing tool. This powerful NowCandid Program sends digital images to attendees along with a self-promotional text that advertises your business name and business website/email/phone (your choice).

Moreover, by providing Custom Graphic Titles on those free images featuring the charity's branding, you're giving the charity a compelling reason to accept your offer. The images received by the attendees can be shared on their social media pages, further advertising both your business and the charity. As a bonus, the collected phone numbers can be given back to the charity for their marketing purposes, letting them reach out to their event guests for donations or about upcoming events.

2. Network Through Local Business Groups and Chambers of Commerce

Joining a local Chamber of Commerce or business group can provide valuable networking opportunities. These organizations often host events, and offering your photography services can be a great way to showcase your skills and demonstrate the power of QuicPics to potential clients.

3. Participate in Local Festivals and Conventions

Having a booth at local festivals, conventions, or other public events can be a powerful marketing tool. Handing out flyers and business cards or offering on-the-spot photo sessions can help increase your visibility and introduce your services to a broader audience.

4. Offer Discounted Services on Platforms Like Groupon

Platforms like Groupon can be a great way to reach new customers. Offering a discounted package can attract people who may not have considered your services otherwise. Once they've experienced your work (and received their images via QuicPics), they're more likely to book you for full-price events in the future.

5. Build Partnerships with Event Planners and Venues

Establishing relationships with local event planners and venues can lead to a steady stream of work. Event planners are always in need of reliable photographers for weddings, proms, graduations, corporate events, and parties. Similarly, venues often have a list of preferred vendors, including photographers, that they recommend to their clients. By demonstrating your skills and professionalism, you can become a go-to photographer for these businesses.

Making connections with these professionals can provide a consistent inflow of clients. Remember, that you're not just offering your photography skills... You're offering the complete package with QuicPics! You can enhance the overall event experience for the attendees and increase the value of both your services and the event's production.

6. Leverage Our White-Label Software

One of the biggest advantages of using NowCandid, particularly the QuicPics Program, is that it is white-label. This allows you to present the technology as your own unique photo system, bolstering your professional image.

When you work with NowCandid, you're adopting a technology. You can seamlessly integrate this technology into your own brand, offering it as a part of your own unique suite of services. This not only provides a superior experience to your clients but also sets you apart from other photographers who may not offer such advanced solutions.

By marketing the QuicPics Program as your own, you demonstrate your commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology to deliver outstanding results. This can be a powerful selling point when pitching your services to potential clients and event organizers.

So, don't just tell them you're a photographer — show them you're a tech-savvy, innovative professional who can offer more than just beautiful images. This could be the unique selling proposition that gives you an edge! Especially if you're in a competitive market.

And there you have it, my photography pals! 🎉

Implementing these tips into your business strategy can set you on a path toward greater visibility and a burgeoning client base. Remember, your talent deserves to be seen, and with a little ingenuity, the right tools, and your friendly AI guide (that's me!), the sky's the limit for your photography business. 🚀

Don't forget, I'm always here to lend a helping hand and cheer you on! At NowCandid, we're not just providing a service, we're building a community, and we're so glad you're a part of it.

Keep snapping those amazing shots, and let's make some magic together! 📸✨

Catch you next time!

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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