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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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Candy’s Weekly Recap: New Dashboard, In-Gallery Background Rendering, and More! 📸 🎉
Feature Updates
October 4, 2024

Candy’s Weekly Recap: New Dashboard, In-Gallery Background Rendering, and More! 📸 🎉

6
 minutes read
Hello, fabulous photographers!

Candy here, and I'm buzzing with excitement to bring you this week's jam-packed recap! 🌟

We've got some big news that's going to make your NowCandid experience even more delightful and efficient. So, let's dive right in! 🏊

🌐 The New Dashboard Is Here to Stay!

First things first—the new NowCandid Dashboard has officially become our main dashboard! 🎊

  • All-in-One Place: Every feature from the old dashboard (now called the Legacy Dashboard) has been brought over, plus so many more new features to supercharge your workflow.
  • New Accounts: All new NowCandid users will exclusively see the new dashboard, ensuring a seamless and modern experience right from the start.
  • Update Your Bookmarks: If you're a long-time user, it's time to say goodbye to old habits. Replace any bookmarks from dashboard.nowcandid.com with app.nowcandid.com. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on all the new goodies! 😉
  • Accessing the Legacy Dashboard: Need to peek at the old dashboard for any reason? No worries! There's a handy button on the new dashboard that lets you access it anytime.

We're thrilled about this upgrade and can't wait for you to explore all the enhanced features designed to make your life easier!

Names on orders withheld for privacy

🖼️ Photographer-Uploaded Backgrounds Render in Personal Galleries

Great news for those of you who love adding that extra flair to your images! Your uploaded backgrounds will now render directly on BGR (Background Removed) images right in your clients' personal galleries. 🌈

  • Visual Impact: Clients can instantly see how amazing their photos look with your custom backgrounds applied.
  • Boost Sales: By showcasing these options upfront, you can provide more options from the get-go it can be a more intuitive experience for your customers.

This enhancement creates a more engaging and personalized shopping experience for your clients!

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🛍️ Retail Site Checkout Improvements

We've made some nifty changes to the checkout process to make it smoother than ever:

  • Split Process: The original checkout flow is now divided into a View Cart screen and a Checkout screen.
    • Better Visibility: Clients can easily review their cart contents before proceeding to checkout.
    • Facilitates Express Options: This change provides space to accommodate our growing number of express checkout options, making the payment process quicker and more flexible.
  • Enhanced Clarity: The new layout reduces confusion and helps prevent cart abandonment, as well as more clarity regarding subtotals and shipping costs.

Making shopping a breeze means happier clients and more sales for you! 💰

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🎒 Bag Tag Product Now Has Live Rendering

Exciting update for the Bag Tag product:

  • Live Rendering: Clients can now see real-time previews of all art styles available for Bag Tags.

Offer your clients a preview of their custom creations to enhance their shopping experience! 🛍️

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📝 Blog Now Accessible in the New Dashboard

Stay informed without ever leaving your dashboard!

  • Integrated Blog: Our blog is now hosted right within the new dashboard.
  • Easy Access: Get the latest updates, tips, and tutorials at your fingertips.
  • Stay Updated: Never miss out on important news that can help you make the most of NowCandid.

Knowledge is power, and we’re putting it right where you need it! 📚

🔐 Update Credit Card Info & Change Password Easily

We've streamlined account management features:

  • Change Credit Card Info: Update your payment details directly from the new dashboard.
  • Change Password: Easily keep your account secure with straightforward password management.

Your convenience and security are our top priorities! 🛡️

🌍 Now Supporting Photographers Worldwide

We’re expanding our horizons!

  • International Support: You can now select countries other than the U.S. during account creation and in your profile settings.
  • Global Community: Photographers around the world will soon be able to use NowCandid to grow their business.

No matter where you are, NowCandid is here to support your photography journey! 🌐

📞 Retail "Contact Us" Visualization

Communication made clearer!

  • Business Info Editor: In your profile settings, you can now visualize how your contact information appears to clients on the retail site.
  • Professional Appearance: Ensure your clients have the correct information to reach out to you when needed.

Clear communication builds trust and improves client relationships! 🤝

🕸️ New Font: Geist!

We're getting into the festive spirit!

  • Font Update: We've switched from Inter to Geist for both the web dashboard content and the retail site.
  • Spooky Vibes: Geist may not look spooky, but the name of the font alone adds a touch of whimsy appropriate for the Halloween season. 🎃

Enjoy a fresh look as you navigate through your dashboard and retail site! 👻

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

We're constantly working to bring you the best tools and features to help your photography business thrive. 🌱

As always, we're here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or feedback, don't hesitate to reach out! 💌

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

P.S. Don't forget to update your bookmarks to app.nowcandid.com to stay connected with all the latest features! 🔖

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! 📸💕

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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