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6 Growth Hacks When Starting Out as a Pro Photographer

6 Growth Hacks When Starting Out as a Pro Photographer
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 💖

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Weekly Recap: JerseyJotter™, SportsPics Action Pricing, and Smarter Gallery Sharing🏷️
Feature Updates
June 20, 2025

Weekly Recap: JerseyJotter™, SportsPics Action Pricing, and Smarter Gallery Sharing🏷️

7
 minutes read
Hey there, it’s Candy!

This week, we’re bringing the action with jersey recognition, fresh new price levels for sports events, and a sleek gallery-sharing upgrade that makes your links pop.

Let’s dive in! 💦

🧢 Introducing: JerseyJotter™

Your new MVP for sports galleries has arrived!

JerseyJotter™ automatically adds searchable filters to the All Images gallery for SportsPics Events:

  • 🎽 Color Recognition – identifies the primary shirt/jersey color worn in the photo.
  • 🔢 Number Recognition – picks up numbers from jerseys or racing bibs

You can toggle:

  • ✅ Both on
  • ✅ Only one
  • ✅ Or turn them both off

✅ Color & Number Recognition will work for both Positive ID and Face Matching Events (as long as the All Images Gallery is turned on)


🔍 Customers can filter using either filter independently, or both filters at once!

It’s your new best friend for organizing crowded team galleries!

💸 New SportsPics (Action) Price Levels + Offer Template

We’ve added new price levels and a recommended offer template for action-packed sports coverage. These are designed to complement JerseyJotter™ and better suit high-volume, high-energy photo galleries.

Perfect for:

  • 🏃‍♂️ Race day events
  • 🏈 Game-day action
  • 🏀 Sideline candids

If you’re used to SportsPics Portrait pricing, give this new setup a look—it might be a better fit for your action photgraphy Events!

🔗 Gallery Sharing Just Got an Upgrade

Now when you share your NowCandid Gallery Links via:

  • 📱 iMessage
  • 💬 Discord
  • ✉️ Other messaging platforms

They’ll automatically preview using your Event’s retail cover photo (if one’s set) — or fall back to the first image in the gallery, no complete with copyright-watermarking.

📸 Cleaner. Sharper. Way more pro.

🔍 Dashboard Search Boost

  • Hit Control + K (or find it in the Extras dropdown) to search Orders and Events
  • Because finding stuff fast should feel like magic 🪄

✨ Tiny Changes & Bug Splatting

  • 🧵 View Sequence logic now uses image names for better chronological accuracy
  • 🪲 Smashed a bajillion bugs (yes, bajillion is a real number)
    • Including quirks with email marketing
    • And rare background removal issues in relation to group photos & group products

That’s it for this week! If you're capturing athletes, races, or energetic action shots, this update was made just for you. 💪

Until next time,


📣 Candy

Graduation Was Great… But What If You Missed the Selfie Check-Ins™?🎓
GradPics
June 18, 2025

Graduation Was Great… But What If You Missed the Selfie Check-Ins™?🎓

7
 minutes read
Hey there, grad photographers! 👋

Candy here from NowCandid, and we need to talk about a common situation we’ve been hearing a lot about:

“I didn’t get enough graduates to do Selfie Check-In™… now what?!”

We get it. When you're new to the Selfie Check-In™ system, it’s easy to be a little too passive — maybe you just printed QR codes on handouts or stuck signs around the venue. That’s a decent start, and sure, it’ll get you some check-ins… but not nearly enough to maximize your reach (and sales 💸).

So what should have happened? Ideally, you have staff at the entrance — where all the grads arrive — actively guiding them through Selfie Check-In™ before they even get to the ceremony space. Yes, it may feel pushy at first, but schools usually love that you’re making sure families get the photos they want. Some schools even appreciate the contact info you collect, because it helps them stay connected with their new alumni! 🎓💌

But that’s beside the point. Graduation season is winding down now. You can’t go back in time and be more assertive with check-ins. So the question is:

😰 You Missed the Selfie Check-Ins™… What Now?

Good news: All is not lost! 🙌

We just added a set of brand-new post-graduation email templates to our Digital Marketing Materials, accessible via our Resources Page.

These are customizable Word docs you can quickly edit and send to the school — making it super easy for them to email students and parents the Selfie Check-In™ URL.

These emails invite grads and families to check in after the event, so they can still receive their images. We even included:

  • ✅ A version you can send to the school to make the ask
  • ✅ A version the school can send to grads & families directly
  • ✅ Language that’s clear, warm, and action-driven

By doing this, you’ll reach a bunch of people who want their photos but never knew how to access them. It means:

📸 More participants tagged

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 More happy families

💰 More sales coming your way!

📈 Real Results: One Photographer's Experience

One photographer we worked with saw many graduates did not complete their Selfie Check-In™ by the day of the event. So, after the ceremony, the photographer asked the school to send a follow-up message using our post-event template.

The result?


Participation is up 12% so far! Between additional participation and continued marketing campaigns - Event revenue has increased significantly since the photographer asked the schools to send out these emails for the stragglers!

📬 Let’s Hear From You!

Whether this graduation season was a smashing success or a learning experience, we want to hear from you.

Got feedback? Success stories? Questions? Rants? Raves? We’re all ears. 👂💕

Drop us a note right here: nowcandid.com/contact

Your feedback helps us grow — and we’re always looking to celebrate wins or learn how we can make your job easier next year!

Until next grad season,


💖 Candy from NowCandid

Weekly Recap: A Slicker Image Details Page & Some Nice Quality-of-Life Upgrades📸
Feature Updates
June 13, 2025

Weekly Recap: A Slicker Image Details Page & Some Nice Quality-of-Life Upgrades📸

4
 minutes read
Hey friends, Candy here!

This week we’ve got a shiny new Image Details page, some small but mighty tweaks across the board, and a handful of fixes to make your dashboard life just a bit smoother.

Let’s take a peek! 👀

🌟 Brand-New Image Details Page!

Your favorite behind-the-scenes image panel just got a makeover—and it's so much faster now! Whether you’re digging into face match data or reviewing contact info, everything’s loading snappier and more clearly than ever.

You’ll notice:

  • • Cleaner layout 🧼
  • • Larger image preview
  • Speedy load times ⚡
  • Better organization of metadata 🗂️

Details, Participants, and Logs have also been split into three distinct tabs!

Go ahead, give it a click from the Manage Images page or a Participant's Details page!

You can even hover highlighted faces with your mouse to view attached Participants!

In case you need to know how to get to the Image Details page!

🔧 Misc Changes & Improvements

Some smart, helpful little tweaks that add up to a smoother experience:

  • 🔗 Image Details links added to image previews on the Participant Details page (because shortcuts are life).
  • 🖼️ Free Download / Medium-Res Download for QuicPics™ Events are now set to a 2:3 aspect ratio—perfect for showcasing your 2:3 Full Frame overlay art!
  • 📦 Better retail display for big packages: Packages with 5+ items are now prettier, yay!

A look at the new 5+ Item Package graphic! Retail Theme: Liquorice - Event Program: QuicPics

  • 🎯 Face Matching Confidence level is now selectable during Event Creation, not just after. Set your confidence from the start!
  • 🛡 GalleryGuard™ has been updated to work even on iOS 26. The screenshots stay black. The images stay safe.

🐛 Bug Fixes

A few pesky things we squashed this week:

  • 🚫 The Unassigned Images count no longer includes BGR cutouts that have already been matched. More accurate image management FTW.
  • 🔄 Some Events were having trouble loading the Manage Images page. That glitch has now been zapped. 💥

That’s all for now!

Be sure to check out the new Image Details page, and if you haven’t yet, try out GalleryGuard™ on your own iOS device—it’s basically wizardry. 🧙‍♂️

Until next week,
💖 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.

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text

How to customize formatting for each rich text
How to customize formatting for each rich text

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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

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Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

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