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📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 12 – Photo Booth Mode! 🎄🎉

📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 12 – Photo Booth Mode! 🎄🎉
Hello, my festive photographers!

Candy here, and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate.

We’ve arrived at the 12th Day of Christmas, and I’m thrilled to unwrap our biggest new feature of 2024—Photo Booth Mode in the Capture & Upload App!

The new NowCandid Capture & Upload App Version that includes Photo Booth Mode will be going live at the end of December,... this very month!

Let’s get into the holiday spirit and explore everything this mode has to offer. 🎁

What Is Photo Booth Mode? 🤶

Photo Booth Mode is a brand-new option inside our Capture & Upload App—you’ll see a shiny new “Photo Booth” button once you log in to an Event and create a Folder (after the update of course).

Give that Photo Booth button a tap, and voilà: your iPad turns into a photo booth station where guests can snap fun pictures with minimal hassle!

  • Multiple Camera Options: Tether a Nikon, Sony, or Canon camera, or use your iPad’s front-facing camera, depending on your particular photo booth setup.
  • Solid Internet Connection Required: The app downloads any custom overlays or backgrounds you’ve set on the web dashboard, and live-uploading images of course requires an internet connection, so stable Wi-Fi or LTE is essential!

It’s perfect for holiday parties, corporate shindigs, weddings, or any event where a lighthearted photo booth can bring on the smiles!

The Photo Booth Flow ⏱️

Here’s how Photo Booth Mode keeps your guests engaged:

  1. Tap to Begin Screen: A dimmed live view awaits guests to tap and start. Once they do, the booth will let them know to get ready for three photos.
  2. Three Countdown Shots: Each shot has a 3-second countdown followed by a short preview of the taken pic after each shot. If your event uses a Bottom Banner Overlay or Full Frame Overlay, it shows up in the live view, so no one ends up hidden behind the graphics!
  3. Instant Delivery & Overlays: In Events using the QuicPics Program, each photo is sent via MMS with the overlay art included! And with every NowCandid Program, a gallery link is delivered where retail site users can download images and order photo products.

Guests can hop in, pose, and receive fun, branded photos—no fuss required! 🎉

On-Device Backgrounds & Filters 🎨

Before finalizing those memorable pics, guests can personalize them right on the device:

  • Background Selection: If you’ve uploaded custom backgrounds on the web dashboard, the app fetches them before the booth session. Guests can pick from these in addition to several default backgrounds, great for holiday vibes or brand-specific themes.
  • Filter Options: Classic filters like Noir, Sepia, Clarendon, and others let participants get creative.
  • Reshoot Button: Not happy with the shot? Guests can “Reshoot” and start the session over at any time.

This ensures a lively, interactive experience that encourages guests to come back for more snaps. ⛄

Positive ID vs. Face Matching 🧐

After styling, the next step depends on your event’s workflow:

  • For Face Matching Events: Guests are guided to tap the faces they see on-screen, and then can enter contact info for each face! If this is their first or only reference photo for the Event, it will also match them to shots taken outside the Photo Booth!
  • For Positive ID Events: A simpler approach: participants just type in their contact info and send off the images! Easy peasy.

Either way, photos head straight to their phones via QuicPics (if you’re using that Program) and will always land in their personal gallery. 🔔

Seamless Integration with NowCandid 💖

Photo Booth Mode plugs right into your existing NowCandid features:

  • Selfie Check-In & LiveLoop: Photo booth images appear in your LiveLoop feed if you’re displaying one at the event. Selfie Check-Ins can still match participants to their booth photos too if they don't self-identify during their photo booth session!
  • QuicPics & PartyPics: The images upload instantly, letting your guests receive them right away via MMS (with QuicPics), or find them in their personal gallery for easy purchase or free download (with every Program).

It’s the same NowCandid ecosystem you know—just dressed up in a festive booth format! 🎄

Requirements & Limitations 🎅

A few notes to keep in mind:

  • Camera Orientation:
    • Nikon supports horizontal and vertical live view.
    • Sony/Canon currently only support horizontal orientation for tethered cameras.
  • iPad-Only for Now:
    • Photo Booth Mode works on iPad in vertical orientation, not on iPhone or Windows.
  • No Built-In Printing:
    • If you need on-site prints, consider setting up your own print station with a computer and a printer! Use quic.pics/portal to access your Event images, and then download images with or without overlays to print them on-site.
  • We Value Feedback:
    • Missing something? Let us know! Your input shapes our next updates.

Why Photo Booth Mode Is a Holiday Treat 🎁

  • Interactive & Fun: Guests love choosing backgrounds, filters, and overlays, making the booth a memorable attraction.
  • Fully Integrated: Works seamlessly with QuicPics, PartyPics, LiveLoop, Face Matching, and more.
  • Revenue & Engagement Boost: Branded overlays, holiday backgrounds, or sponsor tie-ins can lead to higher sales and delighted clients.

This mode is a surefire way to add a dash of cheer to any event—holiday-themed or otherwise! ✨

That’s all for now, folks.

We hope Photo Booth Mode adds a dash of magic to your season and beyond.

And thank you for following along with our 12 Days of Christmas!

Enjoy this new feature, and as always, keep capturing the moments that matter most.

Reminder: The new NowCandid Capture & Upload App Version that includes Photo Booth Mode will be going live at the end of December, this month!

Candy 🍬

Related articles

LiveLoop: Our New Live-Slideshow Feature! 🎉
Feature Updates
November 10, 2023

LiveLoop: Our New Live-Slideshow Feature! 🎉

6
 minutes read

Hey there, it's Candy! 🍭

You know, I might be a digital entity, but I sure do love catching the latest trends in the photography world. And today, I've got a delightful update that’s bound to project your events into a new dimension! 📷✨

Remember those times when you wished you could showcase the beautiful moments you've captured, almost instantly, to all the guests at an Event? Well, the tech wizards at NowCandid have waved their magic wands, and voila, we now have LiveLoop available for every NowCandid Event you create!

🎞 Live and Lively!


So, what is this "LiveLoop"? It's a game-changer! As you snap and upload pictures using the Capture & Upload App, they’ll seamlessly slide into a live-slideshow, updating in real-time as images are uploaded and processed (processing and enhancing an image on the backend takes a minute or so after the upload is complete).

That's right! The photos you just took will make their grand entrance into the slideshow as it LiveLoops through your images, putting them on display for all to see.

To use it, all you need to do is copy a LiveLoop Link from one of your NowCandid Events, and send it to any device you want to use to display the LiveLoop slideshow. It's a URL unique to the Event you copied it from, ready to Loop through all the images you have uploaded to the Event, even as you Live-upload them!

So, to clarify: an internet connection is required for it to display all the latest images you've uploaded! Any laptop connected to a projector or in-house AV system will need a stable internet connection to run the LiveLoop slideshow.

🔄 The Smooth Flow:


The image appearing isn't just a one-and-done deal. Once the freshly uploaded images have had their moment in the spotlight, the LiveLoop smartly pivots back to the queue, picking up from where it left off. So while the priority is given to newly uploaded images, when there's a lull in new photos the others will be Looped through!

🖼 Sleek and Simple:


Aiming for elegance? For now, each image graces the screen in its full, unbranded glory against a simple black backdrop, transitioning every five seconds with a fade.

While there might be additional customization bells and whistles in the future, we're starting with a minimalist approach. Because sometimes, simplicity is the key to sophistication.

💰 An Upselling Powerhouse:


There’s more to this feature than meets the eye. Think of it as an add-on for clients wanting that extra pizzazz with a projector, or provide the link to event organizers to display the slideshow across event monitors.

This is not just a feature; it's an opportunity. Some entertainment providers like DJs are raking in big bucks (think $1000 or more!) just for similar services. So, whether you use it as a stellar upsell or a tempting freebie to seal the deal with an organizer, the potential is immense!

📸 Boosted Participation:


Here’s a sweet tidbit from our observations: when event attendees see themselves lighting up the screens, they're more inclined to strike a pose or two. They'll seek out photographers so that they can be put up on the big screen!

The LiveLoop isn't just a visual treat; it's a powerful magnet, pulling in guests to get clicked by you and your photographers, thereby amplifying your sales by increasing your total image count! When using PartyPics Now of course, as it is sales-oriented versus the service-oriented QuicPics.

🍿View LiveLoop in Action:

💻 Pro-Tip:


Before I sign off, here’s a techie tip for those keen on a seamless display: use the F11 key on your Windows device to go full-screen with your browser. And for the Mac and Safari aficionados, the green button at the top should do the trick.

Happy snapping, dear photographers!

Remember, in this age of instant gratification, the LiveLoop is your ticket to winning hearts and boosting business. Keep those shutters clicking and slides rolling! 🎥🍿

Stay sweet!

Candy 🍬

QuicPics Just Got Quicker! 🚀
QuicPics
October 27, 2023

QuicPics Just Got Quicker! 🚀

2
 minutes read
Hey, photo fanatics!

Candy here, with a flash update (pun intended) that's going to rev up your NowCandid experience. Ready to capture the moment? 📸

Blink and You'll Miss It!


Using a Positive ID Workflow like Type & Take, Scanner ID, or Name Lookup? You're in for a treat! QuicPics images are now zooming to individuals at warp speed. We've supercharged the tech behind it so you can send those stunning shots faster than you can say "cheese!"

And for Face Matching Workflow Events using Tap-A-Face, Selfie Check-In, or FaceMatch Import - expect QuicPics images to sprint to your guests just a tad faster than before. Maybe not light-speed like our Positive ID pals, but definitely faster!

Sweet Savings Alert! 🍬


Did you catch our little tweak from last month? The fee for each uploaded image when using QuicPics dipped to just $0.20, down from $0.31. Savings, speed, and sensational images? Talk about a picture-perfect combo!

A friendly reminder: PartyPics Now, Portraits Now, GradPics Now, and SportsPics Now have absolutely zero fees per uploaded image. QuicPics is the only NowCandid Program that has any sort of fees!

Cheers to capturing moments even quicker, and keep those shutters snapping!

Stay snazzy,

Candy 🍭💜📷

Important Update! Apple iOS 1.0.8
Feature Updates
October 26, 2023

Important Update! Apple iOS 1.0.8

5
 minutes read
Hey there, NowCandid users!

It’s Candy, back again with an important update about the Apple iOS Capture & Upload app!

There is an issue with vertical images taken on Nikons when using the NowCandid Capture & Upload app on Apple iOS. The images do not rotate to appear vertical properly on the retail site!

To fix this issue, install version 1.0.8, now available on the iOS App Store.

Moving on!

We've been listening, tweaking, and perfecting to bring you changes in this version that not only address some pesky bugs but also enhance the app’s performance and looks. Here’s the lowdown:

📸 Bigger and Better Preview

For those using an iPad, your recently captured image screen just got a major size boost! You can now view your recent masterpieces in even bigger glory.

📷 Camera Loading Tips

Waiting can be a drag, right? If your camera’s taking a tad too long to load, we've sprinkled in some handy tips to speed things up. Namely, using a fresh/empty SD card or an SD card with a faster transfer-speed!

🔍 From Image to Folder

Based on the feedback from our amazing user community (shoutout to you all! 🌟), we changed "Open Image" button in the image gallery to "Open Folder". So now, you can quickly jump to the specific event and folder where a photo was taken.

🚀 Performance Boost!

Rendering the vertical image list is now faster and more memory-efficient. Not that it was lagging before, but hey, there’s always room for a sprinkle of improvement, right?

🛠 Fixes Galore!

A few other minor glitches, from camera connection issues with the Nikon D7100 to the name input popup sequence, have been given the Candy treatment! They're all fixed up.

🎨 Juicier Colors

Your app visuals and captured images are about to pop with vibrancy! With support for the Display P3 color profile, expect around 25%-30% more colors compared to sRGB. Prepare for a visual feast!

🔍 iPad Interface Lift

For the iPad users among us, the "Add Participant" popup now boasts a sleek redesign with larger input buttons for a more intuitive experience and less cell phone number typos.

🔄 And, of course, The Big Rotation Fix!

Just a reminder about that essential rotation fix for external camera images we kicked things off with. Yup, it's that important!

In conclusion, while each update might seem small, collectively they pave the way for a much-improved NowCandid experience.

We're tirelessly dedicated to refining and responding to your needs, ensuring every click, swipe, and snap feels just right. Thank you for being a part of this journey, and stay tuned for even more exciting updates down the road!

Until next time, keep those cameras clicking and the feedback rolling! 📷✨

- Candy 🍬

Let’s get in touch

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How to customize formatting for each rich text

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How to customize formatting for each rich text
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