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Weekly Recap: Express Checkout Confirmations, Capture App Speed Testing, and a New Lightroom Classic Plugin

Weekly Recap: Express Checkout Confirmations, Capture App Speed Testing, and a New Lightroom Classic Plugin
Hey photo friends! 👋


This week’s updates are all about clearer customer actions, smoother retail performance, and new tools that speed up upload workflows. Plus, a strong round of Capture App polish (iOS & Android OTA) and some important Dashboard + Marketing fixes.

Let’s jump in. ✨

🛍️ Retail: Fewer Mis-clicks, Better Previews, Faster Feel

✅ Express Checkout confirmation (all express checkouts)

All express checkout flows now show a confirmation popup that clearly displays the shipping address selected, with options to place the order or go back. It also includes an invalid address popup.

Previously, people would sometimes purchase without double checking their express-checkout-method's default shipping address. So, this change is designed to reduce address mistakes and improve customer experience!

Confirmation popup now clearly displays shipping address confirmation.

🧠 Better UI + performance improvements

  • Improved local rendering (performance, memory usage, and task handling) — originally aimed to improve the retail experience on low-end devices, but it should make most devices feel faster!

  • Native “leave page” confirmation on supported browsers/devices (desktop + Samsung back button) when navigating away from an event page (refresh/back).

Leave page confirmation

🖼️ Clearer package download expectations + better pickers

  • Personal Gallery Downloads on store sheet and package editor now show “+X Images” in the configurator when there are more than 4 images—so customers don’t think they only get what’s previewed.

Personal Gallery Download "+X Images"

    • Personal Gallery Download products inside packages can now be clicked to preview contents.

    • Desktop product/package image pickers are now two columns (like mobile), allowing larger image preview during selection.

    Larger two column image previews

      • Image Filters landing popup now includes “Browse all photos without a filter” so customers who think they must pick a filter know they can also just browse!

      Image Filters landing popup

      🧩 Retail fixes worth noting

      • Fixed a slashed discount amount showing on week 3 when there is no higher amount.
      • Fixed a GalleryGuard edge case that could close the retail site on some Android devices that support mobile context menus when long-pressing.
      • Fixed a race condition where a Group-by-Face gallery loaded from URL params could show default results instead of the filtered view.
      • Fixed an edge case where manually assigned images marked as group could behave like non-group images on retail.

      📱 Capture App OTA: 5.6.1 & 5.6.2 (iOS & Android)

      🌐 NEW: Network Speed Test (5.6.1)

      A new Network Speed Test button is available in Resources. Tap Run Test to check download speed, upload speed, and latency to NowCandid servers (so results may differ from Google/Ookla). It’s a quick test (downloads 5 MB, uploads 2 MB) and is useful for diagnosing weak or congested service during events.

      Mbps is a standard measurement for connection speeds, and 1 megabit per second (Mbps) is 0.125 Megabytes per second (MB/s). So 8 Mbps is 1 Megabyte per second, max. For example, with images that are 10 Megabytes in size, a speed of 8 Mbps would take a minimum of 10 seconds to upload. When speeds are very slow, image uploads may be impossible due to uploads timing out and restarting. In these cases, open the app when you have a stronger connection and all your images will start going up!

      Network Speed Test

      🎪 Photo Booth + Selfie Check-In Station UI upgrades (5.6.2)

      • Photo Booth landing page updated to be more user-friendly (always-visible scrollbar, updated text, sticky go back/continue buttons, red/green emphasis, and a popup explaining why Continue is greyed out).
      • Selfie Check-In Station landing page updated with red/green Go Back / Begin buttons.
      • New dropdown icon beside Group Photo toggle (when an event has PhotoTags) to better display there are additional options to assign PhotoTags.
      • Fixed edge case cancel/continue behavior on Selfie Check-In Station when no contact info was entered.

      🧩 NEW: Lightroom Classic Plugin (Official)

      We’ve launched an official Lightroom Classic plugin to upload images to NowCandid events directly from Lightroom Classic.

      Key notes:

      • Lightroom Classic only
      • Same image rules apply (color profile, DPI, etc.)
      • Uses Capture App login
      • Only events within 60 days of event start date show in the selector
      • Image Details → Logs will show “Uploaded from NowCandid Lightroom Plugin”
      • Docs include guide/download/installation: https://app.nowcandid.com/docs/tools-more/lightroom

      Lightroom Classic Plugin

      Upload from NowCandid Lightroom Plugin

      🖥️ Dashboard: Upload & Roster Clarity + Small UX Wins

      • Event roster upload and PhotoRoster upload now warn about every unrecognized column, making it easier to spot misspellings (especially for optional columns).
      • Participant list page download now puts additional contacts into columns instead of rows.
      • Participant list download now puts merged contacts into their own row if they have different first/last names.
      • Image upload naming cleanup:
        • spaces/parentheses now automatically become underscores (e.g., Image (2)Image_2)
        • names ending in z now get a trailing underscore (e.g., ImagezImagez_)
      • Candy got even better at using the new Docs for responses.
      • Password reset now shows a clear “Your link has expired” screen (links expire after 24 hours).
      • Fixed participant filter inside another participant’s manual assign/unassign page not working properly.
      • Participant Details PhotoTag assignment UI: merged participants no longer incorrectly show PhotoTags as assigned.

      Upload Roster now warns about every unrecognized column.

      📣 Marketing Fixes

      • Fixed edge cases where galleries that were only AI-edited images could cause follow-up email marketing issues and show as 0 images on Participant List.
      • Fixed Day0 marketing edge case not starting if gallery is just AI-edited images.
      • SMS gallery links now include “View photos:” before the gallery URL to reduce confusion where some users thought the gallery link was an unsubscribe link.

      That’s the week! 💫

      Between the Lightroom Classic plugin, the Capture App’s new Network Speed Test, and retail improvements that reduce confusion (and improve performance), this week was packed with practical wins you’ll feel right away.

      Keep it sparkly,

      Candy

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      Weekly Recap: Group Photos for Grads & Retail Download Tweaks📸🎉
      Feature Updates
      December 27, 2024

      Weekly Recap: Group Photos for Grads & Retail Download Tweaks📸🎉

      7
       minutes read
      Hello, my wonderful photographers!

      Candy here, and welcome to another Weekly Recap. We’ve got a couple of handy feature updates, plus some exciting news about our upcoming Capture & Upload App release for iOS.

      Let’s dive in! 🌟

      1. Group Photo Option in GradPics 📸

      We’ve introduced a Group Photo toggle in the Manage Images tab for GradPics Events. When you mark an image as a Group Photo, here’s what happens:

      • Appears in Every Gallery: Regardless of face matching, every participant sees the group image in their personal gallery.
      • Exclusive Products: If your Event’s Offer includes any Group Photo products (like Group Photo Download or Group Photo Print), they’ll only be purchasable on those items.
      • No Group Photo Products? Then the group image behaves like a normal image, available on all your usual products.
      • Not in Personal Gallery Download: To avoid easy sharing of a big group image, we’re excluding Group Photos from any personal gallery download product for now.

      We’ve added a quick popup explanation when flagging an image as a Group Photo in the Web Dashboard, just in case someone clicks the Group Photo toggle by mistake. 🎉

      2. Personal Gallery Download Hiding Rule 🤫

      To help clients avoid confusion and refunds, we’re adding a new rule:

      • Hide Personal Gallery Download: If the Offer sells individual image downloads and a participant only has one image, we hide the personal gallery download.
      • Still Visible for One-Image Events: If your Offer doesn’t have individual downloads, the personal gallery download stays visible, even if the participant just has one photo.

      This little tweak prevents clients from accidentally buying a personal gallery download when they only need a single download. 🛒

      3. Heads-Up: Capture & Upload App 4.13 for iOS Only! 📱

      On Monday, December 30th, we’ll release Version 4.13 of the Capture & Upload App for iPhone & iPad. (Windows stays at 4.12 for now.) We’ve added some major updates:

      Please update one of your devices, test it out, and let us know if you catch any bugs. With so many devices, camera brands, and workflows out there, early feedback helps us fix issues quickly.

      4.13 Highlights

      1. Photo Booth Mode
      2. Overlays on Capture App Image Review
        • Overlays now render directly over the captured images on the app (if the aspect ratio is supported).
        • 3:2 aspect ratio photos are needed for full frame overlays, but any aspect ratio works for banner overlays.
        • This lets you and your subjects see the art in real time, ensuring no important parts are covered!
      3. Out-of-Space Error Popup
        • If your device is running low on space when a new image is taken, you’ll get an immediate error popup.
        • Remember to regularly clear out old images via the app’s “Delete App Data” button in the info (i) menu to keep everything running smoothly.

      Minor Updates

      • Session data is now wiped when switching NowCandid accounts in the app, so "Restore Session" won't take you to an Event from a different account!
      • Event Shooting Buttons on Tablets now match iPhone UI (centered vertical menu).
      • Camera Trouble Popup includes a note about app permissions. (Always make sure to agree to all app permissions needed when the app is starting for the first time!)
      • Auto Remove Spaces from the account email on login. (some folks accidentally put a space and didn't know why they couldn't log in!)
      • Candy Splash Screen when the app is booting up now supports dark mode.

      Thanks for tuning into this shorter Weekly Recap. We hope these improvements help you finish the year strong! If you have any questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out.

      Candy 🍬

      📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 12 – Photo Booth Mode! 🎄🎉
      Feature Updates
      December 25, 2024

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

      10
       minutes read
      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 FreePics 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 FreePics (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!
      • FreePics & PartyPics: The images upload instantly, letting your guests receive them right away via MMS (with FreePics), 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 FreePics, 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 🍬

      📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 11 – Candy Account Integration (Beta) 🎄🤖
      Feature Updates
      December 24, 2024

      📸 Candy’s 12 Days of Christmas: Day 11 – Candy Account Integration (Beta) 🎄🤖

      3
       minutes read
      Hello again, my ever-curious photographers! 🎅

      Candy here, and welcome to Day 11 of our 12 Days of Christmas countdown.

      Today’s spotlight is a feature still in its early stages, but full of potential: the Candy Account Integration (Beta). Since it’s Christmas Eve, what better time to peek at a promising work-in-progress?

      Key Highlights:

      • Account-Level Insights:

        When using Candy through the Web Dashboard, you can ask about your account’s metrics, such as sales over a certain period or the number of events in specific categories.
      • A Learning AI Assistant:

        Candy’s not perfect yet—she might make mistakes—but this beta integration is a step toward providing instant answers without leaving the dashboard.
      • Future Potential:

        With more opportunities to learn and refine, Candy will become a more knowledgeable and accurate assistant, helping you navigate your data more efficiently.

      This beta feature hints at a future where you can access business insights on the fly. 🎉

      Check back tomorrow, December 25th, for the final day of our countdown. We’ll be unwrapping something truly special—our biggest new feature of 2024. Don’t miss it!

      Candy 🍬

      Let’s get in touch

      If you’re a photographer looking to add NowCandid™ services to your wheelhouse, set up a call with us!

      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

      What’s a Rich Text element?

      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.

      A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

      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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