HomeNavigation arrowBlogNavigation arrow
Current page
Feature Updates

Weekly Recap: Introducing PhotoGlo™ Premium Prints & Plaques ✨🖼️

Weekly Recap: Introducing PhotoGlo™ Premium Prints & Plaques ✨🖼️
Hey photo friends! 👋


Candy here with something extra shiny this week: a new PhotoGlo™ product line that adds depth, sheen, and metallic accents to your images—plus some Dashboard and retail upgrades to support it.

Let’s start with the fun stuff. 😏

✨ New PhotoGlo™ Products

PhotoGlo™ is our new family of embellished products that take prints beyond flat paper. These products can include:

  • 🎨 Thick color varnishes on specific areas to add depth and a glossy “raised” feel
  • ✨ Metallic foil printing for high-shine metal accents that catch the light and draw the eye

First up in the line:

  • 🖨️ 8×10 Premium Print
    A high-end 8×10 print with PhotoGlo™ embellishments—perfect for standout portraits, seniors, and hero images.
  • 🪧 Premium Plaque
    A mounted plaque (about 9.5×11.5, rounded to 10×12 for simplicity) with the same embellishment design as the Premium Print.

These products are the headline update this week—the new finishes are designed to make your best images look and feel special in person.

Sneak peek: In the next week or two, we will be adding some new elegant basic Print options from the PhotoGlo™ line, as well as replacing a certain plaque with a new, PhotoGlo™ enhanced version!

🌀 3D Renders to Show Off PhotoGlo™

To help retail site shoppers actually see the depth and shine of PhotoGlo™ products on the retail site, we’ve rolled out upgraded 3D previews:

📦 Live 3D product renders

For Premium Print and Premium Plaque, the 3D preview supports:

  • • BGR backgrounds
  • • Crops
  • • Captions
  • • Primary colors / accents

🖥️ Where 3D appears

  • • On the store sheet and checkout sheet, products auto-rotate in 3D (no interaction needed).
  • • On the product configurator, customers can zoom, pan, and rotate the 3d render. After a couple of seconds of inactivity, the view smoothly resets and rotation resumes.

These renders are there to support the PhotoGlo line—helping buyers appreciate what they’re paying for before they check out.

Wanna take a closer look? Click here to view a demo! (app.nowcandid.com/3d/premium-plaque-print)

🛍️ Retail Tweaks

🧱 New desktop layout while customers customize products

✏️ When editing a product (not on landing or final review), the preview is now on the left, controls on the right—giving:

  • • Larger previews on smaller desktops
  • • A better view of the 3D lighting, varnish, and foil effects for the new products

👆 Swipe hint cleanup: The “Swipe left and right” toast now dismisses immediately if shoppers tap into the store sheet.

🧾 Express checkout fix: Resolved a rare issue with invalid shipping addresses on express checkouts.

🖥️ Dashboard Improvements

Faster image loading on events with very large image counts.

🧰 Manage Images – Tools & Extras popup:

  • • Download Folder, Folder Stats, Group-by-Face, Private Image Download Gallery, and Image Timeline now live in one “Tools & Extras” popup with clear descriptions.

🕒 Sort by time taken: New sort option on Manage Images to order photos by capture time (from EXIF, when available). Images without a timestamp are hidden from this specific sort view.

🔀 Sort popup separated from Filters on Manage Images, Legacy Manage Images, and Assign Images—cleaner UI, each control easier to find.

🖼️ Background cropping guides: Background uploader now shows guides for common ratios like 5×7 and 8×10, so you can spot potential cutoffs before you publish.

📊 Event sales & stats modal:

  • • Now shows the Event name
  • • Clicking a folder opens Manage Images with that roll auto-selected

🗂️ Event List default sort: Now defaults to Start Time (newest → oldest) rather than created date.

🧾 Clearer browser history: Event Details subpages now update the document title dynamically, so tabs and history are easier to scan.

🔄 Refresh button removed: Use your browser refresh (or tap the logo on mobile). One less button, same control.

That’s the scoop for this week!

PhotoGlo™ Premium Prints & Plaques to give your customers something cool and new, plus stronger tools to display them.

Keep creating beautiful things,
Candy 🍬

Related articles

Candy's Weekly Recap: Extended Positive ID Events, Enhanced Order Details & More!📸🎉
Feature Updates
December 6, 2024

Candy's Weekly Recap: Extended Positive ID Events, Enhanced Order Details & More!📸🎉

4
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographer friends!

Candy here, ready to sprinkle some sparkle on your day with our latest Weekly Recap! 🌟

We've been tinkering away to bring you some delightful updates that'll make your NowCandid experience even better—just in time for the holiday season! Let's dive in! 🏊‍♀️

1. Extended Duration for Positive ID Events 🎅

Great news for those capturing the magic of the season!

  • Positive ID Events Now Up to 30 Days Long: You can now edit your Positive ID Workflow events to extend their end date up to 30 days.
  • Why This Matters:
    • Longer Visibility: Events will stay visible on the selection screen of the Capture & Upload App for a longer period, beyond the typical 5-day range.
    • Perfect for Holiday Events: This change is especially helpful for those using our Scanner ID and Type & Take workflows for Santa photos and other festive events.
  • Note: This extension is currently only for Positive ID Events. Events using the Face Matching Workflow remain unchanged.
  • Holiday Cheer: Don't forget to try out our Candy Cane retail theme, stuffed with plenty of holiday spirit to make your galleries extra festive! 🎄

2. Enhanced Order Details in Web Dashboard 🛍️

We've supercharged the Order Details to keep you in the loop!

  • More Informative Order Details:
    • Comprehensive Info: Access all the information you need about each order directly from the dashboard.
    • Clickable Orders: Orders in the recent orders lists are now clickable, taking you straight to detailed order pages.
  • Participant Integration:
    • Jump to Participant Details: If an order is tied to a participant, you can navigate directly to their details page.
    • View Images & Marketing History: See their images, marketing interactions, and more.
  • Did You Know? 🤔
    • NowCandid Handles Retail Support: That's right! We take care of much of the retail support for you, including order resubmissions. You can focus on capturing moments while we handle the rest!

3. Improved Scan Card Generation Performance 📝

We've fine-tuned the Scan Card generation to make it smoother than ever!

  • Performance Boost:
    • Faster Generation: Recent updates had slowed down scan card creation, but we've optimized the process.
    • Reliability Restored: Generating Scan Card PDFs should now work properly and more efficiently.
  • Why It Matters:
    • Seamless Workflow: Especially important for high-volume events like holiday photo sessions.
    • Feedback Welcome: If you notice anything not performing as expected or have suggestions, please let us know!
  • A Festive Note:
    • We're committed to resolving any issues faster than Santa delivering presents to billions of children across the globe in just 24 hours! (All those cookies must give him quite the sugar rush.) 🍪🎅

We're always here to support you!

So please, feel free to share your feedback or questions.

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

P.S. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season filled with magical moments to capture! 🎁✨

Candy's Weekly Recap: New Image Timeline Stats, Capture App Update & More!📸🎉
Feature Updates
November 22, 2024

Candy's Weekly Recap: New Image Timeline Stats, Capture App Update & More!📸🎉

4
 minutes read
Hello, my fabulous photographer friends!

Candy here, ready to sprinkle some sparkle on your day with our latest Weekly Recap! 🌟

We've been hard at work enhancing your NowCandid experience, and while this week is a bit lighter on changes (we're cooking up some exciting things for January!), I've got all the juicy details right here. Let's dive in! 🏊‍♀️

1. New "Images per 15 Minutes" Stat on Image Timeline 📈

We recently introduced the Image Timeline feature, and now we've made it even better!

  • What's New: There's a new "Images per 15 Minutes" stat available.
  • How to Access: You can find this by going to your Manage Images page within an event and clicking on the Image Timeline button (looks like a little stopwatch!).
  • Why It Matters: This stat helps you visualize your (or your photographer's) shooting pace throughout the event, identifying peak activity times and lulls.

2. Capture App Version 4.10 for Windows 💻

We've released Version 4.10 for the Windows Capture App!

  • Performance Improvements: This update includes various performance enhancements to make your capturing process smoother.
  • Note: These updates weren't needed for the iOS version at this time.

3. Manage Images Page Sorting Update 🗂️

We've improved the Manage Images page for better usability.

  • New Default Sorting: Images now sort by newest first by default.
  • Toggle Option: You can easily toggle to sort by older images first if you prefer.
  • How to Use: Look for the new sorting button on the Manage Images page (a small button with up and down arrows!).

4. Quick Access to Default Price Levels Spreadsheet 💰

Setting up events just got a little easier!

  • New Link: There's now a direct link to the Default Price Levels spreadsheet right from the Offer Selection dropdown during Event Creation.
  • Why It's Helpful: Easily review pricing details without cancelling the event creation process.

5. Image Uploader Now Detects Corrupt Files 🛠️

We've enhanced the reliability of our image uploading process.

  • Corrupt File Detection: The image uploader now catches corrupt image files during image validation.
  • Benefits: Prevents issues down the line by alerting you to any problematic files before they’re uploaded.

We're always here to support you!

So please, feel free to share your feedback or questions.

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

How One Louisiana Team Keeps Setting the Bar for Military Ball Photography Success
Success Stories
November 22, 2024

How One Louisiana Team Keeps Setting the Bar for Military Ball Photography Success

8
 minutes read
When it comes to military ball events, our incredible NowCandid users out of Louisiana have done it again!

Building on their previous years of success, they’ve once again showcased how profitable and rewarding these events can be with the right tools, strategy, and dedication.

Consistency & Growth in 2024

Despite a slight decrease in event participants/attendance in 2024 compared to the previous year, this Louisiana team managed to match their impressive ~$26,000 sales total from 2023—and they didn’t stop there. They also improved their sales per image and sales per participant averages, proving that even with fewer attendees, their ability to deliver value remains unparalleled.

This is the kind of consistency and adaptability that defines true professionals. Even more remarkable is their journey to this point.

The Journey: From 2022 to 2024

It’s worth revisiting their story. Back in 2022, this team had just started using NowCandid—trained on the system the week of their first military ball event. Despite being completely new to the platform and working under tight deadlines, they pulled in an impressive $16,000 in sales. While those numbers didn’t quite hit the heights of their 2023 and 2024 totals, it was a strong foundation for what was to come.

For their 2023 and 2024 events, they doubled down on preparation and team strategy, hiring additional staff to support their photographers and improve operational efficiency.

One of the key moves was more actively promoting selfie check-ins, which not only enhanced the customer experience but also increased the number of photos taken—a direct driver of sales. These refinements pushed them to over $26,000 in sales in 2023 and another stellar year in 2024.

Looking Ahead to 2025

With the new Web Dashboard at their fingertips, the Louisiana team is already preparing to take their 2025 military ball to new heights. The Web Dashboard will unlock features that are sure to impress attendees and drive even greater sales:

  • More Art Overlay Options: Customize event images with exciting designs that attendees will love.
  • All-New Retail Site: A sleek, user-friendly interface for clients to browse and purchase their images.
  • Upsell Opportunities: Introduce premium options like retouching and diamond gloss print coating to enhance the final product and boost sales.

Armed with these enhancements, they’re aiming for even bigger successes in 2025—and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish.

Military Balls: A Goldmine for Photographers

This Louisiana team’s story is a shining example of how profitable military ball events can be. With strategic planning, the right tools, and a little effort, these events can bring in tens of thousands of dollars in revenue.

If there are military bases in or near your area, we strongly encourage you to seek out these opportunities. Partnering with military organizations for formal events is not only rewarding financially but also a chance to build lasting relationships with a highly engaged audience.

Tips for Success

  • Invest in Support Staff: Extra hands help keep the process smooth, from organizing attendees to encouraging selfie check-ins.
  • Leverage NowCandid Tools: Our workflows, like Selfie Check-In and advanced offers, make events efficient and client-focused.
  • Upsell Smartly: Use premium options like overlays, retouching, and print upgrades to maximize your per-participant revenue.
  • Engage Participants Early: Drive excitement and ensure attendees know how to access their photos before and after the event.

Ready to Capture More Success?

Military ball events are a prime opportunity to elevate your business, and NowCandid is here to support you every step of the way. If this story inspires you to explore similar opportunities, don’t hesitate to reach out or dive into your local market to find events like these.

Here’s to making 2025 your most successful year yet! 🎉

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

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.

  • List One
  • List Two
  • List Three
  • List Four
  • List Five

This is a link

This is bold text