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Weekly Recap: New Ornaments, Better Marketing History & Big Windows Capture App Update 🎄📸

Weekly Recap: New Ornaments, Better Marketing History & Big Windows Capture App Update 🎄📸
Hey photo friends! 👋


Candy here with a fresh batch of updates—from brand-new ornament products to upgraded marketing tools and Capture App improvements on both iOS and Windows.

Let’s jump in!

🎁 New Holiday Ornaments

  • 🎄 Statuette Ornament

    A new hanging statuette-style ornament—complete with a red ribbon.
    • Shows a sample ornament by default
    • If the subject orders a background-removed image, their cutout will render on the product preview in the gallery

  • 🪙 Aluminum Ornament

    A flat aluminum ornament that renders any photo in the product gallery.
    • Has a customizable year field (defaults to the current year)
    • Subjects can enter other 4-digit numbers if they’d like
    • Also ships with a red ribbon for hanging

Perfect timing for holiday sales. 🎅

✉️ Marketing History & Dashboard Improvements

📬 Marketing History Page (Big Upgrade!)

  • 🧭 Pagination for easier navigation through large histories
  • 👤 Shows participant name + image on each row
  • 🔗 Click through to the Participant directly
  • 🧾 All email + text sends are now in one combined, date-sorted list
  • ⚡ Faster initial load, and smoother scrolling for long histories
  • 🔍 New filters:
    • Text search (with CMD+F support)
    • Filter to Texts only or Emails only
    • URL supports both filters and pagination, so you can share filtered views

🖥️ Other Dashboard Updates

  • 🗓️ New weekly sales chart on Event Details—toggle between Daily and Weekly; Events older than 60 days default to the weekly view.
  • 🧮 “Year” captions on retail are now capped at 4 characters across all products.
  • 🌄 Download custom backgrounds you’ve uploaded for an Offer
    • Offer → Select Backgrounds → My Custom Backgrounds → Download button
  • 💬 QuicPics send error reason now appears on Participant Details (logging started April 2025).
  • 📪 Email/phone send & unsubscribe reasons now show on Participant Details (logging started Nov 12).
  • 📂 “Download Folder” on Image Details now zips in chunks of 100 to avoid browser issues on very large folders.

🧹 Small Dashboard Fixes

  • 🗓️ Removed Day 6 text from all three QuicPics programs (it wasn’t adding clicks or sales).
  • 🏷️ Fixed PhotoTag importer falsely claiming you hit the max when you hadn’t.
  • 📋 Participant roster uploads now trim whitespace in header columns (fewer “mystery errors” from stray spaces).
  • 👥 Fixed an edge case where Participant Details showed Additional Contacts even when none existed.

📱 Capture App iOS 4.21.4 (OTA)

  • 🤳 Front camera photos mirrored

    Internal front-facing camera shots now save as mirrored images (while the live preview stays the same).
    • Most noticeable for Photo Booth and similar workflows
    • Face recognition still works as expected for Selfie Check-In

(If you’re on 4.21 already, this will arrive as an over-the-air update.)

💻 Capture App Windows 4.20 Highlights

We’ve brought a big round of camera support and quality-of-life updates to Windows:

  • 📷 Broader camera support
    • Sony now works on ARM tablets, and most new Sonys no longer require special driver setup—just plug in.
    • Improved Nikon Image Review behavior (similar to iOS) on most D-series and some Z-series bodies.
    • Added support for Panasonic cameras.
    • Added support for a wide range of FUJIFILM X and GFX models.
    • New Canon support: EOS R5 Mark II, EOS R1, EOS R50V.
  • 🔁 Restart WIA button on the Resources page—can sometimes fix camera issues without rebooting the tablet.
  • ⚙️ General performance and reliability improvements, especially around background services and uploads.
  • 🎨 Updated app icon & name to match the iOS version.

That’s it for this week!

From new ornaments to clearer marketing data and stronger camera support, you’ve got lots of fresh tools to work with.

As always, if you have questions—or want help deciding how to use any of this for your next Event—I’m here 24/7.

Keep creating magic,

Candy 🍬

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Capture & Upload App Update: Version 3.22
Feature Updates
May 10, 2024

Capture & Upload App Update: Version 3.22

3
 minutes read
🌟 Candy here with a new Capture & Upload app update overview! 🌟

Candy here with a fresh scoop on the latest tweaks to our Capture & Upload app! 📲 While this update might seem light on the surface, it's packed with all sorts of behind-the-scenes magic to boost performance and stability. ✨

To make sure you're getting the best out of NowCandid, keep your devices (both Windows & iOS) updated! 🔄

In the Capture & Upload app, just tap the information screen (that's the "i" button in the app) to see your app version and confirm you're rocking version 3.22. 🎉

iOS & Windows App Updates: 🛠️

  • Misc improvements & fixes to keep things running smoothly.
  • Now see the number of logs for each date when using the log uploader – super handy! 🗓️
  • New "Having trouble?" popup if 30 seconds pass on the take photo screen without any action. It's got helpful reminders in case something's amiss! 🕒
  • Say goodbye to the "Service Lost" popup on the shooting screen—it won't bug you anymore! 🚫
  • Introduced a dedicated "Name Lookup" button for Positive ID Events, making things more obvious than ever. 🔍
  • Misc UI tweaks & improvements to spruce things up!
  • Changed the "Dismiss" button in the update popup to "Use Old Version" for those who like a throwback. ⏪
  • Updated the "Add Participant" keypad to match the chic look of our newer Tap-A-Face keypad. 👯

iOS-App-Only Updates: 🍏

  • Truncate event name on iPhone at the top if name is super long (so it fits on 1 line)

Thanks for tuning in, and for being such amazing users of NowCandid! 🌈

See you again soon! And remember, if you've got questions or need a little help, just reach out. We're here for you! 💌

Cheers and sparkles,

Candy 🍬

Surprising Earnings: $18 Per Graduate at Middle School Graduations with GradPics Now!
GradPics
May 9, 2024

Surprising Earnings: $18 Per Graduate at Middle School Graduations with GradPics Now!

8
 minutes read

Breaking New Ground at Middle School Graduations 🎓

Traditionally, high school and college graduations are where photographers using GradPics Now hit high sales marks, often achieving $20 per graduate or even soaring to $40-$50+. This has set a solid benchmark for what we consider successful revenue from graduation events. However, middle school graduations, also known as moving up ceremonies, have typically seen much lower sales figures—until now.

A Surprising Success Story 🌟

A GradPics Now user recently shattered our modest expectations by earning over $18 per graduate at a middle school graduation ceremony. Covering this event with the same vigor and strategy as higher education graduations, including the use of our Selfie Check-In feature, this photographer managed to turn what is often considered a less lucrative opportunity into a significant success. With more than 400 graduates participating, the total sales exceeded $7,200 for just this one middle school event. Impressive, right?

The Power of Immediate Engagement 📸

This remarkable achievement highlights an important lesson: the potential of middle school graduations as viable and profitable photography events. The success at this particular ceremony suggests that GradPics Now, especially with the implementation of Selfie Check-In, is exceptionally effective at capturing the moment and leveraging the emotions of proud parents. This immediate engagement allows photographers to capitalize on the celebratory atmosphere right then and there, boosting sales significantly.

Expanding Your Horizons 🌍

This case study serves as a powerful testament to the capabilities of GradPics Now across different educational levels. If you've primarily focused on high school or college graduations, it might be time to consider the untapped potential of middle school ceremonies. The combination of efficient technology and emotional moments can clearly yield fantastic results.

Get Prepared with Pre-Grad Chats 💬

Interested in exploring how you can maximize your success with middle school graduations? Schedule a pre-grad chat with Jack (https://calendly.com/nowcandid-training) to refine your strategy and ensure you're fully equipped to make the most of every graduation ceremony this season. We salute all graduation photographers making memorable moments last. Good luck this grad season, and here's to raising the bar even higher!

Grad Season Preparation: Schedule a Pre-Grad Chat with Jack!
GradPics
May 7, 2024

Grad Season Preparation: Schedule a Pre-Grad Chat with Jack!

7
 minutes read
As graduation season approaches, ensuring your photography services are streamlined and optimized can significantly impact your sales and client satisfaction.

At NowCandid, we're dedicated to helping you maximize your graduation ceremony photography with efficient tools and strategies. Let's dive into how you can enhance your approach this grad season.

Schedule Your Pre-Grad Strategy Session 📅

Kick off the season right by booking a pre-grad chat with Jack (https://calendly.com/nowcandid-training). In this meeting, we'll cover:

  • Event Setup: Make sure you setup your GradPics Now Event correctly, and know what to expect.
  • Equipment Review: Ensure you have all the necessary gear for what you want to accomplish.
  • Best Practices: Tips and tricks to boost your confidence and readiness.

This session is crucial for tackling your events with the expertise needed to capture every memorable moment.

Jack has even doubled his usual Calendly availability for grad season! Take advantage!

Mastering Selfie Check-In 🤳

Selfie Check-In revolutionizes how you capture and associate images with graduates:

  • Ensure Participation: Encourage every graduate to use the Selfie Check-In upon arrival. Consider assigning assistants to facilitate this process.
  • Visibility: Utilize multiple QR code placements—signs, lanyards, and handheld QR code signs (https://www.teamphotonetwork.com/QP...) to ensure no one misses out.
  • Extended Reach: Gather information not just from graduates, but also their families, expanding your marketing reach.

Benefits of Live-Uploading 🌐

Connect your camera to an iPhone, iPad, or Windows device for real-time image uploading and instant gallery updates:

  • Immediate Availability: Images are uploaded during the ceremony, speeding up delivery and increasing sales potential.
  • Seamless Integration: Use either direct camera tethering or post-event uploading through the NowCandid Web Dashboard for continuous marketing and matching.
  • Less Work: Once you and your photographers leave a ceremony, you're done! Walk away and watch the sales roll in.

Comprehensive Photo Coverage 📸

Go beyond the traditional shots to truly capture the spirit of graduation. More photos mean higher chances of sales. Capture a broad range of moments to provide ample choices for your clients.

  • Processionals
  • Buddy Shots
  • Pre-Stage Portraits
  • Post-Stage Portraits
  • Handshake Shots
  • Recessionals
  • Friends & Family Shots

Why Choose NowCandid for Graduations? 🎓

GradPics Now isn't just about taking photos; it's about enhancing the entire experience:

  • Background Removal: Currently free! Background removal can add a professional touch, allowing subjects to choose from selectable, default backgrounds.
  • Full Support: Our support team handles customer inquiries related to orders and ordering, so you can focus on shooting.
  • Cost-Effective: No subscriptions; we only profit when you do, only taking a small commission on orders, ensuring our goals align with your success.
  • User-Friendly: Designed for ease of use, robust against mistakes, and backed by reliable recovery options.
  • Residual Sales: We keep images hosted and online for at least 15 years, helping you get residual sales as the years go by.
  • Successful: Graduation photographers find it incredibly easy compared to their past workflows, and find themselves earning 20%+ more (or in some cases, much more than that!) than what they previously made in sales, with a fraction of the effort.

Ready to take your graduation photography to the next level?

Don't wait—schedule your session with Jack today (https://calendly.com/nowcandid-training) and ensure you're fully prepared to make this grad season your most successful 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.

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