instaproofs

How to Use Holiday Sales Data for 2026 Growth

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:14:33 GMT

How to Use Holiday Sales Data for 2026 Growth

The holiday season can be one of the most profitable times of the year for photographers. But the real value comes after the season ends — when you analyze your sales data to see what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve next year. With Instaproofs , you can dig into your numbers and turn them into a roadmap for 2026 success.

Review Your Top-Selling Products

In your Instaproofs Sales Reports , look at which products sold the most this holiday season. Was it prints, canvases, holiday cards, or digital downloads? Knowing your best sellers allows you to highlight them earlier in next year’s marketing.

Check Promotion Performance

If you ran holiday promotions, compare:

Total revenue generated during the sale period
Conversion rates for email campaigns
Which discount amounts led to the highest sales volume

This helps you fine-tune your discount strategy for next year.

Identify Your Highest-Spending Clients

Use Instaproofs’ Client Purchase History to see which customers made the biggest purchases. You can target these VIP clients with early access to sales or exclusive offers in 2026.

Spot Missed Opportunities

Review abandoned carts and incomplete purchases. Could you capture more sales next year by sending reminder emails, offering smaller packages, or adjusting shipping deadlines?

Plan Your 2026 Promotions Early

Based on your findings, create a holiday sales calendar for next year. Schedule promotions around key dates — Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and early December — and prepare gallery marketing materials ahead of time.

Turn Data into Growth

Instaproofs’ reporting tools don’t just tell you what happened — they give you the insights to make your next holiday season even better. By using this year’s numbers to inform next year’s strategy, you’ll approach 2026 with a clear plan to boost revenue and client satisfaction.

Holiday Sale Tips for Online Galleries

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:14:31 GMT

Holiday Sale Tips for Online Galleries

The holidays are the biggest shopping season of the year — and for photographers, that means a huge opportunity to sell prints, products, and digital downloads. With Instaproofs , you can turn your online galleries into a holiday shopping hub.

Launch Time-Sensitive Promotions

In Promotions , set up sales with clear start and end dates. Examples:

20% off all prints for one week

Free shipping on orders over $150

Buy one framed print, get one half-off

Short deadlines create urgency and encourage faster purchases.

Feature Holiday Products in Galleries

Highlight seasonal products such as:

Holiday cards with client images

Gift-ready framed prints

Canvas wall art

Use Instaproofs’ Product Spotlight feature so clients see these items first when viewing their galleries.

Send Targeted Email Campaigns

Through Marketing

Announce holiday promotions

Remind clients of order deadlines for Christmas delivery

Share a “Gift Guide” gallery to inspire purchases

Include eye-catching images, discount codes , and links directly to galleries.

Create Urgency with Deadlines

Clients often procrastinate — give them a reason to act now by:

Posting “Order By” dates in gallery banners

Sending final reminder emails 48 hours before the deadline

Offering small last-minute bonuses for quick orders

Wrap Up the Season with Higher Sales

With Instaproofs’ promotional tools, email campaigns, and featured product options, you can transform your online galleries into high-performing holiday shops — boosting your revenue before the year closes.

Maximizing Sales for Holiday Shopping

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:14:29 GMT

Maximizing Sales for Holiday Shopping

The holiday season is prime time for photographers to increase sales — but only if clients know what’s available and feel motivated to buy. Instaproofs provides the tools to turn your galleries into a holiday shopping destination.

Why the Holidays Are Perfect for Sales

Clients are looking for meaningful gifts

Urgency increases with shipping deadlines

Seasonal promotions create excitement

How to Boost Holiday Sales with Instaproofs

1. Launch Limited-Time Promotions

In Selling → Sales & Coupons , create discounts valid only for a short time.

Examples: “20% Off Prints” or “Free Shipping on Orders Over $100.”

2. Add Featured Products to Galleries

Highlight holiday cards, canvases, and framed prints in each gallery.

Use Instaproofs’ product spotlight feature to draw attention.

3. Send Holiday Email Campaigns

Go to Marketing → Email Campaigns to announce promotions.

Include eye-catching product photos and clear expiration dates.

4. Create a Gift Guide Gallery

Upload sample products and pricing to a dedicated gallery.

Share the link with your email list and on social media.

Extra Tips for Maximizing Holiday Sales

Include a “last order by” date to create urgency.

Offer free gift wrapping or handwritten notes for a personal touch.

Bundle products for better value and higher cart totals.

Turn Your Galleries into a Holiday Storefront

With Instaproofs’ promotions, email marketing, and product spotlight features, you can turn client galleries into sales-driving machines. A little preparation now will pay off in bigger orders and happier clients all season long.

Why Your Online Gallery Should Be a Sales Experience, Not a File Drop

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:34:56 GMT

Many photographers assume their job is done once the gallery is delivered. The images look great. The client is happy. The link is sent. But gallery delivery is not the end of the client experience. It is one of the most important opportunities to drive sales.

The missed opportunity in gallery delivery

Clients are most emotionally engaged when they first open their gallery. They are proud, excited, and eager to share. If the gallery experience does not guide them, that energy fades quickly. A simple link with no structure leaves clients asking:

What should I buy?
What sizes work best?
Do I need to order now or later?

Uncertainty leads to inaction.

Why “more options” hurts sales

It feels logical to offer every possible product. In reality, too many choices slow decisions. Clients do not want to compare dozens of print sizes or finishes. They want confidence. A curated experience feels professional and supportive.

How sales-focused galleries work

A strong gallery experience does three things well:

Builds emotion
Provides clarity
Encourages action

Instaproofs makes it possible to design galleries that naturally guide clients through those steps.

Emotion through presentation

Slideshows, featured images, and thoughtful layouts elevate how clients experience their photos. This increases emotional connection and keeps attention focused.

Clarity through curation

Highlighting best-selling products removes guesswork. Clients appreciate being guided toward options that work well. Clarity makes purchasing feel easy.

Action through urgency

Urgency does not mean pressure. It means helping clients decide while excitement is still fresh. Expiration dates and limited-time bonuses provide structure that motivates action.

Better experience for clients and photographers

When galleries are intentional, clients feel supported instead of overwhelmed. Ordering feels natural instead of forced. For photographers, sales become predictable instead of random. Instaproofs helps photographers build gallery workflows that feel personal, polished, and effective without adding manual work.

Stop delivering links. Start delivering experiences

Online galleries are not just a place to view photos. They are an extension of your brand and a key part of your sales process. When galleries are designed with purpose, they do more than display images. They convert admiration into action.

The Biggest Mistake Photographers Make With Online Galleries

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 17:00:14 GMT

You spend hours creating beautiful images. You edit carefully. You deliver on time. Then you send a gallery link and move on. That final step may be costing you more than you realize.

The biggest mistake photographers make with online galleries is treating them like a file delivery system instead of a sales experience.

Turning a gallery into a sales experience

A high-performing gallery is intentional. Every element supports emotion, clarity, and momentum. With Instaproofs, photographers can design galleries that feel curated and purposeful instead of cold or transactional.

Brand the experience

Your gallery should feel like an extension of your business, not a generic link. Branding creates trust and consistency. When the gallery matches your style and tone, clients feel more confident purchasing from you.

Lead with emotion

Slideshows and featured images create impact. They help clients feel the story behind the session instead of scrolling through thumbnails. Emotion creates momentum, and momentum leads to action.

Guide decisions with featured products

Instead of offering everything, highlight what you want clients to buy. Featured print sizes, albums, or wall art remove uncertainty and make purchasing easier.

Create urgency without pressure

Urgency gives clients a reason to act while excitement is still high. Gallery expiration dates, limited-time bonuses, or print incentives encourage decisions without feeling pushy.

Deliver more than a link

When galleries are designed with intention, clients feel something. And when clients feel something, they act.

Galleries are not just delivery tools

When clients open their gallery, they are excited and emotionally invested. This is the moment they imagine prints on their walls, albums on their shelves, and photos shared with family. If the gallery feels generic or overwhelming, that excitement fades quickly. Instead of guiding clients toward action, the experience leaves them unsure what to do next.

What a “file drop” gallery looks like

Most underperforming galleries share the same traits:

Generic layouts with no branding
Too many product options that feel overwhelming
No guidance on what to buy or why
No urgency to place an order

Clients browse, close the tab, and tell themselves they will come back later. Later rarely happens.

Why sales stall without structure

Clients want direction. They want reassurance that they are making the right choice. When everything is optional and nothing is emphasized, decision fatigue takes over. Clients delay ordering, even when they love the images.

Sales do not stall because clients are uninterested. They stall because the gallery does not lead them anywhere.

Instaproofs helps photographers transform galleries from passive delivery tools into active sales experiences that support both revenue and client satisfaction.

Why Happy Clients Aren’t Referring You Yet

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:18:45 GMT

You delivered beautiful photos. Your client is thrilled with their gallery. Then the project ends and the referrals never show up. This is one of the most confusing situations for photographers. The work was strong. The experience was positive. Feedback was glowing. So why does the momentum stop? The answer is simpler than most photographers expect.

Why referrals rarely happen on their own

After gallery delivery, excitement fades quickly. Clients move on to daily life, work, and family responsibilities. Within days, your name is no longer sitting front and center in their thoughts. Even clients who would gladly recommend you often forget to do so unless prompted. This is not a reflection of your work. It is human behavior.

Where the referral process breaks down – You never asked

Many photographers feel uncomfortable asking for referrals. They assume great work will speak for itself.

Unfortunately, silence is not a strategy. If you never ask, most clients will not think to refer.

There is no easy way to refer

Clients want simple options. If referring you requires explaining your services, tracking down your website, or figuring out what to say, they are less likely to follow through. Ease matters.

You stop communicating after delivery

Once the gallery is delivered, communication often stops. Without reminders, clients forget how to share or why it matters. Visibility drives referrals.

How Instaproofs helps referrals happen naturally

Referrals work best when they feel effortless and well timed. With Instaproofs, photographers can integrate referrals into the delivery experience without awkward conversations.

Add a referral call to action

A simple message inside the gallery or delivery email can make a huge difference. Clients are already engaged and excited. This is the moment to invite them to share. A short prompt can remind them that referrals are welcome and appreciated.

Offer a small thank-you incentive

Referrals do not require large discounts or complicated programs. A modest print credit or product incentive is often enough to encourage sharing. Clients feel appreciated, and you gain visibility.

Follow up after delivery

Timing matters. A post-delivery reminder keeps your name fresh while excitement is still present.

Instaproofs allows photographers to automate this step so no opportunity is missed.

Referrals are about structure, not luck

Happy clients want to support you. They simply need direction. When referrals are built into your gallery workflow, sharing becomes easy, natural, and consistent. Instaproofs helps photographers stay top of mind without manual effort or constant follow-ups.

Why Print Sales Drop After Gallery Delivery and How to Fix It

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Gallery delivery is a critical sales moment

The first gallery view is when clients feel the strongest emotional connection to their images. They imagine framed prints, albums, and wall art in their homes. That emotional moment is short. If the gallery experience does not lead them toward action, interest fades and purchasing becomes less likely with each passing day.

The three breakdowns that hurt print sales

Overwhelming storefronts

When every possible product is available, clients struggle to decide. They second-guess sizes, finishes, and layouts. Decision fatigue stops progress. A simplified storefront removes stress and helps clients move forward confidently.

No follow-up system

Manual follow-ups are inconsistent. Busy weeks pass and reminders get skipped. Without follow-up, galleries lose momentum. Instaproofs automates post-delivery communication so every client receives reminders at the right time without extra effort.

No clear deadlines

When nothing expires, nothing happens. Deadlines provide structure. They help clients prioritize ordering while excitement is still fresh. Time-based incentives are proven to increase conversion rates when used thoughtfully.

Building a gallery workflow that sells

Print sales improve when galleries are treated like part of your business system, not a final task.

Inside Instaproofs, photographers can:

Design curated storefronts with featured products
Add gallery expiration dates and reminder emails
Use slideshows to increase emotional impact
Highlight favorites to help clients narrow choices

Every element works together to support confident purchasing.

Education reduces hesitation

Clients are far more likely to order when they understand the process. A short pre-delivery message explaining:

What products are available
How ordering works
When the gallery expires

Education removes uncertainty and prepares them to buy. Education turns confusion into clarity.

Sales follow structure

Clients want prints. They want help deciding. They want reassurance that they are choosing well. When galleries are intentional, organized, and supported by automation, sales feel natural instead of forced. Instaproofs helps photographers create repeatable gallery workflows that support consistent print revenue and better client experiences.

Gallery delivery should feel like a win. Images are edited. Files are uploaded. The gallery link is sent. Yet for many photographers, sales stop right there. Clients browse, download, and disappear. This is not because clients do not value prints. It is because the delivery process does not guide them toward buying.

Clients Love Their Photos. So Why Aren’t They Buying Prints?

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:00:02 GMT

You delivered a beautiful gallery.
Your client tells you they love their photos.
Then nothing happens.

No print orders. No albums. No wall art.

This is one of the most frustrating situations photographers face, especially when the work itself is not the problem. In most cases, clients do want prints. They just do not know how to buy them, when to buy them, or why they should act now.

Gallery sales are less about pushing products and more about guiding decisions.

The real reason print sales stall

When clients open their gallery, they are excited and emotionally connected. That excitement fades quickly if there is no structure or direction.

The most common reasons clients do not order prints have nothing to do with price or quality.

Too many choices create decision fatigue

A cluttered storefront overwhelms clients. Dozens of print sizes, finishes, and product options feel helpful, but they often have the opposite effect.

When clients feel unsure about what to choose, they choose nothing.

Clear, limited options make decisions easier and increase conversions.

No reminders means no follow-through

Most clients fully intend to order prints later. They close the gallery thinking they will come back once they have more time.

Later turns into never.

Without reminders, galleries get buried in inboxes and forgotten.

No urgency leads to procrastination

If a gallery stays open forever with no deadlines or incentives, there is no reason to act today. Clients delay decisions indefinitely, even when they love the images.

Urgency is not pressure. It is clarity.

How to fix print sales without being salesy

Print sales improve when the gallery experience feels intentional, simple, and supportive.

Curate your store intentionally

Instead of offering everything, highlight a small selection of best-selling products. Choose print sizes and finishes you know clients love and trust.

A focused storefront feels easier to navigate and more professional.

With Instaproofs , photographers can customize storefronts to reflect exactly what they want clients to see first.

Add time-sensitive motivation

Urgency gives clients a reason to act while excitement is still high.

This can include:

Limited-time print discounts
Gallery expiration dates
Countdown reminders

Instaproofs allows photographers to build this urgency directly into their gallery workflows.

Educate clients before delivery

Print sales are easier when clients know what to expect before the gallery goes live.

Sending a short guide or pricing overview ahead of time helps clients understand available products and how ordering works. When the gallery arrives, they are ready to act instead of overwhelmed.

Direction changes everything

Clients are not avoiding prints. They are avoiding uncertainty.

When the gallery experience answers questions, limits choices, and provides gentle reminders, clients feel confident ordering.

Instaproofs gives photographers the tools to turn admiration into action without adding manual work or uncomfortable sales conversations.

Your Biggest Sales Moment Might Be When Clients See Their Gallery

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:43:25 GMT

Booking is not the peak moment

Booking feels exciting. It feels like the win.

But the strongest emotional moment often comes later.

It happens when clients open their gallery and see their images for the first time. That is when excitement, pride, and connection all peak at once.

That is your real sales window.

Why timing matters in gallery sales

Emotion drives purchasing decisions. The longer clients wait, the less connected they feel.

If there is no prompt or structure, clients tell themselves:

I will order later
I need more time to decide
I will come back this weekend

And then life happens.

Guide clients while they are engaged

A gallery should do more than display photos.

Inside Instaproofs, you can:

Encourage Favorites to help clients narrow choices
Use slideshows to increase emotional impact
Highlight albums, wall art, and print options

You are helping clients visualize ownership, not just view images.

Automation keeps momentum going

Following up manually is exhausting and inconsistent.

Instaproofs allows you to:

Send delivery emails automatically
Trigger reminder emails if no order is placed
Add urgency with expiration dates or limited offers

Sales do not depend on memory or manual effort.

Make gallery delivery work for you

When galleries are treated like an intentional part of your sales process, results change.

Clients feel supported.
Ordering feels easy.
Sales happen naturally.

Instaproofs helps photographers turn gallery views into consistent product revenue without adding stress or complexity.

Gallery Delivery Isn’t the End, It’s the Sale

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:06:16 GMT

Gallery delivery is not the finish line

Most photographers treat gallery delivery as the final step. Upload the images, send the link, move on to the next job.

But gallery delivery is not the end of the experience.
It is often the most powerful sales moment you have.

When clients open their gallery for the first time, excitement is high. They are emotionally connected. They are imagining prints on their walls and albums on their coffee tables.

That moment matters.

Why clients do not order right away

Clients often love their photos but still do nothing. Not because they are not interested. Because there is no direction.

Without guidance, clients:

Browse and close the gallery
Plan to come back later
Forget or get distracted

The opportunity fades quickly.

Turn excitement into action

That emotional high is when purchasing feels natural. Your gallery experience should support that moment instead of wasting it.

With Instaproofs, you can design galleries that encourage action:

Highlight favorite images to spark print ideas
Use slideshows to tell a story instead of showing thumbnails
Feature products so clients see possibilities right away

You are not pushing sales. You are guiding decisions.

Treat delivery like a product launch

Gallery delivery deserves intention.

A strong delivery flow includes:

A launch email with a clear call to action
Built-in reminders that bring clients back
Time-sensitive offers that create urgency

When clients know what to do next, they are far more likely to do it.

Most photographers treat gallery delivery as the final step. Upload the images, send the link, move on to the next job. But gallery delivery is not the end of the experience. It is often the most powerful sales moment you have. When clients open their gallery for the first time, excitement is high. They are emotionally connected. They are imagining prints on their walls and albums on their coffee tables. That moment matters.

Every gallery is a sales opportunity

Gallery delivery is where emotion and timing align. With the right setup, that moment becomes predictable and repeatable. Instaproofs helps photographers turn galleries into intentional sales experiences instead of passive links.

Stop Managing Your Photography Business from Your Inbox

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Inbox chaos hurts more than productivity

Your inbox was never meant to be a business management system. When gallery delivery, client questions, and sales follow-ups all live in email, things get missed. Messages pile up, important details are buried, and clients are left waiting. What starts as a simple way to communicate quickly turns into a major source of friction.

When you manage gallery delivery and sales through email alone, delays become normal. Clients wait longer for galleries, reminders are forgotten, and purchasing momentum fades. Inbox chaos does not just slow you down. It directly impacts customer experience and revenue.

Outline a clear delivery workflow

A smooth client experience starts with a defined delivery workflow. Galleries should follow the same steps every time so nothing relies on memory or manual tracking. Uploading images, notifying clients, promoting sales, and handling questions should all be part of a repeatable system.

When delivery follows a consistent structure, clients know what to expect and you know nothing is slipping through the cracks. A workflow removes guesswork and replaces it with confidence.

Upload once and deliver with intention

Uploading galleries should be the beginning of the process, not the end. Once images are uploaded, clients need clear direction on how to view their photos, what products are available, and how to move forward. When this information is missing or scattered across emails, clients hesitate.

A structured delivery ensures that galleries arrive with context and purpose, setting the stage for engagement and sales.

Automate gallery notifications instead of chasing email s

Manually emailing gallery links is one of the easiest places for mistakes to happen. Missed messages, wrong links, or forgotten follow-ups can all hurt the client experience. Automated gallery invites ensure every client receives their gallery promptly with the right information every time.

Automation also creates consistency. Clients feel taken care of without you needing to monitor your inbox constantly.

Promote sales without constant follow-up

Sales should not depend on remembering to send reminders. Automated sales reminders help keep galleries top of mind and encourage purchasing without feeling pushy. When reminders are built into the gallery system, clients receive timely nudges that feel professional and helpful.

This keeps sales momentum going even when your inbox is full.

Use expiration notifications to drive action

Galleries that sit open indefinitely often result in delayed or forgotten purchases. Expiring gallery notifications create a clear timeline for clients, helping them prioritize viewing and ordering. When expectations are clear, clients are more likely to act.

Expiration notices also reduce the need for manual follow-up and awkward check-ins.

Create a storefront that answers questions for you

Many client questions are related to pricing, products, and ordering. A custom storefront built into your gallery experience gives clients the information they need upfront. Clear pricing, product options, and simple checkout reduce confusion and eliminate unnecessary emails.

When clients can help themselves, the entire experience feels smoother and more professional.

Rely on your system, not your memory

A systemized gallery workflow ensures every client receives the same high-quality experience. No emails are missed, no reminders are forgotten, and no sales opportunities fall through the cracks. You are no longer relying on mental checklists or inbox searches to manage delivery.

Consistency builds trust, and trust drives sales.

Move from inbox overwhelm to seamless delivery

Email will always play a role in communication, but it should not be the engine running your business. When gallery delivery, sales reminders, and client guidance live inside a structured system, everything flows more smoothly.

Instaproofs helps photographers move from inbox overwhelm to seamless delivery and stronger sales. With the right system in place, client communication becomes clearer, delivery becomes predictable, and your business becomes easier to manage.

Streamline Your Photography Business Through Better Gallery Workflows

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 17:00:01 GMT

Disorganized delivery costs more than time

A messy gallery delivery process does more than slow you down. It creates uncertainty for clients, increases follow-up questions, and quietly reduces sales. When every gallery is handled differently or relies on manual steps, clients feel the inconsistency right away. A disorganized process makes even great photography feel less professional.

Streamlining your gallery workflow helps eliminate confusion and creates a better experience for both you and your clients.

Build a repeatable gallery workflow

A strong gallery workflow is built on consistency. Every client should receive their gallery in the same structured way so expectations are clear from the start. Consistent upload steps help clients know exactly how to view, favorite, and purchase images without having to figure it out each time.

When galleries follow a familiar format, clients feel comfortable and confident engaging with them.

Schedule communication instead of reacting

Clients should never wonder whether their gallery was delivered, if their order went through, or what happens next. Scheduled communication removes that uncertainty. Planned delivery emails, reminders, and confirmations make the experience feel intentional instead of rushed or reactive.

When communication is predictable, clients trust the process and you spend less time answering the same questions.

Build sales directly into the gallery experience

Sales perform best when they are part of the workflow rather than an afterthought. A streamlined gallery includes visible pricing, clear product options, and simple instructions for ordering. Clients are far more likely to purchase when they understand how buying works without needing clarification.

When sales are built into the experience, purchasing feels easy and natural.

Answer questions before clients ask them

Most clients share the same questions about downloads, prints, shipping, and deadlines. When buying guidance and FAQs are included within the gallery experience, clients feel supported without needing to email you.

This reduces hesitation, builds confidence, and significantly cuts down on back-and-forth communication.

Use Instaproofs tools to automate and simplify

Instaproofs is designed to support smooth, repeatable gallery workflows. Automated email sequences ensure consistent communication from delivery through ordering. Clients receive clear messaging at the right time, reinforcing trust and professionalism.

Sales promotions inside Instaproofs allow you to encourage purchasing without manual effort, while gallery expiration settings create urgency that keeps clients engaged and moving forward.

Create a client-friendly store that converts

A clean, intuitive store design makes a huge difference in gallery sales. When clients can easily browse products, understand pricing, and complete purchases without friction, they are more likely to buy.

Instaproofs provides a client-friendly shopping experience that supports confident, self-guided purchasing.

The result is happier clients and higher sales

A streamlined gallery workflow leads to happier clients, fewer questions, and more consistent sales. Delivery feels professional, communication feels clear, and purchasing becomes part of a natural flow rather than a hard sell.

A streamlined gallery workflow pays for itself. With Instaproofs, gallery delivery becomes a reliable system that saves time, builds trust, and supports sustainable growth.

Why Your Photography Leads Aren’t Booking Sessions or Buying Prints

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:00:17 GMT

Your photos attract leads, but your process books them

You can have beautiful work, a strong portfolio, and steady inquiries coming in, yet still struggle with low booking rates and underperforming gallery sales. When that happens, the issue is rarely the photography itself. More often, it is the experience surrounding it.

From the first inquiry to the final gallery delivery, clients are constantly deciding whether they trust you. Trust is built through clarity, consistency, and ease. When your process feels slow, confusing, or disjointed, clients hesitate. When it feels simple and professional, they move forward with confidence.

Leads and sales depend on the same thing. A clear experience that makes clients feel taken care of at every step.

Common problems that cost you bookings and print sales

Many photographers unknowingly lose momentum with clients due to small but impactful gaps in their workflow.

Slow response time
When a lead reaches out, timing matters. Delayed responses create uncertainty, even if the delay is unintentional. Clients often interpret silence as disorganization or lack of availability and move on to someone who feels more responsive.

Lack of clear information
If clients are unsure what happens next, what is included, or how purchasing works, they hesitate. Unclear processes force clients to ask more questions or, worse, disengage entirely.

No expectations set for delivery
After a session, clients want reassurance. When they do not know when to expect their gallery, how it will be delivered, or how ordering works, excitement can quickly turn into frustration or confusion. That uncertainty directly affects how willing they are to invest in prints and products.

How Instaproofs helps create trust through clarity

Instaproofs is designed to support a smoother, more professional client experience, especially at the most critical moment: gallery delivery and sales.

Clear communication built into gallery invites
Your gallery is not just a collection of images. It is a touchpoint that reinforces your professionalism. Instaproofs allows you to send galleries with built-in messaging that explains what clients are receiving, how to view their images, and what steps to take next. This reduces follow-up questions and creates confidence from the start.

A simple, intuitive client experience
When clients open an Instaproofs gallery, everything feels intentional. Navigation is straightforward, images load cleanly, and the process feels easy. Clients are not distracted by technical friction or confusion. They can focus on what matters: your work.

An intuitive experience keeps clients engaged longer, which directly supports higher conversion rates and more thoughtful purchasing decisions.

Pricing transparency around prints and products
Clients are far more likely to buy when pricing is clear and accessible. Instaproofs allows you to present print and product options directly within the gallery, so clients understand what is available and what it costs without needing to email back and forth.

This transparency removes hesitation and helps clients feel comfortable making purchasing decisions on their own timeline.

Automated messages that reduce friction
Following up manually with every client takes time and increases the risk of inconsistency. Instaproofs supports automated communication that keeps clients informed without extra effort on your end. Delivery notifications, reminders, and order confirmations all help maintain momentum while reinforcing trust.

Automation does not feel impersonal when it is done well. It feels reliable.

Why clarity leads to more yeses

Clients want to feel confident that they are making the right choice. Confidence comes from knowing what to expect, understanding the process, and feeling supported without having to chase information.

When your communication is clear and your gallery experience is seamless, clients are more likely to book, more likely to purchase prints, and more likely to recommend you to others.

Instaproofs helps to remove uncertainty from the client journey so your work and your professionalism can shine together.

The smoother your process, the more clients say yes

Photography leads are not just evaluating your images. They are evaluating the experience you provide. From first contact to final delivery, every interaction either builds trust or erodes it.

When your process is clear, timely, and easy to navigate, clients feel confident moving forward. They book sessions more readily, engage with their galleries longer, and invest more in prints and products.

A smoother process is not just about saving time. It is about creating an experience clients trust and are happy to say yes to.

Boosting Sales with Holiday-Themed Gallery Promotions

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:30:00 GMT

The holiday season is a golden opportunity for photographers—not just to create beautiful memories for clients, but to significantly boost end-of-year sales. People are shopping for gifts, updating family portraits, designing holiday cards, and looking for meaningful keepsakes. With the right tools and strategy, your client galleries can become a powerful revenue generator.

If you're using Instaproofs, holiday-themed promotions are easy to set up, run, and profit from—without adding to your seasonal stress.

.The holiday season doesn’t have to be chaotic to be profitable. With Instaproofs, you can plan ahead, launch effective gallery promotions, and boost your end-of-year income—all while keeping the experience seamless for your clients.

Set your deadlines, design your promos, and let Instaproofs do the rest. Your clients get beautifully printed memories—and you end the year with stronger sales.

Not using Instaproofs yet? Try it free and see how easy holiday selling can be.

Why the Holidays Are Prime for Selling

Between October and December, people are actively looking to spend money on photo products—whether it’s framed prints for Grandma or canvas wraps for their home. This is the time of year when a little nudge, like a well-timed discount or free shipping offer, can translate into big sales.

But timing, presentation, and ease of checkout matter. That’s where Instaproofs comes in.

Set the Mood with Seasonal Branding

A holiday promotion isn’t just about the discount—it’s about creating a sense of occasion. With Instaproofs, you can update your gallery layouts with seasonal banners, themed messaging, and custom expiration countdowns that build urgency.

Want to encourage early bird shopping? Offer an “Order by November 15 for guaranteed delivery” notice right on the gallery. Or launch a festive look with warm holiday colors and a message that says “It’s the Season of Prints.”

A polished, timely design helps your clients feel like they’re not just ordering— they’re participating in something special.

Create Custom Promotions in Minutes

Instaproofs gives you the ability to create and schedule gallery-wide promotions with just a few clicks. Whether it’s a blanket discount across all orders or a specific sale on albums and wall art, you’re in control.

Popular holiday promos include:

Percentage-off discountsfor Black Friday or Cyber Monday
Free shipping on orders over a certain amount
Multiple purchase deals on prints
Limited-time bonuses, like a free holiday card pack with purchase

You can choose to run promotions across all galleries, selected clients, or specific products. It’s flexible, fast, and designed to sell.

Build Urgency with Email + Countdown Tools

It’s one thing to launch a promotion—it’s another to get people to act on it. Instaproofs includes built-in email marketing tools so you can notify your clients directly from the platform.

Pair that with customizable countdown timers in the galleries, and you’ll see the power of urgency in action. Clients who might otherwise forget to order are more likely to jump in when they know a discount is expiring in 24 hours.

And since you can track who opened, clicked, and purchased—you can resend reminders to those who haven’t yet checked out.

Offer Gift-Ready Products

During the holidays, convenience is everything. Make sure your galleries are stocked with products that are easy to gift—prints in standard sizes, framed options, digital downloads, and holiday cards.

Instaproofs supports a wide range of print and product offerings, and you can adjust pricing, delivery options, and packaging to match the season. You can even enable boutique packaging to make every order feel like a wrapped gift.

Maximize Sales Without Extra Work

The best part? Once your promotions are set up, Instaproofs runs them for you. Orders are processed, sales tracked, and clients notified—all without you needing to chase anyone down. You can stay focused on shooting and editing, while your galleries quietly bring in extra income.

Wrapping Up

Using Galleries as a Marketing Tool

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 18:38:47 GMT

Your online galleries are more than a delivery method—they’re a critical part of your marketing strategy. With the right tools, every gallery you send can promote future bookings, increase print sales, and bring in new clients through word-of-mouth referrals. Instaproofs helps photographers turn every gallery into a branded, revenue-generating experience.

Here’s how to make your galleries work harder for you.

1. Brand Every Touchpoint

Your gallery is a reflection of your business, so make sure it tells your story. Instaproofs allows you to fully brand your gallery pages—from the logo to the fonts, colors, and even the layout. This consistency builds client trust and helps reinforce your professionalism.

When a client shares their gallery, their friends and family experience your brand firsthand. This turns every gallery into a marketing opportunity without needing to lift a finger.

2. Use Gallery Promotions to Boost Engagement

Want clients to shop quickly and share their galleries? Set up limited-time sales within your galleries to create urgency. Instaproofs lets you easily run flash sales, offer early bird discounts, or include a time-sensitive bonus like free shipping.

For example:

“Order prints within 72 hours for 15% off.”

“Free download package for all orders over $50.”

These incentives increase client activity and encourage faster engagement—without the need for direct follow-up.

3. Automate Follow-Ups

Don’t let galleries sit unopened. Instaproofs offers automatic email reminders for gallery views, expirations, and unpurchased items in carts. You can customize the tone and frequency of these emails to match your brand, and the system handles the rest.

These follow-ups are an easy way to keep your sessions top-of-mind, boost sales, and stay connected to your clients—all with zero manual work on your end.

4. Include Upsell Opportunities

Instaproofs makes upselling simple by offering optional add-ons directly in the gallery storefront. From albums and canvases to framed prints and digital bundles, you can showcase your full product offering without being pushy.

The shopping experience is seamless and intuitive, which means clients are more likely to add extra items during checkout—especially when combined with promo incentives or gift ideas.

5. Encourage Sharing and Referrals

Your clients love their photos—and they want to share them. Instaproofs galleries make it easy for clients to share links with friends, family, and social media followers. Every time someone new views the gallery, they’re seeing your branding, your watermark, and your sales system.

Want to take it a step further? Add a referral code or incentive: “Share your gallery with a friend and earn $25 off your next session if they book!”

Referrals are some of the most powerful (and low-effort) marketing tools available to photographers.

Final Thoughts

With Instaproofs, your gallery isn’t just the end of the session—it’s the beginning of a new marketing opportunity. From automated follow-ups to built-in promos and easy sharing, your photos can promote your business long after the shoot is over.

Let your work speak for itself—and let your galleries do the marketing.

Mid-Year Metrics: Tracking Sales and Client Engagement

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:33:20 GMT

Let’s break down some key metrics worth reviewing:

�� Sales Performance

Total Revenue : Compare your total sales year-to-date with the same period last year.
Best-Selling Galleries : Which galleries or session types are bringing in the most income?
Average Order Value : Is it trending up, down, or staying flat? This can guide your upsell strategies.

�� Client Engagement

Gallery Views : Are clients opening and interacting with their galleries promptly?
Cart Abandonment : How many shoppers start to order but never complete it?
Email Click Rates : Are your marketing emails getting attention or getting skipped?

Tracking sales and client engagement together gives you a full picture of how your business is connecting with your audience.

Tools to Make It Easy

Instaproofs makes this simple with built-in tools designed for busy photographers:

Sales Dashboard for quick-glance performance data
Client Activity Logs to see who viewed what and when
Promo Code Tracking to see which marketing efforts are actually driving sales
Automated Follow-Ups to re-engage clients who haven’t ordered yet

These tools let you act on insights, not just observe them.

Use What You Learn

Once you’ve reviewed your mid-year metrics, it’s time to put that data to work:

Double down on what’s working : Promote your best-selling galleries or session types more heavily.
Fix what’s not : Update pricing, tweak email timing, or offer new incentives to reduce cart abandonment.
Plan for seasonality : Use historical data to prepare for your busiest season with the right promos and communication in place.

Takeaway:
Tracking sales and client engagement at mid-year isn’t just smart—it’s essential. With Instaproofs, you’re already equipped to make data-driven decisions that boost your bottom line.

Need a fresh start for your galleries? Log in to Instaproofs and start exploring your metrics today.

Mid-Year Metrics: Tracking Sales and Client Engagement

The halfway point in the year is the perfect time to hit pause and check in on your business goals. Are your sales where you want them to be? Are your clients engaging with your galleries? With Instaproofs, you don’t have to guess—you have all the data you need at your fingertips.

Here’s how to use this moment to evaluate your progress and boost performance moving forward.

Why Mid-Year Metrics Matter

A lot can change in six months. That’s why tracking sales and client engagement mid-year helps you:

Identify what’s working and what needs improvement
Pinpoint trends in gallery performance, session types, and client behavior
Adjust marketing and pricing strategies to maximize profit in the second half of the year

With Instaproofs, you can access real-time insights to make informed decisions—without complicated spreadsheets or third-party tools.

What to Measure

Creating Stunning Galleries That Sell Themselves

Thu, 29 May 2025 16:55:47 GMT

Looks Matter (Especially in Sales)

Your photo galleries do more than display your work — they sell it. And if they’re not set up thoughtfully, you could be missing out on easy revenue.

A well-designed online photo gallery should create a seamless experience that encourages browsing, emotional connection, and purchasing.

Crafting a Gallery That Converts

There’s a difference between showing images and showcasing them. To increase orders and engagement, make sure your gallery includes:

A strong opening image to set the tone
Mobile-friendly browsing
Clear options for prints and downloads
Built-in favorites/wishlist features
Urgency tools like limited-time discounts or expiry timers

Visual appeal meets usability — that’s the magic combo.

Why Instaproofs?

Instaproofs is more than just a photo delivery platform — it’s a sales-driven gallery system with tools designed to boost your income.

Key features include:

Promo Campaigns – Schedule discounts and offers around key dates
Email Automation – Remind clients to view and purchase
Sales Tracking – Monitor conversion rates and order history
Mobile-Optimized Layouts – Ensure seamless shopping on any device
Custom Storefront Branding – Match your site and brand aesthetic

Whether you're delivering wedding galleries, corporate headshots, or sports events, Instaproofs helps you convert more clients into buyers.

Don’t Forget the Follow-Up

One of the easiest ways to increase gallery sales? Reminders. Instaproofs lets you automate gentle nudges like:

"Your gallery expires soon!"
"Still thinking about that canvas print?"
"Your discount ends in 48 hours!"

These messages don’t feel pushy — they just help clients take action.

Final Thought

A beautiful gallery doesn’t just showcase your work — it works for you. With Instaproofs, you’ll build a strong online photo gallery that makes selling easier, faster, and more effective. The best part? Your clients enjoy a smooth, professional experience that keeps them coming back for more.

Converting Event Views Into Sales

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:09:55 GMT

Converting Event Views Into Sales

You’ve done the work: captured the moments, edited the gallery, uploaded the images, and shared the link. Now the views start rolling in—but not all of them turn into purchases.

If you’ve ever wondered how to boost your sales without hounding your clients, you’re not alone. Instaproofs gives you the tools to turn passive viewers into paying customers—automatically, strategically, and without sacrificing the client experience.

Why Views Don’t Always Equal Sales

In many cases, people viewing a gallery are genuinely interested. But between busy schedules, decision fatigue, and forgetfulness, they often leave without purchasing—simply because they weren’t nudged at the right time.

Email Campaigns That Work for You

Instaproofs makes it easy to set up automated email reminders and promotions. Once a gallery is published, you can schedule emails to go out:

24 hours later
3 days later
1 week later

These reminders can include calls to action like “Don’t forget to order your favorites!” or time-sensitive discounts like “10% off prints for the next 48 hours.” With minimal setup, you’re creating urgency and keeping your event top-of-mind for everyone involved.

Use Limited-Time Discounts to Create Urgency

Flash sales, early bird discounts, and limited-time coupon codes are highly effective for turning interest into purchases. Instaproofs lets you schedule and automate these promotions within each gallery.

A simple “Order now and save 15%” message can be the nudge someone needs to finally order that framed print or digital download.

Mobile-First Shopping Experience

Most gallery traffic comes from mobile devices, and if your platform isn’t optimized, you’re likely losing sales. Instaproofs is built for mobile—meaning your clients and their guests can view, favorite, and order products seamlessly from any device.

When shopping is easy, more people follow through.

Showcase Products Beautifully

Want clients to order more prints, canvases, or photo books? Instaproofs lets you create a visually appealing storefront with real-time previews of each product. You can also recommend best-sellers or suggest pairings (e.g., “Complete your order with a set of gift prints”).

Smart product presentation = higher average order value.

Turn Viewers Into Buyers With Less Work

Photographers often feel stuck between wanting to promote sales and not wanting to “bother” clients. Instaproofs solves that problem with subtle, strategic tools that do the selling for you.

You focus on delivering beautiful galleries—we’ll help make sure you get paid for them.

Sneak Peek: New Features Coming Your Way

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:23:43 GMT

• Contracts

• Invoices

• Questionnaires

• Galleries

• Sessions

• Downloadable PDFs

2. Gallery Sign-Out Option — Leverage an additional, convenient sign-out option that will soon be added to the main menu within your galleries. This can be especially handy when your clients accidentally log in with an incorrect email address, or when they use a shared computer or device with others.

3. New “Subscribe Mode” — If you want to collect email addresses for a gallery before it’s live, the upcoming Subscribe Mode may be exactly what you’re looking for! Once enabled, your clients will be prompted to provide their email addresses upfront in order to be notified when the photos are available.

4. Client Favorite Notifications — Your clients will soon be able to notify you when they’ve completed selecting their favorite images. Once the notification has been sent, the favorite list will be locked, preventing further changes unless you choose to unlock it again.

5. Navigate Multi-Category Galleries — For galleries that include multiple categories, your clients will soon have an additional navigation option in the form of a category dropdown menu. The dropdown menu will be added to the top of the screen, allowing your clients to conventiently move throughout their galleries.

6. Mobile Gallery Enhancements — From improvements in the way bulk pricing is displayed, to clearer discount icons and messaging, our galleries are constantly being enhanced to ensure an optimal experience for your clients.

7. Improved Pop-ups — Pop-up menus for items such as add-ons & upsells will soon be getting “close” buttons to make them easier to navigate and manage.

each out to our real, live support team anytime, or add ideas to our site suggestions board .

Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

The Spring Cleaning Guide for Your Online Galleries

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:18:53 GMT

Introduction

Spring is the perfect time to refresh and optimize your online galleries. A well-maintained gallery not only enhances your clients’ experience but also increases your sales potential. Instaproofs provides the tools you need to organize, update, and elevate your online galleries for a successful season.

Why Spring Cleaning Matters for Online Galleries

Your online gallery is often the final impression clients have of your work. A cluttered or outdated gallery can detract from your professionalism and hurt sales. Regular maintenance ensures that your galleries remain engaging, easy to navigate, and optimized for purchases.

Organize Your Existing Galleries

Start your spring cleaning by reviewing your current galleries:

Archive old galleries to keep your platform tidy.
Organize images by session type, date, or client.
Ensure expired galleries are properly removed or renewed for clients.

A clean gallery layout makes it easier for clients to find and purchase their favorite images.

Optimize for Sales

Use Instaproofs’ tools to increase the sales potential of your galleries:

Highlight featured images or collections.
Set up limited-time promotions to encourage purchases.
Offer packages or bundles to increase average order value.

These features make your galleries not only functional but also profitable.

Refresh Your Branding

Spring is also a great time to update the look and feel of your galleries:

Customize your gallery themes to reflect your brand.
Update watermarks or logo placements for a polished finish.
Ensure your pricing and product offerings are current and competitive.

A refreshed gallery design keeps your brand looking modern and professional.

Conclusion

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home—it’s a valuable practice for your online galleries too. With Instaproofs , you can organize, optimize, and refresh your galleries to provide a seamless client experience and drive more sales. Make this spring the start of a successful season with Instaproofs.

Now Live: Subscribe Mode and More!

brock@iris-works.com (Brock Moreau) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:42:12 GMT

Building a Vision for Your Photography Business in 2025

brock@peaktransit.com (Brock Moreau) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:24:41 GMT

The end of the year is an opportune time to reflect on your accomplishments and set goals for the future. For photographers, creating a vision for 2025 can provide clarity and direction. Instaproofs is here to support your journey with tools that enhance client engagement and sales.

Reflect on 2024’s Achievements

Begin by reviewing the past year’s successes and challenges. Did you meet your sales targets? Were clients satisfied with your service? Reflection helps identify what worked and what needs improvement.

Strengthen Your Online Presence

A strong online presence is crucial for growing your photography business. In 2025, focus on optimizing your website, improving SEO, and curating your social media profiles. Instaproofs can enhance your online storefront, making it easier for clients to view and purchase your work.

Prioritize Client Relationships

In the competitive photography industry, client relationships are key. Make 2025 the year of enhanced client interaction. Personalized emails, thank-you notes, and seamless proofing galleries can create memorable experiences that lead to repeat business.

Explore New Revenue Streams

Diversifying your income can increase financial stability. Consider offering digital products, print packages, or mini-sessions. With Instaproofs, you can easily manage and showcase your offerings, simplifying the buying process for clients.

Establish Realistic Benchmarks

Set achievable benchmarks for your business, whether it’s growing your client base or increasing average order value. Regularly monitor your progress to ensure your goals align with your overarching vision.

Invest in Your Growth

Continuing education and skill development are vital for long-term success. Attend workshops, explore online courses, or network with industry professionals. Investing in yourself is an investment in your business.

Instaproofs empowers photographers to achieve their aspirations. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, creativity, and success for your photography business.

Exciting News: Instaproofs Joins the Iris Works Family!

Support@pixifi.com (Pixifi Support) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:41:59 GMT

We’re thrilled to announce that Instaproofs has officially joined Iris Works, a leading CRM platform built by photographers, for photographers. This marks an exciting step forward in our shared mission to provide intuitive, powerful tools that help photographers run their businesses with ease.

Why This Matters

Instaproofs has always been a trusted resource for photographers, and we deeply appreciate the dedication that has shaped it into the platform it is today. At Iris Works, our platform was built by photographers who understand the unique needs of creatives and are committed to making business management simpler. We’re combining our expertise to continue serving you with the tools and support you rely on—while ensuring both platforms remain strong and independent.

A Message from Leadership

“This transition marks an exciting new chapter for Instaproofs,” said Adam Ellis, CEO of Instaproofs. “For years, our focus has been on helping photographers showcase their art and manage their businesses with ease. We’re excited to see that mission continue through Iris Works. We know Instaproofs is in great hands with a team that understands the photography community and is committed to supporting it.”

What This Means for You

Seamless Experience – Both Instaproofs and Iris Works will continue to operate as separate platforms, ensuring you can use the system that best fits your needs.
Enhanced Support – With our combined teams, you’ll have access to improved customer support, including extended hours and better coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to switch to Iris Works?

No. Both Instaproofs and Iris Works will continue to operate separately.

Will there be any changes to customer support?

You’ll continue to receive the same high-quality support, now strengthened by our combined teams.

How can I learn more about Iris Works?

You can visit Iris-Works.com to learn more.

We’re incredibly excited for what’s ahead and grateful to have you as part of this journey.

Best regards,

The Instaproofs & Iris Works Team

Optimizing Your Gallery Setup for Increased Sales

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:20:46 GMT

Key Features for Optimizing Galleries

Instaproofs provides a suite of features designed to enhance your gallery setup, including:

Custom Branding : Maintain a consistent look that reflects your style.
Integrated Sales Tools : Offer prints, albums, and digital downloads directly within the gallery.
Responsive Design : Ensure a seamless experience on any device.

By leveraging these tools, you create a gallery experience that feels professional and inviting.

Encouraging Purchases with Strategic Setup

Optimizing your gallery isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s also about strategy. Instaproofs helps you boost sales by:

Highlighting featured products or popular image categories.
Offering limited-time discounts to create urgency.
Sending automated reminders about expiring galleries.

These tactics encourage clients to act quickly and invest in their memories.

Enhancing Client Engagement Through Ease of Use

A seamless gallery experience keeps clients engaged and excited about their images. With Instaproofs, clients can easily share their galleries, making it simple for friends and family to explore—and purchase—their favorites.

Conclusion

Optimizing your gallery setup with Instaproofs is more than just good design—it’s a strategy for increasing sales and client satisfaction. By creating engaging, easy-to-use galleries, you can maximize your revenue and leave a lasting impression.

Strengthening Client Loyalty Through Seamless Galleries

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:20:48 GMT

In photography, delivering the final product is a pivotal moment. Online galleries are more than a delivery method—they’re an opportunity to create a memorable client experience that fosters loyalty and satisfaction. Instaproofs equips photographers with powerful tools to make every gallery a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Why Building Strong Connections Matters

Photography is deeply personal—clients entrust you to capture life’s most meaningful moments. Building trust and rapport starts long before the session begins. By managing leads effectively and nurturing client relationships, you create a foundation of loyalty and trust that drives referrals and repeat business.

The Role of Galleries in Client Relationships

Clients often base their final impression of your work on the gallery experience. A cluttered or confusing gallery can overshadow the quality of your photos, while a seamless and polished experience enhances your professionalism and leaves clients thrilled.

Creating a Memorable Gallery Experience

Instaproofs enables photographers to offer galleries that are both functional and visually appealing. Key features include:

Customizable Designs : Reflect your brand’s style and professionalism.
Intuitive Navigation : Ensure clients can easily find and view their images.
Integrated Print Sales : Simplify the ordering process with built-in tools for purchasing prints and products.

These elements work together to create a gallery experience clients will rave about.

Enhancing Client Engagement Post-Delivery

Your relationship with the client doesn’t end when you deliver the gallery. Instaproofs provides tools to keep the interaction alive:

Send reminders about expiring galleries to encourage downloads or purchases.
Offer exclusive promotions for prints and albums to boost engagement.
Enable easy sharing options so clients can showcase your work to friends and family.

These strategies turn a one-time delivery into an ongoing relationship.

Building Loyalty Through Consistency

Consistency builds trust, and trust builds loyalty. Instaproofs helps photographers maintain a professional and consistent experience across all client interactions, ensuring every gallery delivery exceeds expectations.

Conclusion

Strengthening client loyalty begins with the gallery experience. With Instaproofs, photographers can deliver seamless, branded galleries that leave a lasting impression, fostering long-term client relationships and growing their business.

9 Tips for a Calm and Bright Holiday Season

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:13:18 GMT

It’s the most wonderful (and busiest!) time of the year.

We hope your holiday season is off to a great start! While we all look for time to rest, unwind, and reset over the holidays, we know the first two weeks in December can be some of the highest-volume ordering weeks of the entire year. Trying to keep your orders flowing and clients happy can be exhausting, so we put together the following tips and tricks to help make this time easier, and more enjoyable for you and your clients!

1. Keep Offering Sales - According to Gallup, 20% of consumers wait until December to start their Christmas shopping. So, at this point, some of your clients are still considering what to get their loved ones for Christmas. Help make their decision easier by running additional sales and encouraging additional orders. Don't let your Black Friday sale be the last one of the season, but instead, run new sales every couple of days right up until your final ordering deadline. The more often your clients are reminded of the images, the more likely they are to make a purchase and give the gift of prints!

2. Be Realistic (and Kind) With Your Ordering Deadlines - We're talking about being kind to yourself. Make sure you give yourself some wriggle room with your ordering deadline so you have time to fulfill all of your orders. Select a hard deadline for orders and let your clients know that anything ordered after that date should not be expected before Christmas. Setting expectations will help you and your clients! To help you identify what your order deadline should be, we consolidated order deadlines from our lab partners.

Order deadlines aren’t the only information we’ve gathered from our lab partners. We created a lab partner landing page so you can quickly find valuable information in one, convenient location.

3. Overcommunicate Deadlines - Speaking of ordering deadlines, post them EVERYWHERE. We recommend posting them to your storefront, social accounts, blogs, and anywhere else your clients may visit. On your Instaproofs storefront, your deadlines can be added to the gallery login page, gallery description, promotional emails, order receipts, or all of the above. Log in now to quickly update these spaces.

View fullsize

4. Get (Christmas) Creative - In addition to your standard shipping options, try adding a new option labeled “Christmas Delivery” or “Delivery by Christmas." As your order deadline approaches, you can increase the cost of this option to help cover priority shipping fees that may be incurred to ensure the orders arrive on time. If you’re unsure how to manage your shipping options and/or shipping rates, don’t worry. We made a tutorial video .

5. Don't Wait - We probably should've listed this first. Fulfilling your orders promptly is always important, but even more so in December! Remember to be kind to yourself (Tip #2) and fulfill orders as soon as they come in so you don't find yourself in a last-minute rush.

6. Keep Your Customers in the Loop - Have you ever found yourself desperately tracking orders to see if they’ll arrive in time? Your clients are likely to do the same. Keeping your clients well-informed and updating the status of their orders will go a long way in easing their minds, and it may even save you from receiving panicked/frantic messages demanding to know where their orders are! If you want help keeping them in the loop, check out the tip below!

7. Considering Package Tracking? Do It. - This goes hand-in-hand with Tip #6. If you are self-fulfilling your orders, always opt for package tracking. This might cost you a little extra up-front, but the hassles it will save you if problems arise will more than makeup for it! Once you receive the tracking numbers for your orders, pass them along to your customers so they can monitor progress themselves. This will help alleviate their concerns while saving you time and energy!

8. Keep Things Current - If you do update your storefront and other client landing spots with holiday deadlines, remember to update your messaging once your order deadline passes. Let your clients know it's too late to expect orders to arrive before Christmas. If you added a Christmas shipping option (Tip #4) make sure you remove that too.

9. Let Us Make Your Life Easier - If you don't want to bother hunting down your ordered images and re-uploading them to another service, consider using our integrated fulfillment (and auto-fulfillment) services. Standard print orders generally ship the next business day, and all orders automatically receive tracking numbers when they are shipped. Our holiday fulfillment deadlines can be found here: Fulfillment Deadlines .

If you haven’t taken advantage of our integrated fulfillment services before, read this article for instructions on how to set up your account to do so.

If you follow any combination of these tips and tricks, we think you'll be set up for a great holiday season— including the hectic first weeks of December! We wish you, your loved ones, and your clients a wonderful holiday season.

Enhance Your Storefront

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:28:04 GMT

3 Tips for Enhancing your storefront before the holiday rush

If you’re interested in generating additional income during the holidays (and honestly, who isn’t?), ensure your storefront is primed and ready for the holiday rush. Keep reading for three ways to help you and your clients get the most out of your custom storefront!

1. Offer a Variety of Products

Did you know you can offer more product options than standard paper prints and digital downloads? In fact, you can offer a LOT more! You are in complete control of your storefront. If you aren’t already, consider offering an assortment of the following product types:

Lab Products - We’ve partnered with several of the most renowned photo labs so that you can offer your clients a curated selection of premium products. Thanks to our partnerships, you don’t have to have an account with each of the individual labs to offer their products, you can simply select which products to import and we’ll take it from there! If you’re curious about which labs are most popular by order volume, we covered that in Part 3 of our 2023 in Review Blog Series!

Custom Products - With an Instaproofs Storefront, you can also offer custom product options with your specific clients in mind. For example, you can create custom product bundles and provide unique products by the craftsmen of your choice.

Digital Products - Clients love the gift of immediacy, which makes digital downloads a go-to option. In addition to offering full-gallery downloads, you can also sell individual image downloads or custom “packs” of images, allowing clients to select a certain number of images to download. These options make great alternatives to full-gallery downloads, so consider offering multiple digital products to give your clients variety.

“Other” Products - Think outside the box by offering your clients product options other than the photos themselves. Options such as gift certificates and press-printed greeting cards are particularly popular during the holiday season. If you do add these product options to your storefront, make sure you feature them in upcoming marketing communication so your clients know they’re available.

Bonus Tip: When you’re selecting products to include on your storefront, consider holiday shipping deadlines (don’t worry, we’ve compiled all of them for you here). Note: We will continue to update that page as we receive additional information from our lab partners!

2. Optimize Your Pricing

Now’s the time to consider your pricing and make sure it’s optimized in time for holiday shoppers. Here are a few ways you can do this:

Leverage Unlimited Pricing Sheets - Pricing sheets are used to define the pricing for your prints, single-image downloads, category downloads, and single-image products & packages. Creating multiple pricing sheets allows you to charge different amounts for different galleries and/or images.

Determine Pricing for Lab Products - With an Instaproofs Storefront, you set the price for lab products. You can choose a specific price yourself, or apply a certain percentage mark-up to each product automatically.

Review Your Shipping Rates - In a previous blog post, we reviewed the average shipping rates charged by labs and by photographers in 2023. We found that photographers generally charge less than the lab shipping rates, but make up the price difference by charging more for the products themselves. This can be a great business tactic to address the hesitation consumers feel when they see high shipping costs. You can also reference our 2023: Year in Review blog article to compare your shipping rates with those of your peers.

Account for Sales Tax - If you’re not already doing it, ensure that you’re collecting the proper amount of sales tax. You can utilize the Sales Tax tab of your account to define the correct sales tax rate for a specific geographic region.

3. Keep Sales & Coupons Current

Sales and coupon codes can be powerful tools for encouraging clients to revisit their galleries and make additional purchases. To make the most of these tactics, we recommend:

Take Inventory - Start by reviewing which sales and coupon codes are currently active and which have expired. This helps ensure your offerings are up-to-date and relevant. Use the dashboard to quickly check and filter by "all," "current," or "expired" statuses. Decide if each active sale or coupon aligns with your goals and serves your clients effectively.

Optimize Settings - Once you’ve inventoried your current promotions, take a few minutes to fine-tune their settings. For instance, are the associated sale notification emails up to date, and do you have “discount stacking” disabled on your coupons? You may also need to adjust the expiration dates associated with your sales & coupons to accommodate the holiday season and incentivize your clients.

Create New Promotions - Finally, consider creating fresh sales and coupons to drive additional orders. Running timely promotions, particularly around holiday shipping deadlines, can encourage last-minute shoppers to make purchases. Remember—more promotions can lead to more orders! You can run new sales right up until the holiday shipping deadlines!

Follow these three tips and your storefront will be ready for the holiday season and beyond! Your clients will be thrilled and we think you will be too. We personally think there’s no better way to spend the holidays than generating “pajama profits” from your photography business!

Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

Enhance Your Storefront

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:37:02 GMT

3 Tips for Enhancing your storefront before the holiday rush

1. Offer a Variety of Products

Lab Products - We’ve partnered with several of the most renowned photo labs so that you can offer your clients a curated selection of premium products. Thanks to our partnerships, you don’t have to have an account with each of the individual labs to offer their products, you can simply select which products to import and we’ll take it from there! If you’re curious about which labs are most popular by order volume, we covered that in Part 3 of our 2023 in Review Blog Series!
Custom Products - With an Instaproofs Storefront, you can also offer custom product options with your specific clients in mind. For example, you can create custom product bundles and provide unique products by the craftsmen of your choice.
Digital Products - Clients love the gift of immediacy, which makes digital downloads a go-to option. In addition to offering full-gallery downloads, you can also sell individual image downloads or custom “packs” of images, allowing clients to select a certain number of images to download. These options make great alternatives to full-gallery downloads, so consider offering multiple digital products to give your clients variety.
“Other” Products - Think outside the box by offering your clients product options other than the photos themselves. Options such as gift certificates and press-printed greeting card s are particularly popular during the holiday season. If you do add these product options to your storefront, make sure you feature them in upcoming marketing communication so your clients know they’re available.

Bonus Tip: When you’re selecting products to include on your storefront, consider holiday shipping deadlines (don’t worry, we’ve compiled all of them for you here ). Note: We will continue to update that page as we receive additional information from our lab partners!

2. Optimize Your Pricing

Now’s the time to consider your pricing and make sure it’s optimized in time for holiday shoppers. Here are a few ways you can do this:

Leverage Unlimited Pricing Sheets - Pricing sheets are used to define the pricing for your prints, single-image downloads, category downloads, and single-image products & packages. Creating multiple pricing sheets allows you to charge different amounts for different galleries and/or images.
Determine Pricing for Lab Products - With an Instaproofs Storefront, you set the price for lab products. You can choose a specific price yourself, or apply a certain percentage mark-up to each product automatically.
Review Your Shipping Rates - In a previous blog post , we reviewed the average shipping rates charged by labs and by photographers in 2023. We found that photographers generally charge less than the lab shipping rates, but make up the price difference by charging more for the products themselves. This can be a great business tactic to address the hesitation consumers feel when they see high shipping costs. You can also reference our 2023: Year in Review blog article to compare your shipping rates with those of your peers.
Account for Sales Tax - If you’re not already doing it, ensure that you’re collecting the proper amount of sales tax. You can utilize the Sales Tax tab of your account to define the correct sales tax rate for a specific geographic region.

3. Keep Sales & Coupons Current

Sales and coupon codes can be powerful tools for encouraging clients to revisit their galleries and make additional purchases. To make the most of these tactics, we recommend:

Take Inventory - Start by reviewing which sales and coupon codes are currently active and which have expired. This helps ensure your offerings are up-to-date and relevant. Use the dashboard to quickly check and filter by "all," "current," or "expired" statuses. Decide if each active sale or coupon aligns with your goals and serves your clients effectively.
Optimize Settings - Once you’ve inventoried your current promotions, take a few minutes to fine-tune their settings. For instance, are the associated sale notification emails up to date, and do you have “discount stacking” disabled on your coupons? You may also need to adjust the expiration dates associated with your sales & coupons to accommodate the holiday season and incentivize your clients.
Create New Promotions - Finally, consider creating fresh sales and coupons to drive additional orders. Running timely promotions, particularly around holiday shipping deadlines, can encourage last-minute shoppers to make purchases. Remember—more promotions can lead to more orders! You can run new sales right up until the holiday shipping deadlines !

Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

Now Live: Subscribe Mode and More!

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:59:37 GMT

In last month’s post, we teased a series of new features coming your way. We’re thrilled to share those features are now live! Continue reading to learn more about what they offer you and your clients.

You also have the option to enable multi-subscribe mode to capture several email addresses one after another. This feature will prove especially helpful when you’re photographing large events where multiple people will want to access the gallery once it’s live. In multi-subscribe mode, the registration page will automatically refresh after each email address is entered. Consider leveraging this page and function with an on-site display at the event you’re photographing.

Client Gateways

Client Gateways are now live for those on the Pro Plan and higher! Client Gateways allow you to organize all items related to a project or client into one convenient location and then easily share it with your client(s) with a single link.

Group items such as invoices, contracts, questionnaires, bookings, galleries, PDFs and more! This functionality not only adds convenience, but also improves your client experience! Watch this video for a more detailed overview of the Client Gateways, including how to create them.

Subscribe Mode

One thing to know about Instaproofs is that we love to simplify your workflow and help you automate your photography business! “Gallery Subscribe Mode” is designed to do both of those things— giving you more time to concentrate on what you love. When you place a gallery in subscribe mode, your clients will be able to able to enter their email addresses, subscribing to future gallery notifications. When you activate the gallery, you can quickly and easily send an invitation email to everyone who has subscribed. You’ll no longer have to hunt for the right email addresses.

But wait, there’s more! Multi-Subscribe Mode

Favorite List Submission and Notification

Your clients can now create a list of their favorite images and submit that list to you once it’s complete. Once your client submits their list, you will receive an email with details such as gallery name, client email address, and list of favorite images by image name. From the email, you can click directly into the administrative area of your account to view the full list of images. For a more in-depth overview and tutorial on how to set up this functionality, watch this video!

Bonus: You also have the option to set a maximum number of favorite images if you’d like to limit the client’s list to a certain number.

In case you missed it in the descriptions above, there are tutorial videos for each of these new features. Watch the videos for step-by-step instructions on how to enable the different functionalities and improve your and your clients’ experiences.

Subscribe Mode / Multi-Subscribe Mode
Client Gateways
Favorite List Submission & Notification

We may have just introduced these new features, but we’re always working on what’s next! What would you like to see? You can reach out to our real, live support team anytime, or add ideas to our site suggestions board.

Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

Sneak Peek: New Features Coming Your Way

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 15:19:12 GMT

1. Client Gateways — This update adds convenience for you and your clients! Client Gateways act as centralized hubs where you can gather all relevant items for a client (or group of clients) in one place. Simply create a gateway, add the necessary items, and send a unique link to your clients. Relevant items include:

• Contracts
• Invoices
• Questionnaires
• Galleries
• Sessions
• Downloadable PDFs

Watch this video to learn more about client gateways.

Note: This feature will be available beginning September 9th, 2024.

7. Improved Pop-ups — Pop-up menus for items such as add-ons & upsells will soon be getting “close” buttons to make them easier to navigate and manage.

We’re excited about these new features— and we hope you are too! These updates will roll out to you and your clients over the next few weeks. Continue to check back here for more site enhancement news.

If you have requests for additional functionality or features, we’d love to hear from you! You can reach out to our real, live support team anytime, or add ideas to our site suggestions board.

Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

New Feature Roundup - July 2024

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:21:31 GMT

1. PIN-Enabled Gallery Downloads — This feature has been highly-requested by your fellow photographers! You can now create PIN numbers for low and medium-resolution full-gallery downloads. This feature allows easy sharing with wedding vendors, department heads, corporate event sponsors, marketing teams, workshop attendees, and more, without the need to collect email addresses or set individual permissions.These PINS, called “Vendor PINs,” can be set up through the new "Vendor PIN Config" option in the gallery config drop-down menu.

Note: Due to the additional strain on our system and the added convenience for our members, Vendor PINs are available exclusively to photographers on the Pro (and above) subscription plans.

2. New & Improved Suggestions Board — Do you have an idea for a new feature or site improvement? Let us know by adding your idea to our Site Suggestions Board! Once you add an idea, you can watch it progress from “Under Review” to (potentially) “Done!” You can also view ideas submitted by your peers and upvote those you’d like to see realized. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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3. View Previously Deleted Galleries — This feature was also requested by your fellow photographers! You can now view a list of your deleted galleries at the bottom of the Photos → Galleries page. While you cannot perform any actions on these deleted galleries, this addition offers a simple way to look back and review those previously displayed on your storefront.

4. Printable Pricing Sheets — Printable versions of the pricing sheets are now available through a "Printable Copy" option found within each pricing sheet's menu. These printable copies can be kept as a physical backup of your pricing, provided to your clients during in-person consultations, or added to and distributed with your other printed marketing materials.

5. Conveniently Link Your Contracts — If your workflow involves sending contracts to your clients through our system, outside of the booking process, you can now manually link those contracts to specific sessions after the sessions have been created. Find this feature on the Booking Sessions page.

6. New Auto-Markup Options — Easily set your product pricing with our new auto-markup options, like “Round Up to .99,” available within the Pricing Sheets page! These options can streamline your pricing process, saving you time and effort.

7. View Contracts on the Client Details Page. In addition to viewing orders, sessions, and questionnaires, you can now access signed contracts directly from the Client Details page as well. This enhancement consolidates all essential client information in one convenient location!

8. Find the Perfect Slideshow Music — If you’re not already adding background music to your gallery slideshows, now’s the time! Thanks to a partnership with SoundStripe, you now have a library of 9,600+ songs to choose from. Easily find songs that fit your clients’ style by searching by song title, artist name, keyword, and more.

If you’d like a deeper dive into this feature, check out this tutorial video.

9. Explore New Contract Template Functionality — Leverage one, or better yet — both , of these new contract template options:

Click “Copy Template” to quickly create a copy of any template previously created within your account, with just the click of a button.

Click “Create a Contract” to start a new contract using any of your contract templates, right from the template list. This allows you to skip the step of having to navigate to the Contracts » Digital Contracts page when creating new contracts.

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10. Search Sessions with Ease — Quickly search through all the sessions you’ve previously created with a brand new “Search” option on the Booking Sessions page. You can search via any single piece of information, including: session name, date, type, status, client name and more!

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As we like to say, with Instaproofs you get more options, more marketing, more sessions booked, and more prints sold. We’re always working to give you more and these new features are simply the latest roundup. If you have requests for additional functionality or features, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to our real, live support team anytime with comments, questions, and requests. Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

New Feature Roundup - June 2024

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:23:30 GMT

1. Individual Download Links — Until now, you’ve only had the option of downloading all files for an order from the Order Details Page, which wasn't always necessary. With this update, you can now download the images individually by clicking the download icons found next to each of the images!

Note: This feature is available in galleries created after May 7th, 2024.

2. Mobile-Friendly Order Receipts — Order receipts were previously displayed in a wide, two-column layout, which led to a non-mobile-friendly user experience. The details within the receipts have now been restructured for a more streamlined and mobile-friendly display. Most clients (60%+) place orders from their phones, making this update immediately impactful to their experience!

3. Faster Uploads & Downloads — Our brilliant network engineers have been hard at work behind the scenes! Thanks to their efforts, your clients can now download their full galleries much faster than before! For example, a large gallery that previously took up to 30 minutes to download, can now be downloaded in as little as just 3-5 minutes instead! This network enhancement has also impacted upload speeds — which are now twice as fast as well!

4. Upload Multiple Sample Photos — Many of our updates are inspired by photographer requests, and this new feature is no exception! You can now upload multiple sample photos to each of your sessions and session types within the Booking area of your account. On the client side, your selected images will automatically rotate every few seconds to display a new image.

5. Improved Visibility on Lab Pricing Updates — Updated lab pricing details can now be viewed through our site several weeks before the new pricing goes into effect. You can find the upcoming pricing changes on the Lab Partners page, within each of your Pricing Sheets, and on our Lab Pricing Updates page. Additionally, if you choose to adjust your pricing based on the new lab costs, you can easily update your existing pricing sheets by following the steps outlined in this tutorial .

6. Welcome Brazil-Based Photographers! — The Instaproofs platform now supports photographers in Brazil, allowing transactions in Brazilian Real (R$)! Bem-vindos, fotógrafos brasileiros!

7. New “Filter by Lab” Option — Looking for specific lab orders just got easier! In addition to searching by Status and Date, you can now filter and search your lab fulfillment orders by the specific lab they were fulfilled through. As an additional bonus, if one of the labs you work with has a loyalty program, such as the one offered by Richard Photo Lab, you can quickly find your cumulative order totals through this same screen!

8. Multiple Full Gallery Download Sizes — Previously, full gallery downloads provided to your clients through the Permissions area were limited to original/full-size images only. Now, you can offer free downloads in various sizes, just like the paid ones! The available sizes are: Full Size, Medium Print (2800px), Small Print (1800px), and Web (1280px)

9. Save on Shipping — When you process an order through our fulfillment services, the least expensive shipping option (based on the products you’re ordering) is now auto-selected to save you time, frustration, and money! Shipping costs can add up quickly, and, although it was only recently implemented, this update has already resulted in the saving of many thousands of dollars for our photographers.

10. New “Resend Customer Receipt” Option — If a client requests for their receipt to be resent, you can now do so with ease! Simply navigate to the Order Details page, and click the “Resend Customer Receipt” link in the bottom right-hand corner.

11. Better Client Email Delivery — Major email providers like Google and Yahoo recently updated their incoming mail policies in an effort to reduce spam. Instaproofs has proactively implemented these changes, and all email sent from our platform now includes several spam-fighting identifiers. Additionally, every email sent to your clients now features one-click unsubscribe capabilities, and, as a result, the email delivery rate we’re seeing for gallery reminders, abandoned cart reminders, sale notifications, etc. is at an all-time high! As an indication of the success we’re seeing from these changes, less than .01% of the emails sent from our system are now being reported as spam, which is ten times better than the industry average!

12. Order Date Range Filter — As your order history grows, finding a specific order can become tricky and tedious. Save yourself some effort by taking advantage of the new date range filter found on the Selling → Client Orders page. Use this filter alone, or combine it with others, to quickly narrow down your search results!

Several of these updates were requested by your fellow photographers. Please keep the feedback coming so we can continue to evolve our platform to be even more valuable to you and your photography businesses.Reach out to our real, live support team anytime with comments, questions, and requests. Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

New Feature Roundup - May 2024

Sun, 26 May 2024 15:25:13 GMT

1. Improved Image Processing Speeds — This is one of those “you may not see it, but you’ll definitely notice it” features! Once a new set of images has been uploaded to our website, those images are now processing at 5-10x the speed they previously were. For example, a set of images that previously took 20 minutes to process will now only take 2-4 minutes instead!

2. Save Time with New Questionnaire Templates — Have you ever wanted to use our questionnaires to collect valuable session information, but weren’t exactly sure where to start or, perhaps, even what to ask? With our new questionnaire templates, we've made it simple!

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Several types of templates are available, including templates for family sessions, pet sessions, engagement sessions, and more! Once you’ve selected a template, you can then modify, delete, and/or add to that template to tailor it to your needs. If you prefer to create your questionnaires from scratch— don’t worry! You also still have the option to create your own. Check out the new questionnaire templates here.

3. Prevent Discount Stacking — You can now disable specific coupon codes while your sales are running! Why would you use this new feature? Let’s say you’ve offered a client a personal 20% coupon code, but you are also planning on running a holiday promotion that offers everyone 25% off everything on your website.

Before enabling this new option, your client could combine their coupon code with the holiday promotion for a combined 45% off their purchase. If you want to prevent this scenario, now you can! Simply select the “Prevent Discount Stacking” option when creating the coupon code.

Tip: If you disable a code during a sale, that coupon code will still work before and after the duration of the sale.

4. Explore the Overhauled Visitor Stats Page — Have you seen the new Visitor Stats page? Not only is the new version more visually appealing and user-friendly, it also offers more valuable information for you and your business.

Explore new details related to hidden images, favorite images, and client orders. You can also click on each “stat box,” which will reveal additional details including: which photos were downloaded, the number of people who have favorited a particular image, and more!

To access this page, click “Visitors” for a specific gallery and then select “View Visitor Stats.”

What else would you like to see on this page? We’ve love to hear your thoughts!

5. Save Money With the New “Pick up at the Lab” Option — Ok, so this may not necessarily count as new site “functionality,” but we’re still excited to share it with all of you! Four of our lab partners have agreed to offer a “Pick up at the Lab” shipping option for fulfillment orders. This has the potential to save photographers local to these labs a significant amount of money on each of their fulfillment orders (up to $20+ per order)! This option is currently available through the following labs:

theFINDlab - Orem, UT

GTA Imaging - North York, ON

Pikto - North York, ON

Richard Photo Lab - Valencia, CA

6. Take Advantage of Added Image Protection — If your business requires extreme watermark coverage, you can now add a “full-coverage” watermark to your images to prevent screen grabs and screenshots. Find this feature in your photo preferences.

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7. An Improved Gallery Search for Your Clients — In addition to allowing your clients to search for galleries based solely on gallery titles and locations, the gallery search functionality has been updated to also search for keywords attached to the images within the galleries.

8. Send Purchased Gift Certificates to Any Email Address — When your clients purchase a gift certificate, they can now send that certificate to any email address of their choosing. This functionality allows them to more easily send gift certificates to their family and friends. If you aren’t already, consider promoting gift certificates during the holiday season!

9. Automate Tasks with Zapier — Have you connected your Instaproofs Account to Zapier? Zapier is a web automation wizard that allows you to link apps and services to automate tasks seamlessly. These task automations are called “Zaps” and you can think of Zaps as personal assistants that take care of the boring stuff for you.

Most recently, Zapier integration has been added for orders received, inquiries received, and newly collected email addresses!

10. Collect Session Information on Your Own Schedule — You’ve already learned about our new questionnaire templates, but we’re also happy to announce that you can now schedule your questionnaires to go out at any time of your choosing! If you’d rather not bog your clients down with questions during the booking process, you can now schedule your questionnaires to auto-send anywhere from immediately after booking, to 30 days before their scheduled session date.

11. Enjoy Even More Marketing Automations — Multiple new “triggers” have been added to the marketing automation functionality. You can now set up marketing messages to automatically deploy “after an order is placed” and “after each visitor’s 1st order.”

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12. Quickly Duplicate Session Types & Questionnaires — Get more use out of your session types and questionnaires by duplicating them with one, easy click. If you have similar yet slightly different session types and/or questionnaires, this feature will save you a lot of time and work! Duplicate what you’ve already created and then tweak them as needed.

We’ll be back next month with another roundup of new features and site upgrades! What enhancement would you like to see next? Our site and services are designed with photographers in mind— so we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to our real, live support team anytime with comments, questions, and requests. Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

2023 in Review: Part 3

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 15:31:16 GMT

We’re rounding out this series with a look back at shipping costs and speed, as well as order fulfillment by our lab partners in 2023.

1) First, let’s consider the average shipping rates charged by photographers across storefront order totals, as well as the average shipping costs across our lab partners.

Takeaway - You’ll see that most photographers charge less to ship than labs do. This is a great business tactic because consumers can be sensitive to shipping rates and photographers can make up the difference by increasing the product cost instead. Consider adjusting your product and/or shipping prices accordingly and then see how ochanges may impact your business for the better!

2) Next, let’s look at the average number of days until storefront orders are shipped from when they’re placed, as well as, average lab production times. With this data, you can compare self-fulfillment order times vs. Instaproofs lab fulfillment times, and consider which labs offered the fastest product times (on average) in 2023.

Takeaway - We may be a little biased, but we’re personally thrilled to see that our lab fulfillment offered you all faster order-to-ship speeds than self-fulfillment options. If you haven’t tried our lab fulfillment before, maybe 2024 is the time to start!

3) While we don’t have any takeaways for you in this section, you may find it interesting to see the lab popularity (by order volume) among you and your peers in 2023. If you haven’t heard, we also recently onboarded a new lab partner, theFINDlab!

That’s a wrap on our 2023 lookback! What were some of your favorite takeaways from this series? What would you like to see when we review 2024? We’re looking forward to watching your businesses grow over this year as you continue to showcase your talent and wow your clients.

Thank you for choosing us as your photography platform!

2023 in Review: Part 2

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:46:07 GMT

In Part 2 of this series, we’re focusing on storefront performance and individual product sales.

1) First, let’s look at the percentage of storefront purchases made each month, each day of the week, and each hour of the day. This information may help determine the best times to send emails and run sales.

Takeaway - As expected, we see increased sales in October and November, just in time for the holidays. Consider running seasonal sales to promote year-round orders and during the holiday season, remind your clients of order deadlines to ensure their purchases arrive in time.

While at least 10% of sales took place each day of the week, we do see an uptick at the beginning of the week, Sunday through Tuesday. As for time of day, we see a steady increase in orders throughout the day, with noticeable peaks at lunchtime and in the post-work evening hours. Keep this information in mind when running short promotions or deploying emails.

2) Next, let’s explore the percentage of purchases that take place each month after a gallery is activated.

Takeaway - The majority of orders take place within the first three months of a gallery’s activation, especially in the first month. This is when the images hold the most emotional connection and excitement for clients. Take advantage of this peak purchase window by regularly enticing customers with marketing tactics and promotions. Make sure to do a final push around 90 days after a gallery’s activation before this purchase window closes.

For long-term sales, consider 1-year-anniversary marketing promotions, and even run sales on gallery extensions.

3) Have you ever wondered what other photographers are charging for their digital images? Well, for 2023, you don’t have to! In addition to displaying last year's average sale prices, the graph below also shows the percentage of sales across some of the most popular sizes.

Takeaway - Reference these average prices when determining your own. If your prices are currently set lower than the average sales price of last year, you could consider gradually increasing your prices.

4) Finally, we pulled together the top-three highest-selling products across several different product types:

Standard Prints, Top 3 Print Sizes:

4x6, 5x7, 8x10

Digital Downloads, Top 3 Image Sizes:

Full Res, 1280px, 1800px

Gallery Downloads, Top 3 Image Sizes:

Full Res, 1280px, 2800px

Fine Art Papers, Top 3 Paper Types:

Smooth Matte, Hahnemühle Ultra Smooth, Photo Matte

Canvas Gallery Wraps, Top 3 Canvas Sizes:

11x14, 16x20, 16x24

Greeting Cards, Top 3 Styles:

Christmas, Holiday, Baby Announcements

Framed Prints, Top 3 Frame Styles:

Black Frame, White Frame, Oak Frame

Metal Prints, Top 3 Print Sizes:

8x10, 16x24, 20x24

Takeaway - If you aren’t offering all of these products in your storefront already, 2024 may be the time to try!

So, how can these 2023 numbers impact your 2024 numbers for the better? We’d love to hear about any changes you make to your business strategy! Or, if there’s anything we missed that you’re curious to learn more about, let us know. We’d be happy to do more investigating on your behalf!

We’ll see you back here for part 3 of this blog series, focused on shipping and lab order fulfillment.

2023 in Review: Part 1

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 16:06:03 GMT

Part 1 of this retrospective blog series is all about galleries.

1) First, we looked at the number of galleries created per month. We see a steady increase in gallery creation volume throughout the year, peaking in October and November. This peak is just in time for the holiday rush. As for the slight dip in the summer months, we hope that’s all of you taking a little, well-deserved vacation time!

Takeaway - Create your galleries early and leave yourself plenty of time during the holidays to generate and fulfill orders. We recommend running sales throughout November and December. So, when you can, make sure your galleries are prepped and live well before the holiday rush. Then, let our automated marketing features take care of the rest.

2) Have you ever wondered which gallery types have the highest number of unique visitors? Or how many images (on average) galleries typically have? Answers to these questions and more can be found below!

Takeaway - Now you don't have to wonder how many images other photographers are uploading to their galleries. There's no magic number that we've found (yet!), but you can use this information as a point of comparison.

If you like these numbers, you’re in luck— we’re just getting started! In parts 2 and 3 of this blog series, we’ll deep dive into storefront and product performance, as well as labs and order fulfillment. We’ll also continue to offer takeaways about what these 2023 numbers could mean for you in 2024.

Are there other numbers you’d like to see? Just ask!

Start the New Year Right: Your 2024 Instaproofs Checklist

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:30:17 GMT

Welcome to 2024, INstaproofs Family!

Whether you like to set New Year’s resolutions or not, we suspect you want to see your photography business thrive in 2024. With that in mind, we put together a checklist to help you ensure you’re getting the most out of your Instaproofs Account.

If you’re taking advantage of all our tools and features, we think you’ll be set up for success in the new year! Plus, we pride ourselves in our clients experiencing a little something we call pajama profits. Take inventory of what features you’re currently using, check all the boxes, and then let us know how you’ve generated revenue in your sleep.

Your 2024 Instaproofs Checklist

1. [X] Do you have access to unparalleled customer support? (We took the liberty of checking this box for you.)

2. [ ] Have you covered all your account basics? Whether you’re brand new to Instaproofs or you’re a long-time loyalist, it’s always good to make sure you’ve got a strong foundation. Have you added your contact info and company name? Linked your social accounts? We also recommend assessing whether your current subscription plan offers the right amount of storage for your business in the new year.

3. [ ] Have you fully customized your client galleries? You can customize everything, from adding your logo and watermark, to selecting a font that fits each gallery’s style, to adjusting image sizes and spacing, to adding custom splash screens, and much more. See what level of customization is possible by clicking here.

4. [ ] Speaking of galleries, are they client-ready and client-friendly? Now is the perfect time to check whether your galleries require email addresses to be accessed, whether they’re broken up into digestible gallery categories, feature a gallery image, and more. Click here to see what’s possible.

5. [ ] Are you taking full advantage of your storefront product options? With Instaproofs you can import products from your favorite labs, create custom products, offer a range of digital downloads, and even offer additional products like gift cards and gallery extensions.

6. [ ] Speaking of product options, have you reviewed your pricing lately? You set the pricing, whether it’s for a gallery or an individual image. If you’re not already, make sure you’re taking advantage of our unlimited pricing sheets!

7. [ ] Do you know how many session types you’re currently offering through our booking services, and what they are? The start of a new year is a great time to inventory your session type “menu.” You can create an unlimited number of sessions (which is fast and easy to do with our session-type templates) and then customize the accompanying questionnaires, discounts, coupons, and even tipping options for each session. Take a few minutes to make sure your session and booking options are current!

8. [ ] Raise your hand if you like creating client contracts! No? Well you’re in luck! You can build your contracts from scratch, or start from one of our sample contract templates. Do you want to attach invoices to your contracts? No problem! Invoices will automatically send when the contract is signed, and you can schedule automatic payment reminder emails. If you’re on any of our paid plans, you can take advantage of all of these time-saving features!

9. [ ] Have you automated your marketing? If you haven’t, now’s the time to start! We use industry-proven marketing strategies to help you attract and retain clients. Set up automated emails and sales automations (don’t worry, we’ve already drafted them!) to help stay in touch with your clients while you sleep. We’re looking at you, pajama profits!

10. [ ] When was the last time you double-checked your shipping options? Are your shipping rates high enough to cover the standard shipping rates charged by your favorite labs? Are you offering multiple shipping options? Take a few minutes to make sure your shipping options are the right ones for you and your clients in 2024. If you’re looking for consolidated information from all your favorite photo labs, we created this page just for you!

11. [ ] We think you’ll really like this one! Do you wish you had another set of eyes to evaluate your Instaproofs account and identify areas that may need a little improvement? How about a set of professional eyes from the Instaproofs Team? We’re offering a free review of your account, which includes an overall “score” based on your utilization of available features. It’s the ultimate New Year’s Checklist! Email us at support@instaproofs.com to request your free account review.

So, how’d you do? If you were able to check all or most line items, great! If not, now’s the time to log into your account and turn on all the features that make Instaproofs more than just a pretty proofing site.

Pssst… Can we tell you something? This checklist is just the beginning. For a full list of features available by plan, click here. Make sure you scroll all the way down because it’s a long (and growing!) list.

Happy New Year! Here’s to each of you and your photography businesses in 2024!

Start the New Year Right: Your 2024 Instaproofs Checklist

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:09:47 GMT

Welcome to 2024, INstaproofs Family!

Your 2024 Instaproofs Checklist

1. [X] Do you have access to unparalleled customer support? (We took the liberty of checking this box for you.)

2. [ ] Have you covered all your account basics? Whether you’re brand new to Instaproofs or you’re a long-time loyalist, it’s always good to make sure you’ve got a strong foundation. Have you added your contact info and company name? Linked your social accounts? We also recommend assessing whether your current subscription plan offers the right amount of storage for your business in the new year.

3. [ ] Have you fully customized your client galleries? You can customize everything, from adding your logo and watermark, to selecting a font that fits each gallery’s style, to adjusting image sizes and spacing, to adding custom splash screens, and much more. See what level of customization is possible by clicking here.

4. [ ] Speaking of galleries, are they client-ready and client-friendly? Now is the perfect time to check whether your galleries require email addresses to be accessed, whether they’re broken up into digestible gallery categories, feature a gallery image, and more. Click here to see what’s possible.

5. [ ] Are you taking full advantage of your storefront product options? With Instaproofs you can import products from your favorite labs, create custom products, offer a range of digital downloads, and even offer additional products like gift cards and gallery extensions.

6. [ ] Speaking of product options, have you reviewed your pricing lately? You set the pricing, whether it’s for a gallery or an individual image. If you’re not already, make sure you’re taking advantage of our unlimited pricing sheets!

7. [ ] Do you know how many session types you’re currently offering through our booking services, and what they are? The start of a new year is a great time to inventory your session type “menu.” You can create an unlimited number of sessions (which is fast and easy to do with our session-type templates) and then customize the accompanying questionnaires, discounts, coupons, and even tipping options for each session. Take a few minutes to make sure your session and booking options are current!

8. [ ] Raise your hand if you like creating client contracts! No? Well you’re in luck! You can build your contracts from scratch, or start from one of our sample contract templates. Do you want to attach invoices to your contracts? No problem! Invoices will automatically send when the contract is signed, and you can schedule automatic payment reminder emails. If you’re on any of our paid plans, you can take advantage of all of these time-saving features!

9. [ ] Have you automated your marketing? If you haven’t, now’s the time to start! We use industry-proven marketing strategies to help you attract and retain clients. Set up automated emails and sales automations (don’t worry, we’ve already drafted them!) to help stay in touch with your clients while you sleep. We’re looking at you, pajama profits!

10. [ ] When was the last time you double-checked your shipping options? Are your shipping rates high enough to cover the standard shipping rates charged by your favorite labs? Are you offering multiple shipping options? Take a few minutes to make sure your shipping options are the right ones for you and your clients in 2024. If you’re looking for consolidated information from all your favorite photo labs, we created this page just for you!

11. [ ] We think you’ll really like this one! Do you wish you had another set of eyes to evaluate your Instaproofs account and identify areas that may need a little improvement? How about a set of professional eyes from the Instaproofs Team? We’re offering a free review of your account, which includes an overall “score” based on your utilization of available features. It’s the ultimate New Year’s Checklist! Email us at support@instaproofs.com to request your free account review.

So, how’d you do? If you were able to check all or most line items, great! If not, now’s the time to log into your account and turn on all the features that make Instaproofs more than just a pretty proofing site.

Pssst… Can we tell you something? This checklist is just the beginning. For a full list of features available by plan, click here . Make sure you scroll all the way down because it’s a long (and growing!) list.

Happy New Year! Here’s to each of you and your photography businesses in 2024!

9 Tips for a Calm and Bright Holiday Season

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:34:32 GMT

It’s the most wonderful (and busiest!) time of the year.

1. Keep Offering Sales - According to Gallup, 20% of consumers wait until December to start their Christmas shopping. So, at this point, some of your clients are still considering what to get their loved ones for Christmas. Help make their decision easier by running additional sales and encouraging additional orders. Don't let your Black Friday sale be the last one of the season, but instead, run new sales every couple of days right up until your final ordering deadline. The more often your clients are reminded of the images, the more likely they are to make a purchase and give the gift of prints!

2. Be Realistic (and Kind) With Your Ordering Deadlines - We're talking about being kind to yourself. Make sure you give yourself some wriggle room with your ordering deadline so you have time to fulfill all of your orders. Select a hard deadline for orders and let your clients know that anything ordered after that date should not be expected before Christmas. Setting expectations will help you and your clients! To help you identify what your order deadline should be, we consolidated order deadlines from our lab partners.

Order deadlines aren’t the only information we’ve gathered from our lab partners. We created a lab partner landing page so you can quickly find valuable information in one, convenient location.

3. Overcommunicate Deadlines - Speaking of ordering deadlines, post them EVERYWHERE. We recommend posting them to your storefront, social accounts, blogs, and anywhere else your clients may visit. On your Instaproofs storefront, your deadlines can be added to the gallery login page, gallery description, promotional emails, order receipts, or all of the above. Log in now to quickly update these spaces.

4. Get (Christmas) Creative - In addition to your standard shipping options, try adding a new option labeled “Christmas Delivery” or “Delivery by Christmas." As your order deadline approaches, you can increase the cost of this option to help cover priority shipping fees that may be incurred to ensure the orders arrive on time. If you’re unsure how to manage your shipping options and/or shipping rates, don’t worry. We made a tutorial video .

5. Don't Wait - We probably should've listed this first. Fulfilling your orders promptly is always important, but even more so in December! Remember to be kind to yourself (Tip #2) and fulfill orders as soon as they come in so you don't find yourself in a last-minute rush.

6. Keep Your Customers in the Loop - Have you ever found yourself desperately tracking orders to see if they’ll arrive in time? Your clients are likely to do the same. Keeping your clients well-informed and updating the status of their orders will go a long way in easing their minds, and it may even save you from receiving panicked/frantic messages demanding to know where their orders are! If you want help keeping them in the loop, check out the tip below!

7. Considering Package Tracking? Do It. - This goes hand-in-hand with Tip #6. If you are self-fulfilling your orders, always opt for package tracking. This might cost you a little extra up-front, but the hassles it will save you if problems arise will more than makeup for it! Once you receive the tracking numbers for your orders, pass them along to your customers so they can monitor progress themselves. This will help alleviate their concerns while saving you time and energy!

8. Keep Things Current - If you do update your storefront and other client landing spots with holiday deadlines, remember to update your messaging once your order deadline passes. Let your clients know it's too late to expect orders to arrive before Christmas. If you added a Christmas shipping option (Tip #4) make sure you remove that too.

9. Let Us Make Your Life Easier - If you don't want to bother hunting down your ordered images and re-uploading them to another service, consider using our integrated fulfillment (and auto-fulfillment) services. Standard print orders generally ship the next business day, and all orders automatically receive tracking numbers when they are shipped. Our holiday fulfillment deadlines can be found here: Fulfillment Deadlines.

If you haven’t taken advantage of our integrated fulfillment services before, read this article for instructions on how to set up your account to do so.

Instaproofs: Behind the Scenes

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 18:37:22 GMT

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Instaproofs: Behind the Scenes

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 16:22:53 GMT

Hi! This is Reagan, the person behind our social accounts and the newest Instaproofs Team Member. I was given total creative license on the topic of this blog, so I thought I’d give you all a look behind the scenes at Instaproofs. Here’s what I’ve observed after nearly two months on the job.

1) Instaproofs Is the Real Deal. Seriously.

“We’re always working to get better.” “We’re more than just a pretty proofing site.”

These aren’t marketing gimmicks. They’re true. One of the first things I observed is that Instaproofs really is ALWAYS working on new things with you in mind. There are weekly internal updates about what’s new, what’s coming, and when we can share each update with all of you. Each new site enhancement — big or small — is designed to do something for you and your business, whether that’s giving you time back, enhancing your client experience, increasing your (pajama) profits, elevating your brand, or all of the above.

Instaproofs also means it when they we say, “We want to hear from you!” Do you have a suggestion or think something is missing? Tell us, because Instaproofs listens and takes action. Customer suggestions often become our customers’ reality. I’ve seen it happen.

2) YOU Are the Real Deal

Wow. It’s easy for a company to focus on its customers when the customers are the best in the business. I’ve had a front-row seat to your talents as photographers and I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with several of you on our social sites. Thank you for tagging us in your posts and highlighting Instaproofs as a member of your team. We are honored to play a role in your success and your clients’ happiness.

Another HUGE thank you to all of you for engaging with us, whether it’s allowing us to share your work on our social channels, participating in the “Our Clients: Behind the Camera” series, and/or expressing kind words regarding Instaproofs and the Instaproofs Community.

YOU make our work easy and you make it worthwhile.

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3) Instaproofs Is a Lot (In the Best Way)

I could have included this in my first observation, but I think it deserves its own space and recognition. One of the challenges in promoting Instaproofs has been finding the right words to describe it. We know Instaproofs is more than just a pretty proofing site, but what is it? Instaproofs is your one-stop shop for managing and marketing your photography business, attracting and impressing your clients, and generating revenue (whether you’re in your pajamas or not).

The list of features and capabilities Instaproofs has to offer is extensive and we all know it’s growing. Whether you’re an Instaproofs veteran or you’re new here like me, I encourage you to check out our Features Page and make sure you’re taking advantage of everything we have to offer.

Recently, I interacted with a prospective client who was deciding which photography platform to use for her business. She recognized that Instaproofs is smaller than some of the other options out there, but that we also seemed to offer the features she needs at a competitive price. She asked, “Am I missing something?”

I shared more information about who we are and why we are who we are. Then I said, “I don’t think you’re missing anything. I think you found something.”

If you’re reading this, I think you’ve found something too. I think we all have.

- Reagan

If you’re new here, I encourage you to discover the magic of Instaproofs for yourself. Click the link below to start your 21-day free trial.

New Features: Enhancing Your Client Experience

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:24:52 GMT

In last month’s blog post, we talked about enhancing your experience. This time, we’re talking about new features designed to enhance your client experience and let’s be honest, the two go hand in hand. Happy Clients = Happy Photographers, and we’re all about happy photographers here at Instaproofs!

Keep scrolling for an overview of two new features we rolled out in September for you and your clients.

1) 9,600 New Songs Available for Your Galleries, Courtesy of SoundStripe

Thanks to a new partnership with SoundStripe, we’ve increased our gallery slideshow background music options from 140 songs to 9,600+ songs! This library is available to ALL Instaproofs users right now. Oh, have we mentioned that new songs will continue to be added weekly? The only tradeoff (and it’s a small one!) is that we will lose 25 of our existing songs. Worth it, right?

If you’re not already adding background music to your gallery slideshows, now’s the time! It elevates your clients’ experience, and you can easily find songs that fit your style with music library filters like energy, mood, and genre.

Where do I find this feature?

You can find the new song options in two places:
1: Within the settings for the Photos » Gallery Types.
2: Within the settings for each of the Galleries themselves.

Pro Tip: If you select songs for certain gallery types, those same songs will be applied to any gallery under that “type” unless you set different settings within the individual galleries.

Are you looking for a deeper dive into this feature? Check out this new tutorial video.

2023 Holiday Cards – Available Now!

Our 2023 Christmas and Holiday card designs are waiting for you right now. Add these custom press-printed cards as a product option in your galleries, tell your clients (we think they’ll be excited!), and then generate additional income through your storefront.

Where do I find this feature? Click the Selling tab and then select “Purchase Options.” Click “Create New Purchase Option” and select “Custom Greeting Cards.” It will be available to your clients below image categories in your galleries.

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We added these features with you and your clients in mind. At Instaproofs, we care about your client experience because we care about you and your photography business . Try these new features and let us know what you think. We’re especially excited to hear the playlists you create for your gallery slideshows!

If you’re new here, these features are a tiny glimpse into what’s available to you and your clients. Click the link below to start your 21-day free trial.

New Updates to Instaproofs: Enhancing Your Experience

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:27:02 GMT

Improvements are rolling out almost faster than we can keep up. Keep reading for three recent updates, and come back next month for even more!

Easily Export Booking Transaction Information

With this current update, we have introduced an Excel export feature within the Reports » Booking Transactions report.

The export's details include the purchasers' names, the session details, the payment dates, and the numbers for everything, including online payments, offline payments, coupons, and tips.

Google Analytics Support for Storefronts

Data analysis is a powerful tool for photographers to understand their website's performance and improve their marketing strategy. To make sure our photographers have access to this tool, we have updated our storefronts to support the latest version of Google Analytics.

Now, you can take advantage of real-time tracking, demographics, traffic sources, and more to gain a deeper understanding of your website visitors. With this enhanced integration, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your website, improve user experience, and ultimately drive more leads and conversions.

To track your users with Google Analytics, provide your Google Analytics ID within the Marketing » Preferences page, and your storefront traffic should show up within their Google Analytics accounts.

Enhanced Gallery Search Results

Visually searching through several galleries for specific images (for instance, a parent looking through a league’s sports galleries for photos of their child) can be challenging, so we have upgraded our gallery search functionality to make it a little easier!

Previously, the gallery search functionality only allowed you to search for galleries based on the names and locations of the galleries themselves, without any regard to the images found within them. Now, when the option is enabled, the gallery search functionality can also be used to search for galleries containing images with specific file names and keywords within their metadata.

Regardless of whether your galleries have hundreds, or even thousands, of images, our enhanced gallery search results can help your clients locate what they need much more quickly and efficiently.

To enable this feature, navigate from your dashboard to Photos » Preferences » Advanced, and then look for the new "Gallery Search Method" setting.

These three updates are just a glimpse of our commitment to providing you with the best tools and features to manage your photography business. We believe that your time is valuable, and our goal is to streamline your workflow and increase your productivity.

Start experiencing these updates for yourself and take your photography business to the next level with Instaproofs. We are excited to be a part of your journey and look forward to providing you with more exciting updates in the future. Stay tuned!

Ready to explore these updates? Sign up for Instaproofs and see how our platform can elevate your photography business.

New Feature: Downloadable Products

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:38:49 GMT

Hey there, photographers! We've recently rolled out a feature that could take your business to new heights. Ready to think about something new? Let's dive in!

Selling Beyond Prints:
Unveiling the Downloadable Products Option

At Instaproofs, we're all about empowering photographers to thrive. As part of our commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation, we're thrilled to announce the launch of our latest feature: the ability to sell downloadable products directly from your storefront!

We've brought you a seamless way to monetize your digital creations, making it an ideal solution for photographers looking to share PDFs, short videos, eBooks, and more.

Why Downloadable Products Matter for Photographers

YOU HAVE MORE TO OFFER THAN YOUR PHOTOS. You have acquired and honed several skill sets, you’re running your own business, and there’s a good chance you are also the HR and marketing departments for your small biz.

With Downloadable Products, you have the ability to transform that knowledge and experience into passive income! Whether it's a family session what-to-wear guide, a game-changing photo editing tutorial for other photographers, or even an eBook covering the basics for those who cannot attend your workshop – these valuable assets can now be offered for sale right alongside your prints.

Want to give away your resources in exchange for email addresses, or run a similar marketing strategy? No problem! FREE is always an option.

A Win-Win for Photographers:
From Marketing to Monetization

The introduction of the "Downloadable File" setting was all made possible thanks to a valuable suggestion from one of our esteemed users (and Instaproofs VP), Jonathan Canlas. His request to sell his Family Guide (PDF) through his Instaproofs storefront inspired us to elevate our services and cater to the needs of photographers like you.

How do you access this new feature? It’s simple! Just follow these easy steps:

Navigate to the Selling » Purchase Options Page.

Create a New Purchase Option: Click on the "Create New Purchase Option" button at the top to initiate the setup process.

Select "Multi-Image & Multi-Option Products": Choose the option that best fits your needs. This new capability seamlessly integrates with Multi-option Products.

Name and Describe Your Product: Give your downloadable product a catchy name and a brief, engaging description that entices potential buyers.

Configure Your Downloadable Items: Here's where the magic happens. Create individual options for each of the downloadable items you want to sell. Whether it's a helpful PDF guide, a visually stunning MP4 tutorial, or any other file format, you can easily set it up.

The Game-Changing "Downloadable File" Setting: Within the setup screen of each option, you'll now find the "Downloadable File" item. This is where you upload your digital creation. Once a customer makes a purchase, they'll receive a download link to access their new treasure – all conveniently available through their purchase receipt.

Monetize Your Creative Genius Today!

With this enhanced functionality, you have the perfect avenue to showcase your hard-won expertise and earn revenue beyond traditional prints. Whether you're an established photographer with a wealth of materials to sell or just starting and looking to build your audience with freebies, we've got you covered.

Dive in today and make the most of this incredible new feature. The possibilities are limitless!

Remember, at Instaproofs, we're always dedicated to enhancing your photography journey. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

Mid-Year Check In: 12 New Updates

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 11:40:45 GMT

It’s UPDATE TIME at Instaproofs! Our team has been hard at work customizing, upgrading, and creating new tools for you. Believe it or not, we have TWELVE new updates to share!

Tip: Do you have a specific email folder in which you save your monthly Instaproofs emails? If not, start one today! Your future self will thank you for taking ten seconds to create an easy-to-access resource pool for all things Instaproofs.

12 Updates for Instaproofs Users

1) Customize Session Time and Duration Text

Keep reading to learn three different powerful applications of this option:

Portrait sessions

For the occasions in which all parties are ready to book, but an exact time hasn’t been agreed upon yet. Fill in the blank with the information that is currently true, to increase the quality of communication and decrease client confusion.

Bulk-Scheduled Mini Sessions

Many photographers are still enjoying Porchrait Sessions—sessions in which the photographer travels around town and meets up with families on their front porches for quick, on-site mini-sessions. Typically, photographers have families commit to a window of time, rather than an exact time slot. Jump to 2:10 in the video below to learn how simple it is to communicate timing with our new customization option.

Workshops and Retreats

Registering participants for an event that spans multiple days? Congratulations! The video below, starting at 4:05, details the easy customization process that will help your customers understand exactly what they’re signing up for, every step of the way.

2) Booking Transaction Reports

You can now create reports for your booking transactions, broken down by sessions and/or session types. To create this report, simply navigate to Reports » Booking Transactions.

3) Display Details for Multiple Orders at Once

Sorting and distributing prints for youth leagues, dance recitals, school photos, and more just got so much easier.

You can now display the details for multiple orders at once by clicking on their checkboxes and
selecting the new “Display Printable Order Details” option from the bottom of the action droplist (scroll!).

This option was created by request: photographers who do multiple sessions at once (like the above examples, youth leagues, dance recitals, etc.) wanted a quicker, easier way to view the individual order details so the sorting and distributing process would also be quicker and easier.

4) QR Codes for Galleries and Sessions

Sharing galleries has never been easier—you can now create QR codes for your galleries in one deft move!

5) Simplified Full-Gallery Downloads

Hold on to your hats—this is a big one! File names on downloads have been updated to be much more useful.

For instance, files that used to be displayed as:

[identifier]_[unique ID]_[file type]_1.zip

[identifier]_[unique ID]_[file type]_2.zip

identifier]_[unique ID]_[file type]_3.zip

Have now been updated to look like this instead:

PhotoDownload_[unique ID]__1_of_3.zip

PhotoDownload_[unique ID]__2_of_3.zip

PhotoDownload_[unique ID]__3_of_3.zip

(The [unique ID] value is used to help differentiate the file sets downloaded from different galleries.)

Additionally, if a category spans multiple zip files, the category names will be changed to say "Set 2,” "Set 3,” etc. for each additional zip file necessary to contain the category.

Finally, download link labels within emails are labeled more clearly:

Download Photos [1 of 3]

Download Photos [2 of 3]

Download Photos [3 of 3]

Instead of the previous language:

Download Link 1

Download Link 2

Download Link 3

6) Customizable “Offline Payment” Text Within the Invoices

Enjoy more Invoicing functionality! Now, when you select “Disable Online Payments,” you can customize the text on the payment button. Previously, the text only said “Pay by Cash or Check,” but now, it can say whatever you need it to say! Some photographers have used, “Pay by Bank Transfer,” and others have used “Pay the School Directly.”

What do you need that button to say?

7) The Ability for the Client to Save an Invoice as a PDF

For clients who want or need to save a copy for themselves, the option to save the invoice as a PDF has been added to the bottom of the invoice screen. Your corporate clients are going to love you even more!

8) Customizable Link Text Within the Booking Leads Pages

Even more of your Booking Leads Page is now customizable! The links that were previously labeled as “Galleries” and “Website” can now be customized to say anything that you’d like! Navigate to the Booking » Leads Page to customize your links today!

9) Add Product Videos to Showcase Your Products

Seeing is believing—upload product videos to showcase your products! This simple upgrade will allow your clients to more fully understand the details and quality of the items they’re considering purchasing, and could quite possibly move them from “this could be a nice thing to get,” to “this is an absolute must!”

10) Streamlined Session Options Through New Option Menus

New menus have been added to the top of the Booking Sessions pages (both Full and Multi/Mini Sessions, with a couple of new options! The menus streamline the location of links that were previously placed throughout the page, and the new options include “Copy URL”, and for Multi/Mini Sessions, “Email Booked Clients.” Keep reading to learn more about the emailing option!

Here’s a glimpse of the new Full Session drop-down menu:

11) The Ability to Email All of Your Booked Clients at Once

Emailing all the clients that have been booked for a specific day (mini sessions, workshop, etc.) has never been easier! An “Email Booked Clients” option has been added to the new menu at the top of the Multi/Mini Sessions area within the Booking module. Simply expand the menu, click the “Emal Booked Clients” button, and send a message to all of your booked clients at once!

Here’s a view of the new Multi/Mini Sessions drop-down menu:

12) New Greeting Card Types: Save the Date, Graduation, and Baby/Birth Announcement

Tell your clients—working with you is now a one-stop-shop! In addition to Holiday Cards, you can now also sell Save the Date, Graduation, and Baby/Birth Announcements.

Our suggestion? Send out an email letting your client base know about this update!

Business Strategies for 2023, Pt. 3

Sat, 20 May 2023 18:45:16 GMT

We partner with printing labs all over the world.

We are very proud of each of our partner lab relationships. Every lab with whom we work is dedicated to excellent prints and products, as well as serving YOU and your clients well.

With so many labs to choose from, how do you choose the lab that fits your business best?

We’re here to give you data to help you make that decision.

Keep reading! We’ll dive into the products and order timelines for each of our lab partners, and we’ll reveal which of the labs our users tend to utilize the most often.

SHIPPING STATISTICS

Self-fulfillment or instaproofs-fulfilLment?

First, you get to decide how you’d like to fulfill your orders. Do you want to fulfill your orders on your own, outside of the Instaproofs system, or would you rather allow Instaproofs to handle the fulfillment process and do the heavy lifting for you?

In making that decision, speed is one thing to consider:

The average # of days for an Instaproofs-fulfilled order to be shipped is: 3.7 days
The average # of days for a self-fulfilled order to be shipped is: 7.3 days.

If you’re not currently using Instaproofs to fulfill your orders, we’d like to encourage you to consider the option. Setup is simple, and so is the order fulfillment process!

Average Shipping Costs

If inexpensive shipping is high on your list of priorities, then you’re sure to appreciate this next chart! Though these prices may reflect unreported variables (such as what’s being shipped—a giant canvas or a single 4x6 print?), these averages can provide you with a pretty good idea of what to expect from each of the labs.

PRODUCTS & PRODUCTION TIMES

PRODUCTION time

All of the labs that we’re partnered with prioritize (a) product quality, and (b) speed. Whichever lab you decide to go with, you’re likely to be extremely happy with their service. With that being said, some labs have slightly quicker production times than others, so if a speedy turnaround time is one of your primary objectives, the following data may help with your decision.

Important Note: Not all orders are equal—some of the labs specialize in products that take longer to produce than simple prints. Every lab works diligently to get your orders quickly out the door, and safely to their final destination.

PRODUCT OPTIONS

Following up on what we described above, some of our lab partners offer a variety of products beyond simple prints. The chart below shows each of our lab partners, along with the products that they currently offer through Instaproofs. Regardless of which lab you choose as your default lab, you are free to offer any product, from any lab, through your Instaproofs storefront.

LAB POPULARITY

Lab Popularity, by Order Volume

Curious to know which labs are preferred by other Instaproofs users? We’ve got that data!

While you review the data below, it’s important to bear in mind the data that is not included here. Just because a lab is less popular with Instaproofs users doesn’t mean anything other than… just that. What unique products are being produced with the lower-use labs? What far-reaching corners of the earth are they serving? Are they located in countries with smaller populations? Are they one of our newest lab partners, just breaking into the space? None of that data is included here.

JUST FOR FUN

Top Selling States/Provinces

This last one is just for fun! Looking at the global reach of Instaproofs, these are the top-selling states and provinces, by order volume, in the WORLD (for Instaproofs users ��), sorted by country. Enjoy!

We hope you loved this three part series! Do you have requests for blog articles in the future? We’d LOVE to hear!

Business Strategies for 2023, Pt. 3

Sat, 20 May 2023 16:42:21 GMT

We partner with printing labs all over the world.

We are very proud of each of our partner lab relationships. Every lab with whom we work is dedicated to excellent prints and products, as well as serving YOU and your clients well.

With so many labs to choose from, how do you choose the lab that fits your business best?

We’re here to give you data to help you make that decision.

Keep reading! We’ll dive into the products and order timelines for each of our lab partners, and we’ll reveal which of the labs our users tend to utilize the most often.

SHIPPING STATISTICS

Self-fulfillment or instaproofs-fulfilLment?

In making that decision, speed is one thing to consider:

The average # of days for an Instaproofs-fulfilled order to be shipped is: 3.7 days
The average # of days for a self-fulfilled order to be shipped is: 7.3 days.

If you’re not currently using Instaproofs to fulfill your orders, we’d like to encourage you to consider the option. Setup is simple, and so is the order fulfillment process!

Average Shipping Costs

PRODUCTS & PRODUCTION TIMES

PRODUCTION time

Important Note: Not all orders are equal—some of the labs specialize in products that take longer to produce than simple prints. Every lab works diligently to get your orders quickly out the door, and safely to their final destination.

PRODUCT OPTIONS

LAB POPULARITY

Lab Popularity, by Order Volume

Curious to know which labs are preferred by other Instaproofs users? We’ve got that data!

JUST FOR FUN

Top Selling States/Provinces

We hope you loved this three part series! Do you have requests for blog articles in the future? We’d LOVE to hear!

Business Strategies for 2023, Pt. 2

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:43:37 GMT

Welcome back for part two of our Business Strategies series! We’re diving into the cumulative 2022 sales data for all Instaproofs users, looking for patterns, trends, and missed opportunities. Your business success is our biggest focus.

Data-driven decisions get better results,
faster, with less frustration.

In this article, we’re going to focus on purchasing statistics, gallery statistics, and a little bit of marketing.

We hope that you can use this data to see where you may be able to make simple adjustments to level-up your sales, and in turn, level-up your business.

Note: These are not predictions or guarantees of future results.

Purchasing Statistics

SHipping rates

A key part of running a profitable business is making sure you’re covering your costs. Seems elementary, but once the business gets rolling, details like this can fall by the wayside. Below are average shipping rates for Instaproofs users. Check out the chart, then check out your current shipping rates. Are you pleased with what you see? There’s always opportunity to make adjustments.

Best sellers

Across the board, these are the prints and products that are selling at highest volume. Are you offering these options? Marketing them? Putting focus here when it’s time for a sale? Comparing your business to someone else’s is not always a recipe for success, but noticing what other folks are successfully selling could be just the helpful hint you’ve been looking for.

Best Selling Print Products
Overall best selling products, by volume:
4x6 Lustre Prints
5x7 Lustre Prints
8x10 Lustre Prints
11x14 Lustre Prints

Best Selling Sizes, by Product Type
Canvas: 11x14, 16x24, 16x20, 24x36
Fine Art: 5x7, 8x10/8x12, 4x6, 11x14
Framed Prints: 11x14, 5x7, 8x10, 16x20
Metal Print: 5x7, 8x10, 8x12, 16x24
Acrylic Prints: 20x24, 16x24

Best Selling Non-Print Products
Multiple Print and/or Download Packages
Full Gallery Downloads (Full Res, Medium Res, Low Res)
Custom Christmas Cards
Gallery Extensions
Magnets

Best Selling Add-Ons
Digital Download
Retouching Services
Upgraded Paper Types (Fine Art, Deep Matte, etc.)
Upgraded Edges (White Borders, Deckled Edge, etc.)
Add Print Mounting (Styrene, Matboard, etc.)
Upgrade to Canvas
Upgrade to Framed Print
Upgrade to Metal Print
Add Matting

Digital sales

Digital sales are often a hands-off, easy method for quick sales. Below are sales statistics from Instaproofs users in 2022—are your prices at least meeting this community standard? If not, we encourage you to consider raising your prices.

By the way…if imposter syndrome is keeping your prices too low, hear it from us first: the photographers you most admire want you to raise your value and raise your prices.

Average Digital Download Prices (Single Image)
640px: $10.00
800px: $13.61
1280px: $10.85
1800px: $14.20
2800px: $20.00
Full Res: $19.99

Best Selling Digital Download Sizes
Full Resolution (72%)
Small/Web Resolution (21%)
Medium Resolution (7%)

Gallery Statistics

galleries

When are your busiest months? Your most profitable? Can you anticipate the time of year you’ll routinely slow down? Plenty of us have a vague answers for these questions, which is fine. When we upgrade our answers to certainty, however, we equip ourselves with the data we need to get creative, employ strategy, and maximize results throughout the year.

Do you want to create a slow season? Great! Protect it!

Would you rather have consistent profit across the year? Fantastic! Where are your gaps? What could you leverage during those months that you’re not currently thinking about?

You can check out your personal gallery statistics here.

Number of Galleries Created, By Month
Oct → 14.6%
Nov → 13.4%
Sep → 9.9%
Dec → 9.7%
Jun → 8.2%
May → 8.1%
Apr → 7.8%
Aug → 7.8%
Jul → 7.0%
Mar → 5.9%
Feb → 4.1%
Jan → 3.6%

Below we have a few numbers regarding the quantity of images per gallery type. Use this how you will—you may find value in examining how your data looks next to the average (and remember—your’e running your own business, this information is meant to empower you, not create distress), or you may even want to look at the gallery types to brainstorm new options for your business. Never tried sports photography, but finding yourself intrigued? That’s neat!

Average Number of Images Per Gallery Type
Anniversary → 103
Boudior → 119
Bridal → 198
Commercial → 181
Dance → 483
Editorial → 177
Engagement → 183
Equine → 1101
Event → 338
Family → 128
Fine Art → 191
Kids → 77
Lifestyle → 147
Maternity → 104
Mini Sessions → 66
Models → 130
Nature → 48
Parties → 595
Pets → 316
Photo Booth → 189
Portrait → 130
Reunion → 239
School → 397
Senior → 105
Sports → 571
Travel → 53
Wedding → 849

Marketing

Social

Instaproofs offers clients (and photographers) the option to share their images online via social media. Email is our most often used option, followed fairly closely by Facebook. How are you encouraging your clients to celebrate their images—and, as a byproduct, promote your business—via social sharing?

Social Sharing
Email → 43.0%
Facebook → 37.0%
Twitter → 13.4%
Pinterest → 6.5%

gallery customization

Set the mood! At no extra charge, Instaproofs provides options for musical accompaniment for gallery viewing. Here are the favorites of our users:

Top 20 Favorite Slideshow Song Selections
Looking at You by Staci Frene (Children)
Hardknoxville by Stock20 (Acoustic Rock)
You're the One by David Keen (Children & Weddings)
A Little Heaven by Daniel Ho (Weddings & Family Portraits)
I'm Beautiful by Faith Rivera (Bridal, Boudoir)
You are Loved by Tami Mulcahy (Children)
Sun Kissed by Bradley Mariska (Piano)
Autumn Song by Bernard Weinstock (Piano)
Angel Eyes by Brenda Harp (Children & Weddings)
Hazel Stars by Spencer Arntsen (Guitar, Acoustic)
Forever More by Joe Bongiorno (Piano)
Cup O Joe by Daniel Ho (Engagement & Wedding)
Danish Runaways by Micah Dahl Anderson (Relaxed)
My Everything by Violaine (Bridal)
Power of a Dream by John Morgan (Neo-classical, Finger Picking, Guitar)
Good Day by Beth Champion Mason & Leah Martensen (Weddings, Seniors, & Children)
15 Years by Thomas James (Piano)
Heavens Place by Ben Campbell (Piano)
Together by Joe Bongiorno (Piano)
Claire de Lune by Laura Sullivan (Piano)

Love this data? We have one more in this series, coming up next month!

Want to learn something specific? Drop us a line and let us know, and we’ll do our best to support you and your business growth!

Business Strategies for 2023, Pt. 2

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:45:19 GMT

Data-driven decisions get better results,
faster, with less frustration.

In this article, we’re going to focus on purchasing statistics, gallery statistics, and a little bit of marketing.

We hope that you can use this data to see where you may be able to make simple adjustments to level-up your sales, and in turn, level-up your business.

Note: These are not predictions or guarantees of future results.

Purchasing Statistics

SHipping rates

Best sellers

Best Selling Print Products
Overall best selling products, by volume:
4x6 Lustre Prints
5x7 Lustre Prints
8x10 Lustre Prints
11x14 Lustre Prints

Best Selling Sizes, by Product Type
Canvas: 11x14, 16x24, 16x20, 24x36
Fine Art: 5x7, 8x10/8x12, 4x6, 11x14
Framed Prints: 11x14, 5x7, 8x10, 16x20
Metal Print: 5x7, 8x10, 8x12, 16x24
Acrylic Prints: 20x24, 16x24

Best Selling Non-Print Products
Multiple Print and/or Download Packages
Full Gallery Downloads (Full Res, Medium Res, Low Res)
Custom Christmas Cards
Gallery Extensions
Magnets

Best Selling Add-Ons
Digital Download
Retouching Services
Upgraded Paper Types (Fine Art, Deep Matte, etc.)
Upgraded Edges (White Borders, Deckled Edge, etc.)
Add Print Mounting (Styrene, Matboard, etc.)
Upgrade to Canvas
Upgrade to Framed Print
Upgrade to Metal Print
Add Matting

Digital sales

By the way…if imposter syndrome is keeping your prices too low, hear it from us first: the photographers you most admire want you to raise your value and raise your prices.

Average Digital Download Prices (Single Image)
640px: $10.00
800px: $13.61
1280px: $10.85
1800px: $14.20
2800px: $20.00
Full Res: $19.99

Best Selling Digital Download Sizes
Full Resolution (72%)
Small/Web Resolution (21%)
Medium Resolution (7%)

Gallery Statistics

galleries

Do you want to create a slow season? Great! Protect it!

Number of Galleries Created, By Month
Oct → 14.6%
Nov → 13.4%
Sep → 9.9%
Dec → 9.7%
Jun → 8.2%
May → 8.1%
Apr → 7.8%
Aug → 7.8%
Jul → 7.0%
Mar → 5.9%
Feb → 4.1%
Jan → 3.6%

Average Number of Images Per Gallery Type
Anniversary → 103
Boudior → 119
Bridal → 198
Commercial → 181
Dance → 483
Editorial → 177
Engagement → 183
Equine → 1101
Event → 338
Family → 128
Fine Art → 191
Kids → 77
Lifestyle → 147
Maternity → 104
Mini Sessions → 66
Models → 130
Nature → 48
Parties → 595
Pets → 316
Photo Booth → 189
Portrait → 130
Reunion → 239
School → 397
Senior → 105
Sports → 571
Travel → 53
Wedding → 849

Marketing

Social

Social Sharing
Email → 43.0%
Facebook → 37.0%
Twitter → 13.4%
Pinterest → 6.5%

gallery customization

Set the mood! At no extra charge, Instaproofs provides options for musical accompaniment for gallery viewing. Here are the favorites of our users:

Top 20 Favorite Slideshow Song Selections
Looking at You by Staci Frene (Children)
Hardknoxville by Stock20 (Acoustic Rock)
You're the One by David Keen (Children & Weddings)
A Little Heaven by Daniel Ho (Weddings & Family Portraits)
I'm Beautiful by Faith Rivera (Bridal, Boudoir)
You are Loved by Tami Mulcahy (Children)
Sun Kissed by Bradley Mariska (Piano)
Autumn Song by Bernard Weinstock (Piano)
Angel Eyes by Brenda Harp (Children & Weddings)
Hazel Stars by Spencer Arntsen (Guitar, Acoustic)
Forever More by Joe Bongiorno (Piano)
Cup O Joe by Daniel Ho (Engagement & Wedding)
Danish Runaways by Micah Dahl Anderson (Relaxed)
My Everything by Violaine (Bridal)
Power of a Dream by John Morgan (Neo-classical, Finger Picking, Guitar)
Good Day by Beth Champion Mason & Leah Martensen (Weddings, Seniors, & Children)
15 Years by Thomas James (Piano)
Heavens Place by Ben Campbell (Piano)
Together by Joe Bongiorno (Piano)
Claire de Lune by Laura Sullivan (Piano)

Love this data? We have one more in this series, coming up next month!

Want to learn something specific? Drop us a line and let us know, and we’ll do our best to support you and your business growth!

Business Strategies for 2023, Pt. 1

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 18:41:40 GMT

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Business Strategies for 2023, Pt. 1

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:47:12 GMT

As independent entrepreneurs, photographers are often left to just guess what business moves are the most effective strategies for their business.

When should you run a sale? What kind of sale? What time, and what day, should you send a marketing email?

Just giving it our best guess often feels like throwing darts blindfolded—and the results (and non-results) line up with that experience: all over the place, inconsistent, and a waste of time. It’s maddening!

Data-driven decisions get better results,
faster, with less frustration.

Let’s dive into the data.

In this article, we’re going to focus on sales and timing, looking at the real cumulative results from all Instaproofs users in 2022. (In forthcoming articles, we’ll look at labs, shipping, and other strategies you may want to run)

We hope that you can use this data to see where you may be able to make simple adjustments to level-up your sales, and in turn, level-up your business.

Note: These are not predictions or guarantees of future results.

SALES STRATEGY

Gallery Visitors

Gallery visitors who make a purchase visit a gallery an average of 8.05 times, make 1.14 purchases, and stop visiting the gallery 24.2 days after their first visit. You have an average of 24 days to make a sale—what strategic moves can you take with this information in mind?

On average, photographers earn $10.78 per unique gallery visitor. (For example, 10 unique visitors = $107.80 in storefront purchases) What profit would you like per gallery? How many visitors might it take to create this much profit? What can you do to bring that number of visitors to your gallery?

Gallery image counts

By breaking all of the orders from 2022 down to their specific (self-reported) gallery types, we were able to determine the average number of images per gallery that tend to result in the highest number of sales. You do not need to play anyone else’s game, however—if you’re dissatisfied with your sales, and your gallery size is vastly different than what you see below, this could be an interesting factor to play with.

Animal Events (Dog Shows, Horse Shows, etc.): 3000+ Images
Boudoir: 300 - 400
Bridal: 300 - 400
Commercial: 1000 - 1100
Dance: 1200 - 1300
Engagement: 300 - 400
Family: 400 - 500
Children: 10 - 100
Lifestyle: 300 - 400
Maternity: 100 - 200
Models: 10 - 100
Nature: 400 - 500
Pets: 200 - 300
Photo Booth: 400 - 500
Portrait: 100 - 200
Reunion: 200 - 300
School: 3000+
Senior: 100 - 200
Sports: 3000+
Wedding: 2000 - 2100

Bounce-back Discounts

One of Instaproofs’ special sales tools is our Bounce-Back Discounts (when a client makes a purchase, they immediately receive a discount code for their next purchase). Check out the most popular bounce-back discounts, which are set to trigger as follows:

Single Dollar Amount
Triggers at $25, worth an average of $5.12
Multi-Tier Dollar Amount
Triggers at $20, worth an average of $5.05
Triggers at $50, worth an average of $13.39
Triggers at $75, worth an average of $17.38
Multi-Tier Percentage Value
Triggers at $0, worth an average of 21%
Triggers at $100, worth an average of 16%
Triggers at $200, worth an average of 23%
Triggers at $300, worth an average of 25%
Single Percentage Value
Triggers at $0, worth an average of 13%
Triggers at $20, worth an average of 22%
Triggers at $25, worth an average of 20%

Bounce-Back Discounts are simple to set up, taking only a few minutes.

The most effective sales options are:

We love an EFFECTIVE sale! Based on all data from all Instaproofs users in 2022, the most effective sales options are…

Marketing Automation: Early Bird Sales
Marketing Automation: Gallery Expiration Sales
Discount Day Sales (Note: This is going away in favor of Marketing Automations)

Set up Marketing Automation today!

Timing

SALES IN A YEAR

Looking at the lifespan of a gallery, are you maximizing the highest-yielding time periods? Have you tried doubling-up on strategies (IE, running a sale or two in a gallery’s first month)?
66% of all purchases are made within the first 2 weeks.
79% of all purchases are made within the first month.
46% of purchased items are purchased while a sale is running.
The average discount amount is 30%.

sales by month

This may be correlation rather than causation, as many photographers have busier and slower seasons, but we invite you to look at your own data and take notice of your highest and lowest months. Are you interested in raising your profit in your slower months? How might you do that? Are you interested in intentionally slowing down your schedule for a season each year? How might you strategically select that timeline?

What else do you notice about the chart below? What could be affecting high and low sales months?

The six months with the highest number of orders are: November, May, October, June, December, April
The six months with the highest order revenues are: November, October, May, December, April, July
The month with the lowest number of orders is: January
The month with the lowest order revenue is: March

sales by weekday

Looking at high and low sales days can help you schedule your marketing emails and sales schedules, as well as your gallery notifications.

The highest numbers of orders are received on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays.
The lowest numbers of orders are received on Saturdays, Fridays, and Thursdays.
The highest order revenue is received on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
The lowest order revenue is received on Saturdays, Fridays, and Thursdays.

SALES BY THE HOUR

At a glance, we can see that 10PM-7AM are low-sales times, measured in both orders and revenue. How might this information affect your timing for sending marketing emails and gallery notifications?

Highest Order Count, by Hour: 10AM, 9AM, 8PM, 11AM, 1PM, 9PM
Highest Order Revenue, by Hour: 8PM, 11AM, 10AM, 9PM, 2PM, 4PM
Highest Order Count: 10AM
Highest Revenue: 8PM
Lowest Order Count: 3AM
Lowest Revenue: 3AM

Love this data? We have more to come soon!

Want to learn something specific? Drop us a line and let us know, and we’ll do our best to support you and your business growth!

Unlock the Next Level of Wedding Sales

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:48:56 GMT

Ready to unlock the next level of net revenue per wedding, but unsure of exactly how to do that?

NO PROBLEM.

Too often, photographers (and all humans) are paralyzed by inner questions, such as: “Is this the RIGHT thing to do?” and “Will this WORK?”

…but what if sales strategies aren’t rocket science?

What if they’re more like a middle school science fair project?

A sales strategy is just a testable set of actions. Try this on for size:

Choose a new sales strategy, and, before you over-analyze it, wondering if it’ll be perfect or Exactly The Thing You Need, just… try it. After you’ve tried your new strategy, review the data and look for what worked and what didn’t. Then, head back to the drawing board, make a few minor adjustments to your plan, and try it again.

After just a few short iterations of this process, you should see a noticeable improvement in your sales results.

What’s possible? What are you capable of?

Ready for a starter set of testable actions? Keep reading! You may find something that piques your interest:

BE ACCESSIBLE

You may be underserving if you only market your wedding galleries to your clients. With your client’s permission, share their gallery, and open it up to purchases from their wedding guests as well. For example:

Pre-create the wedding gallery and create a QR code that leads to the gallery’s sign-in page. Put that QR code on display at the reception, along with a small note that says, “Scan this QR code to get access to the wedding photos as soon as they’re ready!”

Offer that same QR code to your clients long before the wedding, in case they’d like to print it on their wedding program, thank you notes, etc.

Remember: Only do this with your client’s permission. Serve your contracted client first and foremost.

BE STRATEGIC

To whom do you want to market your images, and how can you make viewing and purchasing as simple as possible for them? Depending on your audience, you may want to organize your photos in specific ways, such as:

Create a “Highlights” category for your clients, showcasing the images that you feel best represent their wedding. Finding a specific photo in the “Highlights” category will boost your clients’ confidence when selecting images to print and hang in their homes.

If you’re providing guest access to the wedding photos, be strategic and create a separate “Wedding Guests” or “Guest Portraits” category within the gallery. Everyone loves pictures of themselves, especially when a professional photographer takes them in a formal or exciting setting. These shots can often be some of the most profitable photos taken during a wedding, so don’t forget to take the time to shoot with this in mind!

If your client prefers to keep their wedding gallery private, ask for permission to create a separate gallery just for the guest photos. Market that gallery to the guests, and watch the sales come in!

ALIGN YOUR VALUES

Show your clients and their guests that your values are in alignment. One way to do that is through charitable giving.

Give a gift in their honor. Work with your clients to select a charitable organization to whom you will donate a percentage of your print sales. You can be strategic with your pricing and the amount you offer so that your desired income remains unaffected, and you can give generously.

Wedding guests will likely be interested in the healthy growth of the couple’s relationship. If you have a private gallery just for guest photos and guest sales, use an internal message to let them know that a percentage of their print purchases (again, be thoughtful and strategic with your numbers) will go towards a surprise gift card for the happy couple to enjoy a night out.

CELEBRATE

Remember your client’s anniversary (calendar reminders are a simple and practical way to do this), and celebrate it with them!

Re-open their wedding gallery, and offer discounted prices on (what may now be) nostalgic prints.

Offer a celebratory coupon code to use within their gallery.

Offer an anniversary photo shoot with complimentary add-ons or discounted upgrade options.

Bonus: Notice their life events and reach out, regardless of whether it feels like a business opportunity for you or not. Simple comments like “Congratulations!” “Thinking of you.” “This is incredible!” will communicate your continued care. Repeat customer sales often come through heartfelt and genuine human connections of this nature.

Hot off the Press: The First Tool Updates of 2023

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:50:22 GMT

These updates—particularly the second one!—have been in the works for quite a while, and we’re so excited to roll them out into action. How will you maximize your brand and your profits with these updates, and all Instaproofs tools?

Favorites Notes

No need to bounce back and forth between email and galleries as you collaborate with your clients—you can now consolidate your client gallery communication with Favorites Notes.

It’s simple!

Enable the "Allow Favorite Notes" option within your gallery types.

Once enabled, a new "add notes" icon will be displayed on each of your client’s individual favorited images. Clicking the icon will allow your clients to add their comments.

The provided comments can be viewed through each of the Visitor Favorites pages associated with your galleries.

Image Customization for Galleries

Image customization for galleries is here! Go to your theme editor and select Customize Image Grids.

Here, you can adjust Layout, Image Size, Spacing, Borders, and Corner Roundness so your galleries fit your personal brand.

At the top of the screen, you can select different device views. Try Phone, Portrait Tablet, Landscape Tablet, Laptop, and Large Desktop to see how your galleries appear on each type of device.

Hint: Select “Save As” to name and save your customized themes. Work smarter, not harder!

Custom Calls and Services

If you signed up for the free account review we offered at the end of 2022, your results are available! A report was sent to your email address, and is also linked to at the top of your Instaproofs Dashboard.

If you’re looking for a hand with your account, basic help is always available without a cost, and custom calls and services begin at just $59.

2022: The Year You Beat Inflation with Instaproofs

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:52:04 GMT

Inflation is a current reality, and a current pain point, for most of the world.

Photographers are feeling it—increased prices in film and film services, travel costs, slower and more expensive shipping—the list goes on.

At Instaproofs, we have worked creatively and tirelessly to keep our prices exactly the same for the last several years, and to continually increase the value of our packages, month after month.

What does that mean for you?

Simple.

You’re not spending a cent more than years past, and you’re getting more for your money than ever before. When you choose Instaproofs, you’re winning.

2022 was a HUGE year for Instaproofs.

Many of our upgrades happened behind the scenes, keeping your operating experience smooth and effective! We also rolled out a host of new and improved tools—how many have you already tried out?

Booking and Questionnaires

Standalone Questionnaires appeared on the scene, and exist completely outside the booking process.

Photographers who wish to gather details from clients AFTER booking can now do that, with scheduled questionnaires.

During the booking process, a custom message can now be displayed when the deposit + online payment method has been selected.

Booking Services now offers SESSION GIFT CARDS!

Session bookings can now be paused, and updates to session fees, dates, and more can be made even after the session has been booked.

A follow up email can be set up, to be sent two days after a session has taken place.

A LIST VIEW option has been added to multi-spot sessions. This view provides a simple list layout of names, dates, times, etc.

An Excel export of multi-spot sessions has been added, displaying all details (full questionnaire results, names, dates, payment amounts, etc.) for all of the spots within a session.

Theme Editor

The theme editor now includes customizable options for Category Grids, including aspect ratio, spacing, borders, corner roundness, and a toggle for displaying/hiding the image count within the category.

Customizable options are also available for Product Guides, including aspect ratio, spacing, borders, and corner roundness.

Galleries

Gallery visitors now have the guidance of a help system. At their first sign-in to a gallery, visitors are met with pop-ups that help them find favorites, download options, and more!

Sales banners now include customizable titles and descriptions, and those banners can also be displayed within the message grids. Communicating sales has never been simpler!

Additionally, Gallery Announcements were created, so non-sale related messages can be displayed to gallery visitors. Session specials, promo codes, order deadlines, etc. are now easily communicated to ALL gallery visitors!

A new setting was added: Photographers can pre-check the opt-in checkbox on the login screen.

Photographers can now enter and view their galleries AFTER they’ve expired!

Gallery visitors can now sort and label their favorite images with a new labeling system.

Instaproofs now has a Greeting Card Editor, available for use on all galleries!

Admin

The reporting area leveled-up with new charts, showing more statistical information. For instance, yearly/monthly combined totals are now displayed, as well as separate Invoicing and Booking totals.

New categories can now be created within the Photo List screen!

Photographers can now view, add and edit keywords on each photo.

Bulk Email functionality gained new filters, which allow photographers to send emails to specific groups of people (for instance, all of your visitors who previously placed an order)

Rule-of-thirds gridlines have been added to the fulfillment cropping interface.

The administrative interface now gives the photographer the ability to hide and un-hide photos (previously, this was limited to being done through the galleries themselves).

A new CSV/spreadsheet report has been added: this displays every item found within all of the orders for an entire gallery.

A third email option was added to scheduled sales, which goes out two days before the sale ends.

Subscription plans

The majority of our subscriptions were given more space, at no additional cost.

Our lower plans had their gallery limits removed.

Phone support has been added to our Creative Plan.

Here’s to you in 2022. We’ve loved every minute of serving you.
We can’t wait to see what’s possible in 2023!

Non-Standard Print Products

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 16:53:46 GMT

Non-Standard Print Products: Your Secret Sauce This Holiday Season

You’ve been working the tools all year—booking incredible clients, sending them beautiful galleries, reaching out with automated marketing emails, cart reminders and sales notifications. More than likely, prints already hang on their walls, treasured and shown off. You did it. You exhausted every angle of your galleries!

…or did you?

It’s Black Friday season (more to come on that soon!) and holiday shopping is a huge priority for many. How can you get even more traction out of your 2022 galleries—including the galleries that haven’t had visitors in months?

Simple. Add new options.

Instaproofs partners with incredible labs world-wide to offer not only beautiful standard prints, but also a vast array of incredible non-standard print products. Once your clients see what else you have to offer, they’ll come running!

Let’s check out a few examples.

Framed Prints

Have you ever taken a print to a shop to be framed? It can be a frustrating and surprisingly expensive (in both time and money) experience. From Digitalab’s classic frames to One Vision Lab’s shadow box frames and everywhere in between, there’s certainly a frame type that fits your brand and will jump right into your clients’ carts.

Acrylics

For clients who want high definition display, sleek design, and lux feel, acrylic products are the answer. Acrylic blocks have a substantial presence that really commands attention, and acrylic prints are a great option for a more streamlined, sleek aesthetic.

Fine Art Paper Prints

Fine art paper prints are great for clients who purchased digital files but haven’t yet purchased physical prints. Printed on beautiful, high-quality paper, these prints boast a sentiment (and degree of class) even your most digitally-inclined clients will be drawn to.

Metal (Aluminum) Prints

Metal prints have a luminescence and vibrance unmatched by any other print product. For clients who want a degree of pop and pizzaz, metal prints are the way to go. Bonus: they’re waterproof! This makes metal prints a great option for spaces in which traditional prints could get damaged, like kitchens, restrooms, public spaces, and offices.

Canvas Gallery Wraps

Canvas gallery wraps make a statement, turning a home or business (or…the list goes on!) into an art gallery. Canvas gallery wraps are a stunning gift, as they are traditional enough to appeal to everyone, and unique enough to stand out as a treasure.

Mounted Prints

Mounted prints (styrene, matboard, micron, etc.) are the perfect gift for folks who love a traditional product, and expect top-level quality that lasts for years and years. Mounted prints resist warping and maintain the aesthetic of a traditional photo print. This one is a no-brainer!

All Non-Standard Print Products

Richard Photo Lab (USA) - paper prints, gallery boards (styrene mounted), canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border, canvas loose prints, fine art papers, framed prints (no matting), framed prints with matting.

WHCC (USA) - paper prints, 3mm white styrene mounted, 3mm black styrene mounted, 3/4” standout mounts, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border, metal (aluminum) prints, fine art papers, framed prints (no matting), image block, bamboo panels.

Bay Photo (USA) - paper prints, 2mm white styrene mounted, 2mm black styrene mounted, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border, metal (aluminum) prints, framed prints (no matting), acrylic prints, acrylic blocks.

Pro DPI (USA) - paper prints, 3mm white styrene mounted, matboard, 3/4” standout mounts, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border, metal (aluminum) prints, fine art papers.

Musea ($USD) - standard prints, premium prints, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border, fine art papers, 1.5” matting, 2” matting, 3” matting, 4” matting, custom mat requests.

Miller’s Lab (USA) - paper prints, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, metal (aluminum) prints.

MPIX (USA) - paper prints, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, metal (aluminum) prints.

Artsy Couture (USA) - paper prints, 2mm black styrene mounted, canvas .75” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, metal (aluminum) prints, gallery block.

Nations Photo Lab (USA) - paper prints, 2mm black styrene mounted, canvas .75” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, metal (aluminum) prints, gallery block.

Black River Imaging (USA) - paper prints, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, metal (aluminum) prints, curved metal (aluminum) prints, float mount wraps.

Loxley Colour (Great Britain) - paper prints, 2mm Micron card mounted, metal (aluminum) prints, acrylic prints, birchwood panels.

GTA Imaging (Canada) - paper prints, 2mm white styrene mounted, 2” standout mounts, wood photo mounts, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border, fine art papers, acrylic prints, Carlton frames.

Atkins Lab (Australia) - standard prints, standard bordered prints, premium prints, premium bordered prints, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border.

Carmencita Film Lab (Europe) - paper prints, bordered paper prints, fine art papers.

Pikto (Canada) - paper prints, canvas 1.5” wrap w/ border, metal (aluminum) prints, metal (aluminum) table top prints, plexi face mount prints, plexi face mount tabletop prints.

Digitalab (Great Britain) - paper prints, canvas 1.5” gallery wrap, metal (aluminum) prints, fine art papers, framed prints (no matting), framed prints with 2” matting, framed canvas, acrylic prints, birch blocks.

One Vision Imaging (Great Britain) - paper prints, textured wrap (2”), textured wrap (2”) w/ border, aluminum ChromaLuxe print, fine art papers, coloured edge blocks, shadow box frames, box frames.

Adding Non-Standard Products to Your Galleries

To set up, start at your Dashboard > Selling > Purchase Options .

From here, you can Create New Purchase Options, or Import Options From Lab. For this tutorial, click Import Options from Lab.

Select the Lab and Product you’d like to offer. Then continue navigating through the products, selecting all the options you’d like to include. (Hint: click the “expand” button next to each option to view details on the lab’s website)

Select the Group you’d like to organize this purchase option into (this effects the organization of purchase options when clients are making choices in their gallery). You can choose to enable Auto-set Pricing at this point if you’d like.

Import the products.

If you did not select Auto-set pricing, go to your Dashboard , go to Selling > Prices, Shipping, Tax > Pricing Sheets. Select the pricing sheet you added this product , scroll to find the product, and edit pricing. Be sure to save !

That’s it! Repeat for any other labs and/or products you’d like to offer.

Don’t forget to use our Bulk Email tool to let clients know what new purchasing options just showed up in their galleries!

Tip: Try enabling an expired gallery! Send that client a link with a message that says, “Surprise! We’ve added a few beautiful product options, and we don’t want you to miss the opportunity to have these beautiful products in your home or under your tree. We’ve reactivated your gallery for the next 10 days; go take a look!”

Mini Sessions: With Booking Services, They Are Simple, Streamlined, and Extremely Profitable

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:56:19 GMT

Book out your mini sessions without maxing out your brain.

Sound far-fetched? Far from it—it’s the typical experience for the Instaproofs users who put Booking Services to work. Booking Serivices is available to users subscribed at the Pro (and above) level. Click here to upgrade your account!

Booking Services is unique to Instaproofs, and it is the ultimate tool to help you create max value from your mini sessions. Keep reading as we walk you through the process of setting up your Mini Sessions with Booking Services, and then we’ll dive in deeper with some simple ideas to create MAX VALUE.

SET UP YOUR MINI SESSIONS WITH BOOKING SERVICES

Conduct two basic processes, and you’ll be ready to fill your schedule.

Create a Session Type

From your dashboard, select Booking , then Session Types . Select Create a New Session Type .

As you customize your Session Type, be sure to set the Classification as Multi from the dropdown menu. This will allow you to create many session spots with pre-determined time slots.

Name your Session Type, create a description and price, select a sample photo (this really helps folks feel confident to book!), describe different packages you may offer, attach a contract and/or questionnaires, enable tipping, and more! Hint: You can also select how long of a break you’d like between sessions.

When you’re done, be sure to hit Save .

Good news: you can re-use the session type again and again, so once you have this process done, you can use the Session Type to offer more mini sessions at a later date!

Create a Session

From your dashboard, select Booking , then Booking Sessions . Select Schedule New Session.

Name your session, and set the Classification as Multi from the dropdown menu.

Select your Session Type (that’s what you just created via the directions above), and when Additional Settings appear, select your date, start time, and how many session spots you’d like to include. Hint: if you’d like a longer-than-scheduled break, like for lunch, you can simply schedule the first half of your sessions, save, and select the “Add Additional Spots" button within the session details to add the spots for after lunch (or for a different day, etc.).

When you’re done, be sure to hit Save .

You’ve done it! Send your booking page out to your email list, put it on social media, and even text it directly to past or potential clients. Booking Services will automatically collect payment as well as any contracts/questionarires you’ve selected.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Create MAX VALUE within your mini session work.

Plenty of these ideas came from our Instaproofs fam! We put a call-out on our social media, and veteran photographers responded with their best tips and tricks for creating MAX VALUE in their mini sessions.

Scheduling

Use Instaproofs’ Bulk Email tool to excite everyone in your database with the details of your mini sessions. They have a need you can meet, and a short, simple email can help them understand that.

Follow up with individualized texts or emails, and, if possible, include a photo from their last session to pull on their heartstrings. Include the link to book!

Take out the guesswork and keep your available sessions up-to-date. This is automatic with Instaproofs’ Booking Services—booked dates are automatically updated on your Booking Page, so your clients understand clearly which sessions are still available.

Have a plan

Make the most of your time by having a plan of what to shoot. For example, plan a to take a photo of the whole family, each individual child, siblings together, and then parents together. Having an idea of poses ahead of time can save time, too.

Bring a watch, set a timer, or bring an assistant to help you stay on time.

Selling

Use Instaproofs’ automated marketing email tools! Set up a sale, send email reminders (here are some templates), issue coupon codes—the sky is the limit.

One of our photographers helps her clients in a creative way: a couple days after delivering the gallery, they send a follow-up email with ideas of what to order, images of framed prints, etc. Your clients may appreciate that help, too!

One of our favs—the Abandoned Cart tool. Remind folks of what’s waiting in their carts with a custom link.

How do you create MAX VALUE in your mini sessions? Head over to our social media and let us know! A rising tide lifts all ships, and there is plenty of work for ALL of us to thrive.

New Feature: Favorite Labels

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:58:12 GMT

We always say it, and it’s true: Instaproofs is more than just a pretty proofing site.

However, Instaproofs also IS an excellent, beautiful proofing site—and we just made a huge update that will simplify your workflow!

Your clients have always had the option to mark photos as “Favorites,” and now, that functionality has grown tremendously with the option of…

Favorite Labels

Favorite Labels are an incredible tool for photographers who need their clients to select their favorite photos for specific purposes.

For instance, in the example below, the photographer set up three custom Favorite Labels: IG Reel Selections, Please Edit in Black and White, and Selections for Albums. Limits (30 on one label, 10 on another) on images were placed on two of the labels, and the third was left as unlimited.

When the client for this gallery signs in with their email address, they choose which of their photos they’d like to fall under one more more labels. A general “Favorites” label is still an option as well.

The client can check in on their overall choices at any point by clicking on the Favorite Button, found in the top-right corner of the gallery. Clicking the Favorites icon will cause the label options to be displayed. When a label option is clicked, the page swill refresh and display just the images selected for that specific label.

Once selections are made, the photographer can view the selections, modify label details, download the photos (or send a link to download), export the list as a CSV file, or delete the label altogether. The sky’s the limit, folks.

Set up for the photographer is simple. We have both a written tutorial and a video tutorial for your learning ease. The total process takes one or two minutes, tops!

This is a powerful, effective tool, not only for our wedding and portrait photographers, but for our commercial photographers as well: image how simple collaboratively proofing your next cookbook, head shot session, or real estate shoot will be.

Try out Favorite Labels in your next gallery, and see how much of a difference it makes. Your clients will thank you…and frankly, you’ll thank yourself!

Why Instaproofs? Ask These Photographers!

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 17:37:02 GMT

Photographers are more likely to thrive with the support of a robust professional community. The Instaproofs family is diverse and accomplished, and we would be remiss to not make introductions when at all possible.

Plus, with a platform as expansive as Instaproofs, hearing from other users may be just the inspiration you need to step out of your comfort zone, try a new tool, and unlock income you have been leaving on the table!

Here are five fabulous photographers, each thrilled to share why they have chosen to trust their business to Instaproofs. We bet you’ll be excited to try something new by the time you’re through! These photographers each represent the community in a different way, and we are thankful for each of them, and each of YOU.

Business name: Chelsea Proulx Photography

Business type: Lifestyle portrait sessions and weddings, as well as architectural interiors and exteriors.

Started with Instaproofs: 2019

Favorite Instaproofs feature: Booking sessions helps a ton with mini session slots, as well as the overall automation.

Can't help but mention: I switched from another gallery host at the end of 2019 and immediately started feeling so much better about my gallery delivery. The overall look and automation of emails and sales within Instaproofs has drastically decreased the amount of energy and time I spend on sales. It is so much more user friendly than my previous host, allowing my clients to go through their images with ease and order products and downloads with very little contact on my end! Although I know I can do even more within Instaproofs, my sales are better than they were before and I imagine they'll only get better as I incorporate more features within the program.

How they brag on Instaproofs: Many times I've worked with the support team and the guidance I receive with my issues or questions is second to none. The answers are received very quickly and are laid out in a way that helps me accomplish whatever I'm looking to do.

Anything else to mention: Sometimes it feels difficult to stand out from the competition. I believe Instaproofs allows for beautiful pictures to be placed in equally beautiful galleries, making the entire process smooth for me as the photographer, as well my clients. The easier I can make it for my clients to purchase, the more likely they are to work with me in the future.

Connect on IG: @chelseabordonaro

Business name: Deb Mann Images, DoubleshotDarlin, Shutttterbug

Business type: Large equine western performance events, cowboy action shooting competitions, all family events, pets, you name it.

Started with Instaproofs: 2009

Favorite Instaproofs feature: Fabulous website and EXEMPLARY customer care.

Can't help but mention: Instaproofs took me from thinking people might like my work to a very solid support income to my retirement. I would not be able to function without it. This site is beautiful and easy for anyone to use.

How they brag on Instaproofs: Support team has saved my life more times than I can list! From simple explanations that don’t make me feel small, to uploading back files when I am in Timbuktu and can’t get them, to helping me with my oversize galleries in emergencies so that I don’t go over, and the plain and simple kind attitude every single time I have ever called. I can go on! I think Instaproofs support team walks on water!

Anything else to mention: There are of course a couple of services out there to show off your work. But I have never known one that worked harder to earn the trust and respect that I feel Instaproofs’ whole team deserves. No one does it better. I have been proud to be part of your family for many years. I would never consider going anywhere else!

Connect on IG: @DebMannImages

Business name: Philip Casey Photography

Business type: Weddings, portraits, and non-profits.

Started with Instaproofs: 2013

Favorite Instaproofs feature: Instaproof's best feature is that it makes me money!

Can't help but mention: Since signing up, Instaproofs has generated $160,059.03 in print and album sales for my business.

How they brag on Instaproofs: The challenge is getting wedding guests to spend money on pictures. Instaproofs has a unique model of offering automatic sales and discounts that prompt the viewer to take action. On the last day of a sale, orders just fyi in.

Anything else to mention: No online gallery system produces better profits than Instaproofs. Signing up 9 years ago was the best decision I made for my business.

Connect on IG: @philipcaseyphoto

Business name: Cassie Green Photography

Business type: I mostly shoot family portraits, but also shoot small weddings.

Started with Instaproofs: 2018

Favorite Instaproofs feature: Invoicing and contracts.

Can't help but mention: Instaproofs helps me keep track of how much money I make in a year. It's super helpful for keepings things organized and in one place when tax season comes around. It simplifies my work life a lot.

How they brag on Instaproofs: Organizing for taxes is one of my biggest challenges. Before Instaproofs, looking professional was harder. Their set up with invoicing and contracts have made my life SO much easier.

Anything else to mention: If you want an all-in-one place to host your photos, invoice, send contracts, etc, this is your spot! And Instaproofs is constantly staying in touch with its users’ needs, so always updating and adding features that are super helpful for us. I'm really grateful to them for taking away some of the business stress that can come with running a photography business completely by yourself.

Connect on IG: @cassiegreenphotography

Business name: Emily D Photography

Business type: Portraits - school, family, and headshots.

Started with Instaproofs: 2018

Favorite Instaproofs feature: Invoicing/reminders, and downloading options.

Can’t help but mention: The support team is exceptional, the best I’ve ever worked with, and [exceptional] with everyone in my team. They are always kind and timely in their responses…I’ve had Adam and others make suggestions for me proactively.

How she brags on Instaproofs: The back end makes tax time so easy!

Anything else to mention: Instaproofs never loses sight of their main mission to support photographers in thriving within this industry. In the time I’ve been with them, they have evolved and changed but there hasn’t been any growing pains that I’ve observed.

Connect on IG: @emilydphotography

Are you an Instaproofs user who is interested in being highlighted here and/or on our social feeds? Maybe you know someone else you’d like to nominate! Please reach out. We are already a big fan of you, might as well share you with the world.

While we’re on the subject of community, are you a member of our Facebook Group yet? What an excellent way to connect with other photographers from across the globe! Join us today!

Heatwave? No Problem: Make Money Without Breaking a Sweat

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 17:40:29 GMT

We know Instaproofs is your ultimate path to Pajama Profits —who doesn’t want to be making money while they sleep?!

Well, this summer, as the temperatures soar, instead of (rather, in addition to) Pajama Profits, it’s time for Bathing Suit Profits: making money while you’re keeping cool!

5 Easy Ways Instaproofs Can Help Put $$$ In Your Pocket This Summer

Run a Sale

Your clients need a reminder of their incredible galleries: run a sale with one of Instaproofs’ incredible sale options and knock their socks off. You could run a store-wide sale, select a few specific print sizes (50% off all 8x10 and 11x14 prints, for instance), or make it a sale on just your digital downloads. It’s entirely up to you!

Shoppers LOVE a deal. Give ‘em what they want!

Session Gift Cards

Have you set up Session Gift Cards yet? If you’re a Pro + level user, take a few minutes to fill in the details, and then send out an email to your previous customers to let them know what’s available.

Folks are always looking for a good gift: for back-to-school teacher gifts, birthdays and anniversaries, and just-because. Let your biggest fans give the gift of YOUR work!

Add New Purchase Options

How long has it been since you last freshened up your print shop? So many great options, from framed prints to bamboo panels to canvases to metal prints—not to mention individual image downloads— are all just a few clicks away. A few clicks on your computer can open up a world of options for your customers.

Fifteen minutes of easy work on your end could lead to hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in additional sales. What are you waiting for?!

Enable Your Abandoned Cart Reminder

Capture every sale. Some folks may forget about the cart they loaded up and forgot to actually purchase, but Instaproofs doesn’t! With just a click of your mouse, you can make sure none of your customers forget about their abandoned carts… which will lead to more sales for you!

Schedule Future Mini Sessions

For Pro + level users, our Booking services provide an incredible set of tools that allows for completely automated Mini Session Bookings. Post every detail, include optional contracts and questionnaires, gather contact information, accept payments, and allow your clients to select their time slots, which will automatically mark the spots as “booked” upon payment.

Now is a great time to get on folks’ fall calendars. Start by creating a Session Type (you’ll want to create it as a “multi” session) and then set up a Session. Once that’s finished, you’ll be ready to roll! Prefer a video walk-through showing how this works? Here you go!

As an aside, the same feature can be used for Workshop sign-ups, group headshot bookings, and more. The sky is the limit!

What other ideas have you put to use in recent months? We’d love to hear about your ideas and best practices! The Instaproofs Community (both on Facebook and in the wild, so to speak) is full of incredible entrepreneurs and innovators.

We’re so excited to see how you increase your bottom line this summer! Find us on social and let us know how it’s going!

How can we help? We’d love to set you up with a free trial, and/or answer any questions you have. We’re here for you, and love to help!

Your ROI is Skyrocketing

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:45:16 GMT

The needs of photographers are constantly evolving and increasing, and Instaproofs is keeping stride. Rolling out multiple updates a month, we are creating and improving the best tools in the biz.

In the last two to three months alone, we’ve rolled out WAY more than a dozen system improvements and updates, and we don’t upcharge you for any of these value-adds—this is just part of the deal when you do business with Instaproofs.

Let’s take a look!

Value-Adds:

Booking Services

Session updating: regular sessions can now have their session dates/times updated after booking. Once the photographer makes adjustments, an email will notify the client of the changes.

When a session type is edited, you can now choose to update the associated sessions at the same time. Did someone say…streamline?

Standalone questionnaires:

Photographers can now customize the ‘thank you’ message that’s displayed after a questionnaire has been submitted.

The people who fill out standalone questionnaires will now receive a copy of their responses after submission.

Questionnaires can now be sent from the Booking » Clients page. Expand the options drop-down list next to any client’s name, and select the ‘request response’ option.

Booking questionnaires: photographers can now choose between asking their clients to fill out their questionnaires either before booking, or after.

In-progress bookings can now be canceled. You’ve got all the control you need.

Gallery Set-Up

Photographers can now create new categories from the photo list screen directly, instead of having to navigate back to the category screen.

Photographers can now view and add/edit keywords attached to their images. Keywords can be used by your clients to search for specific images within your galleries.

Emails

A new filter for "Visitors with Open Orders" has been added to the Bulk Email page, allowing the photographer to email everyone with an order that hasn’t been shipped or canceled. Waiting to order event photos until a certain date? This is a great tool for you!

The email delivery report has been updated to show the status of a wider variety of emails, such as booking session reminder emails.

EU photographers, you’ve spoken, and we listened—and we have great news. A new option, labeled "Pre-check the Email Opt-in Checkbox", has been added to the Photos » Preferences page. This allows photographers to choose whether or not the opt-in checkbox is checked by default.

Client Experience

The "Sizing Scenes" interface has been updated to display the maximum photo size that fits within each of the scenes.

The "Sizing Scenes" themselves have been updated to allow for larger prints, with several scenes displaying prints 40x60 or larger.

The minimum required print size within each of the "Sizing Scenes" has been decreased to allow for smaller prints to be displayed within the larger scenes. This will help your clients understand just how small an 8x10 might look hanging in their living room.

Prints and Products

We have a new product for WHCC: bamboo panels!

Richard Photo Lab has always offered boutique packaging, and now that cost goes toward the photographer’s minimum purchase requirement! So, if you have a client making a small order, add in boutique packaging to get a little more value for your dollar.

Whew…all that, in just the past couple of months?! We have some major updates queued up for the rest of the year, and we’re eager to continue to add to the value of your investment in Instaproofs.

With Instaproofs in your corner with an eye on every detail, your potential for profit—and impact—is unlimited. Go make some noise, folks.

Have suggestions? We love to hear them!

Want some side-by-side assistant troubleshooting your account? Our customer support team is incredible!

Richard Rankin: Actor, Photographer, and Instaproofs User

Sun, 22 May 2022 17:48:13 GMT

Did you know Richard Rankin, world-renowned actor, is also an esteemed Fine Art photographer? You probably did! But do you know Instaproofs is his secret sauce?

Richard and his sales manager, Maureen, work closely (and regularly) with the Instaproofs staff. With all their powers combined, they (we!) make an incredible team which produces incredible results consistently. We recently got in touch with Maureen to get a peek into the inner workings of Richard Rankin Photography.

First, let's meet you, Maureen! Do you mind giving us a quick look into your work history, your company, and what it is like to work with Richard Rankin?

Hello! I am currently Richard's sales manager, and have worked with a number of companies and artists in both marketing and business manager capacities. Initially, he was just looking for help building a website to sell a few photos. Neither of us had envisioned the extent of what this has become!

Richard is very driven and inspiring, and he is also a lot of fun to work with. Both of us have extremely high standards for the products that we produce, and the customer service that we provide, which makes us ideal workmates. We sometimes tease each other on social media, and hopefully most of our customers understand our jokes.

Since Richard's life is very busy to an often ridiculous extent, a message sent to our company reaches me. I really like providing a personal touch for our customers.

Both of us really appreciated how the business provided a purpose and a distraction during the pandemic lockdowns in 2020. Especially him, since all filming halted.

And Richard ― he's well known for his work as an actor, and his acclaim as a photographer is sky-high as well. How did he come into photography, and how/when did he make the transition into shooting professionally?

Travelling the world in an award-winning play (Black Watch) in the early 2010s, Richard took thousands of photos. But they did not quite turn out the way that he envisioned, either how the scene looked in person or the image as imagined in his mind's eye. That led to some really intense study for many years in order to learn how to produce the kinds of photos that he wanted to see.

His work has often been described as cinematic. Richard tells a story in each of his photos, which is likely influenced and informed by his acting background.

The transition to shooting professionally occurred quite gradually by simply sharing his work on social media, and meeting the demand of people asking to purchase it! He has also been recently shooting some gorgeous portraits of fellow actors and behind-the-scenes photos as he's filming.

Special commissions and requests inspired by what he chooses to show on social media have also been taking more of his time lately, some of which made their way into our most recent #NotACollection collection.

We have been extremely lucky to build a business around responding to enquiries and positive feedback from Richard's fans. They are endlessly curious, complementary and supportive. It has been a lot of fun for me to interact with them too.

Your team has been using Instaproofs for a long time. What was it about Instaproofs that stood above the competition (back when you were choosing a service to use)? How has Instaproofs continued to serve you all well (over the span of time since)?

We have been with Instaproofs since 2019. Having contacted almost all of the fulfilment partners that our lab in Glasgow, Loxley Colour, works with, and building several test websites along the way, Instaproofs stood out for two reasons.

One was the immediate personal responses that I received. I felt that my questions were treated with importance.

And secondly was Instaproofs's willingness to listen to our needs and work with us on some unique asks. A fine art photography business is quite different than portrait and wedding photography. Most photo lab integration websites are geared towards the latter, which had led to us feeling left out of the market.

Specifically, we could not find any other partner with the combination of worldwide shipping and ability to offer numbered Limited Editions as purchase options, until learning about Instaproofs.

Over the years, I think that the unique way that we use Instaproofs has led to some functionality that is likely also helpful to others, such as the private comments field that was added per our request. We find that our business is most successful by offering our customers a very personalised service. This easy way of keeping track of a myriad of details and order requirements has been so valuable to us.

You interact regularly with members of the Instaproofs staff. How has your experience been working with the team?

Working with Instaproofs is a dream! I trust that you have our best interests in mind at all times, and I appreciate the continuing efforts to customise your business to suit our needs. The patience and responsiveness that you show each and every day is extraordinary, and I don't say that lightly. Truly well done.

We see you running unique promotions ― buy one/get one sales, free reprint with the purchase of a frame, sign into the gallery for a chance to win a prize, etc. Is there a particular promotion that has been especially productive? How did that go? When your team is dreaming up ideas, what are some of the parameters that go into setting up a successful promotion?

The most recent BOGO at the end of last year was the most successful! It surpassed every estimation by an enormous amount and it was quite a surprise (and a bit exhausting to run it with a holiday deadline). But it was also incredibly rewarding. Our customers are so appreciative and really loved their extra photos as our gift.

The best source for sales ideas is listening to your customers’ wants and needs, because they will tell you! Before offering framing on our site, many said that they just have not had the time to frame their photos yet. So that led to our free reprint with frame purchase as an introductory offer.

And our customers constantly say that it is difficult to make a decision with so many photos that they love, which meant that they held off on making any purchase at all. I had suspected that offering a BOGO print sale would help this, and it certainly did!

These sales kept our business going with renewed interest when Richard was off filming Outlander and prancing about on stage in London for most of 2021, and not as available to produce new photos as he had been in the past.

Running a fine art business is a unique venture. Can you run us through a little bit of the logistics, and how Instaproofs has been able to help? How has Instaproofs been helpful in running a successful fine art business?

Automation has meant that our small team can easily handle a high volume of orders. Instaproofs has proven itself by adding both structure and flexibility to our business. As I mentioned before, having the ability to offer Limited Editions and Fine Art Paper prints as purchase options makes your website solution work for us when others did not.

And because Richard has a global fan base, the ability of Instaproofs to switch between photo labs and ship worldwide has become key for us. Contracting with a USA lab starting last year reduced shipping prices for our American customers greatly and definitely led to more orders.

The way we use Instaproofs is maybe a bit intensive on the customer service side at times, but hopefully we save your team some work as we like to push through each order to the labs ourselves. I find that process really helps us get to know our customers and exactly what they are ordering.

The Instaproofs integration of the email database is also genius. It means that we do not have to spend extra time and money on external bulk mail solutions.

Thank you for your questions, because this exercise has already inspired some different ways that I would like to use Instaproofs in the future. You can be certain that I will be in touch soon, and we look forward to many more years in collaboration!

We love partnering with Richard and Maureen, and the time spent combing through the details of their requests has not only been downright fun, but it has also bettered all Instaproofs customers, as the improvements have been universally helpful.

At the same time, our affections also extend even further. We’re here for YOU—for every photographer, to provide all the tools necessary for every photographer to have a successful, profitable, efficient business.

Session Booking Gift Cards

Sun, 22 May 2022 17:46:33 GMT

You can now offer SESSION GIFT CARDS through Booking Services!

Per the request of several Instaproofs users, we have created a new feature: Session Gift Cards!

Applicable to sessions booked through Booking Services, these gift cards are available in practically every dollar amount, and make it easy for clients to gift session credit to one another. Looking to run a sale in which clients can purchase a gift card at a discounted rate? That’s easy, too!

Let’s take at look at the simple set-up process for Session Gift Cards.

Navigate to Booking > Sell Gift Cards

Tap the button, and define your first gift card value, and hit “save”

Create more options! Clients love options!

That’s it! If you’d like to see a video with step-by-step instructions or read a tutorial, we’ve got you covered.

When your clients purchase a gift card, they will receive a unique coupon code they can use towards a future Booking Session.

What if your client doesn’t use the entire balance in a single transaction? No problem! They can keep using the code until it’s been depleted.

Great Occasions for Gift Cards:

Mother’s and Father’s Days, Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Eid

engagements, new babies, graduations, anniversaries

family reunions, individually scheduled head shots, and so much more

These events are happening year-round, so promote your gift cards year-round! Share on social media, and send an email to your previous clients letting them know about this new purchasing option.

If you are wondering, you can also sell online credit for purchases made through the galleries. Those options are set up through the regular Purchase Options page.

Gallery Announcements

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 17:51:37 GMT

Have you ever wished you could share a specific message with the folks looking at one (or more) of your galleries?

“Use the code JILLHENRY25 for a 25% discount, compliments of the bride and groom!”

“Prints hand-delivered to addresses in [zipcode], all others will be delivered via mail service.”

“Thank you for participating in our spring mini sessions! Early sign-ups for our fall mini sessions are live at [website].”

“Get 50% off your next booking fee with a successful referral. Email us to find out more!”

Well, friends, the time is now. Gallery Announcements are LIVE!

From your Dashboard, navigate to the Marketing tab, and then click the new Gallery Announcements button.

EVERYONE, at every Instaproofs plan level, has access to this new feature!

to navigate: Dashboard > Marketing > Gallery Announcements

A simple step-by-step process will guide you through selecting the parameters of your announcement: announcement details, date range, announcement location, coupon code, and the galleries to which the announcement applies.

How will you use this new feature to enhance your brand and boost your bottom line? We’d love to hear about your ideas and best practices! The Instaproofs Community (both on Facebook and in the wild, so to speak) is full of incredible entrepreneurs and innovators.

We’re so excited to see how you choose to customize your Gallery Announcements!

How can we help? We’d love to set you up with a free trial, and/or answer any questions you have. We’re here for you, and love to help!

Introducing: New Help System

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 17:51:13 GMT

A new help system as been created and automatically applied to your galleries! Now, in order to provide your gallery visitors with a little bit of a walk-through, a help system is in place, showing them where to find (and how to use) some of the available functionality.

Why does this matter? Your clients are going to have an even easier time navigating their galleries, accessing their photos, and making purchases. An easy viewing and shopping experience yields excellent returns for YOUR bottom line!

How does this work? The first time someone signs into a gallery, they’ll automatically be shown where the new help icon is, where the full gallery download button is (if applicable), descriptions of important icons, products offered within the gallery, and more. After this initial walk-through, the help icon will always be available.

It’ll be as if you’re right there beside your client, helping them along. The help icon helps clients understand how to hide and unhide images (if they have that permission), helps them keep count of the number of free image downloads they have remaining (if applicable), and provides assistance on any page, any time.

What does this cost? ..well, nothing. Nothing more, at least. What do you need to do to activate this feature? …well, nothing. It’s rolling already! System improvements like this are a regular part of the Instaproofs experience! We’re always working hard to make sure you have the tools you need to increase your brand and your bottom line.

Ready to try Instaproofs for the first time? A free trial is waiting for you!
Start making money before you drop a cent.

Redesign: Sales Notices

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 12:53:48 GMT

Instaproofs stands above the rest in our marketing emails and automated sales, and many of our users run print and/or product sales for the first and last days of a gallery’s availability, and many also run sales periodically throughout the year. To make sure clients understand the details and timeline of a sale while they’re navigating their gallery, we’ve redesigned in-gallery sales notices!

These notices are customizable. Note in the image below, the notification explains the extent of the sale (photos are 40% off, products are not on sale) and a countdown timer is found on the right side of the notification. There’s no mystery here—your client will certainly understand the perimeters of the sale while they’re browsing.

Additionally, sales notifications can be placed as an image block within a category, as seen below:

CUSTOMIZE YOUR SALES TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS:

Navigate to the Selling » Sales & Coupons page.

Either create a new sale, or click on an existing sale to edit its details.

The "Discount Days" type of sale will allow you to add a "Sale Title," and the other two sale types (Date Range Sale and Print Size Sale) will allow you to edit both the name and the description for the sale.

Save, and you’re done!

CUSTOMIZE YOUR SALES TITLES WITHIN YOUR MARKETING AUTOMATION:

Navigate to the Marketing » Marketing Automations page.

Either create a new marketing automation or click on an existing automation to edit its details.

The "Sale Title" is editable, at the top of the page.

Save, and you’re done!

We’re so excited to see how you choose to customize your Sales Notifications!

How can we help? We’d love to set you up with a free trial, and/or answer any questions you have. We’re here for you, and love to help!

2021: Year In Review

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:49:28 GMT

In order to serve you best, the Instaproofs team focuses closely on a few core principles:

the quality of the service and product we offer,
the highest standard of customer care, and
commitment to your business growth and your bottom line.

As we kick off a brand new calendar year, we remain focused on growth and improvement in every aspect of Instaproofs, which translates into growth and improvement in YOUR business and YOUR bottom line. That’s our #1 focus, always has been.

As a staff, we recently had a blast looking back at the new features and improvements that happened in 2021. On average, a significant change was made every two weeks! How have you put these tools to work for you and your business? The sky is the limit!

Afraid you missed an update or two? Take a look at the list, and keep in the back of your mind: what great things are sure to come in 2022?!

2021 Instaproofs Growth

Marketing

We can’t emphasize this one enough: an entirely new, built from the ground-up, "Booking" module has been added. This allows your clients to book their sessions right through your Instaproofs account! This area is PACKED with functionality, and it has been continuously updated since being introduced in September. Seem to good to be true? Somehow it’s not. We literally added an entire new service to Instaproofs without raising our price at all (available at the Pro level and above).
Some of the newer updates in the Booking area include: Client Tipping options, Discount Codes for session bookings, a "Calendar View" option, Google Calendar integration, and the ability to attach digitally-signed Contracts to each booking.
Another huge addition, Marketing Automations were introduced—and enhanced several times throughout the year!
Email addresses that are given permissions through the Gallery Edit screen are now automatically added to the visitor page and receive email notifications (if enabled). Marketing upgrade!

Selling

The Sales & Coupons page has been reorganized to more easily view and manage your sales and coupons. You may not have noticed these changes; the updates are so intuitive.
The "Email the Buyer" functionality from the order list view is now attached to a customizable email template , which allows you to save your default response and not have to re-type it out each time you use that functionality. Once again, time saver!
Single Image Packages were upgraded to allow non-print items to also be included within the packages (for example, digital images can now be added to the single-image packages).
An additional full-gallery download size (2800px) was added as an option, bringing the total option list up to Web Size (1280px), Small Print Size (1800px), Medium Print Size (2800), and Full Size.

Aesthetics

Contracts & Invoices were redesigned with softer colors, more elegant fonts, and enhanced layouts.
So you can keep your aesthetics the way you like them, softer color palettes were introduced throughout the admin site .
A new default theme has been added on all accounts; the new theme includes neutral colors, modern fonts, more white-space, different image sizing and spacing, and an alternate login screen. If you haven’t checked this out yet, we recommend you do so immediately. A few clicks to get a whole new gorgeous look—certainly worth your time!
The corporate site was fully redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up. If somehow you’ve missed it, you’ve got to check it out—it’s gorgeous and full of information.

Your Admin Options

Private Notes functionality was added to the order details page. This means you can attach your own internal notes to individual orders. Our studio customers are especially pleased with this option!
Several customization options were added to the Invoices . Make sure your invoices fit your business perfectly!
The admin site gained a Gallery Search option. You can now search for a specific gallery based on the gallery name, city, or any keyword attached to the gallery.
The Gallery Visitors page was updated to allow photographers to correct email addresses that were mistyped by their clients. Your customer service abilities just got a major glow up!
The "Highlights" category that's created within your galleries can now be downloaded through the admin site. This is an update specifically requested by a few photographers, and many have been enjoying the option.

Contracts

To expand your communication options, contracts were updated to include shareable links , which can be copied and sent to your clients outside of the automated notification system.
Big time saver: you may now create and save your signature within the contracts area, and auto-apply your signature to your contracts after your clients have signed their portions.
Contracts with a "Draft" status have been given a "preview" option, which allows photographers to view the contracts as their clients would, before sending them out. Measure twice, cut once.

Reports

We know Instaproofs is a huge asset in tracking your business finances, so multiple reports were updated to provide the option of displaying offline payments (from invoices, booking, etc.) in their cumulative numbers.
Additionally, multiple reports were given additional customization options to display totals for just the items that you've specifically selected (storefront payments, invoices, booking payments, and offline payments).
A new "Client Order Summary" report has been added to the reports area. This new report breaks down your transactions on a per-client basis, and displays the number of transactions made and the total amount spent by each of your clients. It also links you to the complete order details for each of the orders that your clients placed.

From Your Customer’s Point of View

To help your customers make informed decisions, multiple example images can now be added and displayed for products, add-ons, print sizes, single image packages, etc. So, for example, if you have a framed print listed as a purchase option, you can now include multiple example images of the frame from several different angles.
The galleries have been updated to allow print size comparisons , complete with over 40 selectable room/scene options. This is especially helpful for clients who like to make quick, well-informed decisions. Make sure this option is enabled and your clients know about it!
You can now arrange your photos in a random sequence (at the click of a button) after your gallery has been uploaded. This makes a lot of sense for product and portrait shoots! Non-sequential images tell a different, possibly more powerful, story.
Client receipts have been updated to include a way to download all of their single-image digital purchases with a single click. (For example, if you purchased 15 digital images, you can now download them all at once rather than having to download them one at a time.) Your clients are going to love this one!

Additionally, we’ve started in a new direction with our social media platforms . From the blog to email newsletters to social media, there’s so much helpful information and community interaction to be had! Join us!

$30k For Charity From One Gallery? Jonathan Canlas Says It's Possible!

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 17:48:12 GMT

Not only is it possible to raise $30k for a good cause from one gallery, it’s happened. Just ask Jonathan Canlas! Jon was one of Instaproofs' first five customers in 2005, and came on as VP in 2020.

Jon is well known for his work in portraiture and philanthropy. Through print and product sales, he has generated massive revenue (like that $30k gallery) that has gone back to directly empower the people he wishes to help. From Indigenous people groups to the local football team, Jon has found a way to combine his talent and Instaproofs’ unmatched marketing tools to put much-needed funds into the hands of the folks who need resources the most.

Jon’s stories of using his camera as a tool for advocacy are relatable, though sometimes unconventional, and his passion is contagious. Fly across the ocean to get to a non-violent resistance with 24 hours notice? He’s done it. Photograph a local football team and eventually field an inquiry from HBO? He’s done that too.

We sat down with Jon to hear some of his wild stories and we learned so much: he is a natural teacher, and broke his system down into actionable steps any of us can follow.

View fullsize

This can be YOU! Instaproofs has proved itself to have the tools you need to maximize your income—and it certainly has the tools you need to maximize your impact. You have the talent and the access you need to change the world, to do good work from your current vantage point. We imagine you’re ready to see some change. We’re here to help.

From local fundraisers to global advocacy—and seriously anywhere in between—Instaproofs has the marketing and hosting tools you need to raise awareness, create and fulfill a project, and truly be the change you wish to see in the world.

Ready to hear from Jon himself? There’s no substitute for his words and his passion, straight from his heart. Our entire conversation lasted less than 30 minutes, and you can see the whole interview below:

JONATHAN CANLAS: FULL INTERVIEW

Short on time? Skip directly to the clip of Jon’s step-by-step process, as he describes using Instaproofs’ marketing tools to pull off a fantastic charitable campaign. View the video below:

JONATHAN CANLAS: STEP-BY-STEP FUNDRAISING

No need to take notes! We’ve done the work for you—below are the important points from Jon’s process along with a few notes. Feel free to save or print this portion to help you plan your next project!

Be The Change: Jon Canlas’ Five Steps
Running A Successful Fundraiser With Instaproofs

1. Evaluate Your Access

There's a story everywhere, but not everyone can tell every story. Ask yourself this: whose trust have you earned? In what spaces are you welcome? That's your unique access. How can you use your access to spark positive change?

Have a few ideas? Now you're on to something!

2. Shoot the Project

Each project will be unique in its timeline (One time? Ongoing?) and its demands (Travel? Time? Cost?). Whatever the circumstances, give your project full effort, as if it’s the best paying job you ever had. Do good, solid work that helps tell the story well.

3. Cull Your Photos and Upload a Gallery

In the video, Jon reminds us that only the best shots can remain, and of those, the best of the best should be displayed first. Driving sales is the main goal, so push the products that you think will sell the best. Consider adding music to your gallery as well!

4. Create an Email Campaign

Jon referenced at least one project in which he notified every single person who had ever viewed any of his galleries. Because Instaproofs automatically saves that contact information, his (and your) reach can be both quick and wide.

When you compose your emails, Jon recommends creating FOMO (fear of missing out). Make the sale only available for a limited time, or have a limited number of items for sale. That will help create a sense of urgency.

Also, be clear about the exact terms of your project. What percentage of the profits are going to charity? Which charity? Be honest and transparent.

5. Send the Money, Honey

As always, Instaproofs will automatically and directly pay you out for purchases from your storefront. You’ll need to personally make all donations as promised. Consider posting screenshots or documentation on Social Media or via email, so all involved are confident your promises were kept.

Good work is rarely easy, but with Instaproofs, you can work smarter, not harder.
We’re proud to provide you with the tools you need to make the world a better place.

How to Run a Sale

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 12:46:44 GMT

If you could take just a few minutes to set up a sale that has unlimited earning potential—would you do it?

That’s a silly question—we all have a few minutes to work through a process that is both simple and lucrative.

Curious? Let’s jump in and set up your first print sale!

All you need to do is complete two basic steps: create your email templates and then schedule a sale. After that, Instaproofs’ automated system takes care of the rest! Ready for the checklist?

Create Email Templates

From your Dashboard, navigate to Marketing > Email > Email Templates

Select Sample Email Templates. If this is your first sale to set up, we recommend you start with a Sample Template before you build your own custom email, as our Sample Templates include all necessary details for the sale.

Select a template to edit and customize with your sale details.

Be sure to create both a beginning and ending sale email template: one to announce the sale, and another that is sent as a reminder as the sale comes to a close.

Once you’re done, save, and move on to the second half of the process: Create the Sale.

Create the Sale

From your Dashboard, navigate to Selling > Sales and Coupons

If this is your first time to set up a sale, select Begin Here > Create a Sale > Date Range Sale. If you’ve previously set up a sale, you’ll select Create a New Sale or Coupon Code > Create a Sale > Date Range Sale

Fill in the details of the sale, and be sure all dates and discounts match the details in the email templates you created. BE SURE to turn on the option for Automated Sale Notification Emails and select the email templates you just created.

Enjoy!

That’s seriously it. Clients will receive all scheduled emails, and the sale with activate and deactivate on the dates you selected. All you need to do is keep an eye on your email for incoming print orders!

How else can we help?
We LOVE to hear from our Instaproofs family,
as well as anyone considering joining the party!

New Feature: Image Size Preview

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:43:20 GMT

With a few quick clicks on the backend, you can now help your clients understand the scale of the prints they are purchasing.

From the navigation bar, simply select “Selling,” then “Selling Preferences,” and then “Sizing Scenes.” There, we have preloaded a large variety of scenes, both large and small, from which you can choose up to five of your favorites (we do suggest choosing a variety, so your clients can find the scene that closest suits their needs).

That’s it! Once your scenes are selected, all of your print galleries will automatically produce the option to view each image in the scenes you have chosen.

If you test out the feature from the client end and you notice some of the scenes disappearing, that’s not a mistake! Large scenes disappear for small print sizes, and small scenes disappear for large print sizes. We only display scenes that logically work for the print size selected.

Client satisfaction skyrockets when they are completely confident in what they’re ordering. By spending a couple minutes on the backend of your Instaproofs site (remember, it’s simple: from the navigation bar, go to “Selling,” then “Selling Preferences,” then “Sizing Scenes.” Pick up to five, and you’re done!), you’ll provide your client with enough information to make sizing decisions with confidence.

When you make your clients’ buying experience easier, you certainly reap the rewards! Remind your clients that they can use this tool to visualize your art on their walls, and the pajama profits (why say “passive income” when we can reference making money in our pjs?) will follow shortly behind.

New Feature: Booking Services

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 17:40:22 GMT

Have you heard? We have a brand-new Booking Service!

Rather than balancing multiple subscription services (or relying on yourself to be a full-time booking agent in addition to photographer, business owner, etc.), Instaproofs is now your full-service one-stop-shop—and you have one more avenue for making money in your sleep.

Getting Started

Create a simple Leads Page displaying all of the session information. Your clients can either contact you directly from the page, or select an available session to book on the spot. Here's an easy-to-follow tutorial video to help you set up your first session.

Define as many different Questionnaires as you'd like , and attach them to the inquiry or booking process in your sessions. How many people will be attending? Does the client have specific must-have shots? Customize your questionnaires to fit your business!

Define as many Session Types as you'd like. Each Session Type will have a description, a price, a duration, deliverables, and any other information you want to add.

You can also define specific sessions and time-slots that can be selected and booked without a full inquiry process. For example, if you are gearing up for fall mini sessions, your clients can simply select a time-slot and book on the spot.

Really looking to stir up some excitement? You can also create Session Coupons!

Every time you are contacted through your Leads Page, a detailed inquiry will be created for you on your site. You'll be able to respond and create a new session from any inquiry with just a few clicks.

Additionally, every client who submits an inquiry or schedules a session through the Leads Page will be automatically added to your client list, which you can use for future advertising.

Does it work?

The numbers are rolling in, and the answer is a resounding YES. Below are just a few examples of folks already making money in their sleep by using Booking Services. Click through to see how they have custom-fit their Booking pages to best suit their businesses

It’s GO time!

The Booking service is available for everyone who subscribes at the Pro level and above, but everyone (regardless of your subscription level) gets to try it for free for the first 45 days (August 10th - September 24th, 2021).

Ready to upgrade your account so you can have permanent access to this feature? Now is a great time to get that done!

And for those who have been waiting to utilize your free trial account—there has literally never been a better time to give it a shot.

Update: Single Image Packages

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:39:01 GMT

When we first sat down to share this update, we were excited to get this news out to our photographers who cover school portraits and team photos, as much of the world will be returning to those rhythms in the coming months.

However, the more we thought about it, the more excited we got for ALL of our photographers—those of us who cover weddings, events, families, head shots, and beyond have plenty of space to benefit from this update as well!

Instaproofs has a tradition of continually expanding the amount of control that our photographers have over their storefronts and their businesses.

Building upon that tradition, we’re excited to announce an update with our Single Image Package!

First, to make sure we’re all on the same page, here are a few terminology reminders:

Print Size : a single print of a single image on a specific paper size.

Single Image Product: a purchase option that is more complex than just a regular print size, however, it is still associated with just a single image and you receive a single product with your purchase. For example, a Canvas Wrap, Metal Print, Coffee Mug, Single Image Download, etc., are all examples of possible Single Image Products.

Single Image Package: a package containing multiple prints for a single image. So, for example, a set of 200 5x7 prints of a single image may be included in an engagement package. Or, a school photos package might include one 8x10, two 5x7s, and a set of wallet-size prints, all of a single image.

(we have many more product types, but these are the definitions needed for the following update)

Without further ado, here’s the news:

Single Image Packages have been updated to allow Print Sizes AND Single Image Products to be included within them.

This update gives photographers significantly more flexibility in their package and product creations.

Want some help brainstorming how you can use this option to your advantage? Here are a few ideas we drummed up:

Sharing is Caring Package: A large Canvas Wrap for your home, and several 5x7 prints for the parents and grandparents.

Large Print + Digital Copy: Purchase a 16x20 or larger and automatically receive the digital copy for free.

Work + Home Package: A 24x30 Solid Oak framed print for your home, plus a couple of smaller prints in basic frames for your work desks.

Enhanced Sports Package: One 8x10 print, two 5x7s, a set of wallet-sized prints, a coffee mug, and a medium-resolution digital copy to share on social media

Any combination of single-image options can now be combined and sold as package deals, which can provide more revenue for you, and more value for your clients.

Ready for the quick how-to? You’ll have this up and running in no time.

Sign into your Instaproofs account

Click on the “SELLING” tab, then “Purchase Options”

To create your Single-image Package, click on “Create New Purchase Option,” then “Single-image Products and Packages.”

In the first drop-down menu, select “Single-image Package.”

Name your package, fill in the details, and select the Print Sizes and Single Image Products you want to include in your Single Image Package. Save!

On the left side of the page, click on “SELLING,” then “Prices, Shipping, Tax,” then “Pricing Sheets.”

Find the Single Image Package you just created (it will be in the Price List you selected, find that and then click the little gear icon and select “Edit Pricing”), and fill in the price. Save!

Repeat this process for all Single Image Packages you would like to offer.

Don’t forget to tell your clients about any new packages you create! Past clients may be incentivized to revisit a past gallery if a new product or package is available.

We certainly hope this was helpful! How else can we be of service? Drop us a line! We love to hear from you.

Welcome: Miller's & Mpix!

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 16:00:27 GMT

Your wish is our command! We recently asked which lab(s) you'd like to see added to our service, and the topmost requested labs were Miller's Lab and Mpix . Soon after receiving your responses we reached out to both of these labs, and we're extremely happy to announce new fulfillment partnerships between Instaproofs and BOTH of your top requested labs: Miller's Lab and Mpix!

To select Miller's Lab or Mpix as your preferred fulfillment provider, simply head into the Lab Connections page within the Fulfillment tab of your account and select the lab of your choice from the lab selection droplist.

Introducing Invoice Installments!!! In case you missed it, friends!

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 17:35:38 GMT

Introducing Invoice Installments!

Even in today's economy, documenting life is still so important! Images created now, for ourselves AND for our clients, is all we'll have to look back on when remembering this strange and unprecedented time.

Now you can use the new invoice installment update in Instaproofs when booking new clients to make session fees a little more manageable and to get back to filling your calendar!

Here's How It Works:
• CREATE A NEW INVOICE through the Selling » Invoices page.
• Provide the full invoice total, the final due date , and the number of installments you'd like to split the invoice into.

And that's it ...our system can take it from there! Your clients will receive automated reminders for their installment payments, and you'll receive a notification every time a payment is made.

But wait, there's more! If you want to customize things a bit, you can override any of the suggested installment payment amounts, any of the installment due dates, any of the email reminder dates, and any of the specific email templates used for the reminders.

But you wanna know the best part?? If you're currently paying for a 3rd party invoice service provider, you can now cancel that service and save yourself some $ .

Here's a video to walk you through it...

TALK MORE SOON!

New Feature: Four Sizes of Digital Downloads Now Available

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:37:33 GMT

At 2800px on the longest edge, Medium downloads are sure to be just right for anyone wanting to print photos up to about 11x14”.

This option is available for free and paid full-gallery downloads, as well as individual image downloads (and actually, individual image downloads are available in any size).

Try this on any gallery uploaded after September 15, 2020.

TLDR: Through Instaproofs, you can offer four different sizes for full gallery image downloads:

Full Resolution

Medium Print Size (2800px)

Small Print Size (1800px)

Web Size (1280px)

The HOW TO of Extending Galleries …and WHY you should right now!

Thu, 28 May 2020 17:33:49 GMT

We know it may have been a minute since you've had a session - that's where your EXTEND A GALLERY feature comes in!

Loop back to past clients and have them extend their galleries so they can order when it works best for them !

HERE'S HOW FRIENDS!

Another option is to revisit expired events that didn't generate the sales you'd hope for.

HERE'S HOW:

From your gallery list, check the galleries you'd like to re-enable or extend.

Select the "Change Expiration Date" option from the "Actions" drop list on the top-right hand side.

Select the date to which you'd like to extend the selected galleries.

Save your change .

This will re-activate all of the selected the galleries and give them all a specific expiration date (such as the ending sale date) rather than having to manually go into each gallery and figure them out one by one.

REACTIVATE THOSE GALLERIES during a sale and watch what happens!

The Anatomy of An Effective Sales Email...

Thu, 21 May 2020 17:32:28 GMT

Memorial Day is right around the corner so we thought it would be the perfect time to send a few tips for writing an effective sales email.

There's never a wrong time to host a sale or to boost sales when you aren't shooting.

And here at Instaproofs, we have all the tools to run the best sales and SELL MORE PRINTS .

And there you have it!

The Anatomy of an EFFECTIVE Sales Email...

Be Strategic

Be Smart

Be Intentional

Be Direct

Finish Strong

Can't wait to see how this works for you and your upcoming sales!

10 Free Photography Resources

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 17:30:43 GMT

Being stuck at home for weeks (months?) on end probably wasn’t in your plans earlier this year, but now that we all have a little bit of unexpected free time we may as well use it to our advantage! Below are a handful of free resources that we’ve found, that we think may be worth your time to read, watch, and explore.

Creative Live - On Air Photography Classes

Creative Live offers free on-air (live) photography classes that cover a wide range of topics. Some of their recent and upcoming classes include: Mobile Photography, Music Photography, Food Photography, Setting Up a Home Studio, and using Final Cut Pro. And for those of us that could use it, they also opened up their Health & Wellness classes for free as well. Click here to start watching!

Caroline Tran - Building a Memorable Brand

Caroline Tran is a Los Angeles-based photographer and photography educator that provides a variety of classes, guides, tools, etc. through her website. Earlier this year, at WPPI 2020, she was invited by Rangefinder to be a speaker at their Rise and Shine Summit, where she spoke about finding her brand identity and building a profitable photography business in a saturated photography market. Her talk is currently available for free for a limited time.

Katelyn James is an enthusiastic wedding photographer and educator who regularly creates and shares educational videos on her YouTube channel. One of her most recent videos is titled “5 Tips for Thriving (Not Just Surviving) During These Hard Times”, and it’s definitely worth watching! Click here to learn to thrive!

Sandra Coan - Natural Looking Light with Strobes & Flashes

Sandra Coan is a highly respected photography educator that has been spotlighted and featured by a wide range of groups and organizations, including Rangefinder, Click Magazine, The Knot, Seattle Bride, Belle Lumiere, etc. One area in particular that she excels at is teaching photographers how to use strobes and flashes to create natural-looking light. Click here to join her Beyond Natural Light facebook group, or start reading through her photography lighting blog, here.

Skott Chandler - The Essential Guide to Lightroom

Skott Chandler is offering his Essential Guide to Lightroom for free until April 16th . This is a beginner’s course, designed specifically for photographers that aren’t familiar with Lightroom yet. Some of the topics covered in the course include importing your files, cataloging your images, using customized presets, and more. Click here to view the course for free.

Clickin Moms - One Month of Community Access, Free

Founded in 2008, Clickin Moms has grown to a global community of over 16,000 professional photographers, aspiring professionals, and women who simply want to take better photos in their daily lives. Joining the Clickin Moms community will provide you with access to hundreds of photography tutorials, videos, and guides, along with help and advice from thousands of your fellow photographers from all around the globe. Join the Clickin Moms community today and receive access to their full library of resources, tutorials, forums, etc. for free for the next 30 days.

Annemie Tonken - This Can’t Be That Hard

Annemie Tonken is a professional photographer that hosts a series of weekly podcasts related to building and running profitable, sustainable photography businesses. “It is absolutely, 100% possible to earn a living in this industry without sacrificing your sanity or your personal life… and I can show you how.” Click here to listen and subscribe.

Professional Photographers of America - We’re In This Together

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is currently offering ALL of their online education for free for the next two weeks. This includes all 1,100+ of their online classes that deal with all things photography related. You’ve got to hurry if you want in on this deal, so click here to get started!

Benj Haisch - Camera Gear Reviews

Based out of Tacoma, WA, Benj Haisch is a professional photographer and educator. Many photography-related resources are available for purchase on Benj’s website, but he also provides free videos through his YouTube Channel where he discusses camera gear, Lightroom presets, shooting with film, and more. Start watching, here.

John Branch IV - Tutorials, Software Reviews, Tech Demonstrations

John Branch IV is a wedding photographer… with a technical background. John’s YouTube channel contains dozens and dozens of well-produced videos related to client management systems, album creation software, photo editing software, photography gear, and the tech that can help run your business. Click here to begin watching.

Create a Retail Experience

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 17:28:51 GMT

One of our top-selling photographers, Jonathan Canlas, has offered the following advice for making sales in today’s climate without having to break the social distancing rules currently being recommended.

While many of our clients may be canceling shoots/events etc, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there are still several ways that we, as photographers, can maximize our revenue with the occasions we've already documented, without leaving the comfort and safety of our own homes/studios.

Curate Your Galleries

If you've already done your job as the photographer, meaning that you've culled the session down and delivered images that don't look similar (and are all show stoppers!), you have a marketable gallery, aka an opportunity to make money via print sales.

A gallery with multiple images that look the same, which has not been curated, will sell considerably less than a well-curated gallery.

Length of the Sale

Run a sale that lasts at least 5 business days. The reason to do this is because we want our clients to have enough time to take advantage of the sale (and enough time to procrastinate, since a 1-3 day sale tends to freak people out).

The Optimal Start Date

Optimally, you'll have your sale start on a Monday and go through Friday. People are currently at home practicing social distancing, and they're in front of their computers/tablets/phones the majority of the time. I highly suggest not having your sale start on a Saturday or end on a Sunday since people are not as likely to be in front of their computers over the weekends.

Discount Amount

The sale has to include a large enough discount to make your clients want to hit the purchase button. I've found that sales of 20% off or less are not nearly as effective as offering 25-35% off. And, depending on your cost of goods, you should consider conducting your sale on all of your products, and not just your prints.

Naming the Sale

Come up with a fun excuse to name your sale. Use your humor or personality, or just call it your Spring Sale!

Retail Experience

As a photographer, you should try to emulate your online purchasing experience with your favorite high-end online brand. Yes, we provide different services than say West Elm (my guilty pleasure), but the retail experience can be exactly the same regardless of the end product. Create a call to action (sale), create scarcity (limited time offer), and follow-up their visits with automated sale reminders and abandoned cart notices.

Summary

If you've done your job as a photographer by culling your galleries and creating heirlooms for your clients, your clients will reward you for your hard work with orders when you run a sale of this type. However, remember that the only way for this to happen is for you to create a retail experience for them through the products you offer and the emails that are set up to be sent afterwards.

Automated Email Time Preference

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 17:24:58 GMT

Automated Email Time Preference

There are several automated emails that can be sent through our system, including Gallery Reminders, Sale Reminders, Abandoned Cart Notifications, Gallery Expiration Notifications, and many more. These types of emails can result in a significant boost to your repeat gallery visitors, and they can dramatically increase your sales on an ongoing basis.

Unfortunately these emails can also end up buried beneath a stack of other emails, if you don’t time their delivery just right. So how do you time your emails to be sent out a time other than the middle of the night? Through the new Automated Email Time Preference setting.

The “Automated Email Time Preference” setting can be found within the Marketing » Preferences page, and it can be set to any hour of the day. The time defaults to 7AM in your own time zone (which can be set through your User Preferences page), and any change that you make to the setting will generally take affect the next day (or the next time that specific hour has been reached, if you’re adjusting the setting before the previous setting has been reached).

Have questions? Email us at support@instaproofs.com.

New Setting: Auto-delete Galleries

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:23:21 GMT

For many photographers, their online galleries (through Instaproofs ) provide their business with a secondary source of income. But how long should you expect your galleries to generate revenue, and what should you do with them afterwards?

The answer to the first of these questions is fairly straightforward; an average gallery is heavily visited for the first 3 - 4 weeks after it’s published, and it receives 73% of its lifetime order volume by the end of its first month. From there the numbers go downhill pretty quickly, and they look something like this: month 2 receives 10% of the orders, month 3 receives 5.2%, month 4 receives 3.1%, month 5 gets 1.6%, month 6 gets 1.5%, and in month 7 the orders drop to just 1%.

View fullsize

Wondering about that 2% bump in month nine? We previously enforced a 9-month gallery display limit, and many of our users have continued with that tradition on their galleries even after the limit was removed from our system. The bump is the result of our automated Gallery Expiration emails that are sent out as the galleries expire.

So how long should you keep your galleries up? That’s entirely up to you, but one thing to keep in mind is that setting the expiration date several years into the future will generally result in fewer sales and lower overall revenue per gallery. The reason for this is that if your clients don’t feel a sense of urgency to make a purchase, they won’t have as much of a desire to do so. We recommend keeping your galleries up for a minimum of 30 days, and a maximum of 12 months. (Very few galleries are generally visited after the 12-month mark.)

Once a gallery has expired you can either leave it stored on your Instaproofs account, or you can delete it. Some photographers choose to delete their galleries in order to conserve their subscription space, while others choose to continually upgrade their subscriptions as their gallery count grows and as their storage requirements increase. Either way we support you in your decision, but if you fall into the group that would prefer to delete their older galleries, our new auto-delete setting should come in handy. Here’s how to set it up:

Navigate to the Photos » Preferences page within your account.
Click the “Advanced” button on the top-right corner of the page.
Scroll down to the “Automatically Delete Your Galleries” setting.
The auto-delete options range from “15 Days After Gallery Expiration” to “180 Days After Gallery Expiration.”
Save your changes

And that’s all there is to it. With this setting enabled your galleries will automatically clear themselves out as they hit the timeline you’ve selected. If you prefer to leave your galleries up instead, that’s no problem either; simply select the “Disabled - Do Not Auto-delete” option.

Have questions? Shoot us an email at support@instaproofs.com .

15th Anniversary Celebration!

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 17:00:31 GMT

It's been 15 amazing years since Instaproofs first began offering client galleries and ecommerce services to the photographer community, and we'd like to celebrate our 15th anniversary... with you!

The celebration will take place March 2nd through March 6th , and all throughout that week we'll be handing out some great prizes, including a camera holster of your choice, a camera bag of your choice, C1ick Match Pro Pack of your choice, JPEGmini Pro Suite, Instaproofs Subscriptions, B&H Gift Cards, High Speed Memory Cards, Camera Rain Sleeve, and more!

Want a leg-up on winning some of our sweet giveaway prizes? Use the list below to submit as many entries as you'd like (up to 15 entries per person) before the drawings take place*. Your entries can start accumulating as early as today, so go ahead and start entering now!

Join the Instaproofs Community Facebook Group. (worth 1 entry)

Participate in (or create) one or more discussions within the Instaproofs Community Facebook Group. (worth 1 entry, total)

Submit a fulfillment order through Instaproofs. (worth 1 entry per order, 5 entries max)

Respond to the survey that we'll be sending out during the last week of January. (worth 2 entries)

Post a review on our Facebook Page. (worth 2 entries)

Email us a short (< 60 seconds) video testimonial about any of the following (worth 3 entries):

The success you've seen through Instaproofs

Instaproofs' customer support

Instaproofs' fulfillment services

Instaproofs' contracts and/or invoices functionality

Get another person to sign up for Instaproofs and list you as their referrer (worth 4 entries)

Thank you for a fantastic 15 years! We're excited to be here with you for the next 15 as well.

* Winners will be selected randomly each day from the pool of entries that have been received up to that point in time. The list of drawing prizes will be made available before the giveaway begins on March 2nd. Some prizes will be larger than others; being selected for one of the small daily prizes will not exclude you from the larger prize giveaway drawings.

Better Together: Contracts + Invoices

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 16:59:27 GMT

Our Contracts functionality has been expanded! Digital contracts can now be linked directly to an invoice, which means that your client onboarding process just got easier!

Here's how it works:

While creating your contract, select (or create) the invoice that you'd like it to be associated with.

When the final signature has been provided on the contract, an email containing a link to view and pay the invoice is automatically sent to your client.

Your client clicks the link, views the invoice details, and pays the invoiced amount.

Have questions? If so, shoot us an email at support@instaproofs.com.

Featured Image Focus Point

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 16:58:20 GMT

It's been a long time coming, and it's been requested by many many of you, so without any further ado we're pleased to announce that focus points can now be selected for your featured images!

At first glance this may not seem like a very significant update, but the visual impact it can have on your gallery cover photos can be HUGE.

What's a Focus Point?

A focus point is a selectable spot on your featured images that's used as the center point when the image is cropped and displayed as a cover photo.

Horizontal Example

When your galleries are viewed on a standard computer screen, the featured images are displayed as cover photos using a horizontal crop. Here's an example showing what a default (top-center) crop might look like when compared to a crop that's been created through the use of a different (custom) focus point selection.

Vertical Example

On the flip side of that, when your galleries are viewed on a mobile device the featured image cover photos are displayed with a vertical crop. Here's an example showing what a default (center) crop might look like when compared to a different (custom) focus point crop on the same image.

Selecting a Focus Point

Selecting a focus point on your featured images is fairly straightforward, and it can be done as follows:

Navigate to the list of images within your gallery.

Select the image you'd like to use as the featured image.

Click the "Actions" button, and select "Set Gallery Featured."

Select the focus point for the image.

Save your changes.

And that's it! The focus point selection functionality is also now available for your category featured images, and it can be set using the same method described above for the gallery featured images.

Introducing: Digital Contracts

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 16:56:41 GMT

Introducing:

Digital Contracts

Regardless of the type of photography you shoot, every session should start with a contract. And now, with today's announcement, digital contract management is now available through Instaproofs!

Contract Templates

To make managing and sending your contracts as convenient as possible, we've created a simple templating system that allows you to create your contracts once, and re-use them as many times as you'd like.

Dynamic Content

A key component of our contract system is the ability for you to use placeholder values (or "variables") anywhere within your templates where the values might change from client to client. This includes items such as your client's name, the date and time of the event, the number of photos to be delivered, any à la carte print items being purchased, the price of the package, etc.

Multiple Signatures

Every contract automatically requires at least two signatures: yours, and your primary client's. If your contract requires a second client's signature, that can be added as well.

Sign On Any Device

Once a contract is ready to be signed, your clients will be notified and provided a link to view it via email. Clicking the link within the notification email will bring up the prepared contract document, and your clients will be prompted for their signatures.

Contract Lifecycle

As a contract is created, finalized, sent, and signed, it will move through a variety of color-coded statuses:

Draft - A ‘draft’ status is given to any contract that hasn't been finalized.

Waiting - A ‘waiting’ status is given to a contract while it's waiting for your client's signature.

Sign Me - A contract with a ‘sign me’ status is a contract that's already been signed by your client and is just waiting on your own signature (a signature from the photographer).

Signed - Once all of the signatures have been collected, the contract is given a ‘signed’ status.

Signed contracts, including the signatures, can be viewed at any time by clicking on the name of the contract within your contract list.

Where to Start

A great place to start is with our example video that runs through the entire contract creation and signing process. This video can be found here: Contract Example Video

Additional information about contracts and contract templates can also be viewed in our knowledge base, here: Contract Documentation

Coming Soon

In addition to the functionality that's already been made available through our contracts area, we'll soon be adding the following items as well:

Invoice Linking - Once a contract has been signed, the next logical step is to send your clients an invoice for the contracted amount. Manual invoicing is currently available through our Invoicing area, but we're working on making this process a little smoother for you by allowing an invoice to be linked to a contract and automatically sent when the contract is signed.

Contract Marketplace - Creating your own contracts from scratch can be tricky (and risky)! We're working with legal professionals to create a set of templates that you'll soon be able to purchase from our upcoming contract marketplace.

If you have any questions about this new functionality that haven't already been answered, please shoot an email to support@instaproofs.com and we'd be happy to answer them for you.

Interview with Nicki Hufford

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 16:55:38 GMT

What do you get when you cross a dash of small town charm, a pinch of big city flair, and a truck-load of mad photography skills? Meet Nicki Hufford, the “Queen of Teen” portrait photographer.

Based out of Warren, Ohio, Hufford is the oldest of eight. “Being the oldest of eight has always influenced me and who I am. I think when you’re the oldest out of a group that big, you have to grow up a bit sooner,” she shared. And as we’ll see, that’s exactly what she did.

In the latest installment of our live interview series, we sat down for a personal interview with Nicki Hufford via Instagram Live to find out what makes her tick and what it takes to routinely make it onto lists such as the “25 most influential teen photographers” and “SI Rockstars 50 to watch.” The advice and perspectives she shared are invaluable for any photographer, either newbie or veteran alike, looking to grow and expand their business.

Growing up Fast

Hufford has always been on a bit of fast-track in life. As a young talented athlete, she grew up quickly and traversed the country through high school and into college as a part of the hard-hitting, fast-paced world of amateur softball. Much of Hufford’s family also shared her passion for sports, and when she picked up her first camera it was with the intention of simply taking photos of her younger siblings at their games. Photography seemed to come naturally for Hufford and it wasn’t long before requests began pouring in from others, and a new career was born!

But it wasn’t always easy. In fact, early on, in reaction to her choice of careers, her father once said, “You’ll never make it in such a hard industry.” The comment, brutal in its honesty, may have been meant to spare Hufford the pain of failure, but to the young artist, it was taken as a challenge to be accepted and overcome. “Within three years I was making more than him. He eats his words every day,” she laughs.

What’s Your Superpower?

It’s a question most of us pondered as kids. If you could choose any super power to have, what would it be? Super-strength, super-speed and invisibility usually top the list. But for Hufford, the choice might just be “perseverance.” From her first days snapping pics of family, to her bulging calendar of shoots today, the common thread has always been, simply, a lot of hard work.

“It’s a lot of work. I always say anybody who wants to get into photography and actually make it, and do what I do, number one, it didn’t happen overnight”, she confided. “It took a lot of failures to get to this point. Sometimes I had some really great ideas that I didn’t execute well or maybe I just wasn’t ready to do it at that time.”

But even perseverance and the desire to succeed aren’t enough if you’re on your own, she shared. “I always say it takes a village. I couldn’t do it by myself. My husband is such a huge important part of it. I could not have a 50-person model team if he was not involved in it.”

Together from the age of 14, Hufford and her husband know what it takes to make it work. “We were married early on and we just kind of knew right away. He helps me run my business to this day. I always say I couldn’t do what I do without him,” she said.

The two are clearly doing something right. Last month was their largest month to date. “Let’s just say last month we made six figures,” she smiles. “We worked our butts off. We really worked our butts off. We didn’t sleep. We’re looking at adding some people next year. Every single year it’s growing. Every single year I’m getting more and more teams!”

The influx of business is one of the primary reasons Hufford made the switch to Instaproofs this year. “It gets really insane,” she said. “We needed a service that was going to keep up with us and be simple to use.”

Hufford needs to take and fulfill orders from people of all ages. A user-friendly platform and simplicity were key to her choice of Instaproofs. Since the switch, she has seen her workflow streamlined. “My service has to offer a lot of products and the products have to be organized. I think that’s probably my favorite thing about Instaproofs is when I go into their online gallery, I can make all these little folders of products. Not everybody’s good at computers so I needed something that even a grandma could go online and use.”

And with business booming (earlier this year she shot over 800 kids in 30 days!), Hufford didn’t want commission payments to eat into her profits. “That was huge because during my biggest month of the year, 15 percent is a lot of money!” she laughed. “The way others deliver digitally wasn’t as user-friendly either. With Instaproofs, clients can go on and grab an image from their phone and that was really important to me as well.”

Paying it Forward

Talking with Hufford, it’s impossible to ignore the hard work and perseverance that resulted in this past month’s six figure income. But beyond the roles of photographer, entrepreneur and marketer, there is a big-hearted woman who wants to share what she has learned and mentor others interested in following a similar path.

Like other photographers, Hufford’s website serves as a gallery to showcase her work. But her site goes further by offering a range of information and opportunities designed just for other professionals. For example, her For Photographers page displays upcoming learning events for other photographers to share in the basket of tips and tricks that has helped Hufford excel in her field.

You can also learn from Hufford year-round at a variety of conferences and meet-ups around the country, including The Push Conference, the SSG Midwest Event and The Focus Workshop. Each event gives attendees the chance to hear from, and speak with, Hufford directly, and to learn from her successes and failures.

In addition to her work with teens and young athletes, Hufford shoots amazing wedding, family and other group photography, all of which can be enjoyed on her site. But the bulk of her business comes through her work with teens, including her Senior Investment Program.

When it comes to her model team, Hufford works with freshmen through seniors and has numerous repeat models that have been with her for multiple years. But, she refuses to jeopardize personal attention for volume. “They deserve all of me for the time that they’re there,” she said. “I do a lot of meeting with them prior to shooting them so I have a lot of knowledge of who they are, which really changes the game”, she shares. “We do everything from high editorial with them to crazy theme scene shoots. They love it and I love them. They’re awesome. I highly recommend it. I think it’s definitely the way to build your business and you definitely get brand loyalty.”

Pro-Tips!

Before signing off, Hufford left us with a few pro-tips.

Her favorite camera? Her new Sony. “I recently went from Canon to Sony. I was a 15-year Canon girl and went to Sony. I love it and wouldn’t go back. I was always really struggling with focus issues. With Sony everything is dead-on every single time. I never miss a shot because of focus. It was worth every penny. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Her favorite communication and booking tool? Iris Works. “I use and love Iris Works for all my behind-the-doors emailing and senior booking. I love it better than any other service I’ve ever tried. You have to be really really organized when you’re talking about the numbers we’re talking about.”

Her favorite workshops? Three Nails Photography, and Ben Shirk. “Three Nails Photography is a fashion wedding photographer who does some crazy concept stuff, and knew I really wanted to up my game on my concepts with my seniors. I really recommend his workshop. And I did Ben Shirk’s workshop last year so that I could up my green-screen game a little bit. If you want to learn that stuff, he is the go-to. He is awesome.”

Her favorite editing service? The Photo Editive. “I use Katie, from The Photo Editive. I highly highly recommend her. After I do my crops and my basic edits, I send my jpegs over to her and she does the final edits. What you see in my IG photos is my own editing, and the green-screen work is all me as well, but by allowing Katie to do the more standard portraits it allows me to step back and do my really creative stuff.”

Interview with Jennings King

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 16:54:41 GMT

Jennings King Interview, by Rebecca Malouf Franson

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing professional wedding photographer Jennings King. Jennings is based in Charleston, South Carolina and her timeless photos have been featured in so many places that the list is too long to mention! Jennings has a charming southern accent, and an adorable personality to match it. During our Instagram Live interview we covered quite an array of topics, and Jennings was kind enough to share some tips for us about pricing, how to go about get featured and promoted, what her favorite print labs are, and how she keeps her work-life schedules in balance.

Personal Background

Jennings grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was involved in dance starting in the third grade and she was also a cheerleader. Her love for dancing has even infiltrated her work as a wedding photographer, and she firmly believes that “The better the band, the better the pictures.” Jennings met her husband, Brennan, her first week of college at Clemson, but they actually didn’t start dating until 13 years later! While at Clemson, Jennings studied Graphics Communication, which gave her a solid understanding of the printing process. Jennings also took some photography classes as a part of her studies at Clemson, but at the time she had no plans to become a professional photographer. After college, Jennings lived in Charlotte and Raleigh before settling down in Charleston 9 years ago, where she now lives with her husband and her six year old son, Miller. “My family bleeds orange!” she says, “We love football and everything Clemson. Go Tigers!”

Before becoming a wedding photographer, Jennings had many years of experience as a commercial sales rep. The experience in sales significantly helped her in her journey to becoming a professional photographer and entrepreneur.

The Journey from $50 Family Sessions to $5,000 Weddings

In 2005 Jennings started shooting family sessions on the side of her pharmaceutical sales rep job, and she was charging just $50. That price included her time and talents, plus a copy of the digital files from each session. “I didn’t really know where to start, so I just started at $50!” says Jennings. Little by little Jennings raised her prices over the next few years as she became more and more confident in her abilities.

On June 25, 2011, the day before her own first wedding anniversary, Jennings shot her very first wedding! As we spoke about the experience, Jennings became emotional and it was clear that this had been a pivotal point in her career as a photographer. Although Jennings had been skeptical at first, a good friend convinced her to shoot the wedding and she hesitantly accepted the job. Looking back on the experience, she sees that it was during this time that she discovered her calling as a wedding photographer.

Before jumping fully in and accepting additional wedding clients right away, Jennings was determined to finish the entire process of shooting the wedding, post-editing the images, and delivering the prints to her client. Then, if she received positive feedback and enjoyed the experience, she thought that she would consider additional weddings at that point. Long story short, she shot the wedding, delivered the images, received positive feedback from her clients, and loved the experience! Weddings became a normal part of her business from that point on, and in 2012 her son was born and Jennings left her job as a pharmaceutical sales rep to begin her career as a full-time wedding photographer. Jennings charged $2500 as her base price for weddings to start, and after about every 6 weddings she would bump up her prices up until she got to where she is now.

Advice on Getting Featured

I asked Jennings if she could share any advice about getting featured, and her insights were very practical. “It’s so important how you frame things,” she said. “In the back of your mind you need to think, ‘This is going into a magazine, and magazines like vertical pictures versus horizontal pictures.’ And then when you shoot a vertical shot, they’re going to change it to an 8x10 or an 8x11; so you’re basically cropping the top and the bottom off for a magazine.” She also suggests that in addition to framing the images correctly, you should be following the magazine(s) that you want to be featured in. See what their style is, see what their submission process is, and see if you should be submitting to them in the first place.

Some advice on being featured that Jennings has received (and follows) from fellow photographer and friend Virgil Bunao, is to “always think to yourself ‘shoot one for yourself and one for your client.’” And a few final tips that Jennings added are to shoot the details, since that’s what many magazines like to feature, and also to take more photos without people in them.

Favorite Print Labs

When it comes to print labs I was super interested in hearing which ones were Jennings’ favorites since she has such a strong background in printing, and doubtless her standards were very high. But first, her pet peeve– when people order albums through low quality online websites. “They look like CRAP! Order your albums from your photographer. You can’t go cheap.” Which brings us to where she likes to do her printing. Jennings has loved using KISS to print her albums for the past 5 years, and for standard prints ordered through her Instaproofs account she uses Richard Photo Lab. Jennings also favors White House Custom Color for prints, and Social Print Studio for magnets.

Attracting the Right Customers

We discussed a bit about how Jennings’ personality is a big part of what she brings to the table in addition to her photography, and she mused that “I feel like you attract the people that you are attracted to, and therefore if you’re not being yourself you’re not going to attract the people that you are going to work best with.” Also, when talking to potential brides on the phone she always says, “You know, I’m going to be next to you all day long. You want your photographer to be almost like your best friend. Someone you want next to you.”

Favorite Shooting Location

One of our Live viewers asked what Jennings’ favorite venue was to shoot at, and without skipping a beat Jennings answered, “Hands down Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina.” She shared that that location, in the middle of nowhere on the coast of South Carolina, is extra special and that she and her husband even recently vacationed there.

Instaproofs

As an Instaproofs user for 8 years, Jennings first heard about Instaproofs from the photographer who shot her wedding, who was also a mentor to Jennings. “What I love about Instaproofs the most is that they have so much stuff in the background. Instaproofs makes it so easy to sell prints. Literally at the click of a button.” After every wedding Jennings does a one-day only sale for 15% off, and she lets the client pick which day the sale is. “It’s an easy way to sell prints and make money. Auto fulfillment changed my life.” Jennings shared that she takes any opportunity to do a sale without bombarding people and that “the support and customer service at Instaproofs is awesome!”

Work-Life Balance

Jennings said that she is very happy with her work-life balance, which is no small feat! When I asked what her secret was she shared that she limits her number of weddings per year, and that most of her weddings are on Saturdays. “Fifteen is my number and I don’t ever double book a weekend.” Additionally, Jennings shared that “you have to say no, and I’m very good at saying no.” When asked for some advice on saying no, she replied, “Well number one, if it’s outside of your niche, say no. There’s no reason you need to do a headshot for some lawyer company when you are shooting weddings. Sitting at home watching DVR TV is more important to me than making extra cash by shooting lawyers; you know what I mean?” This advice hit extra close to home for me because, wouldn’t you know it, I had just done headshots for a law firm! I will definitely be taking Jennings’ advice to heart!

Music, Dancing, and Vendors

Prior to Jennings’ interview, rumors had been swirling that she has some great dance moves and that she wasn’t too shy to share them on camera; so, of course we had to finish our Live video interview with some of her sweet dance moves! (You can watch the video yourself to see them!) When asked what her favorite music is, Jennings answered “Any music except country. Anything that has a good beat that you can dance to. My all-time favorite is Tina Turner’s Proud Mary. My sister and I have been known to get up on the stage wherever we are and perform it. Also, The Pointer Sisters are great fun.” A viewer asked what Jennings’ favorite wedding bands are, and Jennings shared that ‘Simply Irresistible’ is her favorite band and that they played at her wedding. She also loves ‘As Is’ out of Atlanta, and she said that ‘East Coast Entertainment’ is a great resource for finding a band. “The band can make or break a wedding. I mean honestly, it can.”

Jennings sends her preferred wedding vendors, including bands, to the brides who book her. “I have great couples. I mean seriously, I love my job, I love it.”

Embedded Video Links, Managed Accounts, and More!

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:53:23 GMT

Hey there! We've got a couple of fantastic updates to introduce you to, including: embedded video links, a new managed account type, image download enhancements, targeted bulk emails, and more! So, without any further ado, here we go...

Embedded Video Links

Your voice has been heard, and your wish has been granted! Video links can now be embedded in your galleries and/or the individual categories within your galleries.

Here's how it works:

Upload the video to your favorite video service (such as vimeo, youtube, animoto, facebook, dailymotion, wistia, sproutcore, etc.).
Copy and paste the embed code for the video into the new "Gallery Video" or "Category Video" input boxes.
That's it! Once the video's embed code has been added, a new "Play Video" link will be displayed to your gallery visitors.

More information about this functionality can be found here . 'Gallery Management' Managed Account Type

In addition to the roles previously available for your Managed Accounts, a new "Gallery Management" role has been added.

The "Gallery Management" role limits a user's access to the following areas and activities within your account:

Gallery Types : Create, View & Edit
Galleries : Create, View & Edit (including uploading photos through the web-based uploader)

More information on managed accounts and the different roles available for them can be found here . Image Download Enhancements

The process for downloading free individual images has been refined and enhanced. Your clients may now re-download any of the individual images they've downloaded in the past without it counting against their overall download limit, and each time they download a new image the system will let them know how many downloads remain on their account.

Streamlined Crop Selections

After manually verifying the cropping details on over 70,000 individual images, our support team requested a change to the way full-crop images are handled. The changes have been implemented, and guess who also benefits from this request? That's right; you!

A checkbox labeled "Skip 'Exact Fit' Images" has been added to the crop verification screen that's used in the fulfillment process; placing a checkmark in this box allows you to skip the cropping step for every image in the order that precisely fits its selected print size.

For example: If your camera produces images with a 3:2 aspect ratio , using this checkbox will cause our system to automatically skip the cropping step and select a full crop for any 3:2 prints (such as 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, etc.) in the order.

This seemingly-small change has proven itself to be a significant time-saver for other photographers; give it a shot and see how much time it can save you!

Targeted Bulk Emails

Sending targeted emails to a specific set of your storefront visitors can now be done in a snap! Instead of sending bulk emails to ALL of your storefront visitors, you can now select from the following filter options:

Send To: All Visitors
Send To: Visitors with Orders
Send To: Visitors with NO Orders
Send To: Visitors with Favorites
Send ONLY to Myself

Have another filter you'd like to see added to this list? Let us know. New Report: Gallery Visitors

The Gallery Visitors report displays a list of your most recent visitors. It also displays the number of favorites each person has selected, how many images they've downloaded, and how many purchases they've made.

Additionally, extended details for each of your visitors can be viewed by clicking on the icon found in the left-most column next to each of the visitor records. The additional details include the visitor's full history, including the specific times they've visited the gallery in the past, the specific images they've marked as their favorites, links to each of their purchases, and more.

Customization Options Sneak-peek A substantial amount of time and effort has been put into designing and developing a comprehensive customization panel for your Instaproofs galleries. Although it's not quite ready for general use, we're extremely happy to offer you this brief sneak-peek at what's coming in the not-so-distant future!

A Few Miscellaneous Items Number Format - The decimal and thousands separators on your galleries now automatically change based on where your viewers are viewing the galleries from. For example, one thousand four hundred twenty dollars and fifteen cents would look like 1,420.15 in the USA, 1.420,15 in Spain, and 1 420,15 in Sweden.
Facebook Community Group - Over the past few weeks we've grown our new Instaproofs Community Group on Facebook from 0 to 175 members, and we'd love to see the rest of you there as well. The community group is a great place for discussing topics related to photography, business, Instaproofs, and pretty much anything else you'd like with your fellow Instaproofs users. Join the Instaproofs Community Group.

Interview with Eric Kelley

Thu, 09 May 2019 16:44:36 GMT

With a BA in Fine Arts, over two decades of photography experience, and a charming personality to boot, Eric Kelley has quietly climbed his way to the top of the extremely-competitive world of high-end wedding photography.

Having spent his formative years in Indiana and Illinois, and then later moving to Charlottesville, VA, Kelley has an undeniably unique mix of Midwestern sensibility and southern charm. This interesting combination emerges and presents itself in Kelley’s character as a man, and in the character and style of his photography as well.

Kelley began his career as a photographer in the late 90s and shot his first wedding in 2004 while attending UVA in Charlottesville, where he later graduated with a BA in Studio Art. In his early years as a novice wedding photographer, Kelley met a husband-and-wife photography team and chose to work with them as an associate photographer for several years. After quickly learning the trade, in 2007 Kelley launched his own wedding photography business, and since that time his portfolio has mushroomed and grown to an astounding 600 weddings.

Soon after the launch of his business in 2007, and in spite of the escalating demand for his work, Kelley found the time to fall in love and was married in 2008. Today he has a son, Henry, eight, a daughter, Della, six, and two dogs and five chickens (yes, chickens). Kelley and his wife, Laura, approach parenting a lot like photography – not as an exact science, but as something more fluid and organic. You have to be flexible with what comes at you and you have to be present when you’re together, they agree.

Kelley has been named one of the top wedding photographers in the world by Harper's Bazaar, and one of the top photographers in the country by Martha Stewart Weddings. His work can also be seen in worldwide publications including The Knot, Southern Weddings, Weddings Unveiled, Southern Living Weddings, Magnolia Rouge, Once Wed, Style Me Pretty and many many more.

Eric “gets it,” his clients say. He has an innate instinct to tap into what his clients are looking for. “Every time I step up to the camera, I really try to honor the people who have worked so hard to put the wedding together, as well as all the people attending,” he says. “You have to remember, it’s a big deal for them. And even though it may be one of a couple dozen gigs for you that year, for your client, it’s once in a lifetime.”

In 2018, Kelley shot 24 weddings all around the world and was booked - prior to January 1st - for 19 more in 2019. “It’s a privilege for me to travel internationally for some of the most stunning and beautiful weddings and events I’ve ever seen,” he says.

When Kelley’s not out shooting wedding photos, he’s generally thinking about taking wedding photos. And on the very rare occasion when he’s not doing either of those things, he enjoys snowboarding and he’s a college basketball fanatic. As a husband, father, renowned photographer (and dog and chicken guy), Kelley is brutally practical with his spare time and is currently working towards a goal of financial freedom. He shares, “If I’m going to start anything new, it needs to make money.”

Chasing Success

Just out of college, ambitious and driven, Kelley’s goal was to make $100 a day as a professional photographer. At the end of his first year, he had tripled that. He shot every job that came his way. He worked everything from sports and news photography to social events and humanitarian work; and his perseverance paid off. Today his time is primarily spent capturing and preserving moments of joy and beauty at the weddings he’s been invited to photograph all around the world.

Kelley has a talent for balancing the realistic with the artistic in every frame he captures - as well as into post-production - where he collaborates with his wife, Lora. “With Eric, you don’t have to settle for a specific type of photographer,” she says. “He’s sort of the whole package. He’s able to move from one style to another or combine elements of different styles into one, depending on the context. Over the years, he’s become equally comfortable capturing the pomp and circumstance of a wedding as well as the candid moments. It’s one of the things that differentiates him from other wedding photographers.”

Despite the success he has seen, the road as a self-employed wedding photographer isn’t always easy, and Kelley, like many high-demand artists, has struggled with burnout. “The act of having to invest so much of yourself, emotionally and artistically, again and again can tap you out,” he says. “Waking up every day and finding a way to continue to be inspired by your work can be a challenge for anyone, I think.”

Indeed, Kelley went through a time of intense self-examination when he wasn’t sure if he would continue in the trade. Fortunately, he came out on the other side with a new-found perspective and enthusiasm for what he does. “Sometimes it takes the burnout to realize what you’ve really got,” he shares. “Now, I feel like I’ve learned a better way to balance things. I’m in a constant state of improvement and change which helps me keep my work fresh after having shot so many weddings. For me, it’s all about setting goals - both short term and long term, financial and artistic.”

Kelley’s hard-earned success has given him the freedom to be choosier with the business he takes. He accepts just a limited number of weddings and events each year, which helps ensure that his clients always receive the best he has to offer.

Talking Shop

In addition to his behind-the-camera work, at any given time Kelley can be found behind the podium speaking at industry conferences or taking part in panel discussions. “The wedding industry community that I’ve become a part of has been a really influential, supportive and impactful force for me that helps to keep me engaged and current,” he says. Some of his scheduled speaking engagements for this summer include Engage Summits, The Hybrid Collective, Hustle And Flow, and multiple others across the nation.

As an artist continually developing his talents, Eric Kelley looks for, and finds, inspiration in the work of other photographers and artists of all genres. Additionally, Kelley is still invigorated and inspired by the beautiful moments that often accompany the many weddings he shoots.

Instaproofs

Kelley is a long-time Instaproofs user and fan. “My average monthly [print] sales have been about $1,000 for the last 6 years,” he says. “I follow the Jonathan Canlas approach to the letter.” (Canlas is a world-renowned film photographer and Instaproofs user that consistently receives multi-thousand dollar sales per session.) “My preferred print lab of choice is Richard Photo Lab,” says Kelley, and “Auto-fulfillment is best thing in the whole world. I love to be able to upload hi-res files from Lightroom. I also love the unlimited cloud storage to have all my galleries up for as long as I need them to be. I even sometimes sell prints from four or five years ago. It gives me and my clients tons of flexibility.”

Email Tracking, Abandoned Carts, and More!

Fri, 03 May 2019 16:43:24 GMT

Your comments and suggestions keep us going! Below are some of our most recent updates and additions:

EMAIL TRACKING & REPORTING

As of April 24th, all of the emails sent from your Instaproofs account are tracked from the time they are sent to the time they are opened!

With this new information, we've created a report that allows you to more precisely monitor your emails and see what's being delivered (and opened), and what's not. In addition to a graph similar to the example shown above, the delivery statistics are also provided to you in a more detailed format that's been broken down into days and email types (sale notices, expiring gallery reminders, etc.).

To begin exploring the email delivery information for your account, simply head into the Reports » Email Delivery page.

CUSTOMIZABLE DOWNLOAD FILE SIZE

When your clients initiate a full-gallery download, their images are zipped together into one or more compressed folders before being sent as downloadable links via email. This new setting allows you to specify the maximum size for each of the compressed folders sent to your clients, which can be anywhere from 1GB to 5GB.

To set your maximum preferred file size, head into the Selling » Preferences page and adjust the setting labeled "Maximum Zip File Size."

SINGLE-IMAGE PRODUCT CROPPING

Allowing your clients to select the cropping area on their images can eliminate potentially-negative surprises when their images are printed and delivered. Up to this point we've allowed client cropping on standard print sizes (such as a 16x20 paper print), but the option hasn't been available for other single-image products such as Acrylic, Metal, or Canvas Prints. Until now, that is!

You can now define the crop sizing information for your single-image products, which in turn enables the cropping abilities on your storefront for those types of purchase options.

To add the sizing information to your single-image products, head into the Selling » Purchase Options page, click the Edit icon next to any of your single-image purchase options, and provide the crop sizing details.

SIMPLIFIED COUPON CODE DELIVERY

Sending custom coupon codes to your clients just got significantly easier! After creating a coupon code through the Sales & Coupons page, simply click the new link labeled "Email this Coupon" to email the coupon to your client. It's quick, it's easy, and the emails are customizable.

The contents of the default coupon code email can be modified through the new "Personal Coupon" email template that's been added to the Email Templates page.

ABANDONED CARTS, IN A GLANCE

A years' worth of abandoned shopping carts from each of your galleries is now available through a dedicated Abandoned Carts page, found within the Selling tab.

Through this new dedicated page you can view the contents of each cart, view the email addresses of your potential customers, and send follow-up emails to entice them back to complete their purchases!

FULFILLMENT PRODUCT SELECTION

Each time you create a new purchase option, a default lab product needs to be selected for it before the purchase option can be fulfilled through our fulfillment services. To make this process a little bit quicker and easier for you, we've added the ability to select a default lab product from the settings screen of the purchase option itself.

Selecting a default lab product through this screen is done by clicking the new "Display lab product options?" link, and then selecting the specific lab product to be sent by default when the product is purchased through your storefront.

This functionality is currently only available for standard print sizes and single-image products.

NEW LAB PARTNERS We've added several new professional lab partners to our service this year, including multiple labs from outside the USA!

Our newest lab partners include the following:

Each of these professional labs have proven track records of quality and dependability, and we're confident that your clients will love the products created for them through any of these amazing labs.

ADDITIONAL UPDATES Sales Tax Included - For those of you outside the USA that are required to roll your sales tax into your displayed product pricing, you may now set that up. For instructions on how to do this, please see the following tutorial: Inclusive Sales Tax

Simplified Lab Partners Page - If you've taken a glance at our Lab Partners page in the past, you may have noticed that the product list and other lab details were fairly difficult to view and navigate. We've now updated and simplified the page, so please go ahead and take another look.

Welcome: Atkins Lab

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:42:13 GMT

Welcome: Atkins Lab! We're delighted to announce a new print fulfillment partnership between Instaproofs and Atkins Lab, from Kent Town, South Australia!

Atkins Lab is our very first lab partner based in Australia , and we're thrilled for the opportunity that this partnership brings to our Australian photographers! Through this partnership, all Australian photographers will now have access to our integrated fulfillment services and they may submit their orders to Atkins Lab directly through their Instaproofs accounts.

As we've worked with the Atkins team we've been continuously impressed by their responsiveness and by the professional quality of their products. Regardless of whether you're ordering a simple Lustre print, a beautiful "Daisy" canvas wrap, or one of their amazing "Florence" acrylic prints, you'll receive a product your clients will treasure for many years to come.

Selecting Atkins Lab as your fulfillment provider can be done by heading into the Lab Setup page within the Selling » Lab Fulfillment menu area, and selecting Atkins Lab as your default lab.

For a quick guide on how to get your account set up and ready for online fulfillment, please view our how-to article: Getting Set Up for Fulfillment

Have questions? We're here to help! Just shoot us an email and we'll get you taken care of.

Interview with Laura Murray

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:40:22 GMT

With a reputation that precedes her and enough charisma to make a bull dog say “cheese,” Laura Murray’s wedding photography has been dropping jaws for nearly 10 years. An ex-pro cheerleader, with the electric smile to prove it, Murray’s romance with photography has been a journey as remarkable as the weddings she shoots.

Along the way, a lot of hard work and a razor focus helped Murray develop the chops to brand her as one of the world’s most sought-after wedding photographers - with the credentials to back up the claim. Her work has been featured with Style Me Pretty, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine, Magnolia Rouge, Once Wed, The Knot Magazine, Belle Lumiere Magazine, Hearth Magazine, Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake and more.

We sat down with Murray to get her take on the business of photography and to learn some of the secrets of her success. How does she deliver a high-end client experience? Why does she prefer film photography over digital? How does she turn clients into raging fans and how does she balance the juggling act of business and family? For Murray, it’s all about putting first things first.

“I’ve done my best to remove anything from my life that doesn’t move me closer to what I value most. Part of that is realizing I can’t do everything. I need help,” she says.

If you thought the secret to success in photography begins with a passion for it, you’d be right. But for Murray, the path to that passion was a winding one. Trained in mathematics and with a penchant for the technical, early on, Murray had aspirations for a corporate career. Starting out, she set her sights on a career in management with visions of ascending the corporate ladder. She began with business and actuarial internships, worked for a telecom company and as a consultant. But for Murray, none of it felt quite right.

An early mentor said she was “a tough one to figure out.” Murray’s interests were broad and from a career perspective, nothing was a clear fit. Then, at 23, she got married. It was a game-changer. Watching and working with her own wedding photographer, Murray fell in love with the art. Soon after her own wedding, she asked her photographer, now a friend, if she needed help. The answer was “Yes,” and Murray was immediately hooked.

Shortly after, she bought her first camera, and hasn’t stopped shooting since. She found she loved everything about the business – the creativity, the entrepreneurial nature, being her own boss, running a business and the day-to-day variety of wedding photography.

For Murray, finding photography was the beginning of a love affair, with love. “I love, love,” she says. “I love documenting it, seeking it, and making a conscious choice to live with it. It is so special to celebrate with my clients on their happiest of days.”

Today, after over ten years in the business, her website drips with rich, storybook images spanning the majestic, intimate, warm and funny but, above all, true moments of her clients’ lives. Scrolling through her work, one has the feeling of watching magic – finding a hidden moment in time, now captured, never to be forgotten.

According to Murray, “My style is natural. Organic. Timeless. It conjures up feelings of romance and beauty. I draw some of my inspiration from nature, color, family heirlooms, interior design, visiting antique shops, and reading novels.” Her work has gotten her named a top wedding photographer by Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine.

Her Instagram account forces the viewer to break away from the mindless scrolling so common among social media users - and to pause. Her images - dramatic, winding, inspiring and absorbing - make it impossible not to. There’s too much to take in.

Murray has been an Instaproofs user for almost 3 years. “Instaproofs makes my job easier,” she says. Before making the switch, she self-hosted a photo cart on her site, and was hacked. Someone had accessed her PayPal info, substituted their own and began receiving client payments in her place. She was forced to hire a tech firm to fix the problem. Fortunately, she caught the hack quickly, but it was enough of a scare to make her look at more secure options.

“The secret of your success lies in your daily routine,” she says. It’s one of her favorite quotes. And for Murray, her routine includes a relentless focus on what matters most. “Where is my time best spent? I just can’t spend my time on the back end, making website updates. I need to focus on my business and on taking care of my clients and providing a beautiful platform for them to access my work. It’s what I love to do and Instaproofs gives me the confidence to do it.”

Finding the time to do it is another challenge. Based in Denver, Colorado, Murray is the mother of three - 9-month old twins and a three-year old. It makes for long days. Sharply-honed organizational skills are a must. “It’s really important to me to deliver a high-end feeling and experience to my clients,” she says. “And for me, communication is key. It means making myself easily accessible and holding myself to a quick response time, which can be tricky with young kids. I spend a lot of time on email and need to block time to do it. I outsource as much of the other stuff as I can.”

Murray gets a lot of questions from start-ups in the field on how to draw in a high-end clientele. She says it’s all about creating a high-end experience. “What can you do to distinguish yourself and make your services unique? What kinds of things are you doing with your onboarding process? Are you making your clients feel confident they made the right decision to hire you? Are you giving them surprises for them throughout to create a ‘wow’ factor,” she says. Murray also recommends keeping client loads manageable so that you continue to deliver personalized experience. By focusing on quality over quantity, you can also avoid burn-out.

For newbies just getting their feet wet, Murray recommends attending as many conferences as you can manage. “You will find rich contacts you can continue to use as sounding boards as you grow. Go to as many things in person that you can. Start locally. I also started using Dubsado, a CRM tool. It helps me manage events, client relationships, schedule appointments and remember when and how to reach out to clients regarding events. It’s just another way I can save time and focus on what I do best.”

When Murray first got into the business, she shot digital. It didn’t take long before she learned she loved the look of film. Today, she’s a hybrid photographer armed with a hold-fast strap sporting a Contax 645 on one side and a Canon 5D Mark IV on the other.

Murray prefers film, especially for natural light. She’ll use digital in low light situations but works to give them the look of film in editing. Her galleries are a mix with the majority film and a few digital. Her goal is to make her galleries look cohesive so clients can’t tell which photos are film and which are digital. And she advises not to rely too much on digital files with clients. “Clients like to have something tangible. Something they can touch and hold. It’s another way to help your clients become raging fans!”

Murrays’ basic wedding package includes an assistant photographer, 200 4x6 prints and 7 hours of coverage. Additional products and service options are available as add-ons for the clients that want a little something extra.

Welcome: Loxley Colour!

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 16:39:07 GMT

Welcome: Loxley Colour! We're delighted to announce a new print fulfillment partnership between Instaproofs and Loxley Colour, from Glasgow, UK!

Loxley Colour is our very first lab partner based in the UK , and we're thrilled for the opportunity that this partnership brings to our British photographers! Through this partnership, all British photographers will now have access to our integrated fulfillment services and they may submit their orders to Loxley Colour directly through their Instaproofs accounts.

As we've worked with the team at Loxley Colour, their 30 years of experience has shown brightly through in both their excellent customer service and in the award winning products that they produce.

Selecting Loxley Colour as your fulfillment provider can be done by heading into the Lab Setup page within the Selling » Lab Fulfillment menu area, and selecting Loxley Colour as your default lab.

For a quick guide on how to get your account set up and ready for online fulfillment, please view our how-to article: Getting Set Up for Fulfillment

Have questions? We're here to help! Just shoot us an email and we'll get you taken care of.

Welcome: GTA Imaging

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 16:38:13 GMT

Welcome: GTA Imaging! We're delighted to announce a new print fulfillment partnership between Instaproofs and GTA Imaging, from Ontario, Canada!

GTA Imaging is our very first Canadian lab partner , and we couldn't be more excited about it! This partnership opens up a whole new set of options to our Canadian photographers, and they can now begin sending their print orders through our integrated fulfillment services.

As we've worked with the team at GTA Imaging over the past couple of months we've been impressed with their excellent customer support, the wide variety of products and services that they offer, and their commitment to the Canadian photographer community.

One of the items that they're the proudest of at GTA Imaging is their 2" Standout Mount product. Standout mounts enhance the presentation of your images by mounting a professional lustre print on masonite backing with a 2"-thick beveled, hand-painted side edge.

To select GTA Imaging as your preferred fulfillment provider, simply head into the Lab Setup page within the Selling » Lab Fulfillment menu area, and select GTA Imaging as your default lab.

GO THERE NOW!

For a quick guide on how to get your account set up and ready for online fulfillment, view our how-to article here: Fulfillment Setup Guide

Have questions? We're here to help! Just shoot us an email and we'll get you taken care of.

Please note: GTA Imaging is currently ONLY available to photographers based in Canada.

Welcome: Black River Imaging

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:19:06 GMT

Welcome: Black River Imaging! We're delighted to announce a new print fulfillment partnership between Instaproofs and Black River Imaging!

Black River Imaging is a professional photo lab based in Springfield, MO that's been proudly serving the photographer community since 1971.

As we've worked with Black River Imaging over the past couple of months we've been impressed with their excellent customer support, quick turnaround times, and the outstanding quality of their finished products. A couple of our favorite products so far have been their amazing Metal Prints, and their Curved Metal Prints (which stand on their own, without the need of an easel or hanging hardware).

To select Black River Imaging as your preferred fulfillment provider, simply head into the Lab Setup page within the Selling » Lab Fulfillment menu area, and select Black River Imaging as your default lab.

Gallery Downloads, Mobile Apps, and More!

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 16:17:29 GMT

We're glad to have you with us, and we hope that you're having a terrific 2019 so far! We've got a couple of fantastic little updates that we'd like to introduce you to, and we're going to just jump right into it:

NEW FULL GALLERY DOWNLOAD SIZE

In addition to the previously available "Web Size" and "Full Size" gallery download options, a new sizing option has been added! Your full gallery download options now include:

Full Size - Great for many uses, including printing large (or small) prints. These images are sent to your clients in their full, original size.

Small Print Size - Perfect for printing up to 5x7 prints. These images are resized to 1800px on their longest side before being sent to your clients.

Web Size - Perfect for viewing on mobile devices and sharing on social media. These images are resized to 1280px on their longest side before being sent to your clients.

To add the new size as a purchase option on your storefront, head to the Selling » Purchase Options page and update (or create) your Gallery Download purchase options.

The "Small Print Size" option is also now available through the gallery download permissions, the category download product options, and the client favorites download area as well.

QUICKLY CREATE MOBILE APPS

Mobile apps are great for providing sneak peeks to your clients, and creating a mobile app is now even easier than ever! Simply select up to 50 images from an existing gallery, and then choose the "Add to Mobile App" option from the actions menu.

ON-THE-FLY EMAIL CUSTOMIZATIONS

Gallery invitation emails can now be customized and personalized on-the-fly as you're preparing to send the invite to your clients. It works like this:

Select the template to use for your invitation email.

Click the "View and edit the email content" checkbox.

Customize the email body as needed.

Send the email.

And that's it! The customizations that you make will only affect the invitation emails that you're currently sending, and your saved email templates will not be affected in any way.

GALLERY DOWNLOAD COPYRIGHT RELEASE

Copyright release PDFs for your free full-gallery downloads can now be uploaded through your gallery type settings. After a copyright release has been uploaded, each free full-gallery download that's associated with the gallery type will include a copy of the copyright release document.

CUSTOMIZABLE RECEIPT MESSAGES

Each of your individual gallery types can now be given their own custom order receipt messages. These messages are displayed to your clients on their receipts after they place an order. The messages can be simple "thank you" notes, or they can contain any other information you'd like to provide in them.

Orders placed through galleries that don't have a customized receipt message will be shown the default receipt message, which can be set within the Selling » Selling Preferences page.

EMAIL COPIES

If you've ever wanted to receive a copy of the emails that are sent to your clients, you're in luck: A new setting has been added to your account that allows you to select which of your client emails you'd like to receive a copy of. You can select any or all of the following emails to receive a copy of:

Gallery Invitation Emails

Gallery Expiration Emails

Gallery & Category Download Emails

Favorite Download Emails

Bulk Emails

Sale Notification Emails

Gallery Reminder Emails

Cart Reminder Emails

Order Status Update Emails

Mobile App Announcement Emails

Invoice Reminder Emails

To start receiving copies of the emails sent to your clients, just head into the Marketing » Marketing Preferences page and make your selection.

NEW LAB PRODUCT: FRAMED PRINTS

Framed prints have been added to our fulfillment options, and they are now available through Richard Photo Lab, WHCC and Bay Photo.

Available through Richard Photo Lab:

Matte White

Matte Black

Available through Bay Photo:

Flat White

Flat Black

Box Black

Available through WHCC:

Gallery Fine White

Gallery Fine Black

Gallery Wide White

Gallery Wide Black

Framed prints from other labs are also in the works, and if you'd like a frame style that isn't listed above just let us know and we'll do our best to get it added for you!

Interview with Abby Grace

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 16:15:59 GMT

International wedding photographer Abby Grace has a massive list of accomplishments, and the added benefit of not taking herself too seriously! She is quick to say that red lipstick makes her invincible and that she is a Hufflepuff. Love that! Based outside of Washington DC, she and her husband Matt are college sweethearts and business partners. Besides their passion for photography and having a business that empowers them to lead a life they love, Abby and Matt are movie buffs, road trip aficionados, rescue pup parents, Nationals baseball fans, and they are preparing to adopt!

Right before she hopped on our live interview Abby had just been on a bike ride and mentioned as we were chatting that she was so happy that her new foundation kept her from looking sweaty on camera. So of course, we had to know what magical foundation she was using! She shared her new favorite beauty essential, Bare Minerals liquid foundation. Typically a light makeup user, Abby also shared that she just recently discovered the beauty blender. Well, who can blame her, with skin as flawless as hers, makeup is not really necessary at all!

While preparing to interview Abby, I listened to her podcast with Jenna Kutcher on the wildly popular Goal Digger podcast. And, by the way, if you want to check it out, Abby is on Episode 80 which is one of the top 10 episodes! The topic: “The Best Ways to Avoid the Inbox Time Suck”. In that podcast Abby mentions that she wears a white t-shirt every time she does a video broadcast. So I had to comment on that when I noticed that sure enough, she was wearing her signature Uniqlo tee. And of course that got me wanting to check out Uniqlo and now I have a few things in my shopping bag on their site! So basically, Abby is a maven for everything from photography, to business, to makeup, to clothes!

Another little tidbit Abby shared at the beginning of our chat was that she doesn’t feel like she’s good at Instagram! Say what? If you take a peek at her Instagram feed I think she definitely looks like she is pretty darn good at Instagram! Abby’s main guide when posting to her Instagram feed is pretty simple: she posts things that she loves. Mostly wedding and anniversary work, Paris, and an occasional ballerina photo.

Abby shared the deliberate choices she and her husband make to ensure they are running their business, and not the other way around. One thing Abby does is delete the Instagram app off of her phone on the weekends. Additionally, she doesn’t follow any other photographers on Instagram! Abby’s approach helps her avoid the comparison trap.

I always love to hear the stories that lead artists to photography. For Abby it all started her junior year of college when she took a darkroom class. She fell completely in love with the magic of developing film and spent so much time in the darkroom that she became allergic to the darkroom chemicals. Just thinking about a darkroom brings those smells to my mind! By the time she fell in love with photography Abby was almost done with a degree in Communications, and she decided to finish up her degree in that.

After graduation Abby worked for a Fortune 500 company in media relations for two years. Her goal was to build her business on the side and transition to becoming a full-time wedding photographer within two years. And she did it! In June 2010 she started her corporate job and in June 2012 she left to become a full-time photographer. Starting in 2010 she spent a year second shooting under another photographer and in June of 2011 Abby shot her first solo wedding. By 2015 business was booming and it was hard to single-handedly keep up with running the business anymore. So, her husband Matt started helping with the business in 2015, and in 2016 he left his day job and started working with Abby full time from home.

Abby shoots film and digital. She shared that she shoots film whenever possible and only turns to digital when there’s not enough light to shoot film. Abby shoots handheld down to 1/30 second, and reception details are usually shot using a tripod.

If you peruse Abby’s work you are sure to notice the beautiful photographs of ballerinas. As a former dancer, photographing ballerinas is something Abby makes time for as a personal, creative outlet. She shared that the particular attention she pays to subtle gestures and movements while photographing ballerinas transfers over to her client weddings and the attention that she pays to the subtle details there as well.

By now you are sure to have noticed that Abby has a lot of wisdom and knowledge to share. When I asked her where someone would go if they were interested in the educational materials she has created, she pointed me to Abbygraceshop.com. Abby shared with me that she feels communication is definitely her strength. Email templates for photographers and other creatives are her number one seller, with the “Gentle No” being her favorite. Answers to questions like ‘Can I get a discount?’ and many, many more uncomfortable questions that often feel awkward saying no to are addressed.

“I love saying no. It’s personally one of my favorite things to do. We desire to run a business that enables a life we love so it’s important to have really strong boundaries.” She added that doing this guards her from feeling resentful to her business or clients.

“Rules of engagement have gotten really blurred,” Abby said. She stressed the importance of setting expectations from the very beginning. Abby avoids using texts or direct messaging in apps to communicate with her clients about anything that needs a paper trail. Instead she opts for email which is much easier to organize and search. If Abby gets an inquiry via a social media channel she invites that person to send her an email with their request. This way she can see if the person is serious about wanting more information. Abby also sets office hours and only responds to clients during those work-designated hours.

Abby switched to Instaproofs to help encourage her clients to order prints. She explains that she and her husband felt that prior to using Instaproofs they weren’t serving their clients well by not making it easy for them to order prints. Abby now uses “Jon’s method” by offering 30% off her prints and products for the first week that each gallery is active, and her lab of choice is Miller’s Lab. One other thing she loves about Instaproofs is the ease of communication with her clients.

What’s inspiring her now? A book called ‘Rest’. Abby explained that this book talks about how work and rest are partners and how they work together rather than being opposites like they are so often viewed. In this book she has learned that resting well can help her reach her full creative potential. It has also empowered her to give herself permission to rest. Abby is inspired by historical figures who only worked 4 hours a day despite being able to accomplish so much. She shared how freeing it was to her to realize it’s OK to not work non-stop. The other book that’s at the top of her inspiration list right now is ‘Deep Work’. She says this book has truly been a game changer for her as well.

We hope this peek into the work and life of Abby Grace has been inspiring to you. As for me, I think Abby just introduced me to my next shopping addiction (Uniqlo!), and I can’t wait to read the books she so highly recommends. Until next time!

Welcome: Nations Photo Lab & Artsy Couture!

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:14:50 GMT

Welcome: Nations Photo Lab & Artsy Couture!

As a special holiday surprise from us to you, we are extremely happy to announce both Nations Photo Lab and Artsy Couture as our newest print fulfillment lab partners!

As we've worked with these labs over the past six months, we've been continuously impressed with their top-notch support and their premium products and services. A couple of the items we think you'll enjoy include their .75" and 1.5" Canvas Wraps with noticeably tight, clean corners, and their Wood Print Wraps where your images are wrapped and printed directly onto maple wood!

To select either of these great labs as your preferred fulfillment provider, simply head into the Lab Setup page within the Selling » Lab Fulfillment tab, and select the lab of your choice through the Default Lab Settings area.

More labs are already in the works for 2019, but with our current lineup of nine amazing lab partners we're sure that one of our labs will be a perfect fit for all of your holiday printing needs!

Happy holidays!

-The Instaproofs Team

Managed Accounts

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 16:13:41 GMT

Managed Accounts Are Now Available!

Managed accounts allow you to offload some of your current workload to other people by adding them as managed users on your Instaproofs account.

Roles that are currently available through Managed Accounts include:

Studio Manager - Full access to everything except billing and subscription details.
Studio Assistant - Full access to everything except summary reports, managed users, and billing & subscription details.
Order Management - Can ONLY view and edit your orders, and optionally submit the orders for fulfillment.
Marketing Management - Can ONLY view and edit your email templates, and send bulk emails.

Example Usage Scenarios

Example Scenario 1: You own a busy photo studio and you'd love to let your studio assistant log into your Instaproofs account and largely take over for you; however, you don't want them having access to view your aggregate sales information and summary reports. Assigning the "Studio Assistant" role to this user will do just that.

Example Scenario 2: Your good friend is an HTML and marketing wizard, and they've offered to design your Instaproofs email templates for you. Giving your friend access to your account through the use of the "Marketing Management" role is just what you're looking for!

Example Scenario 3: It's been way too long since your last vacation, but you know that orders are going to be coming in while you're out and you feel tied to your computer because of it. Untie yourself from your computer (and enjoy your vacation!) by assigning the "Order Management" role to a trusted friend to handle your orders while you're out.

Setting It Up

Managed accounts are available for all accounts with monthly plans above the Basic plan level. To access and create managed accounts, head to the Account Details page by doing the following:

Click on your business name or logo at the top of the left-side main menu within your account
Select the Account Details menu option
Scroll down to the Managed Accounts section

From the Managed Accounts section of the page, click the Create Managed Account button, and provide the name, email address, and role for the user. Click the final Create Account button to finish setting up your new managed user account.

An email is sent to the managed user when their account is initially created and each time it's updated. The initial email will contain login details, including a randomly generated password for them to access their account. If you'd like to change their password anytime after their account has been created, you can do that through the Managed Account details pop-up.

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We hope you enjoy this new functionality! Please shoot an email to support@instaproofs.com if you have any questions.

Interview with Karen Hill

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:12:39 GMT

Sometimes, the more impressive the resume, the more humble the person. I certainly found that to be the case when I had the opportunity to interview veteran photographer Karen Hill. Among her long list of accolades, Karen holds an MFA in photography from the Yale School of Art and her background also includes teaching photography at Columbia University. Karen has been shooting weddings for over 25 years and she always has a lot of projects going on all at the same time. “Photography is one of the things I find myself wanting to do every day,” she shared. One of her current projects is with her Roliflex. Karen visits tourist spots around the country and she photographs people on their iphones. The project is called “i am here.” Karen muses that projects like these are her escape and her “fun work.” She also shoots interiors, fine art, and families.

I’m not quite sure why I didn’t bring this up in the interview, but her average wedding price is reported to be upwards of $10,000. Her work has been featured in too many publications to count, but a few of them are, Carats & Cake, Style Me Pretty, The Knot, Snippet & Ink, and Martha Stewart Weddings. Ten years ago Karen married her best friend Frank surrounded by their friends, most of whom are also photographers. Frank is an accomplished photographer himself and together he and Karen form a fantastic team. They split their time between New York City and Savannah, Georgia with a little Charleston thrown in for good measure. Karen has been using Instaproofs for seven years.

Karen shoots both film and digital, but film is her first love. I found it so fascinating to learn how she melds the two mediums in her workflow. Karen describes her use of digital as her sketch pad and film as the true art and the finished piece. While shooting a wedding she simplifies things by carrying her Contax 645 and her Canon 5D mark iv on one strap. She has the ISO and exposure set at exactly the same on both cameras mirroring each other and additionally the lenses are compatible with similar focal lengths. She meters with her digital camera for a seamless look between the two mediums. For a typical wedding Karen shoots 25-50% film and the rest digital. Digital serves as “a backup and a sketch to where we are going as well as to show the client the back of the camera throughout the shoot.”

I loved learning that Karen shares the process and the photos from the back of her camera with her clients throughout the day and that she considers her client’s feedback an important element in the process. The number one takeaway from this interview with Karen for me was the importance she places on communicating, collaborating, and connecting with her clients to arrive at the final photographs. “It’s really important to me to tune in to who the couple is,” Karen said. ‘Let’s work together’ is her mantra, which I really resonated with. In this writer’s opinion, this philosophy and approach should be the gold standard for all photographers.

Karen especially loves to include the children she is photographing in the process. “Children really want to see the picture. One of my favorite things to do with families is to show the children that I change the film. They get really into it; I love that. I want the younger generation to understand film and hopefully to use film in the future. The film is magic and getting the pictures back is magical and always exciting!”

Karen considers it a great privilege to work with each of her clients, and she wants them to feel blown away when they get their photos back. “It’s our honor to be there,” she says. “That’s our attitude. We go above and beyond… whatever it takes to get the shot.”

If you read the reviews on her website you will see that her work and her attitude do not go unappreciated. One wedding client gushed, "...every few shots we would gasp because one would strike us as a piece of art, supernaturally gorgeous. Thank you for capturing our wedding day so wonderfully; we are forever grateful."

Karen is drawn to locations with water, nature, trees and sunshine, which can be a tall order in the concrete jungle that is New York City. “When there’s water and sunshine and a beautiful couple, it kind of creates magic,” Karen shared. It should therefore come as no surprise that Central Park is one of her favorite Manhattan locations in which to shoot with “endless” options.

Her many years of studying art history is also reflected in her style and approach; Karen’s two favorite shots on a wedding day are the “Everybody” shot and the classic cake cutting shot, which she always shoots in black and white with the lighting set up for a 1950’s vibe. “I try to bring all of that with me,” she mused, while reflecting on her cultural studies of the past.

For low-light indoor church weddings Karen uses a tripod for anything slower than 1/15th of a second. I was amazed to learn that she could hand hold a camera at such a slow shutter speed and she shared that in those situations she becomes a human tripod and holds her breath. When tripoded, she will go down to ⅛ of a second, or sometimes slower, and in those cases she sometimes increases her aperture to 5.6-ish for depth of field. For lighting at receptions Karen uses a 50 watt handheld video torchlight LED and she brings one, occasionally two, 500 watt LED lights on a light stand, which she always employs on the dance floor to give some drama, backlight, and control. Though preferring natural light, she also finds her on-camera flash to come in handy.

In response to a question from one of our live viewers during the interview, Karen shared that her favorite film stock is Kodak Portra 400, with 800 as a close second, especially in New York. Karen also shared that she loves her Roliflex “for how quiet it is even though it’s as heavy as lead!”

When I asked her about her experience using Instaproofs she shared that it has “changed my business immensely.” Through Instaproofs she provides Sneak Peeks and she shared that her clients “get excited and they start sharing. I love that.” When Karen’s clients spread their joy and happiness with their friends and family through the photos she has taken, it brings her joy too. But Karen’s favorite thing about Instaproofs is actually something else. “The greatest thing on the whole planet is the order fulfillment. The orders placed go straight to the lab. That is the world’s best thing ever!” Karen uses and loves Richard Photo Lab for printing her work through Instaproofs.

When I asked Karen what or who inspires her, she said she loves the work of the late Rodney Smith and that she looks at his work often for inspiration. And when I asked her to share any last words of wisdom as we were wrapping up she said, “Shoot film! Shoot film!”

I have to say, chatting with Karen has inspired me to dust off my film cameras and start shooting film again. Thanks Karen, I can't wait to feel the magic of film once again!

Gallery Type Automated Emails

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 16:10:37 GMT

Gallery Type Automated Emails

Over the years our custom email capabilities have grown quite a bit, and today we're happy to announce the most recent change: Gallery Type Automated Emails.

Instead of being limited to a single set of global templates for your automated emails (as you have been in the past), you can now choose different automated email templates for each of your different gallery types!

Selecting email templates for your gallery types can be done as follows:

Create your email templates through the Email Templates*

Navigate to the Gallery Types page.

Click on the name of whichever gallery type you'd like to assign your new templates to.

Scroll to the Automated Emails settings and select your templates.

Save your changes.

* If you'd like to use your existing global email templates as starting-off points, simply go into the existing email templates and copy/paste the contents into a new template.

And that'll do it! Of course, if you're happy with the way things are currently setup, no action is needed.

Have any questions? Shoot us an email at support@instaproofs.com.

Interview with Brett Heidebrecht

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 16:08:17 GMT

The work of wedding photographer Brett Heidebrecht has been featured by some of the best known wedding publications in the world including Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, Vogue, Style Me Pretty, Rocky Mountain Bride, Once Wed, Destination I Do, Southern Weddings, Magnolia Rouge and more. However, his impressive resume belies his down-to-earth, easy-going personality that makes him loved by so many.

Oklahoma City is home for Brett, his wife and their two young daughters, but his travel itinerary takes him all over the U.S. and abroad photographing other couples’ love stories.

Brett has made a name for himself as a top wedding photographer in an impressively short amount of time, with just six years of experience as a full-time photographer. As a business management major, Brett discovered late in his college career that photography was calling his name. However, when he shared his new career path thoughts with his accountant dad he was told that although that sounded great, if he didn’t finish his undergrad degree he would be expected to pay his dad back for all of his educational expenses up to that point. As you might guess, Brett opted to complete his business management degree before pursuing his passion in photography!

Brett considered attending a photography school after completing his undergrad degree, but ultimately decided that it wasn’t for him. As he developed his photography skills he carefully selected workshops from master photographers to help him learn and grow as an artist. The first workshop he attended was from Jonathan Canlas, whom he had heard of through Instaproofs. Brett shared that Jon’s love for film, shooting weddings and his keen business sense really influenced his own photography journey.

Brett’s next workshop was in Mexico with José Villa. In addition to the amazing educational experience the workshop provided, a great boost for his blossoming business occurred through the opportunity he had at the workshop to network and rub shoulders with editors and bloggers who ultimately helped him publish his work.

The most recent workshop Brett attended was with Jon Dolan in New York City. It was a weeklong workshop that was held in the evenings. During the days Brett wandered the streets of the Big Apple, his Roliflex in hand, working on a personal project. He captured 32 portraits of strangers; one shot per person, no do-overs, and each subject given the sole direction of looking straight into his lens. Brett’s goal was to really capture the essence of each person he photographed. “It was an interesting character study. I enjoyed seeing kinda how people responded to that,” Brett reflected.

Brett is passionate about photographing his clients in an authentic way that lets their true personalities come through in his photographs. He is intentional in his aim to be present in the moment and not dictate too much of the wedding day.

“There’s a really fine line between directing and making people feel comfortable, and really finding out who they actually are as a person and letting them shine through,” Brett shared.

“What I really want people to know is I want to allow a space where they can be themselves. I really just want to come with a blank slate to a wedding. It’s really hard not to fall back on that internal check-list and to be aware of what is happening.”

When I asked Brett how many cameras he typically brings to a wedding I definitely was not expecting him to rattle off the names of SEVEN different cameras! Of those seven, six are film cameras and one is a digital camera that he turns to during indoor ceremonies. Brett brings an assistant with him to weddings to help him manage his equipment and make sure that he doesn’t miss a beat when changing rolls or switching cameras.

The business side of photography can be a stumbling block to some photographers, as many of us are likely well aware of. Brett’s business management background seemed to have given him an edge so I asked him to share his thoughts about one of the trickiest elements of the business side of photography: Pricing.

“Whenever you are constantly meeting people where they want to be [with pricing] rather than knowing where you want to be and really staying true to that, it does get hard. You start feeling underappreciated and you kind of fall out of love with what you were in love with at one point. I just kind of made a decision that I wanted to stay true to my pricing and really value my work,” Brett said.

During our interview, which you can watch in its entirety on our YouTube channel, Brett shared an experience that happened early on in his career. He was charging $3000 for his base wedding package and he had a bride ask if he would be willing to shoot her wedding within her budget of $1800. Brett thought long and hard about it and consulted a fellow photographer friend about what he should do, since he really wanted the work but also wanted to stay true to his pricing. Although he was encouraged to take the job, Brett ultimately decided to stick to his pricing and pass on it. In this particular story, another bride came along and booked the same date, and because of all the add-ons she purchased Brett ended up making four to five times the amount that he would have made if he would have agreed to take on a client who was asking him to lower his prices. However, Brett was quick to also acknowledge that this is not always the case and that sometimes turning down less money means that he doesn’t end up booking a wedding on that day.

Brett leaves the door open for additional sales beyond the initial packages that his wedding couples select by using Instaproofs to sell prints; not just to the wedding couple, but to their guests as well.

“ Instaproofs has been A-mazing! I always tell my friends who are with some of the other proofing solutions they are really missing out on the power of selling prints. I mean Instaproofs has really nailed that down and really sets you up with the tools you need. Selling isn’t even on the radar for any of those other companies. Instaproofs makes it super easy to sell prints and just lays it all out there,” Brett said.

“I love Instaproofs. It’s the best customer support I’ve ever experienced with any company as a photographer.” Brett also added, “I love helping people see the potential of selling prints through Instaproofs.”

To see more of Brett’s work check out his website, his Instagram feed, or his Facebook page. And, if you’re ever in Oklahoma City, stop on in and say hello!

Mommy & Me Minis - by Elizabeth Sylvester

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 16:05:43 GMT

Mommy & Me Minis

If you've ever wondered if you could make mini sessions work for your business, wonder no more! The amazingly-talented newborn photographer Elizabeth Sylvester, of Liz Yvonne Photography, has generously shared with us a little bit about herself, her journey as a photographer, and some of the secrets to her success with Mommy & Me mini-sessions. Read on for all the details!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where do you live? Family? Pets? Interests?

My name is Elizabeth, but I go by Liz. I am married to a crop farmer in the middle of Louisiana, and we have 3 rambunctious little boys! I love to swim, work out, travel and spend time with my family. My children take up all of my free time, so my interests have taken a back seat for the time being. I have always wanted to be a mom, so maybe they are my greatest interest. They keep me on my toes, for sure!

How long have you been a photographer, and how did you decide to specialize in newborn photography?

With 9 years of photography under my belt, I am now feeling like I have found the style of photography I love the most, newborns and mother/baby. I started photographing weddings in college and kept with that for the last 9 years. Shooting 20-30 weddings a year is NO easy task. It was such a hard job, especially leaving my family on the weekends and most weekday afternoons, so I decided to take a leap of faith and start on my newborn/family photography journey 5 years ago. I started out shooting all of my newborn sessions in the clients home, and I was charging next to nothing. It wasn't long before I was super burnt out. I was packing my jeep up with every prop I had, my giant beanbag, and loads of other necessities that I needed to shoot sessions. I then moved into a SUPER tiny studio pace that was maybe 150 square feet. It was a great space to be able to learn and grow in. Once I felt like the investment was worth it and that I was into newborn photography for the long hall, I started renting a larger studio. This June (2018) marked my 3rd year opening my "big" studio, which is about 800 square feet.

I also started newborn photography by learning the safety aspect of it first. I took many different newborn workshops, read as much as I could about safety with newborns, and got into a few newborn photography groups on Facebook to ask as many questions as they let me.

How did you decide to specifically do Mommy & Me Minis? How often do you do them?

So last spring, while I was prepping for my studio minis for little ones, it occurred to me that I could totally start offering an easy way for moms to come in and get beautiful shots with their children. I had a florist in the studio space next door to me, so I got with her and we created my mommy and me bed set ups. I have a wooden backdrop that I built with antique wood, and we used that as the headboard. We decorate the headboard with different flowers for every set of minis, and they get more beautiful every time. I try to do mini sessions in the studio 3 to 4 times a year; I do both "Mommy & Me" and "Just Littles." Depending on the demand, I usually book the sessions pretty quickly. My last set of mini sessions sold out in a matter of a couple hours. This next set of mommy and me minis will be my 4th. I am looking forward to putting a new spin on it with the florist to make it even better!

What gear do you use? Natural light or studio lights, or both?

I use all Canon gear. I shoot the Canon 5D Mk III body with the 35L 1.4, 50L1.2, and 100 28L lenses for different parts of newborn sessions. My favorite lens of all is my 50L 1.2. It has never steered me wrong, but I make sure to send her off often to get cleaned and checked. I started out newborns solely shooting natural light. I have GIANT windows in my studio that pour in the most amazing natural light, but on days where it is cloudy or raining, I found it hard to bump up my ISO high and get the same quality, so I invested in my Paul C Buff Einstien light and 86" PLM umbrella. I LOVE MY STUDIO LIGHT SET UP! It is so great and seamless with the way I shoot natural light. So I now shoot about 85% of my newborns with studio lighting. It is just easier to shoot the session and batch edit with studio lighting.

Do you do anything to prepare your Mommy & Me clients before their shoot?

I try to help guide them with outfit choice as best as I can. I tell them to stick to neutrals and/or pastel colors. No patterns or loud colors that will distract from them or the set up. I also tell them to book a time slot that they feel will be best for their child's nap schedule. If they are coming with a tiny one, I suggest that they come in a little early, maybe 10-15 minutes before their session, so that they can feel it out. Many times, if a small one comes in and you stick a camera in front of their face right away, it doesn't go over well. I have a kid's section of the studio where they can sit and play. I take that time to go and sit with them so they can see that I am not scary. It is VERY rare that I get a child that doesn't want to be in front of a camera. I have so many tricks to make sure they have fun during their time in front of the camera.

What are the guidelines for Mommy & Me Minis? Age restrictions? # of kids restrictions?

There aren't really any. I have had children from 2 weeks old to 14 years old. I had one mom come in with her 5 children and it was one of the sweetest and smoothest sessions I had that day. If the mom is wanting individual pictures of each child, and she has over 2 children, I tack on a small fee for each additional child and make sure we have enough time between their session and the next.

What have you learned along the way that you think others could benefit from knowing?

Make sure to give yourself enough time in between session slots. I usually book 10-15 mini sessions a day, in 30 minute time slots, with 15 minute of session time for each session. People WILL show up late, and people WILL show up early. I have also had clients completely forget their time slot and ended up having to wait until I had a gap to fit them in. You have to just be ready for anything. You also have to make sure you are patient, because there are kids involved that don't know you. Take the time to talk to them on their level; get down on the floor and talk to them. I always ask the mom what their kids are into and try to talk about those things. Let the children touch your camera (I promise it won't break) and then have a reward for them to look forward to at the end of the session. I have organic dye-free suckers and gummies ready for the end of sessions. Also get props that will make them laugh. I have little stuffed animals that attach to my camera that usually do a great job at getting them to look at the camera. Whatever you can get that works, use it.

How do you advertise for your Mommy & Me Minis?

Facebook and Instagram have been my only advertisement and it works REALLY well. I will post on Facebook the date that I will be releasing my mini session spots to book and ask that people tag as many people as they can in the post.

What days do you shoot the sessions, and how far apart do you book each client?

I shoot mini sessions on Friday-Sunday and book 10-15 each day depending on the demand. I book them in 30 minute slots and leave myself an hour around lunch to have a break. You have to make sure you give yourself a break to eat and rest. I also dump cards onto my hard drive mid way through.

How much do you charge for the sitting? How do you sell the prints or digitals? What do most of your Mommy & Me Mini clients purchase and how much does the average M & M client spend?

Mini sessions are $100-150. This includes their time slot and 5 digital images. They also get a discount for ordering within 24 hours of their session being uploaded to the Instaproofs site. Mini sessions usually have an average of $300-400 in sales on top of the initial package. My normal newborn and family packages start at $450. I give an incentive to pay in full by giving them a discount code for additional purchases. I sell all my digitals and prints/products through Instaproofs. I have plans of doing in person sales, still through Instaproofs, in the coming years.

What is your favorite thing about being a Mommy & Me photographer?

Connecting with families and giving the moms the opportunity to be IN the pictures with their children. As a mom, I get so caught up in making sure I capture every moment of my children's lives that I forget to get in the shots with them. I want these moms to have a memory of what life was like with them at this size, age and stage. It is so fun getting home after a set of mini sessions and seeing the fun moments that are candid between moms and their sweet ones.

How do you use Instaproofs to help you with your sales, delivery, and presentation of your photo sessions?

After I finish editing my clients proofs, they go straight onto the Instaproofs website. From there, they fulfill their credits and have 30 days to order additional prints and products with their special discount codes. I also have a 24 hour discount for orders that usually helps get sales right away. I also love how instaproofs has the layout for proofs. It looks professional and it is also very easy to navigate! I love that I can also email in batch through Instaproofs to send out sales and discounts during peak times of the year.

A giant thank you goes out to Liz for this great interview! We appreciate her taking the time to share some of her mini session secrets and experiences with us

Interview with Wendy Laurel

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 16:03:58 GMT

On the island of Maui there lives a photographer who is inspired by color. Ever since she was a little girl begging her mother to paint an orange and yellow stripe to run across her bedroom walls, color has made Wendy Laurel happy. Wendy’s colorful and creative imagery has earned her a spot on the pages of well known publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot, but more than that, her love affair with color-drenched film photography has made her happy.

Originally from Berkeley, California, Wendy came to the Hawaiian Islands to take a job as an attorney. After having her third child and wondering if there was more to life than billable hours, she enrolled in a photography class at the local community college. Having lived most of her life not thinking that she was creative or artistic, photography was the portal to a new kind of life for her.

As an attorney, Wendy used to work with clients on their worst days: divorce, lawsuits and the like. Switching to working with photography clients celebrating their best days was a big difference. “It was such a change of energy and it’s so much better. It’s so easy to live life with the cup half full in photography. Even on my worst days, I’m never bored. As long as I have a full night’s sleep and a camera, I’m good. There’s no boredom, there’s always something new to try and something to be inspired by.”

Not long after picking up a camera Wendy found herself at a workshop put on by film photographer Jonathan Canlas. She fell hard for film and has never looked back. “Shooting film for the past decade has made every day like Christmas. It has brought so much joy to my life. It’s always exciting.” Wendy does not own a digital camera and doesn’t use her phone to take photos of her four children, ages 10 to 21. “Everything’s on film around here,” she said. Wendy added that she tried digital but didn’t like the editing aspect of it. “Here’s the secret that people just don’t understand. Film is easier than digital. You have less choices.”

The magic Wendy feels from shooting film has continued to bring her joy. “It’s so exciting! That’s how my life feels all the time! It’s crazy the amount of satisfaction shooting film has brought into my life. I don’t think there’s any one thing I could have done to make myself happier. It sounds crazy but it’s so true.”

The process of shooting film helps Wendy to stay connected to her work. “I’m always trying to push the boundaries to make it more imperfect and bring out those imperfections. It feels more authentic to me. Film is super imperfect and I really like that.”

In addition to the magic of film, Wendy has found her tribe among film photographers. “I have never met a film photographer I didn’t like. The whole community is part of the draw. It’s the first place I really fit in.”

Wendy has recently released a 136 page pdf guide for shooting double exposures. It’s called “Seeing Double. The Art of the Double Exposure.” This tutorial came to be developed after Wendy discovered that other people were really interested in learning about what she had to share about double exposures. Wendy said that one of the questions she gets asked frequently is what film stock is best to use for double exposures. “You use whatever film stock you are drawn to anyway. My film preference is a bright, sunny day with Kodak Ektar. Hands down that’s my favorite thing to shoot. You don’t want your double exposures and experiments to look different than your regular work. You want it all to fit in.” Wendy also shared that Portra 800 is another film stock favorite of hers for its beautiful colors and natural skin tones.

Another tip Wendy shared was about light leaks. “The color of your light leak depends on what you are shooting.” If you are shooting green grass, the light leak will be orange. If you are shooting a bright blue sky the light leak will be bright pink. Personally, Wendy prefers the bright pink light leaks. Her advice is to “Go out and play with it – open the camera back!”

As a highly creative artist it’s no surprise that Wendy is not a salesy person. Luckily for her she doesn’t have to be a starving artist because she has found a perfect fit with Instaproofs. As an Instaproofs user for the past 7.5 years Wendy “uses Instaproofs for everything.”

“Most of the weddings I shoot get featured by a wedding blog or magazine. Instaproofs is great for getting published. Editors can look at your photos in a beautiful grid format. Dropbox doesn’t work so well for that because the images come up one file at a time.”

In addition to delivering client and charity images Wendy also uses Instaproofs for the pdf sales of her new “Seeing Double” tutorial. “I really like Instaproofs because it makes it so I don’t have to be salesy.”

So being creative doesn’t mean you have to be a starving artist after all! The next time you need a creative boost check out the inspiring work of Wendy Laurel. And if you’re ever on Maui, go say Aloha!

The full interview can be viewed here: Wendy Laurel Interview

To view more of Wendy's work please see her website, her blog, or her Instagram feed.

Interview with Jonathan Canlas

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 11:02:12 GMT

Last month I was lucky enough to get to chat with film photographer Jonathan Canlas not once, but twice! Canlas is the owner of theFINDlab and has been in business as a professional photographer for 19 years. Film is Not Dead, The Ohana Guide, and The Biz Guide are educational resources he has created that have helped photographers all over the world develop their photography skills and their money making skills. Canlas’s 2018 schedule is packed with weddings in Hawaii, teaching engagements from San Antonio to South Africa, family photo shoots, and overseeing the construction of his studio. However, he has intentionally kept his summer open to spend lots of time with his kids. This man knows what’s important to him and he lives his life accordingly.

Last summer the Canlas clan: Jon, his wife Callie, their six children, and Jon’s mother whom he has been caring for since 2005, relocated from Hawaii to Payson, Utah. I was greeted warmly by Canlas when I went to chat with him in his gorgeously-renovated 1884 home on a chilly Utah Spring day. It felt like his home could easily be the backdrop to an Anthropologie catalog shoot with its layers of character: stained glass windows, fabulous wallpaper, claw-footed bathtubs, and of course, amazing photography peppered throughout their home that is elegant and timeless while still feeling warm, inviting and relaxed.

Sitting down with Canlas I had three main topics I was aiming to explore with him. The first: “Tell me about yourself as a person.” Canlas shared that he loves music as much as he loves photography and that his musical tastes are quite eclectic and ever evolving. Beyond his passion for photography and music Canlas has a passion project that has taken him into multiple Native American reservations as he works to shine a light on the families who have daughters, sisters and mothers whose murders have remained unsolved and largely forgotten leaving a wake of devastation and despair.

I asked Callie, Canlas’s wife to talk about how her husband’s profession had affected their family life. She shared that she loves the flexible, adventuresome lifestyle that his career has afforded them, although in the earlier years his weekends were much busier with work than they are now.

My second topic for Canlas was to ask him to describe himself as a photographer. Primarily a family photographer, Canlas typically likes to keep his yearly wedding count in the single digits. He also threw in that although he’s not above doing any type of work, that you won’t see high school senior photography in his portfolio!

During both of my interviews with Canlas we were broadcasting live on the Instaproofs Instagram feed and invited viewers to chime in with their questions. One photographer asked for tips for photographing large family groups. Jon directed us to a recent 47-person shoot he had done and said that he took no more than five shots to arrive at the finished group photo! In order to accomplish this he said he was carefully watching and was really, really, really loud in order to get everyone’s attention.

Another viewer’s question prompted Canlas to share that he always sticks with the same film stock during a shoot, and a question from a fellow family-photographer led Canlas to share that, when photographing families, his advice is to go in with a predetermined game plan. His typical aim is to capture a set of specific shots, including some that could make great wall portraits, some of the family having the time of their lives, a few quiet moments, and a variety of killer headshots.

Never one to take himself too seriously, Canlas didn’t skip a beat when one of the live viewers asked if his “physique” was a result of lifting weights. He quipped that it was just his “dad bod” but that he has plans in the works to build a gym adjacent to his studio.

I was inspired to hear that he has a monthly series of his own children that he is continually adding to. Some of my favorite Canlas advice is that your personality is far more important than your camera. Known and loved for his keeping-it-real down-to-earth way of communicating, Canlas openly shared that drumming up business after moving to a new area is “straight-up hard.”

My final topic for Canlas was to ask him about himself as an Instaproofs user. As one of the very first subscribers to Instaproofs back in 2005 he has been an advocate ever since. Canlas shared that his first month on Instaproofs he sold $0 on the site. The second month wasn’t much better: $85. The third month it was back to $0 but he kept refining his strategy and by the fourth month he made over $200 through Instaproofs. The 5th month bumped up to $1500, the 6th month brought in $2200, and the rest, is history.

With a live audience watching, and not having asked him if he was OK with this question, I ventured asking what his biggest month of print sales via Instaproofs was. He didn’t even hesitate, “North of $30k.” Wow!

So what’s the secret sauce to keeping the sales rolling in? Canlas believes that Instaproofs has the best tools in the biz. He shared that using Instaproofs has “been life changing in terms of adding to my bottom line” and “the tools that Instaproofs has, I don’t feel any other site even comes close to.”

“You can give your customers the same type of online shopping experience as you have with your favorite high-end stores. Instaproofs gives you the marketing tools to do the same things as the high end stores. Email templates, tiered sales, triggered sales, time sensitive coupon codes… it’s just genius to me ,” Canlas explained.

Canlas has come a long way from shooting $400 weddings where he finished the night by handing over the rolls of film to his clients. His willingness to share his journey and what he’s learned along the way provides us with a treasure trove of wisdom.

I can’t wait until I get to visit again, hopefully next time as a client in his new studio.

Until next time, Aloha!

New Fulfillment Partner: MUSEA Lab

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:58:55 GMT

New Fulfillment Partner: MUSEA Lab We're excited to announce a new fulfillment partnership between Instaproofs and MUSEA Lab! MUSEA produces astonishingly high-quality Lustre, Satin, and Photo Matte prints, but their museum-quality (archival) fine art prints really take things to the next level! Some of their archival papers include Deckled Prints, Photo Rag, Platine, and Hahnemühle Ultra Smooth. If you're looking for a product that will impress your clients, give MUSEA a try today!

“MUSEA is a professional printing lab that offers museum quality printing, matting and framing for professional photographers. Our focus is on using modern inkjet technology with high-quality papers and archival inks to produce long-lasting products for future generations. We carry eight different paper options, including deckled prints, and we offer custom matting to increase the value of your work. Partnering with Instaproofs is very exciting for us, and we can’t wait to serve you!” - MUSEA

To select MUSEA as your preferred fulfillment provider, simply head into the Lab Setup page within the Selling » Lab Fulfillment area of your account, and select MUSEA Lab from the droplist.

Scheduled Gallery Activation

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 15:56:07 GMT

Scheduled Gallery Activation

Prior to this update you could manually activate (enable) your galleries when you were ready for your clients to view their images. Today' s new functionality adds the ability to schedule the activation dates!

At first glance this may not seem like that big of a deal, but it really makes things nice! For example, you can now do the following:

Create your galleries and schedule them to automatically activate at some point in the future.

Upload the gallery's images anytime before the scheduled activation date.

And that's it; you're done! On the morning of the selected date your gallery will automatically activate, and, if you provided your client's email address when creating the gallery, your client will (optionally) automatically receive your customized gallery invitation email.

No more trying to remember to go back and activate the gallery after the images have been uploaded, and no more forgetting to manually send your invitation emails.

Enjoy!

A Sweet Deal For You And A Friend

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 15:54:57 GMT

A SWEET DEAL FOR
YOU AND A FRIEND!

WHAT'S BETTER THAN ENJOYING INSTAPROOFS?
ENJOYING INSTAPROOFS WITH A FRIEND!

Share the love by referring your friends to Instaproofs!
Refer a friend before the end of November to receive 3GB of
additional storage space for life when they sign up!

And because fair's fair, your friend will receive an
extra 1GB for life as well!

Simply have your friends enter your name in the
"Referred By" box when they sign up, and we'll do the rest!

* A current subscription is required.

Print Fulfillment : We'd Love to Help

Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:52:58 GMT

ulfillment Services: We'd Love to Help Over the past few years we've helped thousands (yep, thousands) of professional photographers save time and money by fulfilling tens of thousands (yep, really that many) of their print orders through our professional lab services. We're great at what we do, and we'd love to help you fulfill your orders as well!

A few ways that Instaproofs can make order fulfillment easier for you, include:

Automatic import of order-specific details, such as sizes, crops, addresses, etc.

Automatic shipment notifications to your clients.

Tracking information is made available for each of your orders.

Opting in to auto-fulfillment reduces your work time to zero minutes per order .

Fulfillment Perks & Professional Partnerships Our professional lab partners, and some of the many perks that are available to you through our fulfillment services, are shown in the graphic below:

Simple Setup To get started with our fulfillment services, follow these three simple steps:
Navigate to the Fulfillment Overview page within the Fulfillment tab, and read through some of the basic fulfillment information.

Click into the Lab Connection screen and associate your storefront print sizes with the sizes and paper types available from the lab of your choice.

Click into the Auto Fulfillment page and select your auto-fulfillment preferences.

And that's it! The best part? As soon as you've enable auto-fulfillment you'll get to sit back while Instaproofs does all the work for you.

IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN PERSONAL ASSISTANT... FOR FREE!

Custom Image Uploader for PCs

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 15:51:05 GMT

If you use a PC for your image uploading computer, we have created an even easier way for you to upload your images to your Instaproofs account!

After installing this small application, uploading your images is as easy as right-clicking on your chosen folder(s) or images, and selecting Send To -> Instaproofs from the right-click dialog menu.

This will allow you to upload your images to your Instaproofs account without the need of going to the administrative site or opening up a 3rd party FTP application.

For now the application can only be used with Windows PCs.

You may download the application from here: Download

And a short tutorial on its use can be found here: Custom Image Uploader

Enjoy!

Uploading Your Images through Lightroom

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 10:49:47 GMT

If you use Lightroom for your image management system, a plugin is available for you to upload your images directly from Lightroom to Instaproofs.

Your may download the plugin from here: Download

This plugin works with all versions of Lightroom from 2+ on both Mac & PC.

Installation and usage instructions can be found on this short tutorial video: Watch Video

Note: If you are having trouble logging into your Instaproofs account through Lightroom, it may be due to security requirements on your computer. Please see here for more information: TLS v1 Is No More

TLSv1 Is No More

Thu, 29 Sep 2016 10:48:13 GMT

TLSv1 Is No More (Welcome TLSv1.1 & TLSv1.2!)

As of Wednesday afternoon (September 21st) we have removed a very old security method from our servers called TLSv1. This is an old encryption method that was used in years gone by, and it has now been replaced with the much more secure TLSv1.1 and TLSv1.2.

You may be wondering why this is important to you, and for many of your it may not be. But, if you have been a little slow to update your PC or your Mac this note may just save you some headaches when it comes to uploading your images through Lightroom and/or logging into your administrative account.

Lightroom
If you were previously able to connect to your Instaproofs account through our Lightroom plugin and you no longer are, that is a good indication that the TLS version on your computer may need to be updated.

Administrative Account Login
If you are having trouble connecting to the login page on the administrative site, that is a good indication as well that the TLS version on your browser may need to be adjusted to support the newer versions of TLS.

HOW TO ADJUST YOUR SETTINGS
---------------------------------------------

Internet Explorer & Lightroom Error (PC):
-----------
1. Open up Internet Explorer.
2. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
4. In the Security category, check Use TLS 1.0, Use TLS 1.1, and Use TLS 1.2 (if available).
5. Note It is important to check consecutive versions. Not selecting consecutive versions (e.g. checking TLS 1.0 and 1.2, but not checking 1.1) could result in connection errors.
6. Click OK
Then try logging in through Lightroom once again

Firefox, Chome, and Opera (PC)
-------------
You can find detailed (though simple) instructions on updating your settings for these browsers, here: https://knowledge.geotrust.com/support/knowledge-base/index?page=content&id=INFO3299

Mac Users
-------------
You will simply need to make sure you are using an up to date version of the Mac OS. If you are unsure whether your browser supports the newer version of TLS, you can check it here: https://www.howsmyssl.com/

And that should do it! Good luck! :)

Tip: It's The Little Things That Matter Most

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:46:30 GMT

In today's post we're going to be offering a variety of suggestions to help ensure that your online photography storefront is setup to be as comfortable and efficient for your visitors as possible. The topics we'll cover are:

Optimal category usage

Effective photograph sorting techniques

Print purchase options

Print pricing strategies

Determining shipping prices

Optimal Category Usage

Your clients' images should be presented to them in a way that is clean, organized, and easily navigable. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is through proper image categorization. Having too many images in any one category, or having too few, will generally result in a smaller number of overall images being viewed and, ultimately, fewer sales.

So what's the magic number? Anywhere from 50-300 images per category seems to be optimal and provides your viewers with the most satisfying experience. This range is fairly loose because it is dependent on the total number of images in each gallery. A couple of good rules of thumb to follow are:

Total Image CountMax Images Per Category < 150 Images1 - 3 categories, depending on subject matter150 - 30040% of the total300 - 75030% of the total750 - 150025% of the total, max 250 > 150020% of the total, max 300

If you're having trouble coming up with categories for your galleries, some examples are given below:

Weddings : Getting Ready, Guests, Bride & Groom, Groom's Family, Bride's Family, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, Decorations, The Ceremony, The Reception, Brunch, Candids

Family : Kids, Parents, Family, Playful, Candids

Seniors : Outfit A, Outfit B, Location A, Location B, Just for Fun, Bloopers

Sporting Events : 1st Quarter, Defensive Plays, That's Gotta Hurt, Home Team, Jersey #, MVP, Game Changers, Victory

Ironman/Marathon : Finishing times, Bib number ranges, Swimming, Bicycling, Running, Endurance, Relief, Finish Line

Boudoir : Favorites, A Little Bit Naughty, Just for Him, Outfit A, Outfit B

Engagement : Location A, Location B, B&W, Just the Bride, Tender Moments

Dance : Wallflowers, Show Stoppers, DJ/Band, Guest Arrivals, Dancing, Candids, Photo Booth

Taking an extra 10 minutes per event to organize your images will result in a better experience for your clients, which will ultimately result in additional print sales for you as well.

Effective Photograph Display Techniques

Similar to organizing your photo galleries into categories (as noted above), the images within those categories should also be arranged in a way that encourages exploration and extended viewing times. There are a few ways to do this, including:

Image Arrangement : Put a handful of your best images at the front of each category, and then organize the rest of your images in a logical sequence. Putting your best images upfront will grab the attention of your viewers and it will encourage them to see what else is inside the category. Once your visitors are inside the category, keep them interested by showing the rest of the images in a way that makes sense. For categories such as Candids there isn't always a "best way" of arranging the images, but for other categories such as Wedding Ceremony the logical sequence will probably be a chronological sequence. In cases such as this, even when multiple shooters are involved, spending a few extra moments to ensure that everything is displayed in the correct sequence will result in a higher photo view-rate and a higher level of satisfaction by your clients.

Image Rotation : It's amazing how many images we see that are left rotated incorrectly! Don't be someone that does this. Having incorrectly rotated images displays a lack of care for your clients and also shows a lack of attention to detail. Many cameras will automatically rotate your images for you, but if yours doesn't, take the time to rotate your images before (or even after!) uploading them. By itself, this simple step of rotating your images correctly makes a huge difference in the experience your clients have while viewing and purchasing their images.

Cull Your Images : One of the quickest ways to bore your clients right off of your storefront is to upload and offer all of the images from their session without pruning/culling them first. Quickly go through the images before you upload them, and delete out everything that doesn't have a reason to be there. Is the person blinking? Delete it. Are they making a funny face? Delete it. Is it a little blurry? Delete it. Have you seen the same thing 5 times already in other images? Delete it! You may find yourself deleting 10-20% or more of your images, and that's okay! Get rid of the images that shouldn't be there in the first place, and don't be afraid to present your clients with just your best work.

Upload sRGB Images : Digital cameras and photo applications such as Photoshop and Lightroom offer the ability to save your images with a variety of different color spaces, but you should always convert your images to sRGB before uploading them to Instaproofs. Why? Because most web browsers have adapted sRGB as their color space and if you upload an image with a different color space (such as AdobeRGB) the browser will convert it to sRGB (and likely do a poor job at it). Additionally, using an sRGB color space will ensure that the colors your clients see on their monitor look most-similar to the finished, printed results.

Print Purchase Options

There are a few different things that we'd like to go over with print purchase options:

Limit Sizing Options - With professional labs offering print sizes anywhere from 2x3 to 40x60 (and everywhere in-between!), it may be tempting to offer an extremely large variety of sizes to your clients as well. Don't do it! Lengthy lists of options can quickly clutter up your storefront and overwhelm your visitors. Additionally, multiple studies have shown that offering more than just a few purchase options generally results in significantly fewer sales. Try to limit your options to just 4-6 of the most commonly-purchased print sizes, plus an instant download option or two for good measure. If you have a client that wants a size that isn't offered online, they can use the contact form to get in touch.

Print Size Sequence - Many photographers naturally list their print sizes from smallest to largest, such as 2x3, 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, etc., but take a few minutes to arrange them a little bit differently and see how it affects your orders! For example, instead of listing your smallest sizes first, list the sizes that you hope to sell the most of first. Or, instead of going from smallest to largest, flip the sequence and start with your larger prints first. A simple change in the option sequence can result in a significant change in your clients' behavior.

Number of Displayed Options - Through your account preferences you can adjust the number of purchase options that are displayed by default on the purchase page. You can use this setting to your advantage by either (a) displaying all of your available options by default, or (b) limiting the view to display just the couple of sizes that you would like your clients to purchase the most. Your non-displayed sizes are easily viewed and selectable by your clients with the simple click of a button on their end, but by keeping them hidden at first you are directing more of your clients' attention to the options you would like them to purchase.

Instant Downloads - Your clients are definitely asking for it and if you haven't started offering these yet, you should start offering them immediately. At a minimum, we recommend offering a single low-res download option (for facebook, viewing on mobile devices, etc.). If you have a high-resolution subscription, we also recommend offering a high-resolution instant download option and possibly even a full-event instant download option.

Print Pricing Strategies

There are a LOT of opinions out there regarding the pricing of your images, so we won't add too much to that clutter. Instead, we'll show you a graph that details out how thousand of your fellow-photographers priced their images over the course of the last twelve months.

The graph we are showing below doesn't give you a starting price point, but instead shows you multiplier values for your sizes that can be used after you have determined how much you'd like to charge for a 4x6 print. Determining the price for your 4x6 is up to you, but it should be at least 3x the price your lab charges you for the same print.

As an example, if we started with a six dollar 4x6 print, the 5x7 multiplier on the graph shows 1.84 which would make the suggested 5x7 price $11.04 ($6 x 1.84 = $11.04).

The multipliers shown on the graph were calculated off of the actual prices for prints sold through Instaproofs during a recent 12 month period.

Two additional observations on print pricing:

The fastest way to lose a significant volume of your sales is to price your prints too high for your target audience. For example, getting an average middle-income individual to purchase 10 4x6s at $6.29/each is significantly easier than getting the same individual to purchase 3 4x6s at $20 apiece; and your profit would be roughly the same in both scenarios.

Your target audience and your original client may not always be one and the same for print sales. For example, if you are shooting a wedding for a wealthy couple that might not hesitate to pay $20 for a 4x6 print, that doesn't necessarily mean that their friends and family are going to be able to afford that rate as well. In fact, they probably won't be able to. So when coming up with your pricing strategy, be sure to put some thought into who your target audience for print sales is, rather than who your target audience for your photography services is.

Determining Shipping Prices

Have you ever abandoned an online purchase at the point of checkout simply because the shipping prices were higher than you expected them to be? If you are like the majority of online shoppers, the answer is probably yes. In fact, according to research conducted by BI Intelligence, 58% of US shoppers reported abandoning purchases because "Shipping costs made the total purchase more than expected."

Obviously shipping isn't free and someone has to pay it, but overcharging for it is a fast way to kill a sale! To help you get an idea of what reasonable shipping rates are, we have put together a graph showing the average shipping prices charged for orders placed through all U.S. Instaproofs storefront in the past twelve months.

Are your shipping prices significantly higher than those found in the chart above? If so, you may want to consider revising your rates. You may also want to consider offering free shipping to your clients if your print prices or your minimum order requirements include a buffer large enough to accommodate this. For most people, receiving free shipping encourages more frequent, and often larger, orders.

-------

Now that you've taken the time to read our suggestions, the next step is to implement them! We've seen a lot of people update their storefronts based on the various suggestions we've provided, and we've seen a lot of people increase their sales because of it. We know that you can do it to; good luck!

Tip: Create Personalized Mobile Apps

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 15:44:06 GMT

Custom Mobile Apps

Included with each Instaproofs account is the ability to quickly create personalized Mobile Apps for your clients.

What Are They

Our mobile apps are collections of up to 50 photos that your clients can view in a way that is specifically optimized for their mobile devices. In addition to the photos, each mobile app also contains your contact information, an optional link to one of your storefront events, and up to three additional customizable links of your choice. The apps are shareable, work off-line, and acts like a business card that your clients are excited to share with everyone they know!

Unlike a standard website that contains your client's images, our mobile apps put their images within a single tap's distance at all times from their mobile device's homescreen. Each app's icon is also fully customizable and can be set to feature one of your client's images! Using one of your client's photos as the app icon allows them to feel like you went above and beyond the normal call of duty, and it makes them very open to sharing the app (and the photos you took) with others.

These apps are not mini-storefronts, and they do not provide a direct way for your clients to purchase images. Instead, they provide a convenient way for your clients to view some of the best photos from their event and they provide a simple way for them to share these images with others.

Why Use Them

Mobile apps are an EXCELLENT way to both re-excite your previous clients about their older events, and to get your newer clients excited about their recent photo session as well. They're also an awesome word-of-mouth tool, and can easily be shared by your clients with their friends and families through Facebook, twitter, and email. Additionally, when your clients are looking for a photographer in the future for their next event, they can open up the app and your contact information is there at their fingertips.

Since the mobile apps contain your contact details, they instantly become potential referrals when they are shared. Everyone that views each app and the images within them can quickly contact you to arrange a session of their own! In fact, many photographers have reported that these types of apps have become one of their primary referral sources. What makes these apps so effective is that your clients LOVE to share them with their friends and family, and your images get to do all the talking!

How Your Clients Install Them

Instead of having your clients install these apps through an App Store, you simply shoot your clients an email with a link to the app in it. After clicking the link on their mobile device, they select the "Add to Homescreen" option and the app's icon is then added to their device's homescreen. From that point on, your clients will be able to view their images at any time, regardless of whether they are online or off, with just a simple click of an icon.

The apps are compatible with all devices, including Android devices and Apple devices.

Setting It Up

Mobile apps are setup through the Mobile Apps tab within your account. Here's how to set them up:

The first step to creating a mobile app is to define one or more “Brands.” A brand is simply a set of contact information and a logo that should be associated with your mobile apps. To create your first brand, head into the Mobile App Brands page within the Mobile Apps tab , and click the “Create Brand” button. You will only need to setup your brand(s) one time, regardless of the number of apps you choose to create afterwards.
Once you've got your first brand created, the next step is to create a mobile app through the Mobile Apps page. On the Mobile Apps page, click the "Create New Mobile App" button and give your app a name.
After the mobile app's name and other settings have been defined the page will refresh and you can then add images to the app through the "Add" link that will be found on that same page.
The images can be added to the mobile app in either of two ways: (1) they can be pulled from an existing event, or (2) new images can be uploaded specifically for the app.
Once the images have been uploaded and saved, you can re-arrange them by dragging them into the sequence that you'd like them to be in. You can also add optional comments to the images as well.
The only thing left after adding the images is letting your clients know about their mobile app! You can do this through the "Email" functionality associated with each mobile app in the Mobile Apps page.
And that's it! The mobile apps are available for all account-holders, with a limit of 5 concurrently-active apps for standard accounts, and an unlimited number of apps for photographers with active High Resolution Subscriptions.

And that's all there is to it! Once you've setup your first mobile app, adding additional apps for your additional clients can be done very very quickly.

Thinking Outside the Box

Another use for mobile apps that has proven to be very effective for some of our photographers is to create mobile apps, for free, for multiple popular venues throughout the city(s) that they do business in. The basics of it are this:

Take professional photos of the venues, for free
Create a "Brand" for them in the Mobile Apps area within your Instaproofs account. Their brand would contain their business name, their logo, and their contact information.
Create a mobile app for the venue using the photos that you have taken. Add a small watermark containing your company name to the corner of the images before uploading them for the app.
Add a custom link to the mobile app that directs people looking for a photographer to take their pictures at the venue back to you.
Send the completed Mobile App's link to your contact at the venue.
The venue should then includes the app's link on their outgoing emails and other marketting material (both printed and digital).

Doing this is a win-win for both you and the venue. For them, they get free professional photos of their location and they get a free mobile app that people can use to view their property. The mobile app also provides the venue's contact information, so it acts as a digital calling card for them. For you, every time people view the app they also view your images, and there is a link back to you if they are interested in in hiring a photographer to use at the venue.

In many of our other tips we provide instructions on how to set things up in your Instaproofs account to receive more print sales. In this tip we are going to talk about something a little bit different; our tip for today is focusing on a way to vastly increase your referrals without you having to ask your clients for them!

Tip: Double-Prints Sale

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:41:37 GMT

Every year we see the same thing over and over... photography sales January through April are lower than all of the other months in the year. Let's make this year different! Instead of doing the same things you've always done, and making the same sales you've always made, let's make these couple of months SPECTACULAR for your print sales instead!

Over the course of the next few days we are going to be putting out a series of suggestions to help make your photography sales better than they have been before. These tips and suggestions can be used any time of the year to boost your sales, but start using them early to get a boost in your sales during some of these slower months!

Double-Prints Sale

Our first suggestion is to put on a DOUBLE-PRINTS sale.

Let your clients know that if their orders are over $XX (whatever minimum amount you would like) during the next few weeks they will receive a SECOND COPY of every print they purchase, for free! By making it a double-print sale, every additional print they order results in additional profit for you (assuming your prices are more than 2x the fulfillment costs) and additional happiness for them. It's a win-win! :)

Setting It Up

Because a double-print sale doesn't require anything to be setup in your storefront (you're just doubling whatever they order!), all you need to do to start the sale is:

Send a sale announcement email to all of your prior storefront visitors (through our bulk email functionality )
Post a notice to your Facebook page
Tweet the sale to your twitter followers
Put a note up on your business website and blog
Post a note to each of your events announcing the deal

Fulfilling Your Orders

Once you receive an order simply submit it to your preferred lab as normal, but make sure to order double the quantity that your client has ordered. And that's it!

If you are using our Automatic Fulfillment services simply add a note to your automatic fulfillment settings and let us know to double the order quantities, and we'll handle it from there!

Show Me The Money

Bringing in just one to two extra print orders per week using this technique can result in hundreds of extra dollars in your pocket every month just for running the sale!

So what are you waiting for? Give it a shot, and let's see what this can do for you!

Tip: Bounce-back Discounts

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:39:51 GMT

One of the least known-about discounts available through our system is the Bounce-back Discount. It's not something hidden or obscure, but it is a little different than a standard discount and sometimes people get confused by this. Don't let that be you! Bounce-back Discounts can be a very effective way to encourage additional sales, and we're going to tell you how to set them up.

Bounce-back Discounts

Have you ever been shopping and been given a coupon afterwards that said something along the lines of "Come back anytime between X and Y and receive $XXX off your purchase"? That's exactly what a Bounce-back Discount is! A Bounce-Back Discount is a single-use discount code that is automatically created and given to each of your customers after they have placed a qualifying order through your storefront. The automatically-created discount codes can be worth as much or as little as you'd like, and they can be setup to be given out with any minimum purchase requirements you define.

In addition to this being a discount that's custom-created for each of your customers individually, the Bounce-back Discount has one more feature that makes it even more powerful: each discount expires just 24 hours after your client places their original order! The limited-time nature of the discount provides a sense of urgency for your clients, and the discount being offered incentivizes them to go ahead and purchase the couple of additional prints that they were previously considering.

Setting It Up

Bounce-back Discounts are setup through the “Discounts” page within the “Setup” tab. Here's how to set them up:

Scroll to the bottom of the "Discounts" page and click the “Create New” button under the “Discount Codes” heading.

Give the discount a name. Since the name won't be seen by your clients go ahead and give it something short and descriptive that will help you remember what it's for.

Select which events you'd like the bounce-back discounts to be created on. If you'd like the discounts to be created for orders on all of your events, select the “All Events” option at the top of the list.

From the “Discount Type” droplist, select the bounce-back discount option that fits what you're trying to do. The options include: Single Dollar Amount, Single Percentage, Multi-tier Dollar Amount, and Multi-tier Percentage.

Finish defining the rest of the discount by setting a triggering-amount value, a specific discount value, an expiration date, and any other information that you are being asked for on the screen.

Click the “Save Discount Code” button at the bottom of the screen to save the new discount.

And that's it! After you've finished setting up the discount it will immediately (and automatically) go to work for you. Every order that comes through your storefront afterwards will be checked against the Bounce-back Discount criteria that you've setup, and if it finds a match a new discount code will automatically be created and given to your client.

Show Me The Money

Bounce-back Discounts are some of the easiest ways to encourage additional sales from your existing clients. They can turn a single $100 order into a $100 order + a $50 bounce-back order, or a $400 order into a $400 order + a $150 bounce-back order. In fact, our highest-selling photographer has used these types of discounts to earn thousands of extra dollars every year simply by setting up this functionality.

Since these discounts are truly a set-it-and-forget-it type of discount, what are you waiting for? Give the Bounce-back Discounts a shot and let us know if you have any questions as you are getting setup.

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