SPOA 2024 Wrap-Up

Thank you to everyone who came and caught up with us this year. It was great to see all your faces. For us, this year’s SPOA was not just about celebrating our wonderful high volume community but also about embracing the future of the industry. From our new unified team to SPOA’s board and structure change to talks about AI and new industry-relevant data, this year, change was in the air. 

Let’s dive into the exciting updates and share some key takeaways from this year’s conference. 

Huh? What’s SPOA?

Before we jump into what our 2024 SPOA conference looked like, let’s first give you a quick overview of what SPOA is. 

 

SPOA, short for School Photographers of America, is a group dedicated to educating, advocating, and keeping the traditions of school photography alive. While the conference itself is new, the organization has deep roots. Starting in the 1950s as the Professional School Photographers (AASP), they’ve been here supporting the industry ever since! 

One Unified Team takes on SPOA

One of our standout themes this year was the power of unity. Over the past year, Fotomerchant, ImageQuix, PhotoLynx, and Skylab have merged into a powerhouse, creating an environment ripe for innovation and collaboration. This union is a testament to our shared vision of revolutionizing the high volume photography industry.

 

This year at SPOA, we were pumped to share our new platform direction with you all, and share the excitement together!  So, what were we so excited to share? Well, the fruit of our unified efforts – Blueprint.

 

Our high volume platform is designed to streamline and enhance studio workflows. Blueprint isn’t just a product; it’s a solution crafted from years of industry experience and customer feedback. It’s designed to simplify processes, improve efficiency, and ultimately help studios thrive in a competitive market. Key new features for fall include facial recognition, open API, job stages, and organization grouping, all aimed at enhancing your studio’s productivity and success.

Gold medals all round

Enough product chat, let’s get into the party details! This year at SPOA, we hosted the welcome party. Doing it in style, this year’s theme was the Olympics. Set right after the grand opening of the Tradeshow, the night was full of chats, drinks, and laughs. We had a fantastic Vegas singer, but Miles Hayes from VIP Images stole the show with his time on the stage. A real showman indeed!

Education for a good cause

One of the best moments at SPOA 2024 was definitely the Tim Tebow interview. Tim, known for his awesome sports career and inspiring presence, brought so much energy and heart to the event. We’re very pleased about SPOA’s new partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation to help kids in need.

 

Tim shared some amazing stories about his work, especially the Night to Shine events that give people with special needs an unforgettable prom experience. This was a major highlight of the conference, reminding us all about the power of compassion and community. Let’s not forget: Our industry is all about bringing smiles to people’s faces!

The Industry Report talks

Our industry is hungry for data, and the popularity of our talks demonstrated this. We held two talks this year, both focused on our School Photography Industry Report made in conjunction with SPOA. Packed with insights on current trends, challenges, and opportunities, let the data in this report set you free!

Let’s talk about parents! Lucy Richards, James Anderson

In this talk about parents, we explored how the report can complement your internal and third-party data, highlighting the new and improved format with dates and non-buyer data. 

Success with your Schools. Lucy Richards, James Anderson

The school report session was all about bridging the communication gap between parents and schools. We also shared tips on how studios can use the report to build trust and get involved this year.

Now, we need your help.

This year’s report is set to be our best yet. We’ve listened to your feedback and gathered even more comprehensive data, including insights from non-buyers.

Sounds great, right? But we need your help to make it happen. Please share the survey link below with your parents and schools. The more responses we get, the better the data will be. It’s that simple!

Survey Link: https://form.typeform.com/to/tacLw0nV?utm_source=SPOA2023ATT

Not sure how to share it? You can send it in a direct email, add it to your promotional emails, or print a QR code for your order forms. Need help or some marketing support for the report? Contact Lucy at lucy.richards@fotomerchant.com.

So long for now

To wrap things up, it was great to see all your faces at SPOA 2024 this year! We’re super excited about the future and can’t wait to see even more growth and collaboration within our community.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and made this year’s conference unforgettable. Let’s keep the momentum going and make 2024/2025 our best year yet!

MVP 2024 Recap

Well, that was fun

We’ve just wrapped up MVP for this year and are already missing you all! Thank you to everyone who attended the MVP’s 17th year; we appreciate you. To take a stroll down the not-so-distant memory lane, we’ve compiled this blog to reflect on this year’s conference.

Missed MVP? No worries, let me fill you in. 

What Exactly is MVP, Anyway?

The Mastering Volume Photography (MVP) conference has been the must-attend event for anyone in the high-volume photography industry for the past 17 years. It’s where studios gather to catch up on the latest trends, technologies, and strategies shaping the future.

Session highlights

This year’s MVP was packed with insightful content. We had everything from lively panel discussions to hands-on workshops, all designed to give you practical tips and insights to help your studio thrive.

Viva las workshops

Our lineup of workshops was a major highlight. These hands-on sessions, led by Drew Starr and Kati Townsend, invited Cherished Memories, the Photo Guys, and Dave Stock to share parts of their capture workflow. 

Split over three interactive sessions, we looked at QR code picture days, how to optimize a tethered workflow, and how to leverage metadata. 

Data-backed email marketing

In Priyanka’s Tuesday session, attendees received useful tips and tricks on how to enhance their email campaigns. She didn’t just offer advice; she backed it up with solid data, transforming complex statistics into actionable insights.

In her extremely useful presentation, Priyanka did the impossible: she made dense data feel less cold. 

Keynote speakers

We showcased two excellent keynote speakers this year.

Redmond Ramos showed how we could turn struggles into success through perseverance. A crowd favorite, a very lively Q&A followed Redmond’s talk.

Michelle Mei highlighted the power of good leadership. In this interactive session, Michelle shared tips for building genuine relationships and trust with those around you. 

Anyone else feeling inspired? I know we are!

The future of Blueprint

One of the standout sessions focused on the future of Blueprint. The packed room was a testament to the excitement surrounding this topic. We unveiled upcoming developments that promise to revolutionize Blueprint and the high volume industry as a whole. 

Be part of something exciting with a new, united, dedicated team. Click here to learn more.

Bright AI-deas

Artificial Intelligence is transforming photography. Period.

In Coty and TJ’s sessions, attendees learned how AI can streamline studio workflows. For example, Coty revealed in her session about add-ons that AI can reduce production time by 90%. Amazing right?!

These sessions sparked numerous conversations about the future of AI in photography and its already popular status, with over 150 million images being edited by AI to date.

Everybody loves a good panel

This year, we hosted a series of panels featuring success stories and case studies from various studios. 

These panels provided real-world examples of how your fellow studios have adapted to changing market conditions, implemented new technologies, and achieved remarkable growth. The stories were not only inspiring but also offered practical takeaways that attendees could apply to their own businesses. 

Looking into the high volume crystal ball

One of the underpinning themes of MVP is shining a light on emerging trends in high volume photography.

This year, we heard powerful insights on the future of the industry. These discussions equipped attendees with the knowledge to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on new opportunities. Who needs a crystal ball when you have MVP?

Knowledge sharing is caring

One of the most rewarding aspects of MVP is the opportunity to network. From lobby chats to evening socials, there were countless opportunities to connect with fellow high volume professionals. These interactions allowed attendees to share experiences, discuss challenges, and brainstorm solutions together—of course, with the occasional chuckle in between. We were in Vegas, after all; it’s the law to enjoy yourself! 

If you’re lucky, you may even find your long-lost best friend at MVP. This year, a TikTok created at MVP went viral, it’s currently at 1.4 million streams and rising. Created by user hann.mo, click below to view.

Every good bromance needs a sequel. Luckily, hann.mo did not disappoint. 

Did somebody say party?

It wouldn’t be Vegas without a bit of a party! On Monday, we kicked things off at Troy’s in the Golden Nugget, enjoying a rooftop patio overlooking Fremont Street, great music, and delicious crudités. 

Tuesday’s Happy Hour was a perfect mix and mingle. Set in Booth hours, attendees sipped on tasty drinks while learning about all of the innovative leaps and great products our 2024 sponsors are offering. Shout out to our sponsors for supporting this year’s MVP! 

We wrapped things up on Wednesday with another Happy Hour, featuring fresh popcorn and chips and dips. If attendees were too busy munching and sipping at the parties, the endless meetings, sidebar conversations, and dinners gave everyone plenty of chances to swap experiences, ask questions, and share laughs.

Until next year!

For those in the high volume industry who haven’t yet attended the MVP conference, we highly recommend you join us next year. It’s an investment in your business that will pay off in spades. The knowledge, skills, and connections you’ll gain are truly invaluable.

For more detailed insights into what we covered at the conference, you can read more here. If you have any feedback on the MVP conference this year, we’d love to hear it! Please click the button below to fill out a quick form.

Let us know your thoughts

We hope to see you at the MVP conference next year. Until then, keep innovating, learning, and growing. 

One unified team

Better together

As we join forces with ImageQuix and Skylab, we are building a high volume solution that will transform our industry. In this industry, great tech speaks volumes, but what makes all the difference is our people. 

Our new unified team pools decades of industry knowledge into one place. As we all work together to build Blueprint into a powerful, all-encompassing platform, we are leveraging some of the most respected and brilliant minds in the industry. Haven’t heard our platform amalgamation news? Take a look at this blog first to learn about our exciting new direction.

We’re all here, poised and ready to grow your studio like never before. In this blog, I’ll take you through our recent company meet-up and introduce some new faces to the team. 

Without further ado, let’s catch up with the new unified team.

Bonding, planning, and strategizing

Last month, we all gathered at our new HQ in Raleigh North Carolina. Flying in from Australia, Canada, Austria and the UK; we came from all corners of the globe. Fighting the jet-lag, we made our way to the new office, excited to finally meet the faces we’d connected with over zoom. It’s always interesting seeing people’s heights in real life! 

Getting straight to work, we blocked out meetings, strategized and combined our brain power to plan for the future. We’ve got some exciting projects in the works, all directed by one clear objective: help to grow your business.

Let’s be real. New relationships aren’t formed in the board rooms; they happen outside the office! With this in mind, we broke off into smaller groups to break the ice with some team-bonding activities. Enjoy a few snaps taken below of our time together. From ziplining, to food tours, golfing, kayaking and escape rooms, we mixed with new team members and made some incredible memories! 

Meet the unified team

Through combining teams, we have gained some great new additions. Now that we are all working towards one goal, we are ready to innovate like never before. Here are some faces you may be aware of, or indirectly aware of the excellent projects/products they have developed. 

Unfortunately we can’t highlight all of our great team here, so here are a few for now.

Priyanka Sai Sankar
Lead Marketing Strategist

Working with our current customer email marketing team, we’re learning so much from Priyanka’s expertize. We’re excited to have Priyanka’s invaluable input into our marketing tactics. 

In April 2024, Priyanka and her team increased customer marketing-attributed revenue by an average of 75% compared to April 2023. Yep, you read that right!

 Priyanka has an impressive track record spearheading ImageQuix’s email marketing strategy. She is highly analytical and constantly works to improve customer campaigns. 

Alireza Shafaei
Director of Machine Learning

Use Skylab? This is the brains behind the clever bulk image-correcting software.  

We’re excited to have Alireza, one of the Skylab founders, on the team. With a Ph.D. in Machine Learning and Computer Vision from UBC, Reza has over 10 years of research experience and 5+ years in the industry. A true problem solver, Alireza is putting his energy into streamlining your studio workflow, one powerful algorithm at a time. He is an incredible asset to our team! 

Anthony Iavarone
Product Support Manager

If you’ve worked in the high-volume industry, you will have encountered Ant. An ImageQuix OG, Ant has a solid background in customer relations and process improvement.

As a CAPM-certified professional, Ant has blended his technical IT skills with smart marketing strategies to boost studio revenue. 

All about improving user experiences, Ant is incredibly committed to providing great technical service, always putting customer satisfaction first.

The four-legged team

It’s only fair to include our furry friends. At Raleigh HQ, these valued members of the team have important duties. Napping, cuddles, and that’s about it. I guess you could call these guys the personality hires. 

We're dreaming big

Why? Because the high-volume industry deserves it! We believe this industry is ready to experience the same transformative innovation that streamlines businesses in other industries. This is just the beginning!

The world is changing, and your time remains a valuable commodity. So, as we unify our teams, products, and solutions, we have this cornerstone in mind: we want to free up more of your time so you can focus on growing your business.

Thanks for joining us today to meet the unified team. If you want to learn more about our new team, contact your CS resource.

SPAC 2024 Recap

We’ve just returned from the Super “SPAC” Bowl in Las Vegas; let me tell you, it was the best one yet! Our 23-strong team brought the thunder from Down Under to the desert city, leaving an Aussie-infused imprint on the conference.

Our mission was to champion our trinity of awesomeness: features, support, and customer marketing. We demonstrated this across two booths, our data-driven talk, photo opportunities, and, of course, our closing party on Saturday night. We had so much fun meeting new people and reuniting with old friends; it was a symphony of success stories!

Demo Booth Delight and Showcase Shenanigans

Our main demo booth was packed! Drawing in curious minds who wanted to learn more about our standout features, dedicated support, and strategic customer marketing. Our team enjoyed demonstrating our products and connecting with all who came to visit. And that yearbook booth? It was a success as attendees stunned us with their professional headshot skills and sporting celebration prowess!

Win Back the Non-Buyer

On Thursday, amongst all the other amazing education sessions, enter James Anderson and Tearah Fox, our dynamic duo of data-fueled strategy. Their presentation was nothing short of magical, turning numbers into narratives and offering actionable strategies for business success. As the cheers echoed through Sonoma (for both the data and James’ hair), attendees were left armed with knowledge and ready to execute their playbook in the business world.

Winners and Touchdown Poses

But the fun didn’t stop there! We threw a ripper of an Aussie-themed wrap-up suite party. The highlight? Our cash prize winners! The celebration was off the charts as we toasted success, and everyone’s touchdown poses were as legendary as a Steve Irwin adventure.

Adding New Players to the Roster

To top it off, we proudly showcased our team jerseys not just as a symbol of unity but as a declaration that teamwork makes the dream work! Joining our new mates from ImageQuix, Photolynx, and Skylab in the huddle, our squad was stronger than ever. The synergy was palpable, and the jerseys weren’t just fabric; they were a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines our new journey.

And so, as the SPAC curtain falls, we bask in the afterglow of success, a cocktail of Aussie flair and unwavering teamwork. Until next time, keep it SPAC-tacular, and remember, in the league of conferences, SPAC is the MVP.

Did you miss out on asking your burning questions? Want to know more about winning back the non-buyers? Or did you even miss out on registering for your SPAC photo gallery? Let us know! Click below to contact us or book a demo!

SPAC 2024

Buckle up; SPAC 2024 is right around the corner. Bring on the long nights, long days, and chapped desert lips. 

This SPAC, we’re on a mission to help you grow. Our fully automated workflow is geared to streamline operations, engage customers, and boost your revenue. Whether you want end-to-end automation or to fill in the missing parts of your workflow, we’ll meet your unique needs. 

This blog will take you through what we’ll be up to this SPAC. Let’s jump into the exciting talks, unforgettable parties, and new friends that await you.

Win Back the Non-Buyer

Join us on Thursday, January 25th, at 2:00pm for a talk that delves into the world of abandoned carts. Speakers James Anderson and Anne Badalamenti will share data and insights from multiple industries, unveiling proven strategies to win back the elusive non-buyer. Say goodbye to abandoned carts and hello to paid-in-full ones!

Let’s Party

After soaking up knowledge, it’s time to let your hair down on Saturday, January 27th, at 4:30pm. Dive into an AUS sports-themed party, where you can compete for cash prizes. Strike your best touchdown pose after getting your yearbook photo taken in the foyer. The competition winners will be announced at the Fotomerchant party. Let the games begin.

Fotomerchant, Where Studios Come to Grow

With many great solutions in the industry, choosing the best option is hard. Let us make it simple for you; with Fotomerchant, you’ll grow in these three ways:

With Fotomerchant, you’ll have more control. Automate to your heart’s content or retain control over specific workflow aspects – it’s your choice. With a refined API connection, tried and tested for reliability and security, Fotomerchant’s automated workflow is the key to your studio’s growth.

“We captured a lot more automation on Fotomerchant that made it so we could set our seasons up and set up our galleries with less people and handle our uploads with less people.” – Brendan Collopy

Fotomerchant covers all the bases, from automated face cropping to smart knockouts and intelligent pose technology. Our integration with Perfectly Clear and Skylab ensures automatic image enhancements for that perfect shot. Choose from a vast range of backgrounds to customize your studio’s look.

We don’t just send you to a knowledge base and say goodbye, we’ll help you navigate where you want to go. Providing ongoing support even after onboarding, we’re always around for a chat. We’re cool like that. 

“The people, you just can’t not like your crew. It’s real people. If you look at the group you’re working with; everything else falls in place.” – Matt Steckley

Our revamped onboarding process ensures a guided and supported journey for your studio. Partner with Fotomerchant, and you’ll have a dedicated support team, proactive in addressing pain points and working towards maximizing your studio’s potential.

Leverage data to grow your business with Fotomerchant. Win new school clients and convert non-buyers with our data-backed marketing. Our School Photography Industry Report provides insights to navigate industry changes. Encrypted and secure, your data is in safe hands with routine risk assessments to safeguard information.

Implement abandoned cart emails that work with Fotomerchant’s rigorous split testing. Our data-backed marketing, including seasonal and promotional campaigns, is constantly evolving.

The Future Is Bright: Fotomerchant x ImageQuix Partnership

Fotomerchant is teaming up with ImageQuix to bring you enhanced capabilities and stay at the forefront of innovation. This is not just a partnership; it’s a game-changer. More brains, better solutions – you get the drift.

What does this mean for you? Along with enhanced capabilities, you’ll be ahead of the curve. Together, Fotomerchant and ImageQuix are on a mission to keep things fresh and cutting-edge. Your evolving needs? Consider them met with the best solutions in the industry. Period. 

See You There!

That’s just scratching the surface of what we have in stall for you this SPAC. We can’t wait to catch up in person to reflect, plan, and, of course, joke around. 

Go on, come find us at SPAC 2024, and let’s grow together.

How We Work

Totally Remote. Totally Awesome.

The Fotomerchant team is all about good vibes. We are people who like people, and it’s important to us that we all respect each other and get along. We gravitate towards hiring people with these traits because we have a clear idea of who we are and who we want to be, not only with one another but with our customers and within the broader industry. 

Everyone in the Fotomerchant team works remotely, which means that we don’t have any shared office space; the majority of our team works from their homes. We love working this way because it allows us to have the best people possible without geographical restrictions. It also means that we can connect with our customers across a broad spectrum of time zones, an invaluable asset to our industry-leading support model.

But how do we manage this? There are some very specific challenges that a remote team has to navigate, and we have learned some important lessons along the way so that we continue to be better and faster, day by day.

Reach Out

We encourage our team to have as many video calls as they need. Struggling to work out a problem? Why not run through it with another team member? It’s everyone’s responsibility to fight against feeling isolated, though we understand this can be a tricky balance to navigate.

“Water cooler chatter” has an important place in an in-person office; fun small talk is crucial to developing a sense of community and connection. We have dedicated Slack channels for music & books, pets, and one dedicated to random silliness. Getting to know and share with the team is at everyone’s fingertips.

Use Good Tools

Slack

Communication is key. It is vital that we have a great way to connect to both the Fotomerchant team and our customers. Slack is a fantastic platform we use to organize, plan, connect, joke, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Sure, we’ll have Zoom meetings throughout the week, but Slack is the team’s central communication hub. There are full-staff, team-specific, project, and customer channels.

Venue

Venue is a terrific platform where we run our full-team Town Halls. There is an excellent range of interaction tools: polls, Q&A’s, breakout rooms, and randomized 1-1’s. This is only something we introduced to the team earlier this year, and we are still developing ways to maximize all the fun new toys it comes with; their support has been really helpful, and they are constantly adding new features. Definitely worth checking out!

Asana

Being a team that is so spread out means we have to collaborate proactively. Asana is a task management solution that works exceptionally well for our support, marketing, and Capture teams. Large multi-tiered projects and small support tasks: Asana helps us manage it all.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips for remote work from a staff handbook we are developing. It’s not yet been released, so this is a sneak peek just for you!

  • Don’t be afraid to take a break. Not one where you’re still checking your phone…a real one!
  • Get outside and move around. Sun is good (so is sunblock)! It helps the body and the mind; some Vitamin D works wonders! Plenty of seemingly immovable work problems have been solved during a walk around the block.
  • It can be nice to switch up your working environment occasionally, even if it’s still at home. This can look like a simple desk re-arrangement, making your workspace tidy or pleasant to be around, plants are proven to be particularly beneficial, or simply moving to a different part of your home.
Here are some of our own team’s setups.
 
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  • Some basic routines to start your day and establish your workspace can go a long way. Some team suggestions include:
    – Enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee
    – Having a particular scented diffuser/candle for your office area
    – Listening to a certain playlist or genre during ‘heads down’ work sessions
  • Some of our team regularly use the Pomodoro method, especially when they have a full workload. This site is recommended.
  • InsightTimer has an extensive range of free guided and unguided meditations, reflections, and exercises. A healthy mind and a healthy body make for a healthy life.

So that’s a tiny glimpse of life with Fotomerchant; along with developing the best workflow solutions available on the market, we are committed to developing the best fully remote team experience worldwide. It’s an exciting goal and something I am thrilled to be part of helping build.

Don’t be a stranger; follow us on socials to stay in the Fotomerchant loop!

Season Wrap-Up

Wrapping Up the Season

As the season comes to a close, your Christmas gifts aren’t the only thing that needs wrapping up. Whether you’ve had an amazing season or faced unexpected challenges, we’d love your feedback. Here at Fotomerchant, we believe in embracing the power of reflection and data analysis to help you succeed. So, let’s dive into the end-of-season wrap-up and explore how we can help you excel in the coming seasons.

Reflect, Analyze, and Plan Ahead

First things first, we encourage you to take a step back and reflect on your goals and expectations for the past season. Did you set specific targets or aspirations? Maybe you aimed to increase your customer base, explore new promotional plans, or improve your client relationship. Whatever it was, now is the time to ask yourself: Have you exceeded your expectations, or perhaps you’ve faced some unforeseen challenges?

We understand that every season is a unique adventure, and sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. But that’s okay! Reflecting on your experiences is a crucial step in your studio’s journey. It allows you to learn and grow, helping you make better-informed decisions moving forward.

Unleash the Power of Data

Here at Fotomerchant, we’re all about data. That’s right! We believe that data can be a game-changer for your studio. We aim to turn your data into actionable insights, helping you make informed decisions that drive your business forward. So, let’s talk about one of the most powerful tools we offer: reports. 

Our powerful reporting area provides you with a wealth of information that can help you understand your business better than ever before. Here’s a taste of what it has to offer:

Most Popular Packages: 

Find out which photography packages were ordered the most during the season. This information can help you tailor your offerings to meet the demands of your clients.

Year-on-Year Comparisons: 

Worked with the same school for a while? Our reports can show you how your business has evolved over the years. This can help you identify trends and plan for future growth.

Digital vs. Print: 

Is your business more digital or print-oriented? Our reports can break down your sales by format, helping you make strategic decisions about your product offerings.

If you find anything interesting or surprising in your data, please let us know. We love hearing about your discoveries and are here to help you make the most of your insights. The possibilities are endless!

Now that you’re winding down for the season, why not curl up in front of the fire with a delightful blog? We’ve got the perfect one for you! Check out our blog detailing how to best use our reporting area. In it, we provide a deeper dive into the world of data analysis and how it can supercharge your business. 

Explore Our Knowledge Base

We encourage you to explore our Knowledge Base for even more information and guidance. It is a treasure trove of resources that can help you navigate the world of Fotomerchant. Whether you’re looking for tips on post-processing techniques or mastering the use of our platform, the Knowledge Base has you covered.

To embark on a tour of our Knowledge Base, please visit click here.

Onwards and Upwards

We take support seriously and always look for ways to improve. We will be reaching out to all of our customers with a survey so they have the opportunity to provide feedback. We want to hear about your future goals and the challenges of the season and have a general catch-up. Your favorite recipe from the Fall? Yum, let us know. 

Now, to get all soppy. As one season comes to a close, another one opens up with endless possibilities. It’s time to reflect, analyze, and plan ahead, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Let’s make the upcoming season even better and faster than ever before.

Onboarding with Fotomerchant

Welcome, Fotomerchants-in-Training

We know you’re itching to get started with our amazing platform, and today, we’re going to give you a sneak peek into the wonderful world of onboarding. 

We’ve been busy streamlining our onboarding to ensure you feel supported and productive throughout the whole process. Each year, we’ve been making improvements to our onboarding. Why? Because we want to make sure you have the smoothest journey possible. After all, we’re all in this together!

Onboarding: A Two-Way Street

Yep, onboarding is a bit like a tango; it takes two to make it work! We want to know all about you and your studio. The more we know, the better we can support you. We’ll leave no stone unturned to understand your needs, expectations, and quirks.

In case you haven’t noticed, we love a good laugh and camaraderie. Working with us is a hoot! So buckle up and get ready for some fun as we embark on this Fotomerchant adventure together.

We’re Your Partners

Fotomerchant is all about being your partner in crime. We don’t just hand you a ‘get started with Fotomerchant’ box and disappear. We’re here to guide you through the process and ensure you’re fulfilling solo confidently when the time comes. And guess what? The onboarding is just the beginning of our partnership!

Unraveling the Mysteries of Onboarding

Let’s dive into the onboarding guide, shall we? You’ll have your logo and our side by side because this is a partnership, my friends! Throughout the onboarding, you’ll be introduced to our stellar team and wowed by the wonders of our industry-leading conversational support model. Ever used Slack before? You’re in for a treat!

Our onboarding area includes many handy links for you to stay across all elements of your set-up, including extra information such as webinars, blogs, and case studies. Our knowledge base area is also easily accessible here, so you can read up on implementing some of our cool features. From here, you can easily navigate through the Fotomerchant universe!

With us, you can sleep easily. We’ve got your timeline covered, and you’ll have a clear understanding of your onboarding arc. We separate each component via product lines/genres in our new and improved onboarding process. No workflow is the same, so each onboard setup must differ. So, we split your onboarding into different genres or product lines. This allows us to accommodate for any nuances in each of your genre setups. We’re flexible like that!

We believe in transparency all the way! You’ll always know exactly what’s happening, who’s doing what, and when it’ll all be ready. You’ll be able to track our progress, see due dates, and where the roadblocks are. Some of these due dates will be for us, others for you. Nevertheless, you can rest assured you will always feel in the loop of your onboarding journey.

Ask Away

If you have any questions or suggestions after this blog, just message us. We’re all ears and eager to make this process even better for you! To experience a more in-depth guide to this new onboarding system, take a look at our recent webinar. Peter Koop and Tearah Fox will show you the ropes alongside some classic Australian/Canadian banter. 

Well, that’s all for now. Until next time!

SPOA 2023 Recap

What a Ride!

We’re back from the SPOA conference, and boy, was it a blast! This was the second SPOA conference ever, and it did not disappoint! Held in the beautiful – but oh so humid – Greenville, South Carolina, our team traveled from around the world to gather and see old friends and make new ones. Follow this blog to learn more about the SPOA organization and our partnership.

Now, sit back and relax as we dive into this exciting recap.

Training Session: Picture Day to Sale in Minutes with Fotomerchant

Our training session on July 11th was a big hit! Peter Koop, our friendly Canadian expert, took center stage and showed everyone how Fotomerchant can take you from picture day to sale in mere minutes. The room was buzzing with excitement as attendees learned handy tips to streamline their workflow. This friendly Canadian really knows his stuff!

Parent and School Findings Talks

On July 12th, James Anderson and Luke Calo took to the stage and dropped some serious data-informed knowledge bombs during their talks on the Industry Report. With one discussion focused on the parent data and the other on schools, no stone was left unturned. They revealed fascinating data on parent buying habits and educator opinions. We hope you all enjoyed seeing behind the curtain with us!

General Report Talk: The Scoop on the 2023 Industry Report

Hold onto your hats, folks, because the general report talk on July 13th was a whirlwind of information! James Anderson and Luke Calo gave us a high-level overview of the 2023 industry report and explained how data can revolutionize your studio. Plus, they spilled the beans on how we’re updating the report in the future. 

Welcome Party: Southern-Style Fun

Now, let’s talk about the highlight of the conference, the Welcome Party! It was a Southern-style extravaganza in Studio 220 @ NOMA. With ice-cold drinks and a bluegrass band that had everyone’s toes tapping, the atmosphere was electric! We couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off the conference. A massive shoutout to our partners, SPOA, for helping us host this unforgettable soirée!

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Part 2 new

The Better than Half Price Sale

Oh, you thought the fun was over? Not a chance! Our Better-Than-Half-Price Sale on Portal had everyone rushing to get their hands on this incredible deal. Existing customers could snag a Portal license per school for only $49 (usually priced at $99). Click here to learn more about Portal.

Missed out? I have great news; this promotion is available until the end of July. You don’t have much time left, so get in contact now to claim this offer!

Get in Touch

Our Tools to Revolutionize Your Workflow

During the conference, we showcased some of our top-notch products that’ll transform your workflow for the better:

Capture

Our Capture product, with its lightning-fast transfer speeds and data security, had everyone swooning.

Say goodbye to uploading woes and hello to stress-free photo management!

Template Builder

We aren’t stopping there! Our new Template Builder product stole the show with its flexibility and versatility. 

From ID cards to proof sheets, all your design needs are covered. It’s like having a personal design genie at your fingertips!

Portal

Let’s not forget about our new Portal solution. It’s the gateway to your schools, granting them the freedom to manage, search, and report on their students. 

Happy school, happy studio, right?

Lab Bridge

Last but not least, our Lab Bridge (DP2 connection) makes integrations with labs a breeze. 

No extra workflow steps, no headaches. Your labs will be thanking you for choosing Fotomerchant!

Wrapping Up

Well, folks, that’s a wrap on our SPOA ’23 conference recap! We hope you enjoyed our SPOA journey. We want to give a big shoutout to everyone who attended, our fantastic speakers, and of course, the team at SPOA for putting on a stellar event.

Until we meet again, keep capturing those special moments!

SPOA 2023 Teaser

SPOA 2023 is almost here, and we’re getting giddy. Dotting all our i’s and crossing all our t’s, we’ve been preparing a SPOA filled with Fotomerchant awe and excitement. Take a look through this blog to learn more about what to expect and the significance of the conference. Keep an eye out for our emails and social content we’re pushing out over this period to stay up to date.

What is SPOA?

SPOA, also known as the School Photographers of America, is an organization established to educate, advocate, and preserve the great traditions of school photography.

Although this conference is relatively new, the SPOA organization is steeped in industry history. Created in the 1950s as an organization called AASP, the American Association of Professional School Photographers, SPOA, has become an integral part of the industry. In March 2020, SPOA was officially formed during the COVID-19 pandemic when most of the US closed down schools. Since then, SPOA has continually worked towards creating supportive legislation for the industry in each state, aiming to ensure this industry is here for generations.

This is where Fotomerchant and SPOA unite, as we both work to preserve and innovate the school photography industry.

Fotomerchant and SPOA

We’re proud to say we’re strategic partners with this great bunch of people. Our relationship, although new, is already changing the shape of the industry for the better. One of our first collaborations involved the creation of the school photography industry report that many of you are already aware of. Our 2022 report was a smashing success as we set an excellent baseline for future reporting on this industry. I’ll go into more detail about this report further down this blog.

In a nutshell, we work well together. With help from SPOA regarding insights on current industry issues and pain points, we can help you grow through a workflow solution that works for your specific needs. We understand not one size fits all. Use us in an end-to-end capacity, or slot us into the missing parts of your workflow. Your workflow should do the work for you, not vice versa.

The SPOA Conference 

After coming together last year for the first inaugural SPOA conference in Houston, TX, we’re pumped for round two. This year’s SPOA conference is set in thriving Greenville, SC. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, sit back, and learn how to streamline your business while taking in breathtaking views. Tempting right? This conference will be a delight for all the senses! Attendance has tripled since last year, so this SPOA will be busier than ever.

What separates SPOA from other conferences? The quality of talks, expert speakers, and opportunities to network are genuinely industry-leading. This cream-of-the-crop conference is associated with great events to sink your teeth into. Bigger and better than ever, this year, SPOA will occupy a whole hotel. No matter where you are or who you chat with in the elevator, everyone will have a connection to the industry. Amazing!

Where will we be? We’ll be spread across the conference, but if you want to pin us down, you can find our booth across from the presentation rooms. Or book a private demo with our team if you want to escape the hustle and bustle. We have a great demo suite where we can provide end-to-end demos fitted to your studio workflow. We’re flexible that way!

Welcome Party

“So here’s what I learned…Australians know how to party.” – David Crandall

Well, you heard him. This isn’t a party to be missed. We’re co-hosting the SPOA Welcome Party on July 11th from 7:00-10:00pm. Find us in Studio 220 at NOMA. This welcome reception is open to absolutely everyone, that means you! This is an excellent opportunity for us to come together and celebrate the start of the second SPOA conference in style.

This year’s party will be paying homage to our new home for the duration of the conference. We’ll celebrate in southern style, tapping our foot to Charleston’s bluegrass band, New Ghost Town. Come on down to grab a drink and make some valuable new connections. We’ll see you there!

Fotomerchant Talks

Our collaboration with SPOA for this illuminating report is making waves in the industry. We have some juicy new data bits for you to digest this year. Data nerds James Anderson and Luke Calo are excited to show you what we’ve discovered. As a data-driven organization, our School Photography Industry Report is here to help grow your studio. We believe that you can only make educated and informed decisions by understanding your customers and clients through data. Always wondered what parents and schools want? Here’s your chance to find out.

With the addition of yearbooks and new questions, our report is even better this year. Let us fill you in on some of our discoveries.

July 12th

On Wednesday, we’ll host two parent and school insights talks. This year’s report captured a lot of data surrounding parents and schools. In these talks, we’ll unpack what parents and schools are looking for in terms of quality, price, and product type. See how your studio fits within this data and address areas you may need to re-align your strategy.

Industry Report: Parent Findings
10:30-11:30am
Location: Redbud Room

Industry Report: School Findings
1:30-2:30pm
Location: Redbud Room

July 13th

On Thursday, we’ll do a high-level explanation of our SPOA partnership and how the 2023 School Photography Industry Report improved since last year. We’ll reveal super exciting insights that we uncovered and plans for the future. This won’t be one to be missed!

Industry Report Review
1:50-2:10pm
Location: Regency Ballroom (Exhibit Hall)

Onwards and Upwards, the Future of SPOA

From this year forward, SPOA will always be the last week of June. Some years you may see this conference pop up in Las Vegas, and other years in New Orleans, Nashville, or Louisville. This gives people across the country different opportunities to save money in the years the conference is closer to your neck of the woods. Where will the 2024 SPOA be hosted, you may ask? Well, you’ll have to attend SPOA 2023 to find that out.

To hear more about the upcoming conference from SPOA’s very own David Crandall, tune into our webinar hosted by Peter Koop and James Anderson. Click here to register for this webinar.

It’s getting close, pack your bags and join us for a week of stimulating talks, transformative workflow revelations, and, of course, lots of laughter. We’ll see y’all very soon!

Before I go, I’ll leave you with some out-of-this-world pictures from last year. Enjoy.

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