Adobe Air 20 Update Issue

The latest version of Adobe Air, version 20.0.0.204, has caused a few StudioCloud Mac users to not be able to open StudioCloud. If, after updating to this version, you can no longer open StudioCloud please follow the instructions below. Please note that if you have not updated to this version of Adobe Air we recommend only updating when you have some down time in case you encounter this issue.

The quick fix to this problem is to update to a version of StudioCloud that you do not currently have installed.

Here is a link to the latest major release of StudioCloud.

http://studiocloud.com/product-updates/studiocloud-desktop-3C/StudioCloudDesktop.air

Here is a link to the latest minor release of StudioCloud.

http://studiocloud.com/product-updates/studiocloud-desktop-3B/StudioCloudDesktop.air

If you are unsure which version you have installed we would suggest first downloading the minor update to see if it resolves your issue. After you run the update it should present you with a window that says "Update". If you see a window that says "Run Now" then that is the version that you currently have installed and you will need to download the other version to resolve this issue.

For some users after updating they are receiving an error message regarding an invalid certificate. If you receive that message then you will need to uninstall StudioCloud and reinstall StudioCloud.

Assuming you are on a mac computer you can uninstall StudioCloud by dragging it into the trash can and erasing it. After it has been erased you can reinstall StudioCloud from the following link.

http://studiocloud.com/product-updates/studiocloud-desktop-3C/StudioCloudDesktop.air

Feature Update: Jobs

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.290, there have been additional features added to jobs. Those features are listed below.

• Group operations have been added to quickly convert clients, prospective clients, and leads to a different client type.
• Group operations were added to quickly select clients, prospective clients, and leads that are linked to an active job or are not linked to an active job.
• Group operations were added to create jobs for clients, prospective clients or leads as well as to set the initial job pipeline when the job is created.
• Job pipelines and job pipeline deadlines have been  added to the leads table
• Job pipelines have been added to the edit client, prospective client, and leads window.
• If the job pipeline is selected from the client, prospective client, or lead window then a new job will be created if one doesn't already exist.
• Jobs can now be marked as completed from the edit job window instead of just from the group operation jobs table.

Feature Update: Setup Wizard

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.290, the setup wizard has been updated to include new samples which can be used to quickly setup a new business in StudioCloud or to add additional features to an already existing business.

The new samples contain the following items:

• Email Templates
• SMS Text Message Templates
• Job, Event, and Invoice pipelines
• Calendar Types and Calendar Sub-Types
• Contract examples
• CloudAlert email and text message reminders
• CloudForms sample forms

Additional samples will be coming in the future and will receive a new blog post when they are released.

Q&A Photography Workflow

Photography Workflow Question and Answer

This is a question and answer post on how to setup workflow for portrait and wedding photographers. 

Photographers With Employees

I am a portrait and wedding photographer with employees. I want a system that will track clients all the way through the entire process from initial encounter to picking up their order. I also want to be able to assign employees to different steps along the way. 

The best method in this situation is to use jobs. 

Option 2 of the following tutorial provides instructions on how to do that.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00779/103/

I am a portrait and wedding photographer with employees. I want a system to track the leads that come in and the steps that I need to do to convert them from a lead to a paying customer. I do not want to track anything after the client is booked but I do want to assign employees to different steps and have a project deadline.

The best method in this situation is to use client projects. 

The following tutorial explains how to create a client project.

 https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00240

I am a portrait and wedding photographer with employees. I want a system to track the things that need to be done before and after a photo shoot or wedding and I want to assign them to employees. 

The best method in this situation is to use an event project.

This tutorial explains how to create a project for an event. 

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00504/109/

I am a portrait and wedding photographer with employees. I want a system to track the things that need to be delivered to a customer after the customer has ordered 

The best method in this situation is to use an invoice project.

This tutorial explains how to create an invoice project.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00661/0/

Photographers Without Employees

I am a portrait and wedding photographer without employees. I want a system to track the leads that come in and the steps that I need to do to convert them from a lead to a paying customer. I do not want to track anything after the client is booked. 

The best method in this situation is to use client pipelines and associate them with the lead.

Option 1 of the following tutorial provides instructions on how to do that.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00779/103/

I am a portrait and wedding photographer without employees. I want a system that will track clients all the way through the entire process from initial encounter to picking up their order. 

The best method in this situation is to use jobs. 

Option 2 of the following tutorial provides instructions on how to do that.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00779/103/

Question: I am a portrait and wedding photographer without employees. I want a system to track the things I need to be done before and after a photo session or wedding. 

The best method in this situation is to use event pipelines and assign them to photo sessions or weddings. 

This tutorial explains how to create pipelines.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00512/0/ 

This tutorial explains how to assign an event pipeline to an event. 

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00781/109/

Question: I am a portrait and wedding photographer without employees. I want a system to track the things that need to be delivered to a customer after the customer has ordered. 

The best solution is to use an invoice project to track what needs to be delivered to a customer. 

This tutorial explains how to create an invoice project.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00661/0/

Feature Update: Jobs & Pipelines

In the latest update of StudioCloud numerous enhancements have been made to pipelines and jobs. Below is a summary of the improvements:

• The new client, new prospective client, new leads, and new events windows all now have a job pipeline combobox. If a job pipeline is selected from those windows then a job will automatically be created when the client or event is created and they will automatically be associated with the job. The job will also have the job pipeline assigned to it.
• This tutorial shows what the combobox looks like for the edit client and edit event windows.
• https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00764/196/
• If a job pipeline has the checkbox "Default Pipeline For New Jobs" then the job pipeline combobox in the feature above will be automatically selected when you click the new client, new prospective client, new lead, or new event window. Which means that jobs will automatically be created for new clients, prospective clients, leads, and events when the save button is clicked.
• The pipeline stage windows have been updated to be easier to setup pipeline stage actions.
• Pipeline stage actions now support removing an assigned employee from a job, project, or task instead of just assigning employees to them. This is useful if you want to assign an employee to a job at one pipeline stage and then remove the employee so that whichever employee is free can take the next pipeline stage.
• Jobs have been updated to support job deadlines as well as pipeline stage deadlines. Job pipeline stages have been updated to support pipeline stage deadlines as well. This is useful in situations where a pipeline stage needs to be completed in a specific amount of time regardless of the job deadline.
• Jobs have been updated to support employees being assigned to them.
• Jobs have been updated to also support emailing or sms text messaging employees.

New Feature: Mileage Logs

StudioCloud is excited to announce that the latest version of StudioCloud now includes mileage tracking. This feature is one of our most requested features on the feature request forum.

Please note that this feature is currently only available in the StudioCloud desktop business software.

Here is a short breakdown of what is included in mileage tracking:

• Using the odometer of a vehicle you can track the distance traveled
• The mileage logs can be given a custom mileage type such as business, charity, personal, etc.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a job.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a vehicle.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a driver.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a location.
• The mileage logs can be tagged.

Here is a tutorial on how to create a mileage log.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00776/192/

Here is a tutorial that explains how to associate a mileage log with a job.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00777/198/

Here is a tutorial on how to create a mileage type.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00775/198/

Here is a tutorial on how to create a driver.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00774/198/

Here is a tutorial on how to create a vehicle.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00773/198/

New Feature: Jobs

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.275, we have implemented a new feature called jobs. Jobs are used to group clients, events, invoices, and/or projects together.

Some examples of when jobs could be used are below:

• If you are a wedding photographer a job is ideal for tracking a wedding because many weddings often include more then just the wedding event itself and often have more then just one invoice associated with them. For example, the wedding might also include a bridal photoshoot or another type of  pre-wedding photoshoot.
• If you are a portrait photographer a job is ideal for a portrait shoot that might include an initial client consultation, the photo shoot, and a sales/preview session.
• If you are a tattoo artist a job is ideal for a multi-session tattoo or for a single session tattoo that might also include an initial client consultation.
• If you are a massage therapist a job is ideal to group all of the massage sessions together in one central location.

Here are some other uses for jobs:

• If you want one central location to track everything that is happening in your business then jobs would be a good fit.
• If you are a photographer that wants a system to archive a dvd of images for a photo shoot then using the job number would be a great archival method. A good naming system would be to use the job number with a combination of the client name and/or the photo shoot date.

Here is a tutorial on how to create and edit jobs.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00764/196/

Here is a tutorial on how the job numbering system works.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00766/196/How-to-change-the-Job-Number.html

New Feature: ePayments

StudioCloud has updated ePayments to no longer be flash based and, as such, we now support ePayments on iPhone, iPads, Android phones, Android tablets, as well as any internet browser.

We have also added in additional options listed below

• You can send ePayments for invoice balance dues
• You can send ePayments for payment dues
• You can send editable epayments where either you or the client can enter the amount that they desire to pay directly into the epayment.

Please refer to this tutorial for instructions on how to use the new features. http://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00435/0/

New Feature: Pipelines

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.270, we have implemented some new features and functionality for managing everything that needs to be done in a business. We will be doing a blog post with video and written tutorials as well as examples later this week to introduce the new concepts.

Below is a quick introduction to the new features.

New Pipelines

We have added some new pipelines. Here is a breakdown of where each pipeline should be used.

• Client Pipelines
• Client Pipelines are used for tracking inquiries or leads to make sure they get converted to paying customers. 
• Event Pipelines
• Event Pipelines are used to track what needs to be done before and after a scheduled appointment,session, or event
• Order Pipelines
• Order Pipelines are used to track the overall status of the entire order or invoice
• Task Pipelines
• Task Pipelines are used to track specific items in an order that a customer has ordered. An order must be created from a invoice to use task pipelines.

Assign Pipelines Directly To Events And Invoices

• We have also added in the option to assign pipelines directly to events or invoices. This is useful in situations where you don't need to assign tasks to employees but just need to track the overall status of an event or invoice.

Assign Default Pipelines

We have also added in the option to assign default pipelines for clients, events, invoices and products/services.

• Default Client Pipeline
• This is useful so that when you create a new inquiry you can automatically have a default pipeline you use for that client.
• Default Event Pipeline
• This is useful so that when you select the calendar type or calendar sub type for an appointment, event or session it will automatically apply the correct pipeline for that event.
• Default Invoice Pipeline
• This is useful so that when you create a new invoice it will automatically have the desired pipeline associated with it
• Default Task Pipeline
• This is useful because you can setup default pipelines for products or services so that anytime they are added to a order it automatically has the required steps that you need to do to complete that product or service.

New Pipeline View

There are 3 new pipelines view so that you can easily see the status of a client, event, or invoice.

• Client Pipeline View
• The client view lets you see where a client is in the client pipeline
• Event Pipeline View
• The event view lets you see where an appointment, event, or session is in the event pipeline
• Invoice Pipeline View
• The invoice view lets you see where an invoice is in the order pipeline

Coming In Version 3.1.271

• In the next update of StudioCloud you will be able to assign default pipelines to a client from a CloudForms. That means that when a client fills out a form it will automatically have a pipeline when it is added to StudioCloud
• In the next update of StudioCloud you will also be able to assign an email template to a cloudform which will automatically be emailed to the client when they fill out a form. Essentially this is a automatic response to the customer that you have received their questionnaire.
• In the next update of StudioCloud you will also be able to automatically send emails or text messages using client pipelines from a new or edit client window

New Feature: Sending Emails

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.268, we have added in the option to send emails directly from StudioCloud's servers. This new feature resolves issues that some people have experienced when sending emails. If you have experienced any of the problems below you may want to consider using this new feature.

• If you use an email account that is not supported by Adobe Air such as Hotmail, Yahoo, or .Mac
• Your internet service provider blocks access to sending emails from a specific port
• You experience internet issues when sending emails
• You travel and can not predict if the service you are using will be blocking you from sending emails

To enable this feature simple go to settings, click on the Manage Email Accounts button, edit the desired email account and then select the "Send From Server" checkbox under the outgoing mail tab.

Please note that this feature is only available for customers who are paying subscribers or are on a 15 day free trial.

Support Policy For Free Accounts

Due to overwhelming demand for StudioCloud’s products we need to re-emphasize our support policies in order to continue to give our paying clients the best possible customer service.

In 2010 we released StudioCloud’s free product and announced that the free product did not come with customer support. Free StudioCloud accounts could and still can access the written tutorials, video tutorials, and/or community forum but other support options were not available to them.

Over the last few years, we have not been strict in enforcing this policy. However, due to the large number of customers who are using our free services, we are now enforcing that policy and we will no longer be able to provide support for free accounts.

When you sign up for a free StudioCloud account, you also receive a 15 day free trial of all of StudioCloud’s services. During the 15 day free trial period, you will receive support in order to make sure you can get StudioCloud up and running. We encourage you to take advantage of this time period to really try out StudioCloud.

After the 15 day free trial has expired you will need to subscribe to the PartnerBoost, EmployeeBoost or one of our add-on products, which start at $10 a month, to receive support. All of our paid for services come with live chat, email, and trouble ticket support. Please also note that StudioCloud does not have any contracts, our subscriptions are month to month, and you can cancel at any time.

How have you made your business stand out...

with all the competition?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242808

Importing Data Into StudioCloud

StudioCloud has introduced various free and paid-for methods whereby information from 3rd party software solutions can be imported into StudioCloud. Many clients have taken advantage of both of these methods and have been able to transfer their information from 3rd party software solutions to StudioCloud quickly and easily.

Unfortunately, some StudioCloud clients have experienced problems when transferring their information. Most often the core issue can be traced back to different versions of the same 3rd party software exporting the data differently and causing issues.  Due to StudioCloud being unable to control how the data is exported from 3rd party solutions, these accounts will need further assistance in helping to get the data imported into StudioCloud.

If you have a question about how to import your data into StudioCloud from other 3rd party software then we are happy to help.  However, if you experience a problem during the import process that would require that we look at your exported files in order to resolve it you would need to purchase the paid-for service for importing data because of the time intensive nature of resolving these types of issues.

You can read more about StudioCloud's paid-for importing data service by clicking here.

StudioCloud At Imaging USA

Hello everyone! Come by and see me in Nashville at Imaging USA.  I will be in booth #555 with Ron Nichols and ProSelect.  Ron will be giving live demos of the amazing sales and presentation software, ProSelect, and will show how StudioCloud and ProSelect are integrated to make your workflow streamlined and efficient.  He will also be doing demos of his post processing tools.   

We will be offering special trade show pricing for this coming Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, February 1st-3rd.  If you have been waiting to upgrade to PartnerBoost or EmployeeBoost or want any of the add-ons, this is our best pricing! Usually you have to attend the Imaging Expo to receive this pricing but this year you can look for the special pricing on our website or at the Imaging Expo. We will give more details soon!

In honor of Imaging USA, we are also having a drawing on Facebook and one lucky winner will win $500 to spend at B&H photo.

Here is the link to the drawing details on FaceBook. StudioCloud FaceBook Contest

Cheers,

Cori Rae