Katie an I just go back from a Shoot Q setup party and we are EXCITED. This is an innovated studio management software that is very comprehensive and makes workflow cleaner. The tour started today in Atlanta and it is going to Phoenix/Scottsdale, Asheville, Chattanooga, Chicago, Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, and St. Louis!

Click here for more info!!

Oh Chris you big tease! I thought you were going to tell us all about it.

I'm already signed up for the St. Louis program and can't wait!

Oh no, you are going to love it! There is so much that I could tell you, but it is better to see it and experience it in person.

OMG - October just seems sooooo far away now!

From what I can tell...since its web based, its cross-platform, right?

I've been looking for something like this for my PC!!

Ksenia

yes it works on both Internet Explorer and Safari. However it is not quite ready for Firefox.

In our Atlanta group, half of the users were Windows based the other, Mac. The Windows users were equally as impressed and excited as they were using it as the was the Mac users.

awww man...i'm a firefox gal. i guess i could use IE for a bit...just for that....

i hope there's a little trial or something to try it out for those of us not near an event. will this be available for general consumption soon? can't wait to see what the pricepoint is too.

You actually have to be trained by them or by someone who has been trained by them. For example: us. It's very in depth and you need the training. I don't believe there is a trial.

I can tell you though....sooooo worth it. It makes my heart and head happy to be so organized.

hmmm....so will they be offering training near northern california? (or a better question is, do you know who i should ask?) i won't really have travel time again until next year.....and it doesn't make a lot of sense to invest in travel for a tool I'm not sure I want, and don't know if i can afford....

so after one of these conferences, you can start right away? i is confused.

thanks for being patient with my questions!

I WISH YA'LL COULD COME OUT TO THE DEEP SOUTH!!!!!!

Houston, TX? Louisiana? I can host southwest OR southeast Louisiana!!!!

Please come here!!!!!

No problem. Ask all the questions you want. I know they are trying to get some west coast ones, but i don't know any update on that. They do have a limited number of people that they are opening it up to right now in the beginning. i would personally invest in this more than other things. It could truly revolutionize how you work and your business. From someone using it, we can say it's more than you could imagine and is supposed to only be getting better.

I missed the Atlanta conference. I understand it was full anyway. I am interested but now really, really concerned with finding out the price...it doesn't appear anywhere...and everyone is apparently avoiding even discussing...anyone????

I assume it is montly fee...thing...anyone????

If it is a secret I don't think that is a good sign.

It's extremely reasonable. Not a secret, I just can't remember the exact amount and don't want to tell you the wrong thing. I'm sure they will chime in soon and answer some of your questions.

Sorry we missed you in Atlanta!

KK, St. Louis is just a few hours drive north!!! Love to have you visit!
(There's a Flemings here)

Is it a monthly fee or a one time thing?

Both are being offered at this time for the tour. I'm not sure if it's for everyone.

There is one in Asheville.

Hi Guys,

First, a heartfelt thanks to Chris and Katie for answering so many questions!
I'm excited to finally have a chance to login to OSP today and answer ShootQ questions. We're excited about the response to ShootQ, and look forward to introducing the software to you during the ShootQ Set-Up Tour this summer.

ShootQ is the result of a need LaCour had in our studio. We were (quite frankly) struggling to organize our inquiries, keep records of client contact, organize our production/projects, and close sales.

So, a few years ago I learned PHP (a web programming language -- the same one that powers OSP) and designed a database-driven management tool for LaCour. I discovered that our photographer friends really needed this tool, so I began to develop it for mutliple users. I've spent the last 9 months working full time on ShootQ. (I shoot on weekends and the rest of the LaCour team does everything else -- thanks guys!

ShootQ is designed to make photographers' lives simpler and their studios more profitable by allowing creative people to focus on what they enjoy doing while also allowing them to have more free time. In short, ShootQ is designed to improve your overall quality of life. It does this in three ways:

1) Organization and Efficiency. ShootQ is a tool that is designed to do the tedious work for you -- from filling out contracts and invoices to keeping track of sales leads.
2) Community. You can share leads with other photographers who use ShootQ. If you're booked already, share the wealth with a friend!

ShootQ will foster true collaborative community -- we'll train photographers at ShootQ Setup Parties to use the software, with the hopes that they'll help their friends get set up too. We always want an experienced ShootQ user to be just one phone call away.

3) Understanding your studio inside-and-out. You amass a lot of data by using ShootQ, why not analyze it so you understand your business more fully? I designed ShootQ to analyze product and package profitablility, referral sources, and to record vendors you've worked with for future marketing efforts.

If you want an overview, view the video demo.

Now, to answer questions:

1) ShootQ is cross-platform. It currently works with Safari and IE/Windows, but we're working on FireFox compatabilty now. (BTW, I learned tonight that Apple just released a Windows version of Safari that you might want to check out.) The incompatabilites with FireFox are generally just aesthetic.

2) Training. ShootQ is currently only available to photographers who are trained during ShootQ Setup Parties that we're hosting in 10 US cities. We're adding a few dates to the calendar. The West Coast and Texas are on our minds for sure! So hang tight CA friends!

Also, look for a video training tool coming soon.

3) Price. Normal pricing for ShootQ is $40 per month with an initial setup fee of $200.

We announced in Atlanta on Tuesday that we're offering 200 ShootQ Founding Memberships, which are lifetime, for $595. We'll be making an announcement regarding lifetime memberships later this week. To be notified via email, put your email address on the email announcements list on http://www.shootq.com/ the ShootQ website. Also, watch the LaCour blog for the announcement. http://www.lacourphoto.net/

We're excited about the future of ShootQ. Nearly everything in life is done online today -- we are literally a global community. We want to access our information from anywhere, anytime. ShootQ allows us to do this!

Look for another announcement regarding ShootQ's future in a few weeks. Big plans are underway, and we're thrilled to share them with everyone soon.

Please feel free to post other questions; I'm happy to answer!

thanks andrew for the excellent answers!! i love PHP!! (how nerdy is that??)

can't wait to get to see the product first hand.

Hi there Andrew, this is pretty exciting!

Since there are no learning/training sessions up here in the great white north, I'm going ask a few q's...

1 - is there an invoicing function?? Or accounting functions? Or is it just CRM?
2 - 'cause while I love Successware, it's way too much program for me - I pretty much only use a bit of the tracking and pricing module, I don't use SW accounting fucntions at all, I leave that stuff to my accountant; so can I ditch my SW lease and use ShootQ for pretty much everything? What might SW do that ShootQ does or doesn't do?
3 - and finally - WHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????

Thanks very much!

j

I used Successware for 7-9 months and it was way way too complicated and robust for me...I really did try to learn it as much as I can It does many things, but it was too much and it also wouldn't sync with our computers even after I called customer service three times and on the phone with them for awhile...I think it was $79.99 per month. The monthly price didn't bother me as much...it was that I wasn't productive with it...in turn wasting my money.

ShootQ is just much simpler to use and robust enough to do what I need it to do. I looove:

1) Q Club Referral concept
2) Online Booking (wedding coordinators we work with are excited about it!)
3) Client LogIn where they can update their info
4) Automated Contract Agreements and more (it fills in for you)
5) Organizes the wedding/portrait inquiries forwarded from custom contact form on website

It does so much more, but those are my favorites

I think its also cool that Andrew himself created it from several years ago based on what their company's needs were...(exactly most of what our needs are with this business) and figured it all out himself and sharing it. Its really impressive.

Yay, I'm not the only PHP-loving geek out there (that's meant as a HUGE compliment BTW

OK!!!! Well if you say so my dear!!! I am soooo there!!! Maybe we can cry together again and have sneaky DJ get us!...major fun times I tell ya!

I can't wait!!! Love you Pam!!!

OK!!!! Well if you say so my dear!!! I am soooo there!!! Maybe we can cry together again and have sneaky DJ get us!...major fun times I tell ya!

I can't wait!!! Love you Pam!!!

KK, that would be soo cool - Drag TimCo along too!

Hey Chris,

I just saw this. It was so nice meeting you and Katie (and the others in the class I didn't know).

I'm excited about shoot Q, too. But I'm struggling with an album design for a BIG wedding I did a week ago. Once I finish (and I promised myself I would before starting something else!), I'll be hitting the ShootQ setup hard.

For those of you interested, Shoot Q is 'all that and a bag of chips' (I can't believe I just said that ). I'll keep you posted as I really get into it and see how it works for us truly 'organizationally challenged' individuals.

Ginger!

It was good meeting you too! Good luck with the Album! Don't go crazy trying to complete it.!

Thanks, it's my own fault. It's hard designing when I'm keeping an eye on Nate and Shane's battle thread...... now I am going to shut of OSP till I'm done.

Man, I don't know how I can wait until OCTOBER!!!!! Can I send my lifetime check now???

I saw Andrew's demo at Elevate 2 last week. I'll admit, I started off a bit skeptical (as I do with many things being sold / offered to wedding photographers these days)...but after I saw the demo I was fired up! It's not just a studio management tool...it's a sales and marketing efficiency tool as well. (And I want it NOW!!!)

Hats off to you, Andrew, for sharing this application with us! I literally can NOT wait to get plugged into ShootQ.

John,

Good questions!

1. There is invoicing functionality. Here's a sample invoice that was generated by ShootQ.

http://www.shootq.com/store/temppdf/DMP2007061401.pdf

2. Agreed. Successware is overkill for many photo studios. SW is more robust as a bookkeeping & accounting tool. But like you, we send everything to our accountant. LaCour's philosophy is to OUTSOURCE tedious tasks such as accounting and bookkeeping so we gain the FREEDOM to use our time building relationships, shooting, marketing, having fun with fellow photographers etc! ShootQ takes care of many tedious tasks like filling out invoices and contracts, keeping track of client info, accumulating vendor contact info and more. It serves us well, and we're eager for others to use it too.

3. We hope we can make it up to Canada for a ShootQ Set-Up Party. We've talked amongst ourselves about coming up, and maybe trying to do a double-workshop: LaCour Lighting and ShootQ Set-Up. Not sure where & when we could do it though. Any ideas?

Thanks so much for checking out ShootQ. I'm happy to answer any questions for ya!

Andrew

Andrew, I'm with Dan, where do I send my check (and I haven't even seen a sneak-peak)! Boy, talk about starting a buzz!

I've watched the demo video but I have a couple of questions:

1. can't quite tell if I will be able to distinguish between a "portrait" and a "wedding" on the calendar.

2. Will shootQ create a cascading workflow for each type of event. For example: when I schedule portrait session it would be great if that generated a list of "to-do's" that go along with a portrait session. Like confirm appointment the day before, process images, create proofs slide show, etc. Each step would have a target goal date. So when a portrait is scheduled: 1 day minus = Call to confirm, 6 days after = Complete images process and develop slide show, and so one. Each of these would appear on some sort of task list that could be sorted by day, by client, by activity.

I love the "community", but it really sucks for those at the tail end of the Set-up Party tour.

(Item 2 is something I've been asking SuccessWare about for almost 3 years and all I receive back is "Noted")

Hey Pam,

Great questions...I'd expect nothing less from a fellow "Show-Me-State" photographer I mean that as a compliment!

So, here are answers for ya:

1. Yes, you can label your shoots accordingly. There is a drop-down menu (which you'll get to check out at the Set-Up Party) that allows you to select "Portrait," "Wedding," "Engagement," Etc. You can customize your menu. Fun!

2. A standard task list is generated for each shoot type. And physical products like albums are added to a standardized "production queue." You can also customize -- we tried to create a configurable tool for fellow photographers. We know what it's like to be frustrated with studio mangagement software, so this is tailored to what we thought our friends really needed!

Can't wait for Oct in STL! Wish we could release to everyone immediately, but we want to forge a strong community, which takes time to build and nurture. Ultimately, we want to see ShootQ connect colleagues!

...thanks...it is reasonable. when will you be offering another Atlanta meet??

Uh, yeah - how about Toronto - or even Detroit. I'm right in the middle, so I can go either way, but either city would be awesome!
Come on up to the great white north - 1992 was sooo long ago, we'd love to have ya back (obscure baseball reference).
:-)
j

There's a whole group that would go nuts if you came to Seattle!

I don't know but that MIGHT be happening, as well as a couple of California cities But only Andrew Almighty can tell!

I haven't read through all the posts, but I saw the demo of ShootQ at the Nudd's elevate a few weeks ago, and I cannot wait for this product. It's going to save me! This is a must-have for every photographer.

Andrew, Gene and I are looking forward to a west coast tour... please let us know when you may be heading our way.

Unfortunately missed Phoenix/Scottsdale... didn't know? Can't get the quicktime to open on my PC for the Demo... nice buzz marketing though. How does it differ from P.A.T.?

How did I miss this thread?
I've been a PITA & emailing Andrew way too much!

San Diego is beautiful any time!

Even though I don't do weddings, I still want the contact management setup. Replying to everyone who fills out my contact form is getting old fast!

COME TO SAN DIEGO!

A master plan for ShootQ's West Coast Debut is underway!

Look for an annoucement very soon on our blog: http://www.lacourphoto.net
And also on the ShootQ site: http://www.shootq.com_tour.php

Can't wait to see all of our friends out west!

Andrew

I just signed up for the Asheville date. I didn't think I could come due to an evening shoot but I'm gonna be able to make it! WOOHOO!

If you guys are integrating with BigFolio, this would be so awesome!

Andrew,

I've been meaning to ask... are you hosting with Level3 or one of their downstream providers? Co-locating or managed servers?

Just curious. I have a managed server with The Planet.

Ben

Hey Ben!

Uh, hi!

I know, thread jack. It's just good to see you on here and asking about ShootQ.