This is a guest post by Iurie Vlasov, a Marketing professional at Vitriol Consult LLC specializing in SEO and Innovative web-marketing.
On August 23, the world of photographers was touched by a piece of news that created quite some buzz – a totally new and innovative proofing system was to be released in October – ProofPress. You may be wondering what is the point of another photo cart when there is a myriad of different other products for online proofing available out there. Read on and you will understand!
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” ~ Steve Jobs
The creators of ProofPress, two young dashing individuals from Florida with an extensive experience in web-development and who specialized for years in e-commerce systems have come with an idea to create something different for the photographer. There is nothing new when it comes to photo proofing systems, and most of them already out there are very similar in functionality, but different in quality and price. ProofPress on the other hand was created with the end user in mind. But there are two end-users to a photo cart system you will say. Indeed, there is the photographer on one end who has the task of managing the system and the customer on the other end. Many photographers today are just too busy to deal with all the “advanced” functionality their current photo proofing cart provides, and may give up on using one for the sake of saving time and use the old-school “on-the-phone” method to get their print orders from clients. So much for saving time.
Now back to those two guys in Florida. What they did is to have an idea that was revolutionary. Being developers and not photographers they got in touch with a few portrait and wedding photographers and spent time talking and understanding what their needs were and what is that they miss most in their current systems. After many hours and tens of pages of sketches and charts and mockups etc. they finally decided to give the modern photographer a system that would work directly out of their WordPress blogs. Not bad, because 85% of the photographers out there use WordPress for their photo blogs, because it's reliable, because it's easy to use, because it's safe, because it's constantly developing and updating, and yes because – Google loves WordPress.
Well, here we go, why not have a proofing system that will work as a plugin from your WordPress administration back end. No need to remember different passwords for different admin accounts, no need to have a multitude of admin urls to remember, but instead just one plain WordPress backend. And that is what ProofPress does, installs as a plugin in your WordPress and opens a whole new system in there. The guys jokingly call it, “a system inside a system.” But be aware that you need to have a self hosted blog on an actual domain that belongs to you and NOT one of those “johndoe.wordpress.com” blogs.
That is all good you will say, but what makes it so special? My answer is simple here, it will indeed offer what most of the systems out there do right now but will also be packed with other features:
a) Full front end customization, you as a photographer will be able to customize your proofing site by editing a multitude of options, like changing your logo, background, fonts, colors you name it… and the system will also be compatible with custom created templates. Now you will be able to apply your branding and design and have a unique photo cart.
b) Per client management. No more gallery grids. Each of your customers will be provided with his own client site where he will see only his galleries and information that you provide, including a text page which you can edit the way you want by adding a model release form, or maybe some what-to-wear information
c) A revolutionized way of managing collections (packages). ProofPress will offer the most flexible way of creating a collection. Managing print credit, discounts etc has never been easier and you know what, you can even let your clients create their own custom collections.
d) You will also be able to manage your financials and send invoices directly from your administration panel which gives you some basic accounting features and you will always know the state of your expenses and profits. A great feature for beginners who don't really need a bookkeeping system like Freshbooks etc.
These are some of the many features that ProofPress will offer. Stay tuned for the official press release the guys will publish in the beginning of October. Meanwhile you can contact them via email at info@proof-press.com and sign-up for a 30% discount at ProofPress.
The Front End:
The Back End:
Win on 10/10/10! ProofPress is generously offering ONE free license to a Tiffinbox subscriber. Here is how you may be able to win this WordPress plugin: First, Tweet the following: “I just learned about a very cool WordPress plugin called @ProofPress on @PicSeshu's Tiffinbox. #ProofPress Please RT!” Second, comment below and tell me WHY you deserve to win. Don't forget to mention your Twitter handle so that I can make sure you have done both. I need to see a minimum of 50 real, honest, entries before I can give this away on October 10, 2010. So whatchawaitinfor?
WINNER ANNOUNCED – Kate McKenna – from Medford, MA has won ONE license of ProofPress, the forthcoming WordPress Plugin. Follow her on Twitter. Congratulations Kate!
Guest
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Hi Seshu, just posted tweet (@lifeatlucid) so here comes the WHY I deserve to win part! I’m a great believer in the laws of attraction… I am in the process of having my website redesigned, and wordpress will now be a self hosted blog on my domain (www.lucidphotography.com.au) and I have been lamenting the proofing and shopping cart plugins that are currently available. Both my web designer and I have been searching for an great alternative…and then I see your post! The new site and blog is going live in October… It was meant to be. I will continue to be an avid follower on twitter, and promise to RT all interesting and beneficial tweets of yours to my followers = I promise to share the love! Thanks so much for the opportunity, Clare.
I deserve to win because I’ve been looking for a solution like this for years and now someone is finally making it. Simple :-)
The product looks great!
Scott
@scottwyden
This looks like an amazing product. I love my WordPress blog and am always looking for ways to integrate every aspect of my photography process into it. Thanks Seshu for bringing another great product to our attention.
I would love to win this product to have a more consistant process for my clients.
Hello! Twitter is kates_photo. I’m relatively new and just getting on my feet. This could really help catapult me into the next level. I’ve been researching possible solutions but the ‘to buy’ list just gets longer! In any case, you may remember back to the beginning of your career and might be able to pin point a couple of people and / or lucky breaks you were given, in addition to the blood, sweat and tears (!). This would certainly be one of those for me ;)
Thank you!! Kate
I have been struggling with trying to get a solution to work without a ton of time to put into it. I have tried using a self hosted zen photo site with an album per client, but it’s clumsy. I am using photoshelter now and don’t like it. It can’t handle photo credits! Not user friendly enough either. Thought of developing one my self, but that would take away my time for photography. Would love to have this plugin! Thanks.
Wow this is pretty cool! I have been looking for a proofing site that would look exactly like my site and blog. I too am redesigning my site soon and it would be great to have it all together. This is a product that will be used by many. Thanks for this great offer!
I can’t tell you how stoked i am to have found this article! I’ve used almost every proofing solution known to photographers and i haven’t found one that has the ease of setup and use as proofpress seems to have. I have worked so hard to streamline my brand, that with used in conjunction with my wordpress blog this proofing system will be the answer to this photographer’s dreams, a wonderful solution, and the missing puzzle piece! How awesome will it be to post a gallery on proofpress, then hop right over to write the blog post- all within the same system! This will result in guaranteed blog updates on a regular basis instead of once in a blue moon, like now. This is going to blow the socks off the competition, and im just glad to have signed up for the launch discount so ill still be happy if i don’t win the full license!- im sure it will be worth buying anyway!! Twitter.com/amywoodrox
@timhalberg here… I don’t know that I “deserve” to win, but I make a great winner, and I’m super vocal about things I like both on twitter and facebook and have a decent following. – oh… and we send out our newsletter with updates once a month to over 3,000 subscribersAlso, my entire website (sans the landing page) is built out in wordpress, so I’m super familiar with wordpress and can definitely give a great review of the software.And to top things off, yesterday we actually had a huge discussion about switching away from our current PicPick cart… our options were looking like SmugMug or Pictage, but this might very well be the third option we were looking for, and I’d love to be able to have a first hand comparison/test drive. It’d be awesome if this worked in place of the other two options!
Just posted my tweet (@jenweinmanphoto) – here’s why I deserve to win: I love love LOVE wordpress. It’s super easy and intuitive, but there’s always been a lack of options for proofing. It stinks. I would much rather have everything in one place – on my blog. So proofpress would work FABULOUSLY.
Twitter: @jennymeng
I would love to win a copy of ProofPress! I have customised my site completely using WordPress and the proofing options I’ve tried just don’t mesh with it properly. ProofPress is the missing piece of the puzzle. Many thanks!
@devoecreative
I would love to win a copy! I love wordpress and this sounds fantastic! Plus, I really need a better proofing system!
@lsanderson105
Why would you want to do all this work to drive people to your website, and then send them somewhere else to view their proofs?? Send them to your site and keep them there with proofpress!
@trishj68
I think proof press really is the perfect system for photographers, everything in the same place, easier for clients and easier for us. Being new and just really starting out in photography I think proof press would take us to the next level!
@BeachsidePaul
I’m really excited about the possibilities here. I’m current rebuilding our website from the ground up and, like Clare above mentioned, the existing shopping solutions just don’t quite cut it. We have a SmugMug account but I’d really like to be in the position to better control what’s going on in our little world. Can’t wait to see the release and I have little doubt that, even if I don’t win, I’ll be at least trying the software as soon as possible. Thanks for the news! Paul
Great post. Exactly what I am looking for. I am a photographer and I am looking for a good wordpress theme that I can use to display my pictures. I will like to use some of these plugins with my site. Any suggestions?
@kwbridge – I would love to win this. I’ve been working with a client who has been using zen photo and would love to have a solution for her that’s integrated with WordPress.
Thanks for the giveaway!
It is so hard to find a cart that suits your needs, this is something that I have been waiting for. Can’t wait for October so I can take a closer look at it. The custom cart for each client makes this an excellent choice and the ease of wordpress makes it a no brainer. There is no learning curve. Can’t wait
Just tweeted! @t_kelley
I’m a photographer and have been looking for a proofing solution that would work with WordPress. Until now, I’ve been using a system I created myself using the Shopp plugin, but it’s just not cutting it. I’m confident Proofpress will be the answer! Also, I’m a web designer too and work with photographer clients on their sites, as well. I can’t wait to use Proofpress for their projects! Everyone will love it!
Tweeted by paulglavin
My current proofing system just isn’t working for me, it’s clunky, not easy for my clients and just frustrating. With a new mouth to feed in the family I could do with the help :)
wow. ProofPress has my name written all over it! two big reasons:
i spend far too many hours answering questions and walking clients through the proofing/ordering process. what should be a quick, automated system, ends up wasting time – both for me and the clients who just want their snazzy images!
the other issue is blogging. i’m the self-admitted world’s worst blogger. a system like ProofPress that integrates with wordpress would motivate me to dive back into the blogosphere head first!
terrific sharing, as always, on tiffinbox – thank you!
(tweeted @maura_kate)
Tweeted @robynlouise
I am looking for a proofing system to go with my new wordpress blog… this looks so amazing! Wow!!!
If you choose me, I promise not to tell your mom what you did in college.
I don’t deserve to win. Regardless of winning or not this looks like a great product and solution for people. If I win, that would be cool because I know I could put it to use.
If I don’t win, well then I’ll probably cry for a few days, eat lots of ice cream, and pet my cat. Then I’ll probably cheer up when I find out that just because I didn’t win, doesn’t mean I can’t get the cool proofing system with some cash and still be better off.
So that’s right I don’t deserve to win.
Hi Seshu, posted the tweet (@markandrew) I deserve it because I am using a combination of Pictage and Nextproof with neither being what I need 100%. I love PickPic, but a 100 a month is crazy for a cart. I want an all in one solution and what better than a cart built around WP! Plus I’ll do a guest post on color management and a review of Proofpress!
Tweeted: @keeganhobson
This looks like a really incredible program! I’m getting tired of paying for each gallery I post online, buying a program once and using it as much as I want would be awesome! Also, I want to keep people at my own site and not send them off to another one. AND, I love wordpress. Pick me!
This product looks so amazing (@davidmacvicar) – i’ve tried all the cart systems out there and I think the folks at ProofPress are finally showing us photographers that they ‘get it’. So far the screenshots look amazing, the backend looks slick and hopefully this will lead to great sales for my portrait and wedding business!
I just tweeted this @tracywallace and I deserve to win this as im in the process of integrating my website (its ugly) over to my wordpress blog (its pretty) to just have the one location and this would be perfect for me. Plus im a struggling artist and cant afford to buy shit, much less a super cool feature like this :)
Hmmm. So on Twitter you asked how much we thought it was going to cost…..I’m going to say at least $299. Probably more but that’s my guess!! I’m really looking forward to the release of this. After purchasing Photocart and being disappointed with it’s limitations, ProofPress sounds like it could be *just right* for me!
@Grahamrose here. I have been looking for a solution like this for ages. I’m in the process of redesigning and launching my wedding site this October so the timing is ideal either way.
One thing I’m big on is a single solution system. The fact I can keep people o. The same site and manage that site from one interface is a huge time saver.
Just thinking of the hours I’ll save picking images for print or the albums is wicked. Hopefully I win! :)
I love that it’s completely customizable & wordpress is a great platform. We currently use smugmug because it’s a more affordable option but I hate that I have to use the printers they say and that I can only offer the products they have. For a business that is still on the small side, winning this would make the ordering process so much easier!
Thanks :)
my twitter handle is @mrsdrewphoto
ok, when do we get to see this puppy unveiled!!!! I wanna take a test drive asap!! (literally need to have our new proofing figured out by next week!)
I just tweeted @shelya
I am excited to see this. I have a separate site and blog right now and have been contemplating switching to a blogsite. This is what I would need to do it. I have a shopping cart integrated into my site now that accepts paypal and I really love that, but I cannot create collections/storyboards/etc. for clients so I still end up working on orders through email and phone and trying to explain things to my customers. I also love the individual client websites as I am working on my client info packet and was going to make it password protected on my site, but it seems that I’d be able to integrate it to this so there is only one place for them to go. This could be really great for the industry!
Oops.. forgot the WHY part :) Why do I deserve to win? Because I want to. I don’t think anyone on here is going to be anymore deserving than anyone else, but I do know that I work hard and have for the past year on my business. I’m not compromising myself with clients just so I can make a little bit of money. My business is building slowly, but it’s the business I want to build, not what others would have me be. My clients get an experience, not just a few photographs, and it sets me apart. Adding this to my blog would be a part of that experience.
I tweeted @meganhulsey
I am just starting out with my own photography business. With everything else that I have bought so far to get started, I simply cannot afford to pay for anything else right now. But an online proofing system is really the only thing that I still need. I’ve booked my first clients and I have several sessions in the upcoming weeks, so I will have to get something soon. I would love to win Proofpress!
ROFL. One of the funniest comments here. Keep ’em coming folks.
I tweeted @staylor_photo!!
I just started my photography biz over the summer and I’ve been searching for an online proofing site and I haven’t really liked any of the ones that I’ve tried so far. But this looks perfect and I love that’s integrated directly into WordPress which is what I’m currently using for my blogsite!! Thanks so much for the chance to win :)
Hi! I posted the tweet (@1scrappychic)….and I would love to win this. Why? Because I’m a new photographer still trying to get everything else in line, marketing sets, blog, efficient workflow..this would just be one less thing I have to worry about buying! It really does sound awesome..and thanks for the chance to win it :)
I just tweeted!!
Like many others I am just starting out in business. It has been difficult getting all the ducks in a row and figuring out all of this web/blog design stuff. It would be so great to have a product that looks so easy to plugin. I can’t wait til it comes out!
I tweeted! (@michellehires). I deserve to win because as someone just starting out I’m looking to keeping it simple and this looks like it will be about as simple as it gets!
since my adorable husband came on full-time, he’s been able to do nothing but “tech” stuff… he shoots, but i desperately need him freed up to edit and do client interaction with me!! to have our viewing and ordering options integrated would be an amazing opportunity! can’t wait, no CAN’T WAIT to see this! (and by the way, my twitter handle is @angelasack and i’ve tweeted. :) )
I just tweeted @Mother_Claw
I would love to win this as I have not been trading long, and I know one of the main points of calls clients will use is the website. I rely on a friend to help me out as I do not understand the technical sides of doing a website and also it’s cheaper! To be able to win this would make things a lot simpler and easier for me, and hopefully free up a little bit of time so I can spend it more on editing, reaching out to new clients or with my daughter!
I just tweeted @Mother_Claw
I would love to win this as I have not been trading long, and I know one of the main points of calls clients will use is the website. I rely on a friend to help me out as I do not understand the technical sides of doing a website and also it’s cheaper! To be able to win this would make things a lot simpler and easier for me, and hopefully free up a little bit of time so I can spend it more on editing, reaching out to new clients or with my daughter!
I would LOVE to win! I have used several different systems, and some are just plain expensive and take huge commissions, while others are not user friendly, and still others do not allow for enough customization to work with my brand. I have been looking for a solution that doesn’t make me feel like I am settling but is the BEST. This looks like it could be it, a perfect match for my needs! Whether I win or not I plan to tell everyone about it!!
@bengodkin here! I have been begging for a proofing system that looks good AND increases my sales. I think ProofPress is the product I have been waiting for and I can not wait to get my hands on it! I run my whole blogsite on wordpress and this would be the perfect solution integrate directly into my blog. I think my clients are going to LOVE it!
Just tweeted @christinamccall …
… I deserve to win because I’m looking for a way to separate my proofing sites for the two sides of my business (human portraiture and pet portraiture) without going broke! I have photocart customized (finally!) the way I want it for my human portraiture side of the biz, but would love something much simplier to setup and customize for the pet side of the biz!
Hi Seshu – I deserve to win, because at the current moment, I don’t have a proofing site, I’m currently creating web galleries or PDF galleries and emailing the customer, they have to email me back with the image number(s) that they do like and it’s really hurting the process.
Twitter handle: @rmedina
Hi Seshu, I just tweeted via @edolyne. I deserve to win as I have tried many different options within the industry and as a photographer just getting started some are either too expensive or just take so much commission. It seems that being able to brand yourself in this industry almost requires a huge investment in your photo cart and that is just something at this stage I am not able to do. ProofPress seems like it is the solution which would change all of this and also allow for our galleries become more personal for our clients than just a place to purchase prints.
Hi I just tweeted. @sand_stone I deserve to win because I have yet to find a proofing system that my clients and I are truly happy with. I hate paying for something that I am not entirely happy with, but till now I couldn’t find anything better. Your post was like a knight in shinning armour. Yay, I think that I’ve been saved!!!!! I heart ProofPress!!!!
Hi Seshu just tweeted (@smudgedphoto). I have been struggling with proofing and client sales ever since I wanted to be a photographer. Unfortunately as I’m only just starting out (as I can imagine lots of budding photographers can testify to) finances are tight and I can’t afford to thoroughly brand my site.
I’m currently using Photoshelter for my requirements but that costs far too much a month to be sustainable until I have a larger amount of work.
This plugin would be ideal for me to pursue a fully realised website that is both user friendly and inexpensive.
Just tweeted as @thebambooshoots. I’d love to win ProofPress because I’m a photographer just starting out, and the current self-hosted proofing systems out there don’t have all the functionality I’m looking for, and some of them are far out of my price range. ProofPress looks like it’s just what I need as far as functionality, ease of use, and customer interface. I’m really excited about what it’s capable of! Why else do I deserve to win? Because I’ll send you a bag of homemade almond toffee if I do!
Hey seshu I just tweeted @trayctrayc as a newbie who is just getting her logo developed and about to launch a new blogsite as soon as I have my logo this product will be a great addition. So I deserve to win because I want to!
Hi Seshu, just tweeted (@alexishall) and I would LOVE to win! I’m so frustrated with the lack of functionality when it comes to creating collections in my current shopping cart. It’s cumbersome and complicated, and I need something that’s more streamlined! Thank you!!
This looks great! I have been looking for a solution like this for so long now! @jamesrileyphoto
I’m in (@cfimages). For a lot of my local clients, sending them to Photoshelter to proof and then delivering separately is not always convenient, so the ability to proof within my blog would be great.
tweet it! (@S1weddings) I’ve been waiting for a better online proof solutions that is not flash based! I’m in process on a major re-branding after 6 years and looking for a solution that is ‘future proof’. With many of my clients going portable (smartphones, tablets) there are needs for online gallery proof that can catch up with my client’s need, and at the same time promote my photography via SEO. I can’t wait to try this solution!
Tweeted! (@angelabatts) This is an awesome idea and I would LOVE to implement this in my business for proofing! Great idea!
Thanks,
Angela
Twitter @donna_flores
Hi- I’m the Donna part of Angela Donna Photography and I believe I deserve to win a Word Press Photo Proofing Cart because our website that we paid very good money for- one which will go unnamed – (very popular with photographers) has terrible customer service and we have not been able to get our Proofing Gallery to operate right all year! Needles to say we will not be using there services again. We are young business and can’t afford these kind of problems.
Well Seshu, it is time I get my domain up and running and this is the first program I’ve seen that actually makes it look easy! First comes education, then a plan and then away we go…I’m ready and this would make a difference! (@DruStefanStone)
Just tweeted! love this idea, almost as much as I love wordpress! If this works as well as it sounds, this will change so much for so many photographers, I love it! I am hoping to win because I’m working on a new site right now, and have been researching EVERY proofing option out there –I can share my spreadsheet! And now this, a completely different option, am so excited to try!
This looks like it could be the real answer to so many of our questions for a great shopping cart. I would love to see a demo and really try it out. Why do I deserve? Well I think anyone could deserve this. I know I am dying to really test this out because I have YET to find a system that REALLY meets my needs.
I totally tweeted :) (@stacyz)
Though new to WordPress, this is one plugin area that seems to be lacking! This looks like great and I can’t wait to see the final product ~ (ardeona on Twitter).
Hi there sadly late for the free licence but would like to know if this Plugin has been released yet and if so where can one purchase a licence
Ok so when the heck are they gonna finally release this to the public. The original launch date was October 2010. I have been anxiously waiting since then and I am beginning to have my doubts. 4 months over the launch date is a LONG time. Come on guys push through and release the plugin already. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
I’ve been using Photoshelter on my blog http://www.outdoorphotography.co.nz/ but this look amazing! I like the thought os a single one off payment vs monthly fees. Storage woud be an issue i suppose. Email added to updates! Brilliant!
Looks like this is still beta and in 2016 the demos do not work at all. I have been looking for something for my photo cart. Right now I am testing the free sunshine photo cart for wordpress and see quite a few issues.
1. I cannot get the link on my client gallery page to open a gallery, I can see it in preview but that is all.
2. Not sure I see an easy way to make an option add on or change the order to make the purchase in black and white.
Right now I am just using the free seemyprints offered by Blackriver Imaging but I do not like that it is not mobile friendly, and the % is about 15% or so.