I created PicSpotr in 2014 after seeing, for myself, how hard it was for photographers to manage the day to day tasks of running and protecting their businesses. For the last 8 years, I’ve committed my nights and weekends to building a platform that would simplify the way you captured leads, deliver contracts and ensured you were able to get paid for the amazing work that you all do everyday. I was joined by a fantastic leadership team that believed in our mission and helped us re-launch with an updated scheduling tool, workflow automation and business analytics. As a black-owned business, we transformed PicSpotr to serve the needs of creatives who looked like us: black and brown photographers who wanted a simple CRM that would grow with them.
It got to a point where something needed to change to help you even more. Over the last 18 months, I have been working closely with Gavin Wade, founder of CloudSpot, to construct a view of an integrated future. First, we spent time discussing our values and our vision for the future. We then aligned on a simple goal: to provide photographers with simple yet powerful tools that allow you to be successful. We knew what we needed to do, we knew we were going in the right direction but more importantly, we knew that we needed to do it together.
What does it mean for PicSpotr?
PicSpotr platform, as you know it, will be shutting down on February 28, 2023. In the meantime, we will fix critical issues, however, we will not be introducing any new feature enhancements or major platform upgrades. After that time, you will not be able to login, access client information, or share and send invoices, contracts or questionnaires. Your client portal(s) will remain available in view only for your clients to access their documents until April 30, 2022.
What does this mean for you?
As a PicSpotr photographer, I invite you to continue with us in our mission and create a free CloudSpot account as we prepare for these exciting changes. CloudSpot's upcoming all-in-one platform, which includes CloudSpot Studio, will be live prior to shutting down the PicSpotr platform. This will allow you the opportunity and time to migrate any existing client info to their new studio manager. After launch, monthly PicSpotr subscribers will receive three free months and annual subscribers will receive a full year free to CloudSpot's entire platform. This will include project management, contracts, invoicing, questionnaires, client galleries, print/product sales and more! Additionally, through CloudSpot Studio, your clients will have access to a completely redesigned client experience fully customized to your business. A new scheduling tool and workflow automation are in the works as well. Those will come shortly after the initial release. The CloudSpot team can also help in migrating photos from your previous provider, allowing everything in your business to be under one roof for one low price.
With this move, you will have access to the support, responsiveness and dedication you need as a business owner. The same high quality support that you have long asked for and that CloudSpot is known to provide. Please visit our blog to get updates and news over the next few months.
I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for trusting us with your client experience over the last eight years. Together we’ve helped you manage over 12k shoots, work with over 20k clients, process almost $7m in invoice payments and manage over 85k messages with your clients and leads. With your collaboration, usage and feedback, we’ve created a great CRM together built around your needs as photographers and I’m excited that CloudSpot is committed to continuing the work to ensure you have access to all of the tools you need to be successful in your business.
Personally, I will continue to work with Gavin and the CloudSpot team for the foreseeable future helping to build CloudSpot Studio. More importantly, I’ll bring your voice to help CloudSpot design the tools you’ve asked for over the last 8 years and the items you need for the future.
I want to thank the PicSpotr leadership team (Trunetta, Chanel, Kyle, Chris and Keith) for being amazing stewards of our brand, product innovators and partners in making PicSpotr great. They are all moving on to other endeavors to change the industry in other exciting ways and we celebrate them. Finally, thank you to Gavin for believing in what we started and being willing to carry the torch forward to ensure more photographers can grow their businesses successfully.
This is truly an exciting time. This acquisition allows us to build the future the photography industry needs; one that is focused on simplifying the way you manage your business so that you can truly focus on being creative and building awesome relationships with your clients. All of that with lower fees, a simple client experience and an all-in-one destination for your business.
With gratitude,
Milton
CEO + Founder of PicSpotr
