Adobe AIR Showcase

StudioCloud

StudioCloud enables photographers to increase sales and improve operations by integrating Adobe AIR applications into digital photography processes.

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Based on its experience in the photography industry and on feedback from studios that had invested thousands of dollars in inefficient management software, StudioCloud set out to improve the tools that serve the business needs of photographers. Previously, digital viewing and sales solutions for photographers weren’t integrated and were too complex, had short shelf lives, and essentially had no mobility—a major problem for photographers working in the field.

"We needed solutions that were technically advanced as well as appealing to look at and easy to use," says Kyle Larson, vice president of marketing and sales at StudioCloud. "Our solutions also had to be portable and address the needs of photographers working online or offline." StudioCloud already provided an Internet-based photography business software that studios use to handle scheduling, invoicing, inventory management, financial management, and other tasks. The goal was to enhance its offerings with desktop tools that could address photographers’ needs in the studio as well as on location.

Using Adobe Flex and Adobe® AIR™, StudioCloud created desktop applications supporting business management capabilities in offline, online, and occasionally connected environments. The two Adobe AIR applications include StudioCloud In-Studio Gallery, a customer-facing desktop application for in-studio or on-location picture previewing and sales; and Offline Reader, an Adobe AIR application that enables studios to have local backups of their business information on their desktops for viewing at any time offline.

"Industry research shows studios that present digital picture previews  to customers right away instead of waiting to show paper proofs are twice as profitable," says Larson, vice president of marketing and sales for StudioCloud. "Our Adobe AIR applications enable photography studios to implement complete digital shooting, viewing, and purchasing cycles."

StudioCloud realized tremendous efficiencies of its own by reusing code previously developed for its Internet applications (StudioCloud Basic and Online Sales Gallery) to rollout the new Adobe AIR applications. "By reusing code, development time in Adobe Flex was at least 75% faster than it would have been in any other framework," says Larson. In addition to faster development, StudioCloud applications—whether online or on the desktop—share consistent interfaces and work together reliably to ensure data capture and sharing.

Boosting Customer Orders

When first talking with a client, a photographer typically gathers contact information and other details, enters it into StudioCloud Basic and makes a session appointment. After the shoot, the photographer can move to the Adobe AIR application (StudioCloud In-Studio Gallery) to preview photos with the client. "Whether in studios or on location, photographers can instantly preview pictures with customers," says Larson. "This is critical for increasing sales." As photographers preview shots with clients, they can update orders, enter sales information, and prepare invoices within the Adobe AIR application. Once Internet access is available, updated information is synchronized automatically with StudioCloud Basic.