I'd also add link to questionnaire as a variable. That way I can customize the generic catch-all questionnaire email.

I strongly agree about the email situation for questionnaires. I have specific instructions that I'd like to send with each not a generic for all.

my need is a variable that identifies location of event and alternate contact (often my primary client contact is the production company - not the actual client signing the contract for licensing), so i do not have to create a custom contract every time i shoot. thanks!!

last name only of the bride and of the groom would be nice as well to use in customized web slideshow addresses for image release emails.  Also, if the url link creator pop up box could contain the variables, that would be even better.

Hey Q!

Yeah, I too think it would be cool to be able to send out an initial inquiry questionnaire with my initial email.  That way, "If they are still interested in moving forward with us" then they can fill out the questionnaire before we even call them. It will save time so you don't have to ask all those questions. Where, when, who, why, are you sure?..... 

Thanks Q.. 

Additional variables of people, as well.  Often, the main contact is the parent, and I would like to send an email to the Senior.  

Thanks!

I'd like to be able to include variables in the subject line if possible

I agree too about the questionnaire variable in emails.

So much room for improvement in the variable area. I'm excited to see if ShootQ team goes for any of it. !!! 

One thing specifically that I keep getting hung up on as I'm building my account is what Lara White mentioned above--adding variables in the subject line...I would love to put the wedding date, especially there, because when I see and email come in, sometimes the date and the name combination is what jogs my memory as to whom I'm replying back to. If I have multiple consultations in two weeks and need to confirm them, it's a pain to have to sift through the verbiage of the actual email body to figure out which wedding it pertains to. :) 

Yes, I agree about the questionnaire variable for emails. 

Another vote for variables added to the subject line, and for variables for questionnaires and meeting dates.

+1 for questionnaires and meeting dates!

Yes, this would be great.  In addition, it would be helpful if the event date/time was customizable or there were other options.  We often list it as "Saturday, March 12th @ 3:00 PM.  We don't need the year stuff in there and the start/end time.

Another request for variables-photographer. I am building my email templates right now, and we have a couple photographers. I would like the email to say Kevin/Geoff/Lara is excited about your upcoming engagement session. Send me some dates that work for you & I'll check those with Lara/Kevin/Geoff's calendar...

Justin,

My request stems from the current date/time variable being (Tuesday, March 1, 2011 1:30 PM - Tuesday, March 1, 2011 6:30 PM).  I'd like to see variables broke out for...

• Event Day (Monday, Tuesday, etc)
• Event Date (March, 1) - no year
• Event Time (1:30 PM)

This allow us to send it as (Tuesday, March 1 @ 1:30 PM).  Currently we do not use the event date/time variable as it does not read well to our clients.

Jeremy

in terms of the photographer variable, yes, this would be the lead photographer. I got this idea from the Sara France email templates. A bunch of them say {PHOTOGRAPHER} said your engagement session was fantastic. Since the lead photographer is assigned per wedding, it would be great to be able to spice up the emails with the photographer's name here and there. If studios do not specify this detail in the contract (we always do) then they wouldn't be interested in this variable. But I just think it adds another layer of personalization to the emails. As a studio that is named Geoff White Photographers, there is often a feeling of disappointment in "not getting the brand name" when we book another photographer. by peppering some of the emails with the specific photographer's name, that would be a great way to build up a bit more enthusiasm for the associate photographer.

My issue was with the limited emails available to send questionnaires. I have several questionnaires from my worksheet, to an album one, to a child photography one. I would really like a way to customomize those emails. Whether it meant adding a variable so I could write my own emails or in the settings being able to customize the message that went along with each type (instead of the one).

Also, I'm totally into the idea of variables for meetings/engagement shoots. That way I can have an auto email that checks in to confirm the meetings/session.

For the questionnaires though...I just make an email template, and then when I go to the client's shoot info, I click on SEND QUESTIONNAIRE...choose the QUESTIONNAIRE and then I pick the previously made template for each questionnaire. 

I think the only thing to make that easier would be to be able to send a questionnaire from within a email window without going out to the shoot page again and clicking on SEND A QUESTIONNAIRE. 

That definitely works for manually sending them. Thanks. I also use them in my workflow. Three days after booking it sends the Worksheet, etc. Without a variable I don't think there is a way to send a customized email in that instance. Am I wrong?

We need also the most basic variable.  Right now you have some of the names, but not all of them available.  For instance, you have the bride's full name or first name, but what about the last name?  Seems easy enough to add, but still not there.  If we want to make automated links, for slideshows and such, we need more flexibility in the variables.  Which means separating out the first from last names, as well as the other things people are adding here.

 Since we're trying to keep things casual during these little check-ins, having a more casual variable for the wedding date would be fantastic. I know you can't do something like June 4th (which is what I do), but is it possible to just have the wedding date month? That way we could say something like, "I look forward to seeing you again in November!" or something like that, rather than having to go back and delete the day, the date and the year which is pretty formal and reads like an automated message. Thanks for listening and the Pictage integration is AWESOME!

We would like to request additional variables be available for emails.

The ones we need DESPARATELY would make our life SO much easier for magazine submissions since every editor wants the info and we would LOVE to just have an email template that we could use to send it out.

PLEASE ADD the ability to use this info as variables:

Bride's phone number

Groom's phone number

Reception venue - name and address

Really hope this gets addressed soon!!

Mindy

all of these variables should be available in the contract, too.  it's pretty frustrating that you can only pull the 'wedding' location and not the location related to any other type of job.

Now that there is Pictage syncing we REALLY need a variable for the event id or better yet event link. For instance when sending the template email "your images are ready for viewing" to have a variable that automatically inputs the link to the event that is synced with their shoot. That would make my already so easy life with ShootQ even better!!

I am just adding my vote for more variables to use in emails & contracts generally.  Specifically, i'm interested in:

- variable field to add photographer name (both full name & first name) & "day-of" contact info (ie, his/her mobile number).  I want to be able to automatically send an email to clients a few days prior to the event, confirming all details and letting them know who to expect.

- "event location" variable - would love to specify this in our contract & other correspondence

I am very new to ShootQ but find it pretty intuitive and really helpful so far.  I haven't explored questionnaires much, but from the comments, I suspect I'll have more thoughts around this when I do!

the sample contract has different variables that are not in my drop down lists how do I add those and more like my vendor friends that in relationships 

Is there any word on when these suggestions with variables will be implemented?

Please do add a +1 for an email subject line -- we really would like to be able to use variables there such as the wedding date.

Thanks,

Mindy