ShootQ is a community built by photographers for photographers.
You've been patient as ShootQ grew. There have been growing pains along the way, but you've stuck with us!
Today, we're writing to share some exciting news about the next steps in our journey together.
After weeks of planning and discussion, Pictage has acquired ShootQ. The reason for the acquisition is pretty straight forward. Pictage’s mission is to become a one-stop-shop for photographers. Tighter integration between ShootQ and Pictage is a logical step. But that’s not the reason we did this deal.
The real reason is that we discovered kindred spirits who are devoted to making photographers’ lives easier. When we watched the new Pictage management team in action, we were impressed by their passion for serving photographers and their commitment to the art of photography.
The combination of Pictage and ShootQ will create the first comprehensive platform for photographers to manage their workflow, promote their brand, connect with community, and sell their work.
Plans are in place for the joint development and integration of Pictage and ShootQ, as well as nationwide town hall meetings. These meetings are designed to provide an in-person opportunity for photographers to talk through the opportunities, plans, and benefits that arise from such an exciting, impactful collaboration.
Join the conversation here on the forums!
Together we succeed.
Andrew Niesen
President and Co-Founder, ShootQ
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100 comments
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Looking forward to a continued collaboration with photographers, the Pictage and ShootQ Teams!
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I'm assuming that if we do not choose to use Pictage for our printing services that we will still be able to continue to use ShootQ as we always have?
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Hi Judith, that is exactly right! You're free to use any service for your printing needs.
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Thank you for answering that, as that would be my main concern. :) I really love ShootQ ... as much as I love my lab ;)
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Hi Justin,
Will there be any significant change in the ShootQ service or pricing structure as a result of the ownership switch?
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I had such poor experiences with Pictage in the past that I had a sinking feeling in my stomach when I saw this.
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For founding members, our lifetime membership will still be intact?
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I love ShootQ and I have used Pictage a few years ago but was not happy with the service. Can I still use just ShootQ, and will the prices stay the same. Also will there be any other changes?
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This is a very interesting development for ShootQ. You guys have worked hard to get to this point so congratulations are in order. I assume that the promise made to founding members of lifetime membership will be upheld regardless of the acquisition by Pictage.
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Hi Christina, ShootQ service and pricing will remain the same. There is a promotional offer for ShootQ users to join Pictage for $1 per day which you can see here: http://newaccounts.pictage.com/photos/sign-up/
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@Daniel You can still use just ShootQ. The service is continuing as it is now. We will continue to improve the application as we always have!
@Jay @N'neka Your assumption is correct, founding and lifetime memberships will be upheld!
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Hey guys, the website is currently overloaded. We're working on it! In the meantime, check out the FAQs from Pictage's site: http://www.pictage.com/static/pictage-acquires-shootq-faq.html
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I strongly dislike Pictage and am disappointed by this collaboration.
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Is there a link to where Pictage commits to maintaining the "founder"/lifetime subscriptions?
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Very excited about both organizations. Looking forward to the integration and possible hint hint... an iPad app for both.
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I left Pictage because of how unhappy they made me and my clients. I'm with the others on this - really disappointed. Hoping for a much better experience this time around, but I'll continue to stick with WHCC for lab and Collages.net for event proofing. I love them both - they've blown me away in customer service in comparison to Pictage!
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Yes, please can you give us Founding Members some sort of concrete reassurance that we've been taken care of? I know that in the grand scheme of things, we're pretty low on the totem pole but this is a real punch in the gut. I tried Pictage years ago and was not happy. I really hope this isn't a freaking disaster. :( I feel like my best friend just joined a cult.
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"I strongly dislike Pictage and am disappointed by this collaboration. "
Yes, it seems like ShootQ has been full of disappointments lately.
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I was hoping this day would come! I downgraded my Pictage membership so I could pay for ShootQ because a client management system is what my business needed most. I'm very optimistic about how this will improve both Pictage and ShootQ!
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really disappointed. RIP good old ShootQ. welcome price hikes, poor quality, and terrible customer service.
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Disappointed as well. One of the reasons I chose shootq is the customer service which is unbeatable. I really hope that won't change.
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Well they had to pay for that iPhone app somehow.
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As one fo the founding members of SHOOTQ ( one of the original subscribers) I TOTALLY DiSAGREE WITH THIS MOVE! I am not going to go into the various reasons why, by the time this shuts down, it will all be said, and then some. Bad move Andrew!
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I have never used Pictage because I was not pleased with their products when I looked into them a while back. To be very honest, had this happened before I joined ShootQ a month ago, I would have left your site and never come back. Hopefully this will be a chance to change my mind about Pictage and that nothing substantial changes in ShootQ. It really makes me wonder about the stability and goals of ShootQ.
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We've only been with Shootq and Pictage for under a year but have been very happy with both! We're excited about the merge and look forward to being a part of this future one stop shop!
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I must admit, this makes me nervous as well. I've never used Pictage, but I've heard the horror stories. So much of my business is tied up in ShootQ that extracting myself would be tough and time consuming if Pictage makes big changes. We'll just hope what they've said to you is true.
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I'm excited about this collaboration -- not because of what it does NOW, but because of the very smart minds that will now be working together to find better solutions to help our businesses.
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All ...
I just wanted to say hello and welcome. I know in a situation like this you’re all probably wondering what this means. “Will Pictage screw up ShootQ?” My response is, man, I hope not!
Since I joined Pictage a year ago we’ve made some big changes. With that said, no matter what we did we weren’t going address the service mix pre-event. Rather than try to build it ourselves it made more sense to team with someone who already did it and does it well.
Meeting Andrew, Jonathan, Rachel and the team only confirmed my sense that not only would their solution be a great addition to the product family, but that we really wanted these folks as a part of our team.
Our plan is to fortify ShootQ with more resources - in customer service and development, but to do this in a way that makes sense to them and to you. It is not our plan to make ShootQ a part of Pictage, but rather to let it continue to run as an independent entity, with Andrew and I coordinating the activities of the teams to ensure the best experience, no matter how our customers choose to use us.
Rest assured, we are not going to require you to use products from Pictage or even join Pictage. My goal is to make our suite of services and products so good that you’ll want to, and we will certainly make it easy to use what you choose to use, but you will also be able to continue to use the tool exactly the way you already do. (Yes, with whatever lab you choose!)
I’m also aware that we’ll have to back up our words with the actions that validate what we say and I am aware that your expectations are high. With Rachel and Andrew’s guidance and a little help from my own team, we can make big things happen for all of you. And that will make it all worthwhile.
Onward!
JC -
I think that the reason for the panic is simple. Many of the photographers in the past have used Pictage and found them to be over bearing in the e-mails to our customers, among other things. I have had several complaints from former customers when I did use Pictage a few years ago. That along with the higher than normal commission rate scared away a lot of my fellow photographers. I now use SimplePhoto along with paypal and have had great success. But change is good, so I am the first to say that I will consider looking into Pictage and to see what they offer. If Pictage and ShootQ are really interested about feedback from photographers, I hope they will take the time to ask questions on why the negative response. This could only help and improve their customer relations and be a learning experience for all. And I offer my congratulations to ShootQ for the merger and for all the great service it provides to it's photographers.
Thank you,
Daniel Street
Soulmates Photography
http://www.SoulmatesPhotography.com
559 456-1502
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Since I joined Pictage in 2008 they have actually created new membership plans and made it more affordable for studios of different sizes to utilize their services. Jim Collins is always making Pictage a better company. And if you look at the buzz on Twitter, all of the Pictage members I know are very excited about the acquisition. No one is saying that you have to use Pictage as your print lab or for proofing, but give the leaders of ShootQ some credit. They wouldn't have put the company they worked so hard to build in Pictage's hands if it wasn't the right choice.
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