SmugMug Development Lab

This month’s updates will make your workflow faster, clearer, and more connected.

From the launch of your new Account Dashboard to easier gallery follower management, we’re putting more control at your fingertips. Mobile uploads are more reliable, error messages are clearer, and key bug fixes are keeping everything running smoothly — so you can stay focused on your business.

Enhancements & Improvements

Your new Account Dashboard is here — and it’s just the beginning.

We’ve launched the very first version of your new account dashboard, making it easier than ever to stay on top of what matters most to your business. And this is just the start. Throughout the year, we’ll continue to expand the dashboard with even more powerful tools and features — all focused on helping you run your business more efficiently and effectively.

New updates to Gallery Pre-Release make staying connected even easier.

Having one central place to manage your galleries with followers is a game-changer. That’s why we’ve introduced a brand new management page, now available in Selling Tools, designed to give you full control and visibility over every gallery that has followers.

From this page, you can now:

• See all your galleries with followers at a glance.
• Export follower email addresses to stay connected, run promotions, or nurture repeat client relationships.
• Send instant notifications to your customers when their gallery is ready.

This update helps you build stronger relationships with your customers by making it easy to follow up, communicate, and turn interest into sales — all in one place.

iOS App updates

4.12.8 

We’re investigating auto upload interruptions — and taking action.

We’ve received some reports that auto-uploading occasionally pauses with a message about insufficient disk space. We know how important a seamless upload process is, especially when you’re on a deadline.

This latest update includes behind-the-scenes improvements to help us better diagnose what’s causing this issue. It’s a key step toward delivering a reliable, uninterrupted upload experience — so you can stay focused on your work without worrying about technical hiccups.

Android App updates

4.11.3

Clearer upload error messages to keep you informed.

We’ve updated the wording of certain upload retry error messages to make them more informative and accurate. These improvements are all about clarity — giving you the right information at the right time so you know exactly what’s happening and what to expect.

Bug Fixes

More bugs squashed — smoother sailing ahead!

Every fix we make is part of our commitment to delivering a faster, more reliable experience for you. This month, we tackled several behind-the-scenes issues to keep things running seamlessly. Here are a few highlights from this round of improvements:

• Gallery download stats are back on track.

Download data in your Gallery Engagement Stats is once again displaying correctly and in real time. If numbers looked delayed recently, rest assured — everything is now updating as it should, so you can rely on accurate insights when reviewing your gallery performance.

• Dropbox uploads are back to seamless.

If you ran into hiccups while uploading from Dropbox, you’ll be happy to know the integration is fully restored. You can get back to your streamlined workflow without missing a beat.

• Shop View error resolved for small image sizes.

We fixed an issue where very small images could cause errors in the Shop View. Your storefront is now better equipped to handle a variety of image sizes without any unwanted surprises.

• Coupon profit display glitch — fixed fast.

There was a brief moment when Pros were receiving full profit even when a coupon was applied — not quite how it’s supposed to work. Our team jumped on it, and everything is now calculating correctly again.

• Receipt date accuracy restored.

Some of you may have noticed incorrect dates on your account receipts in Account Settings. That’s been corrected, so your records now reflect the right information.

• Font browsing in the Customizer is back.

Thinking about freshening up your design? You can now browse available fonts in the Customizer again without delay. Time to get creative!

We're thrilled to bring you this month's updates, all designed to make your experience smoother, faster, and more engaging! From a streamlined receipts page to exciting improvements in our mobile apps, we’ve been working hard to make sure you have the best tools at your fingertips. Let’s dive in!

Enhancements & Improvements

Seamless folder sign-ups for gallery pre-releases.
‍We heard you! Now, you can share a single pre-release link for an entire folder, not just for a gallery. This enables attendees to explore and register for multiple galleries. Connecting with your audience has never been easier, by allowing them to sign up to view galleries as you create them. Check out all of the details in this article.

A faster, more intuitive buying experience.
‍Selecting images and products is now smoother than ever! We’ve combined these steps into one simple screen, reducing friction in the purchasing process and making it easier for customers to get what they want in just a few clicks.

‍A sleeker, more efficient receipts page.
‍Navigating your receipts just got easier! We’ve updated the design to provide a cleaner, more intuitive layout with faster response times. Plus, if you're a Source customer, you can now see your storage usage directly on this page—because staying informed should be effortless! Visit your Account Settings to check out the updates. 

iOS App updates

With version 4.12.6, we’ve made some small but meaningful refinements to optimize your experience. We’ve fixed an issue where the search bar didn’t close properly after selecting a result, ensuring a smoother, more seamless experience.

In version 4.12.7, we focused on improving discoverability and user experience. To help you get the most out of our bulk keyword editing feature, we’ve added a banner that makes it easier to find and use this option. Tapping the banner now walks you through the process with a helpful interactive slideshow. We’ve also refined navigation by ensuring Assistants no longer see an inactive delete option, reducing confusion. Plus, we fixed an issue where the shopping cart sometimes disappeared when searching for more photos—so now, your checkout process is smoother and frustration-free.

Android App updates

Version 4.11.0 brings a fresh new look with an edge-to-edge design for the galleries and photos tabs. With this update, we’ve optimized screen space by allowing content to extend behind a transparent status bar, creating a more immersive browsing experience for you. We’ve also improved video-sharing compatibility across more apps, making it easier to share your moments seamlessly. Plus, we’ve made behind-the-scenes enhancements to lay the groundwork for future updates—because we’re always working to bring you the best experience possible.

With version 4.11.1, we expanded casting capabilities. Now, you can cast photos and videos from private galleries—including hidden photos—giving you even more control over how you share and view your memories. We’ve also fixed a transparency issue with the app bar when viewing folders on a TV, ensuring a clearer and more polished viewing experience.

Bug Fixes

We tackled several issues to keep everything running smoothly:

• Price list fixes: Galleries with empty price lists will no longer show buying options, reducing customer confusion.
• Coupon code fix: Fixed an issue that was not allowing coupons to apply under specific circumstances. The result is full use of coupons as expected.
• Font browser link restored: You can now explore available fonts in the Customizer without interruption.
• Receipts access restored: Some users had trouble accessing receipts due to recent updates—this has now been fixed.
• Client download improvement: The 'Select All' function is now fully operational, when it’s applicable to the options selected by the account owner.

What’s New

Boost engagement with gallery sign-ups!

We’re giving you a powerful new way to build excitement and drive sales with Gallery Sign-Ups! Now, before an event even begins, you can create buzz by sharing a link or QR code to the gallery's pre-release page on social media, event websites, or in person. Visitors sign up to be the first to know when photos go live—building anticipation and guaranteeing eager buyers. The moment your gallery is ready, you can send out an email notification, bringing customers straight to your store. Less waiting, more sales!

Drive more sales with coupon banners

Why let customers miss out on your amazing deals? Coupon Banners make your promotions impossible to ignore by automatically displaying them at the top of your galleries. No more manually sending reminders or custom website tweaks—this feature does the work for you by creating a sense of urgency and turning your browsers into buyers!

What’s Changed

iOS App Updates

Smarter, smoother workflows are here! We want your uploads to be frustration-free, so we reduced unnecessary alerts for Assistants, and simplified keyword management with cleaner tagging and multi-word support.

• Version 4.12.2
  
  • Smarter uploads, less frustration! When selecting all files for upload, videos that don’t meet minimum size requirements are now automatically excluded—so you immediately see what needs adjusting and avoid wasting time.
• Version 4.12.4
  
  • Less notification noise! Assistants will no longer receive order notifications meant for the primary account holder, keeping your alerts focused on what matters most.
• Version 4.12.5
  
  • Better keyword management for faster organization!
    
    • The Save button now activates only when changes are made, preventing unnecessary clicks.
    • Duplicate keywords are blocked, keeping your tags clean and efficient.
    • Multi-word keywords (e.g., "Golden Hour" or "New York") are now supported, helping you describe images more accurately.
  • The Disk Usage chart has been removed to simplify your experience. Goodbye, confusion! 
  • Full functionality restored! We fixed a non-responsive overflow menu button, so everything works as expected.

Android App Updates

We strive for your mobile experience to be smooth and effortless to organize! Instantly spot RAW files with a new badge, get clearer upload feedback with detailed explanations, and enjoy a crash-free app while managing your galleries.

• Version 4.10.4
  
  • Instant RAW file recognition. A new RAW badge now appears on RAW files, making them easy to identify.
  • Clearer upload selection. You can now see all files before upload, even those that don’t meet requirements. If a file isn’t supported, we’ll tell you exactly why!
• Version 4.10.5
  
  • No more crashes! We squashed a rare bug that could crash the app while editing gallery settings, giving you a smoother, frustration-free experience.
• Version 4.10.6
  
  • More control over notifications. Assistants no longer receive push notifications or prompts to enable them. We also removed the Notification Settings option from their menu—keeping things streamlined.

macOS App Updates

Seamless uploads, your way—stay connected effortlessly and take full control over duplicates with smart handling options!

• Version 2.4.3
  
  • Stay connected automatically. When you launch the app for the first time, you’ll be prompted to enable "Launch at Login"—so you never forget to keep it running in the background.
  • Effortless duplicate handling. Just like on the web uploader, you now have options to allow, replace, or ignore duplicate uploads—giving you complete control over your files.

What’s been fixed

• Coupon banner fixes:
  
  • Now appears only where it should. No more banners in galleries where Visitor Shopping is turned off.
  • Displays properly no matter what. Whether the SmugMug header is on or off, your coupon banners will now show correctly.
  • Works perfectly with background photos. Banners now display as expected, even when a background photo is used.
  • Privacy matters! Banners no longer appear in galleries with "Hide Owner" enabled, maintaining your desired settings.
• Privacy settings consistency:
  
  • Accurate displays, every time. A glitch that caused privacy settings to appear differently in Organizer vs. Site View has been fixed. Your settings now reflect correctly everywhere.
• Purchase flow corrections:
  
  • No more confusion. The Single Purchase option will only appear when applicable, ensuring a seamless checkout experience.
• Gallery stats accuracy:
  
  • Your stats, now 100% correct. A temporary issue prevented Gallery Stats from updating between January 19-26, 2025. As of January 27, 2025, everything is back to normal!

What’s New

• Apply coupons faster! Coupons boost customer engagement and drive sales more efficiently. Now, you can apply coupons at the folder level, streamlining your workflow and ensuring all galleries within a folder benefit from your promotions instantly. This update makes it easier than ever to create tailored, impactful campaigns that inspire buying urgency.
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What’s Changed

• iOS app
  • Version 4.12 and 4.12.1
    • The updated Grid View is here, and the design is based on your feedback! You can now navigate your content smoother than ever. Prefer the List View? You can select it from the overflow menu whenever you need it. This updated look provides a modern experience, and also brings more settings to the surface for quick access.
• Version 4.12.2
  • We've refined the video selection process. The minimum video height/width check, previously applied only when selecting individual videos for upload, now also applies when using Select All to pick all videos and photos from a specific day.
• Android app
  • Version 4.10.3
    • We’ve heard your feedback about wanting to enjoy “lights on” mode (where titles and captions are visible) without the Buy button taking center stage. The Buy button in the lightbox has been moved from a prominent green button to the first item in the overflow menu. This change also brings Android’s UI in line with iOS for a more consistent experience across platforms.
• In the Organizer, the uploader can now handle up to 5 file uploads at a time, up from the previous limit of 3. This change aims to enhance performance by reducing idle wait times during bulk uploads in your browser.

Bug Fixes

• Resolved an intermittent issue causing incorrect rotation of a few images in printed greeting cards and albums, ensuring that prints match previews shown in the editing interface.
• Holiday cards appearing in a gallery assigned to a lab that doesn’t offer cards has been fixed.
• A non-functional "disable crop" control was removed from the Proof Delay interface.
• An image orientation issue was fixed that affected specific products, like Fujifilm’s Acrylic Ornament, guaranteeing images are printed with a correctly oriented default crop setting.
• iOS Version 4.12 - RAW files (with a Source add-on subscription) now upload seamlessly via the app share extension, so you can share your high-quality images without interruptions.
• Android Version 4.10.2 - Our team addressed a rare crash and this issue should now be a thing of the past!
• The CAPTCHA image for event registration now displays correctly for a smooth and secure sign-up process.
• You can now switch between months in the Library's date picker without encountering errors for smooth browsing and management of your content.
• We've fixed an issue that occasionally caused multiple receipts to be issued for a single renewal. This did not cause any duplicate payments.

What’s New

This month, we’ve got a suite of improvements aimed at improving your buyers’ experience (and ultimately helping you make more money).

• For those selling holiday cards, we’re here to help you boost your sales this holiday season. We added a helpful message that now appears when customers first access a gallery with greeting cards enabled, providing instructions on how to purchase. The message disappears when the customer interacts with the gallery and only shows during their first visit.
  
  

• The gallery header has been improved in all styles to make sure all buying actions are grouped together and highlighted on the right. This serves to further raise the awareness of the gallery download and digital package options.
  
  

What’s Changed

• iOS app version 4.11.19 updates
  • We’ve made it easier to find the Assistant View feature! If you’re using the Pro plan, you’ll now see a clear label in Settings, so you can quickly check if you’re logged in with the Assistant feature.
  • When creating a Shortcut, you’ll now see an accurate and tidy list of folders and galleries to choose from—making it faster and more intuitive to get organized.
  • Your uploads should now be faster and more reliable than ever as a result of a new caching library we are using to improve how photos and videos are handled during auto upload.
• Android app version 4.10.0 updates
  • Managing your photos and videos has gotten even easier, with the new ability to add and edit keywords for multiple photos or videos at once in the Android app. 
• Collect photos faster and more easily with drag-and-drop in the Organizer. By removing the option from the image tools menu, we’ve simplified the process, giving you a more streamlined way to gather and organize your favorite photos across galleries.
• Adjusting cover images has been optimized for smaller devices, ensuring you have the precision and ease needed for a better experience.

Bug Fixes

• Resolved an issue affecting the hover indicators for , “Slideshow,” “Download,” and “Share” buttons. This fix improves clarity and helps users better understand the functions of these buttons.
• iOS Video Uploads - We fixed an issue where some videos weren’t uploading on iOS because of a permission hiccup. Your uploads should now go through smoothly—happy sharing! 
• Duplicate Renewal Receipts - Some of you may have noticed multiple renewal receipts in your Account Settings. Our team jumped in to sort this out quickly, so things should now look clean and clear. 
• iOS Sharing View Fixes - We fixed a couple of quirks in the Sharing view on iOS—Add Photographer is back to working reliably, and the layout looks just as it should. 
• Gallery Images Not Displaying - A small number of customers saw a brief issue where gallery images were shown as still processing. Our team acted fast, and everything should be displaying perfectly now. 
• iOS Auto Upload Space Issue - We resolved a glitch on iOS where auto upload paused with a “not enough space” message even when there was plenty of room. With that behind us, your uploads should flow seamlessly once again!

What’s New

• New help articles now provide clear and easily accessible information to quickly address common order-related questions and issues.
• The security of your images is always our priority. We offer the right-click message setting in your Gallery Settings to help you protect your photos from unauthorized downloads. Now, when enabled, the right-click message is available in the Shop View of the My Selections page to further ensure your photos are safe and your sales maximized.
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• Christmas ornaments are now available – just in time for the holidays! Choose from two ready-to-hang ornaments from Fujifilm: acrylic with a red satin ribbon or acrylic on poplar.
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What’s Changed

• Android app update
  • We’ve introduced a new grid view alongside the existing list view. The new grid view enhances the display of thumbnail images while maximizing screen space, offering a cleaner and more visual browsing experience. This highly requested feature provides more flexibility, and we’re excited to bring it to our Android app!
• Android app version 4.9.4
  • The folder grid view now supports up to 2 lines for gallery titles, making it easier to display longer folder and gallery names.
  • Improved error messages provide clearer information to help customers quickly understand and resolve issues.
• Android app version 4.9.5
  • When viewing a folder, the app bar background now dynamically transitions from transparent to opaque as you scroll. This enhances the visibility of the header image and prevents icons from overlapping with gallery card overflow icons.

Bug Fixes

• The "Back: Shopping Cart" button now functions correctly, allowing shoppers to return to the shopping cart as expected.
• If you offer keepsakes for sale, we’ve improved the product descriptions so that your buyers see specific details about each keepsake as they browse. Better descriptions means your buyers know exactly what they’ll get, which means a better purchase experience!
• macOS Uploader version 2.4.2
  • Resolved crashes and freezes impacting a minimal number of customers that occurred under specific launch conditions, ensuring a smoother startup experience.
  • Introduced a new background UI element with a call-to-action, highlighting the ability to drag photos directly into the app to upload them to a gallery. While this feature has been available since version 2.0, user research revealed that some customers were unaware of it.
• iOS app version 4.11.17
  • Fixed an issue where the Overflow Menu was not visible for logged-out users.
  • Resolved a bug where the Plus button was missing from the Sharing navigation bar for logged-out users.
• Android app version 4.9.4
  • Fixed a crash that could occur after editing a folder through the folder card overflow on the Galleries tab.
  • Improved error handling when attempting to open folder settings from the folder card overflow while offline.
• Android app version 4.9.5
  • Resolved an issue with TV directional pad navigation that prevented focus from moving up to the app bar in galleries and the Inspiration page.
  • Fixed focus-related issues on the Inspiration tab for Android TV users.
• iOS app version 4.11.18
  • Addressed an issue where some thumbnails were missing in Sales Orders.
  • Updated the "+" (upload) button, integrating it into the existing menu for a smoother experience.
• Reviewed and implemented significant improvements to ensure images display reliably on customer sites.
• Changes to the text content block in the customizer were not updating immediately in Safari, and this has been corrected.
• Resolved instances where incorrect character encoding resulted in garbled text in our receipt PDFs.
• We addressed an issue where replacing video preview images could sometimes result in a partially blank display. This has been resolved; the full preview image appears correctly. 
• An issue was resolved where some .mov and .mp4 files were incorrectly counted as Source files, affecting Source storage limits for a small number of customers. An issue was resolved where gallery sorting on the site did not match the order set in the Organizer. Now, the sorting preferences selected in the Organizer are accurately reflected on the site, establishing a consistent viewing experience for customers and their visitors.

What’s Changed

• When logged into your account, we've streamlined the top menu to maximize the view of your site and photos. This updated navigation provides the same functionality while using less than half the space, giving you a clearer and more immersive experience with your beautiful photos.
• Android app 4.9.1 release:
  • We've redesigned the bottom tabs to now include "Galleries" and "Photos," allowing us to remove the top tabs and minimize to one menu bar. This simplifies your navigation and creates a cleaner, more intuitive user experience.
• Android app 4.9.2 release:
  • Introducing the new Grid View for your galleries and folders! This update makes viewing easier and enhances readability, while still showcasing the feature image beautifully. You now have quicker access to sharing and editing options. If you prefer the classic list view, it’s still available, and you can switch at any time in the settings.
• iOS app 4.11.13 release:
  • IPhone and iPad Shortcuts are now supported, enabling you to upload photos, create galleries, find recent folders, and more—within custom workflows that automate your workflow.
• iPad app in iOS 18:
  • The tab bar has been moved from the bottom to the top of the screen, with a fresh new look to enhance usability.
• File downloads in iOS app:
  • Now, downloaded files retain their original filenames, ensuring consistency when working with your downloaded files in other applications, just as you intended.
• Our product catalog has been updated to reflect changes in keepsakes, in partnership with our new lab provider, Fujifilm, giving you access to a wider selection of beautiful keepsakes.

Bug Fixes

• We resolved an issue where the commercial photo license text was cut off during checkout, ensuring that all necessary information is clearly visible to your customers and giving you confidence in the complete transaction details.
• The error that caused the Shop page to crash when the associated pricelist contained only cards and albums has been resolved. This ensures a seamless shopping experience, letting you and your customers navigate and purchase products without interruptions.
• We corrected pages where the "Buy Button" was missing on gallery-style system pages (date, keyword, popular). Now, customers can easily purchase photos from any gallery view, simplifying their buying journey.
• The Android app's auto-upload function occasionally resulted in duplicate uploads. We fixed this, making sure your photos are uploaded smoothly without unintended duplicates, saving time and improving quality.
• Images in the Lightbox view on Android were slightly cropped at the bottom due to a gesture navigation issue. This fix now displays your photos perfectly, preserving every detail regardless of the image ratio, so your customers always see the full picture.
• On iOS, the Add Folder option correctly displayed as inactive at the maximum folder depth, but remained inactive when navigating back to a previous level. We've fixed this issue, ensuring that the Add Folder option is now available at all appropriate levels, making navigation smoother and keeping you in control of your organization.
• We addressed a bug when viewing photos in landscape mode in the Lightbox on Max iPhones, which incorrectly displayed multiple photos. Now, Lightbox displays only one photo at a time, restoring a clear, focused viewing experience.
• Uploads of HEIC files on iOS 18 incorrectly interrupted are now resolved. You can now resume uploading HEIC files without error.
• An issue preventing order status updates due to an unknown zip code has been fixed. Order status is now updated accurately, providing you with real-time information and better transparency.
• New customers were receiving the wrong FujiFilm pricelist upon account setup. We have resolved this, ensuring all new users start with the correct default pricelist, leading to a better onboarding experience. 
• The macOS app was crashing for a small number of users at launch. This has been promptly fixed, so all users can now reliably access the app.
• We corrected a display issue with cropping in the account owner order view during proof delay. The correct crop is now accurately shown, ensuring that what you see in your preview matches exactly what will be printed.
• Several backend bugs were identified and resolved, bringing a smoother experience when viewing orders, pricelists, and more. These improvements ensure that your interactions are more reliable and hassle-free.
• Loxley Edge Prints displayed incorrect measurements during selection. We've fixed this, ensuring that you and your customers now see accurate print sizes, providing clarity and preventing errors when choosing print dimensions.

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What’s New

Our main focus is on supercharging your photos and your photo business, and this month, we’ve made two major strides to do just that. We’re continuing to invest in areas that will help you increase sales, interact with your customers more easily, and manage your business more effectively.

• We've launched a new print lab partner: Fujifilm. This print lab is now available as an excellent choice for our Pro and Portfolio subscribers. All Basic and Power subscribers outside of EMEA (Europe, Middle East, & Africa) region have been transitioned to Fujifilm for processing their prints. Fujifilm is also now the supplier for all Keepsakes in these areas. Within EMEA, Loxley is the default lab. Key benefits to you and your customers include:
  • Fujifilm has labs all over the world, which will result in quicker and cheaper shipping for international customers. 
  • Access to high-quality prints and products at a cheaper price, meaning more profit for you AND more affordable prices for your customers.
• Introducing our new image processing engine! While everything on the surface remains familiar, we've meticulously upgraded our backend to ensure that your images are processed and presented with the highest quality. This improvement allows us to stay ahead of the curve and seamlessly support the latest advancements in camera technology, so you can continue to showcase your work at its best.

What’s Changed

• We updated Photo Sites to improve usability on mobile and tablet devices by optimizing space and standardizing action placements. For Pro and Portfolio users, Gallery Engagement Stats have been moved to the overflow menu for easier access. These changes enhance the user experience and prepare the platform for future mobile-friendly updates.
• We streamlined the Customizer by removing non-functional Buy Button customization options, making it easier for you to focus on the features that work seamlessly and enhance your store's appearance.
• We improved the download size label for Original-sized photos by including the image dimensions. This provides your buyers with more precise information about the actual size and quality of the photo they are purchasing, helping them make more informed decisions and ensuring they know exactly what to expect with their purchase.
• Android release 4.9.0
  • The option to create a folder is now visually disabled when you reach the maximum nesting depth, preventing you from going through the unnecessary steps only to encounter an error. This change saves you time and avoids frustration by making it clear upfront when further nesting isn’t possible.
  • We upgraded our video playback system by migrating to Google’s new Media3 library, providing you with improved video playback. This update not only elevates your current viewing experience but also readies our platform to leverage future improvements and features.
• iOS release 4.11.11
  • We upgraded the Auto-Upload experience by improving how failed uploads are managed, guaranteeing that your files are reliably uploaded without requiring extra effort from you when something goes wrong.
  • The RAW button that toggles the display of RAW/non-RAW assets in the asset picker has been removed, streamlining your asset selection process and reducing potential confusion when managing your files.
• iOS release 4.11.12
  • We fixed an issue where the upload and filter options would disappear when switching tabs and returning to Photos. Now, these essential tools are always visible, making for a smoother and more consistent workflow when managing your images.

Bug Fixes

We have an unrelenting commitment to addressing problems that impact you and your customers. Here’s a list of the issues we resolved this month: 

• Resolved an issue where users trying to checkout with PayPal were redirected back to the payment method page and had to re-enter their details.
• Corrected the shopping flow so that choosing "Select All" now properly selects all available images.
• Addressed a problem that prevented products from being added to the cart in some unlisted galleries.
• Eliminated the incorrect low-resolution warning on some proof delay orders.
• Ensured that original resolution photos are no longer mistakenly included in visitor downloads when photos are collected from galleries with different maximum display size settings. This issue was promptly resolved and affected only a small number of customers.
• Improved accessibility by adding alt tags to spacer images used in our UI.
• Updated the system to properly save changes made to a pricelist title and enhanced error messaging for common scenarios.
• Fixed a bug where zooming in and out on an image on larger iPhones caused other UI elements to shift across the screen.
• Clarified error messages by correcting the “invalid video codec” alert when an uploaded video does not meet minimum size requirements.
• Removed a restriction that prevented users from downloading from some password-protected galleries.

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We’re always looking for new ways to power the business of photography. In the coming year, there are six key areas we’re focusing on that should give you and your business some jet fuel. Here’s what to look forward to in 2024 and 2025: 

1. Faster photo delivery.

We consistently hear that capitalizing on recency and emotion is key to maximizing sales after a photo event. That’s why we’re planning to offer additional ways for you to upload and deliver faster. Whether it’s utilizing new technology like our recent integration with Fujifilm that allows you to upload to SmugMug straight from your camera, or improving the efficiency of your post-shoot workflow, our goal is to help you get your photos in front of your clients as fast as possible.

2. New marketing opportunities.

Marketing is more than just getting people in the front door (or to your homepage), and we’ve got some exciting developments in the works to help you keep your customers coming back for more. First on that list is our recent addition to the shopping experience: When your customers leave an unpurchased item in their shopping cart, we’ve built a helpful reminder email that’s currently driving up to 30% more sales. Next up: we’re working on solutions to increase your average order value (AOV) and let you engage more consistently with customers before, during, and after their shoot.

3. Helping your buyers find their photos faster.

It’s hard to go anywhere these days without engaging in or overhearing a conversation about AI. Its rapid development is causing this exciting new technology to become foundational in our everyday lives. AI has many relevant applications in the photography world. One very clear example is in image recognition. As a customer arriving at a photo gallery with hundreds, sometimes thousands of images, finding the photos they’re most interested in can be a challenge. That’s why we’re planning new ways to help your customers quickly take advantage of AI and image recognition to find their photos in seconds, which leads to more sales for you.

4. Improving the customer buying experience. 

We’ve already made some large strides in this area in the past year with a modern update to the product selection flow, improving your customer’s access to Packages and Gallery Downloads, providing the ability to purchase Packages on mobile devices, and partnering with a new print lab, Fujifilm. Planned future updates include support for even faster payment for customers via Apple Pay and Google Pay.

5. Improved fulfillment of digital downloads.

It should come as no surprise that in the world of photography, digital is now king. This doesn’t just refer to cameras - digital downloads are far-and-away the most popular purchase option now as customers seek more flexible ways to buy and share photos. Digital files present ease of sharing, flexibility for printing, and a low footprint way to preserve memories for a lifetime. Knowing this, there are a number of ways we plan to improve the experience related to the fulfillment of downloads. When someone downloads a photo from you, it should be easy and fast, no matter what device they’re on.

6. Better access to data.

Understanding sales data can be crucial for growing your business. With over 20 years of sales data and experience under our belt, we plan to provide you more comprehensive insights. The goal is to empower you to make informed decisions, invest wisely in your business, identify profitable niches and optimize pricing strategies - all to ensure you maximize your revenue. 

What’s New

• In both our Android and iOS app
  • The deprecated slideshow gallery style option has been removed. However, beautiful slideshows can continue to be viewed in mobile and desktop web browsers within galleries, if the option is enabled in the settings and the play button is selected at the top of the gallery.
• Android app version 4.8.8
  • To improve support and troubleshooting for upload issues, we quietly enhanced the background processes. These changes ensure smoother and more reliable uploads for users.
• iOS app version 4.11.9
  • The 'Add Folder/Gallery' button has been removed when the maximum depth in the folder and gallery hierarchy has been reached. This update ensures a clearer experience by indicating when you’ve reached the maximum level in the hierarchy.
• iOS app version 4.11.10
  • Resolved an issue where the lightbox view overflow menu was not consistently displaying, ensuring reliable access to all options.‍
• Direct image URLs now include a signature and are independent of gallery privacy settings. You can also update these shared image links when changing a gallery's privacy to private.
• The macOS Uploader app has received a major update! The SmugMug macOS Uploader app is now available for direct download from SmugMug, bypassing the need for the App Store. This update brings significant improvements – enabling seamless uploads of tens of thousands of files directly from your device or NAS drive – functionality that wasn’t possible with the previous App Store version.
• Android app version 4.8.9
  • Implemented a quick fix for a scrolling issue on the photo edit details page. Now, when you scroll to the bottom and back to the top, the text fields and map buttons function as expected.
• We’ve eliminated the $0.50 processing fee for digital downloads. Previously charged to your customers, this fee has been removed to enhance their experience.

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What’s Changed

• The option to leave a comment on a photo or gallery with Facebook login credentials has been retired.
• SmugVault was retired from the Account Settings. This feature was retired many years ago, but a few customers have images from their Vaults still on their accounts. Those images can be viewed in your Organizer and Library.
• The ability to add and remove images by updating selections on the shop page has been moved to the cart, making it easier for customers to choose various products and images for their photo order.
• Obsolete customization options for the 'Buy Button' have been removed to prevent confusion when customizing Thumbnail and Collage Portrait/Landscape settings. 
• We updated the low-resolution message in proof delay to provide clearer guidance as you review your orders and submit them for print.
• The digital download messaging for Originals has been rephrased to “Highest resolution file uploaded by the photographer” rather than “ Full sized with every pixel included” to avoid any confusion if the uploaded file resolution is low. 
• Hidden images are now included with a selection when site owners are logged in and choose Select All.

Bug Fixes

• Resolved an issue where downloads from mobile Safari included unwanted spacer.gif files.
• Addressed a problem where some customers experienced difficulties saving a custom domain in the account settings, which was quickly rectified by our team.
• Corrected discrepancies in profit information display between the Sales History and Order Detail pages.
• Addressed an issue where uploaded images were not rendering properly. 
• Mitigated delivery delays for some Pro order emails.
• Corrected a bug that caused items to go missing in the cart during checkout.
• Updated the social icons content block to allow URLs containing the “@” symbol.
• Fixed an issue with address validation for zero-dollar orders.
• Enabled site owners to purchase hidden images, resolving prior access issues.
• Increased the photo selection limit to 100, up from 99 in the ‘add more photos’ section of the buying flow.

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