SmugMug Development Lab

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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