Well, it’s now been six months since the release of my Photography Assignment Generator Apps, and I figured it was a great time to take a second to look back at how things have gone. Why the quote/image from “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by the great Dr Seuss? Because it’s an awesome tale about the highs and lows of life.
IN THE BEGINNING
I’m going to be honest here. When I first came up with this idea for an app to give ideas and inspiration for photographers, I saw there was nothing like it on the app store. Pretty much all photo apps are about filters, effects, adding things to photos, or some type of better camera.
I immediately did the math:
hundreds of thousands of photographers x $2 per app=
Freedom 37 (Be able to just do what I love, teach photography)
OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Six months in, there have been indeed some real high heights!
Launch day. Seeing my apps climb up the charts. Chatting on CBC Information Morning with Hance Colburne about the apps. Getting mentioned in the New and Noteworthy category. The first review of the app. Getting my first email from a happy customer. Having my app finish in second place in the Top Adult Education App category in the 2012 Best App Ever Awards. My first top ten in the photo/video category (ok, it was in Cambodia, but still…my app was also more popular than Minecraft!!!!) Successfully launching my iPad versions of the apps. April Fool’s day, where I had 500 downloads of the apps in a single day.
I’ve met some cool people who have been extremely helpful and given me great feedback and advice. I think it’s only fair I tell you about them, so I’m listing them all at the end of this post, I hope you will check them out, and please share them with everyone you know as well.
And course I have to thank all my students, colleagues, co-workers, friends, and family for all their support, and for putting up with my constant talk about apps. I’m sure there have been times they were thinking “Will he every stop talking about these stupid apps…” but continued to smile and encourage me. And I have appreciated the honest feedback from you and the kick in the ass when I crossed over the annoying line.
The early success is all because of all of you, and I hope I’ve shown my gratitude to you. I’d name names, but frankly I know I’d forgot one or two.
Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true,
that Bang-ups and Hang-ups
can happen to you.
Well, things haven’t exactly gone that way. Freedom 37 isn’t happening anytime soon.
I’ve had lots of bang-ups and hang-ups too. Accidentally releasing the apps before I wanted to and losing a lot of potential downloads in the beginning. More than a few days of no or very little sales. Watching my app get oh-so-close to that coveted top 10 in the photo/video category in Canada only to tumble out of the top 200. Frustrations in my attempts to make the app for Android (working on it folks, I haven’t given up yet!) My numerous failures trying to promote my apps and getting my accounts suspended or banned. Being called a spammer more times that I can count (despite it being justified, but having it from people I thought would be supportive surprised me a bit). Countless hours contacting hundreds of magazines, sites and reviewers, with very few responses. (The ones who have though, the majority of responses/reviews have been positive, and have given me great feedback to build on for future updates of the app.)
I’m not writing this to dissuade you from trying to follow your dreams of getting rich with a cool app…I’m not trying to burst your bubble…this is just my experience and the whole idea for this blog is to share it so you don’t make the same mistakes.
But from my experience, I think the days of “getting rich” with your app are over (for iOS at least), unless you are willing to put some serious money into advertizing so you can make that big splash at launch. Looking back, that probably would have helped me greatly, but it just wasn’t something I could afford to take the risk on. Nor can I now.
But despite all this…even if I decided to walk away right now…
-I came up with an unique idea for photo apps unlike anything on the app store.
-I created them pretty much all by myself.
-I launched them on the app store.
-My apps has been downloaded over 10,000 times and are inspiring photographers in over 100 countries.
All things considered, I think that’s something to be proud of.
MY MOUNTAIN IS STILL WAITING…
But the journey is not over. I just put out my first real updates (and hopefully didn’t break anything), and I am seriously considering a completely native remake of the app to address the design issues. Android version is still in the works, just need to figure some things out.
I’m sure you’ll see a tweet or a facebook message soon about all of this in the near future…
Thanks everyone.
Noel Chenier
ps-I watch this video A LOT. Always cheers me up on those not so good days. WARNING. Probably not totally safe for work. There is a bare bum in the video.
So here’s the list of some awesome people you should check out!
WEBSITES/COMMUNITIES/RESOURCES/COOL PEOPLE
LifeinLofi.com http://lifeinlofi.com
Run by Marty Yawnick, this is a great iPhoneography resource. Marty does honest reviews and says what he thinks about the apps. If there are problems with the app, he points them out. He’s also willing to give apps second chances when they take the feedback he gives them and makes changes.
Mobitog http://www.mobitog.com/
This is a long running iPhoneography community. Lots of great discussion, reviews, tutorials, and challenges!
Richard Byrne http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
Amazing resources for technology for the classroom. If you are a teacher, you need to check out this blog.
Combo Apps Blog http://ashcroft54.com
Tina L Rice creates some interesting art with her mobile photography and apps.
Outdoor Photography Canada Magazine www.outdoorphotographycanada.com
Great Canadian photography magazine you should check out! Huge thanks to Editor Roy Ramsay for using my app to get the ideas for their last two photo contests!
PhotoLife Magazine http://www.photolife.com
Another great Canadian photography magazine you should buy! Thanks for the mentions about the apps!
Billy Wilson http://www.thebillywilson.com/
Billy hosts a weekly Google+ Hangout show about photography and other things. He’s had quite an interesting mix of guests on this shows, and he was nice enough to let me on to talk about the apps. Check out all the shows here.
Barb Crawford http://barbbarbbarb.com/
Great blog about local Saint John people, artists, fashion, food, you name it.
Mark Hemmings http://about.me/hemmings
Mark is an amazing photographer, and a great teacher. If you want a great photography trip, sign up for his Mexico trip.
Greg Hemmings/Hemmings House http://hemmingshouse.com/
Hugely talented filmmaker and storyteller here in Saint John, and all around cool dude.
Mel Martin http://www.azdeepskies.com/
Mel has some amazing astrophotography on his website that you should check out.
Jeff Roach at http://sociallogical.com/
This guy knows his social media. He’s helped me out a lot (now, don’t let my social media suckery be your measurement of his knowledge…he gave me the tools, showed me how to use em…I’m just like the idiot with the nail gun who ends up shooting himself in the foot…)
Sean McGrath http://seanmcgrath.ca/
Another awesome photog here in Saint John.
Also has some really wicked photoshop scripts! http://www.codeandhustle.com/
Kelly Lawson http://lawsonphotography.ca/
Another awesome SJ photog and lover of the golden rule!
Christian LaForce http://thechronicleherald.ca/topics/Christian%20Laforce
Canadian Photojournalist
Alan Bailward http://www.bailwardphotography.com/
Canadian fashion/lifestyle photographer
Ashlan Nathens http://www.ashlann.com/
Australian Photographer and Illustrator
Jordan Oram http://www.maplemusketeer.com/
BC Based photographer, writer, artist.
APPS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT
Distressed FX https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/distr…
Great filter effects app.
iColorama S https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icolo…
Another great editing app to get artistic with your images.
Photo365 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo…
A great way to keep track of your 365 photo challenge.
Perspective Correct https://itunes.apple.com/app/id584634318
Great app for correcting perspective on your iphone images.
Collect http://collectphotoapp.com/
Cool app that lets you organize your photos in a calendar style to capture your life.
Memory Jar http://memoryjarapp.com/
Great app that lets your record, organize, and archive your life in your photos!
ITakeNotes https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itakenotes-meeting-notes-reports/id567645467?mt=8
Great app for documenting meetings on your ipad with lots of cool features!
Quotely http://www.quotelyapp.com/
Not released yet, but this app looks great for anyone with kids who say the darndest things and want to remember them!
REVIEWERS/REVIEW SITES/PODCASTS
iOS Affairs http://iosaffairs.com
Tracy Pease’s reviews are some of the most in-depth I have seen, and many are tutorials/walkthroughs for the apps she is reviewing, including tons of screenshots and examples.
Today in iOS http://tii.libsyn.com
This is a great podcast. While not a reviewer, Rob gives developers the opportunity to showcase their apps on his podcast. All he asks for in exchange is promo codes. The podcast itself is very informative and full of info on what is happening in the world of iOS.
Three Geeky Ladies http://www.threegeekyladies.com/
These three ladies love all kinds of apps, and have great podcasts discussing/reviewing them!
My App Adventure http://www.myappventure.com/
Great podcast/website by developer Scott Ruth where he talks about his experiences as a developer along with a new podcast!
Julie Clover
http://appadvice.com/appnn/author/juli
http://www.padgadget.com/author/juli/
Has a regular photography app blog posting/reviews on these review sites
Mobile Photography Related
Reviews, resources, news, and links about photo apps!
Appotography http://appotography.com/
PhotoCruncher http://www.photocruncher.com
iosPhotoApps http://www.iosphotoapps.com/
The Photo Momma http://www.thephotomomma.com/
iosPhotoApps http://www.iosphotoapps.com
I Comme Photo (en francais) http://icommephoto.com/
Other great review sites:
Idownloadblog http://www.idownloadblog.com
148apps.com http://www.148apps.com
Appy Hour.TV http://appyhour.tv/
Cult of Mac http://www.cultofmac.com/
(If I’ve forgotten anyone, email me so I can add you.)
Help out a fellow developer! Download the free versions of my Photography Assignment Generator Apps and let me know what you think!
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———————-
Photographer and teacher
LEARNPHOTO.CA, Noel’s online photography learning community!
NEW! Photography Assignment Generator Apps now available on the app store!
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