FAQs

Why did Pictage acquire ShootQ?

Pictage's mission is to empower photographers and enable their success with tools and services to manage their workflow, promote their brand, connect with community, and sell their work. By combining Pictage's platform for marketing, selling and fulfilling professional photo products with ShootQ's business management solution, we will be positioned to deliver a complete, end-to-end solution that can revolutionize how professional photographers manage and grow their business.

Together, Pictage and ShootQ are creating significant customer value by offering a one-stop-shop for professional photographers to build their business, from lead management through product fulfillment.

This acquisition:

  • • Significantly expands Pictage's platform, products and services designed to enable photographer success
  • • Enables Pictage to tightly integrate with ShootQ to streamline and simplify photographer workflow, by synchronizing event and image management, product catalogs, and payment processing
  • • Accelerates product development of ShootQ with increased engineering, product and marketing resources Opens the way for Pictage and ShootQ to add new products and services with a vision to build the most comprehensive solution for professional photographers
  • • Reinforces Pictage and ShootQ's commitment to supporting professional photographers as they pursue their dreams and follow their passion

How will customers benefit from the acquisition?

As professional photographers find themselves in a more competitive marketplace, they need to manage many complex, interrelated tasks to successfully build their business. The four business-critical areas where photographers need support are managing workflow, promoting their brand, selling their work, and connecting with a community of experts. While there are a number of companies that will help with one or two of these needs, Pictage combined with ShootQ will be the only company with comprehensive support in all four areas.

As a ShootQ Customer, do I have to use Pictage?

No. ShootQ supports your choice of labs and will never force you to use Pictage.

What about my ShootQ Founding Membership?

Founding memberships are rock solid. And so is our commitment to photographers.

How will ShootQ be integrated into Pictage?

ShootQ will continue to operate in a highly autonomous fashion. One of the reasons we decided to do this transaction was ShootQ's ability to rapidly develop and release relevant new features. By becoming a part of the Pictage family, ShootQ is simply fortified with new resources so they can move faster than ever.

Pictage and ShootQ have together developed a plan to integrate the two environments, starting with synchronizing event and catalog information and enabling ShootQ users to select Pictage Payment Processing (P3) as a payment method. These enhancements will be launched sometime in the Fall.

Are there plans to discontinue any ShootQ products?

There are no plans to discontinue support or development of any of ShootQ's current products. To the contrary, ShootQ will have access to greater resources to enhance the functionality of existing products as well as develop and acquire new technologies.

What are the key strategic integration points between Pictage and ShootQ?

With the acquisition closed, Pictage will begin working on product integrations to deliver a complete, unmatched solution set for professional photographers. These include:

  • • Enabling events scheduled in ShootQ to be posted to Pictage
  • • Integrating Pictage product catalogs and price lists with ShootQ
  • • Enabling ShootQ users to use Pictage Payment Processing (P3) to schedule and process payments from clients

Who will lead ShootQ?

Andrew Niesen, ShootQ's co-founder and former CEO, has joined Pictage as President of the new business unit, reporting to Pictage's CEO, Jim Collins.

What will happen to the ShootQ corporate brand?

Upon the close of the acquisition, ShootQ will be referred to as "ShootQ, a Pictage company." The ShootQ product will continue to be referred to as ShootQ.

Are other former ShootQ executives joining Pictage?

Yes. Members of the ShootQ executive team joining Pictage include:

  • • Rachel LaCour Niesen - vice president, Marketing of ShootQ
  • • Jonathan LaCour - vice president, Product Development of ShootQ

Was there a reduction in force as a result of the ShootQ acquisition?

No. All employees of ShootQ have been retained by Pictage, and the ShootQ team will be strengthened with additional resources.

Will ShootQ's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia remain in operation?

Yes. ShootQ will be based out of the same Atlanta office.

Will existing ShootQ client support agreements continue to be honored?

Pictage will fully honor the terms and conditions of existing ShootQ contracts for all current clients. There is no change in ShootQ's support policy or agreed-upon service levels to clients as a result of this transaction. In fact, both technical support and customer service will likely be strengthened for ShootQ clients in conjunction with the Pictage customer care team.

How will clients know if there is a change to their support team?

We don't anticipate significant changes. Pictage's team is experienced in mergers and acquisitions and we're mindful that the most important thing for all existing clients is their continued support relationships. If anything, with new resources available, these relationships will improve and flourish.

Whom should ShootQ clients contact for product support?

Clients of ShootQ should continue to contact ShootQ support via phone (888-974-6687) or online at http://help.shootq.com/home.

When did the acquisition close?

The transaction closed on July 6, 2010.

What were the terms of the acquisition?

Check out the official press release