PhotoPal
An Invoicing App for Busy Photographers
I designed an app in Figma that would help busy photographpreneurs keep track of their invoices, calendar, and client communications.
​
Additionally, I designed a website for the app in AdobeXD. The website markets the app, and provides a place where customers can sign up, learn about the app, and receive customer service.
While taking a UX/UI Design course, I was assigned to think of an app and website that would solve user needs. I came up with the idea for PhotoPal while talking with my photographer friend about how difficult it was for her to keep track of her clients and their invoices.
Keeping her pain points in mind, I set about brainstorming, planning, and wireframing.
​
When designing each iteration of the app and website, I performed user research and usability studies with that photographer friend, other friends, and family. Further design tweaks were made based on the suggestions of a few UX designer friends.
​
I had such a blast designing PhotoPal, and learned so much about the UX Design process.
The Problem
Photographers have a lot on their plates. Between photoshoots and editing galleries, keeping track of billing can be tedious, time consuming, and difficult to keep organized. All of this takes time away from the part of their business that photographers truly love: beautifully capturing their subjects.
​
That's where PhotoPal comes in.
The User
Photographers are BUSY. They are CREATIVE. They are PASSIONATE. They CARE about the subjects they shoot. They want to deliver beautiful photos and develop thriving businesses.
User Persona 1:
Alice is a part time photographer, full time student who needs to keep her
photography billing neat and organized because she wants to succeed in
photography while also juggling school.
​
User Persona 2
Macie is a full time photographer with a family. She wants to have a seamless billing process with little thought and effort so she can focus on her clients, and also focus on her family. She wants to spend more time on her craft and with those she loves, and less time on bookkeeping.
"My purpose is to leave people better than I found them...I hope when they look at their images, they serve as a well of joy to draw from."
​
-my photographer friend
The Solution
PhotoPal Mobile App: a one stop shop for running a photography business.
App Features:
-
save a list of photo services offered
-
save client information in a contact list
-
generate invoices in a few easy taps
-
send invoices straight to client email addresses
-
collect payment
-
keep track of shoots and invoice due dates in a calendar.
-
save invoices to drafts folder for later editing
-
send and receive messages from clients
-
view records of past invoices
Wireframes
The first iterations of PhotoPal were clunky.
In the paper and low fidelity wireframes, there were too many functions on the same page. The UI also was not in a format that most users would easily recognize and find intuitive.
Mobile App Prototype
I received user feedback that some functions in the app were difficult to locate.
So, in order to create a smooth, intuitive experience,
-
I used contrasting colors and appropriate icons.
-
I included features such as the "unpaid" and "paid" bars on the homepage for users to track their compensation easily.
-
I made the "Total Due" section on the invoice form bigger, so that users can clearly see what they are charging their customers and ensure that it's correct.
The final prototype is much more clean and modern. I derived inspiration from several other bookkeeping apps for a lot of the UI and user flow.
PhotoPal
Responsive Website
There are a lot of invoicing software options out there. Users need to easily see why and how to use PhotoPal over the competition.
​
In order for this marketing website to be successful:
-
the unique features of PhotoPal need to be easy to recognize
-
the website needs to be eye catching
-
the website needs to be easy to navigate
-
users need to be able to sign up EASILY - no barriers, few steps
-
this website needs to decrease user overwhelm
The Solution
-
the features of PhotoPal are first on the homepage above the fold, using image and text blocks
-
the website uses bold contrasting colors and images
-
the menu, tasks, and calls to action are easy to spot
-
buttons to sign in and create a new account are at the top of the menu, and require only a few steps. There are also options to sign in and create an account using existing Google, Facebook, or Apple accounts.
-
information is displayed in small chunks, and tasks are simple to complete, thereby decreasing information overwhelm for users
Wireframes
The first iterations of the PhotoPal website highlight the features of the app, and make the sign-in process simple
To create this final website prototype, I drew on inspiration from a few different bookkeeping websites, such as Quickbooks and Honey.
​
This website has a simple menu across, the top, highlights special app features, showcases testimonials as a marketing technique, and provides users with multiple opportunities to learn more and sign up for the app simply.
Desktop Website
Mobile Website
Result
I showed my final product app and website to my photographer friends, family members, and to some UX designer associates.
The general consensus was that the app and website are:
-
clean, modern, and visually appealing
-
easy to navigate
-
what to do and how to do it is easy to spot
-
there are few "barriers to entry" - meaning tasks can be completed in few steps
​​
There is a lot of room to continue to develop the PhotoPal app and its corresponding website, but thus far it seems to have accomplished the goal of creating a product for photographers that is easy to use, and helps them keep the finances of their business organized.