When software meets its users
We've spent months building PhotoHeart staring at a screen. Reading feedback in forms, analyzing usage metrics, interpreting support tickets. But none of that compares to sitting in front of a photographer and hearing: "Okay, show me that app of yours".
From January 27-30 we were at Sugar&Kids 2026, the international children's photography festival that gathers hundreds of professionals every year at Lienzo Norte, Ávila. And it was exactly what we needed.
Day 1: Sugar Evolution - Debut nerves
January 27 started with Sugar Evolution, the pre-festival day. Few people, but intense conversations.
First improvised demo at a high table, with coffee in one hand and laptop balancing. A photographer from Seville who has been doing communion reports for 8 years asks me:
"And how does this handle contracts?"
I show him the digital signature system. His eyes light up.
"I've been sending PDFs by email for years and chasing clients to get them back signed."
That's when I understood PhotoHeart isn't just a tool. It's time given back.
Days 2-4: Festival in full swing - Conversations that matter
Unfiltered feedback
The best thing about an event like this is that people don't have time for beating around the bush. If something doesn't work, they tell you. If they like it, too.
Notes I took on napkins (literally):
- "The booking flow is perfect, but we need to be able to customize the fields more"
- "Can I integrate this with my current website without redoing everything?"
- "I love the important dates thing, but for newborn I need to track expected delivery, not birthday"
- "What if the client wants to book but doesn't have an exact date yet?"
Every conversation was a gold mine. Things we would never have thought of from the office because we don't live the day-to-day of a children's photography studio.
Unexpected encounters
The most emotional was meeting several photographers who participated in PhotoHeart's beta phase. People who have been testing the app for months, reporting bugs, suggesting improvements... and whom I had never seen in person.
One of them brought me a USB with 300 photos from a wedding he had managed completely with PhotoHeart. He wanted us to see how he had used the folder and delivery system.
Another introduced me to his partner: "This is Laura, the one who always insists on Slack for us to add customizable email templates". We laughed. Yes, Laura, they're on the March roadmap.
Companies and possible alliances
There were also more strategic conversations. Retouching software editors, album printing providers, invoicing companies... All curious to know if PhotoHeart could integrate with their tools.
There was a particularly interesting meeting with a physical products company (albums, canvases) that wants to explore a direct integration from our order system. It's still too early to announce anything, but pieces are moving.
What we learned (and what we'll change)
1. Children's photographers have unique workflows
Managing a newborn session isn't the same as a communion report. A smash cake isn't the same as a family session.
We need specific templates by session type. They're already on our priority list for February.
2. Customization isn't a luxury, it's a necessity
Every photographer has their way of working. Some charge a 50% deposit, others 30%. Some deliver in 15 days, others in 30. Some include basic retouching, others charge separately.
PhotoHeart must adapt to you, not the other way around.
3. Integration with existing websites is critical
Many already have a website with WordPress, Shopify, whatever. They're not going to redo it from scratch. They need PhotoHeart to integrate cleanly.
This will occupy much of our Q1 2026.
Thanks to everyone who came to chat. Thanks to the beta testers who gave us your time. Thanks to the Sugar&Kids organizers for creating a space where this magic happens.
See you at the next festival. Meanwhile, we'll keep building.
Jorge and the PhotoHeart team
P.S.: If you were at Sugar&Kids and want to tell me something I missed, write to me at support@photoheart.app. And if you couldn't come but want to try PhotoHeart, here's 14 days free.
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