NextZen Introduces: QR Code Workflow and Product Builder
September 3rd, 2025
If you’ve ever stared at a sea of unsorted images after a big shoot and thought, “There’s no way I’m getting through this without losing my mind”—trust me, you’re not alone. Managing an overflowing amount of customer data, sorting through photos, and making the time to create custom products…it’s the kind of work that can turn an editing day into a never-ending editing week.
School picture days, sports tournaments, corporate events, even weddings… they all have one sure thing in common—staying organized while still maintaining the high quality your customers expect (and deserve!) is like juggling flaming torches. You want to focus on capturing genuine moments and making meaningful connections with customers, but the admin side can just really feel like it’s zapping all of your creative energy.
That’s why Zenfolio has rolled out two new powerful tools—QR Code Workflow and Product Builder—to keep the image files moving, the galleries headed to your customers, and your hands on the camera instead of the keyboard.
Who are these features for?
If your work involves school, sports, dance, or any big job with dozens (or hundreds) of people (or cars, or animals…anything really), these tools will be your new, trusted business partners.
They’re also great if you’re a pro looking to dip into bigger photography jobs without sacrificing client experience, or if you want to move beyond monotonous sorting and the repetitive nature of custom product design. The truth is, you don’t have to shoot volume photography jobs full-time to benefit from these features. No matter what your flavor of photography is, no matter your niche, they are built to improve efficiency across the board. Who doesn’t want that?!
What does QR Code Workflow do?
At its core, QR Code Workflow automates gallery creation and image sorting by assigning a unique QR code to each subject. That means no more dragging files into ever-expanding folders or manually renaming images.
How it works:
- Bulk-generate galleries from a CSV file and auto-assign QR codes before the big shoot. No CSV, no problem! You can manually input the number of galleries you need and your preferred naming convention. Zenfolio auto-generates the rest.
- During the session, scan the code, then snap the photo—images are instantly mapped to the correct subject. Fun tip! You don’t even need to print the QR codes if you don’t want to. You can download them to your iPad and scan them right from your device.
- Upload your files, and Zenfolio sorts them in the background while you get on with your day.
- Our exclusive QA feature will make sure that all images get uploaded to the right galleries. If the number of participants doesn’t look quite right or if there’s a potential photo mismatch, you’ll receive automatic alerts from your central QR dashboard.
- To give your clients a clean, professional viewing experience, you have the option to hide QR reference images from their galleries.
- Export gallery and participant info (CSV or PDF), including anything created with Folder/Gallery Registration, and send it straight to your CRM or to a school admin system.
When you’re shooting in these high-pressure situations—say, 200 kids on school picture day or a high-stakes championship football game—your reputation is on the line. This new workflow reduces the risk of mixing up images, slashes delivery time, and eliminates the mind-numbing process of manual sorting.
What does Product Builder do?
Product Builder lets you create a custom product design once, like Memory Mates, greeting cards, announcements, or collages, that clients can personalize on their own and reuse for future orders.
How it works:
- Build a template with placeholders for images and text.
- Add it to your Zenfolio pricelist.
- Customers choose their favorite photos and personalize text right from the gallery.
- Orders are fulfilled without any extra back-and-forth editing from you.
If you’ve ever spent hours trying to create custom products for several different clients, you know how much back and forth there can be, and how labor-intensive it is. Product Builder keeps your designs consistent and highly professional. Even better, offering premium, personalized keepsakes often leads to higher order values—clients love them, and you bring in more revenue.
What we love about these features.
Time saved is money earned:
Both features drastically reduce post-shoot processing time, letting you take on more jobs or focus on your creative energy on fun projects!
Consistency + professionalism:
With automated sorting, you can rest easy knowing that every gallery will be delivered accurately. And Product Builder helps make sure every design reflects your brand and style.
Happier clients, faster delivery = more sales:
QR Code Workflow means photos get in front of your client faster, and Product Builder turns the ordering process into something unique and personal.
Tools that grow with you:
These tools grow with you as your business scales bigger and better, making it easier to land bigger contracts without adding extra staff or juggling more software.
No steep learning curve:
They’re built right into NextZen—no need for outside apps or complicated integrations.
A smoother workflow doesn’t just save time—it creates a ripple effect in every other area of your business (and your life!). Faster turnaround means happier clients, happier clients mean more repeat business, and more repeat business gives you the space to grow and earn more.
QR Code Workflow and Product Builder are available exclusively on our ProSuite Plan.
Still on the Sidelines?
Now’s a great time to jump in. QR Code Workflow and Product Builder are just two of the powerful tools we’ve built to take some of the hassle off your plate, giving you a chance to enjoy the parts of photography that really bring you joy and fulfillment.
Start your free trial today!
