Digital Photographer's Software Guide - Bertemes - Net

Chapter 35 ■ Pro Studio Software 413
Description
The Photographic Organiser (TPO) is a studio-management system widely used by professional
photographers in the UK. It has an integrated viewing module with a multiimage
arranger to place images into templates for client viewing, together with a very
wide range of job tracking, contact management, sales/marketing analysis, and accountancy
features.
TPO is aimed at all professional studios, from one-man bands to large photographic
businesses. It can work in a mixed network environment and its main menu can be personalized
to each user. Although extensive in its scope, it is not especially difficult to
use. For the photographer who wants to get truly organized, it offers tightly integrated
job management, diary, and contacting functions. The “My Day” feature presents you
with all your personal tasks when you log on, with appointments, contact reminders,
work in progress, internal email messages, stock check, and to-do list—all on one screen,
together with an indication of which other staff are online.
The contact database retains a history of everything you printed for each contact, including
letters, invoices, and statements. Client names and addresses can be used within the
built-in word processor with its 100+ template letters, greatly easing the burden of massmailing.
There are full job tracking and management facilities for social, commercial,
and school photography, plus a Weddings & Functions module with fields for additional
information. It will print your wedding contract, too.
Viewing facilities include a preparation area for importing, selection, and sorting, with
the option of opening any image in Photoshop for more detailed editing. TPO’s multiimage
arranger provides a choice of 56 instant arrangements, with up to 16 pictures on
the page. They include many attractive layouts that are ideal for portrait photography.
TPO’s sophisticated accounting features include sales and purchase reports, cashbook
functions, nominal ledger report, and general reports including VAT Return.
Built on FileMaker Pro, TPO comes with an OEM copy of the retail product FileMaker
Pro 6.
Comments
After 14 years in the market, TPO has become a mature product, used by hundreds of
studios in the UK. Its chief virtue is its tight integration. This means that you can make
good use of the data you gather and enter in one module by accessing it from another.
For example, you can examine “Sales by Source of Enquiry,” a particularly powerful feature
for the working photographer. Yes, you could customize FileMaker to your own
requirements, but do you have the time?
Version: TPO version 7.1 (2008)
OS: Windows 98 SE2, ME, 2000, and XP; Mac OS 8.6, 9, OS X 10.1 or later
RAM: 512MB