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Account Setup Overview

Quick Reference​

Your ShootPath account is the foundation of your photography business management. Account setup includes creating your account, configuring your business profile, personalizing your preferences, and securing your data.

Key Setup Areas:

  • Account Creation - Sign up and verify your email
  • Business Profile - Set up your business name, logo, and contact info
  • User Preferences - Customize notifications, timezone, and display settings
  • Security Settings - Protect your account with strong passwords and 2FA

Initial Setup Checklist:

  • ✅ Create account and verify email
  • ✅ Complete business profile (name, logo, contact info)
  • ✅ Set timezone and date format
  • ✅ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
  • ✅ Configure notification preferences
  • ✅ Review privacy and security settings

Quick Actions:

  • Access Settings: Click your profile photo (top-right) → Settings
  • Edit Profile: Settings → Business Profile
  • Security: Settings → Security Settings

Detailed Guide​

Setting up your ShootPath account properly from the start saves time, prevents confusion, and ensures your business runs smoothly. This guide walks you through every step of account creation and configuration.

Creating Your ShootPath Account​

Getting started with ShootPath takes just a few minutes. Here's what you'll do:

Sign Up Process​

  1. Visit the signup page at app.shootpath.com/signup (or your custom domain if using self-hosted)
  2. Enter your information:
    • Email address - This becomes your username and primary contact
    • Password - Must meet security requirements (12+ characters, mixed case, numbers, symbols)
    • Business name - Your photography business name (can be changed later)
    • Your name - Your full name as it appears to clients
  3. Accept Terms of Service - Review and accept the terms
  4. Click "Create Account"

You'll immediately be logged in and land on your dashboard.

Choose Your Email Wisely

Use your primary business email address. This email receives:

  • Client notifications
  • System alerts
  • Password reset links
  • Subscription billing notices

If you use multiple email addresses, choose the one you check most frequently.

Email Verification​

After signing up, you'll see a banner prompting you to verify your email:

Why verify?

  • Ensures you can receive critical notifications
  • Enables password recovery
  • Required for sending emails to clients via ShootPath
  • Proves you own the email address

Verification steps:

  1. Check your inbox for "Verify your ShootPath email" (from noreply@shootpath.com)
  2. Click the verification link
  3. You'll be redirected to ShootPath and see "Email verified!" confirmation

Didn't receive the email?

  • Check your spam/junk folder
  • Verify you entered the correct email address
  • Click "Resend verification email" from the banner in ShootPath
  • Wait 5-10 minutes (emails can be delayed)
Verification Required

Until your email is verified, you cannot:

  • Send quotes or contracts to clients
  • Configure email integrations (Gmail, SMTP)
  • Receive automated notifications

Verify as soon as possible to unlock full functionality!

Account Settings Overview​

Once your account is created, you'll want to configure key settings. Here's where to find everything:

Accessing Settings​

From anywhere in ShootPath:

  1. Click your profile photo or initials (top-right corner)
  2. Select Settings from the dropdown menu

You'll see the Settings navigation on the left side, organized into logical sections.

Settings Navigation Structure​

Account & Profile:

  • Business Profile - Business name, logo, contact info, service areas
  • User Preferences - Personal settings like timezone, notifications, display
  • Security Settings - Password, 2FA, login sessions, audit logs

Business Configuration:

  • Packages - Photography packages and pricing
  • Workflows - Automated task sequences for jobs
  • Email Templates - Reusable email messages for clients
  • Integrations - Connect Stripe, Gmail, calendar services

Team (Owner/Admin only):

  • Team Members - Add, manage, and remove team members
  • Roles & Permissions - Control who can access what

Billing (Owner only):

  • Subscription - Plan details and billing history
  • Payment Method - Update credit card or payment info
Mobile Friendly

On mobile, the Settings menu collapses into a hamburger menu for easy navigation.

Initial Setup Checklist​

When you first create your account, complete these steps to set up your photography business properly.

1. Verify Your Email ✅​

What: Confirm you own the email address you signed up with

How:

  1. Check your inbox for verification email
  2. Click the link
  3. Confirm success message appears

Why: Required to send emails to clients and receive important notifications

Time: 1 minute

2. Complete Your Business Profile ✅​

What: Add your business name, logo, contact info, and service areas

How:

  1. Go to Settings > Business Profile
  2. Fill in business name, phone, address
  3. Upload your logo (recommended: 512x512px PNG with transparent background)
  4. Add social media links
  5. Set your service areas (cities/regions you serve)

Why: Your business info appears on quotes, contracts, invoices, and your client portal. Professional branding builds trust!

Time: 10-15 minutes

Learn more: Business Profile Guide

3. Set Your Timezone and Date Format ✅​

What: Configure how dates and times display in ShootPath

How:

  1. Go to Settings > User Preferences
  2. Select your timezone (e.g., "America/New_York" or "Europe/London")
  3. Choose date format (MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY)
  4. Select time format (12-hour or 24-hour)

Why: Ensures session dates, deadlines, and notifications display correctly for your location

Time: 2 minutes

Learn more: User Preferences Guide

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) ✅​

What: Add an extra layer of security to your login

How:

  1. Go to Settings > Security Settings
  2. Click Enable Two-Factor Authentication
  3. Scan QR code with an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, 1Password, etc.)
  4. Enter the 6-digit code to confirm

Why: Protects your account from unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised

Time: 3-5 minutes

Learn more: Security Settings Guide

Highly Recommended

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is critical for protecting your business data and client information. Enable it immediately after creating your account!

5. Configure Notification Preferences ✅​

What: Choose how and when ShootPath notifies you about events

How:

  1. Go to Settings > User Preferences > Notifications
  2. Choose notification channels (email, browser push, mobile app)
  3. Select which events trigger notifications (new leads, quote accepted, payment received, etc.)
  4. Set digest preferences (immediate, daily summary, or weekly summary)

Why: Stay informed about your business without getting overwhelmed by notifications

Time: 5 minutes

Learn more: User Preferences Guide

6. Review Privacy and Security Settings ✅​

What: Understand how your data is protected and configure security features

How:

  1. Go to Settings > Security Settings
  2. Review login sessions (see all devices logged into your account)
  3. Set session timeout preferences (auto-logout after inactivity)
  4. Review audit log (who did what and when)

Why: Ensures your account is secure and you understand who has access

Time: 5 minutes

Learn more: Security Settings Guide

Understanding Account Roles​

ShootPath supports multiple users with different permission levels. When you create your account, you're automatically the Owner - the person with full control.

Account Roles:

Owner (you):

  • Full access to everything
  • Can add/remove team members
  • Access billing and subscription
  • Cannot be removed by anyone else
  • There's only one Owner per account

Admin:

  • Manage operations and team
  • Add/remove other team members
  • Cannot access billing or subscription
  • Ideal for studio managers or business partners

Photographer:

  • Manage assigned jobs only
  • Cannot see other photographers' jobs
  • Cannot modify settings
  • Perfect for associate photographers or second shooters

Assistant:

  • Read-only access to most features
  • Can perform specific tasks (upload galleries, send emails)
  • Cannot edit pricing or job details
  • Great for VAs or administrative support

Learn more: Team Management and Roles & Permissions

Account Types and Plans​

ShootPath offers different subscription tiers to fit businesses of all sizes.

Subscription Tiers​

Solo Photographer:

  • 1 user (Owner only)
  • Unlimited leads, jobs, clients
  • Full CRM features
  • Email templates
  • Client portal with galleries
  • Best for: Independent photographers

Studio (Team):

  • Up to 5 users
  • All Solo features, plus:
  • Team collaboration and task assignment
  • Role-based permissions
  • Team activity tracking
  • Best for: Small studios with multiple photographers or staff

Studio Pro:

  • Unlimited users
  • All Studio features, plus:
  • Advanced workflows and automation
  • API access
  • Priority support
  • Custom integrations
  • Best for: Large studios or photography businesses

Self-Hosted (Enterprise):

  • Host ShootPath on your own servers
  • Complete control over data and infrastructure
  • All Pro features included
  • One-time license fee (no monthly subscription)
  • Best for: Businesses with strict data residency requirements or technical teams

Changing Plans​

Owner only can change subscription plans:

  1. Go to Settings > Billing > Subscription
  2. Click Change Plan
  3. Select new plan
  4. Confirm billing changes

Prorated billing: When upgrading mid-cycle, you're charged the difference for the remaining period. When downgrading, credit applies to your next invoice.

Data Privacy and Security​

ShootPath takes your business data and client privacy seriously.

How Your Data is Protected​

Encryption:

  • All data transmitted over HTTPS (TLS 1.3)
  • Passwords hashed with industry-standard algorithms
  • File storage encrypted at rest

Access control:

  • Role-based permissions limit what each user can access
  • Multi-factor authentication available
  • Session management and automatic timeout

Backups:

  • Daily automated backups
  • Point-in-time recovery available
  • Redundant storage across multiple locations

Compliance:

  • GDPR-compliant for European clients
  • SOC 2 Type II certified (on roadmap)
  • Regular security audits

Your Responsibilities​

While ShootPath provides robust security, you play a critical role:

Protect your credentials:

  • Use a strong, unique password
  • Enable two-factor authentication
  • Never share your password with anyone
  • Use a password manager (1Password, LastPass, Bitwarden)

Manage team access:

  • Remove team members immediately when they leave
  • Review active sessions regularly
  • Assign minimum necessary permissions (principle of least privilege)

Monitor activity:

  • Check audit logs for suspicious activity
  • Verify team member actions
  • Report security concerns to support immediately

Learn more: Security Settings Guide

Getting Help During Setup​

If you run into issues or have questions while setting up your account:

In-App Help​

HelpLinks: Throughout ShootPath, you'll see "Learn more" links next to features and sections. These take you directly to relevant documentation.

Support Widget: Click the chat bubble icon (bottom-right) to:

  • Send a message to support
  • Search documentation
  • Submit a bug report or feature request

Documentation​

This documentation site covers every feature in depth:

  • Getting Started - Introductory guides and tutorials
  • Account Setup - What you're reading now!
  • Feature Guides - Detailed articles on leads, jobs, galleries, etc.
  • Team Management - Collaborative features and permissions
  • Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions

Search the docs: Use the search bar (top-right) to find specific topics quickly.

Contact Support​

Email: support@shootpath.com

Response times:

  • Solo/Studio: 24-48 hours
  • Studio Pro: 12-24 hours
  • Self-Hosted: Priority support (4-12 hours)

When contacting support, include:

  • Your account email address
  • Detailed description of the issue
  • Steps to reproduce (if it's a bug)
  • Screenshots if helpful
Support Hours

Support is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Eastern Time. Urgent security issues are monitored 24/7.

Common Setup Questions​

Q: Can I change my email address later? Yes! Go to Settings > Security Settings > Email Address and follow the verification process.

Q: What if I forget my password? Click "Forgot password?" on the login page. You'll receive a reset link via email (if your email is verified).

Q: Can I have multiple accounts? Yes, but each account requires a unique email address. If you run multiple businesses, consider using email aliases (e.g., you+business1@gmail.com).

Q: What happens if I don't verify my email? You can still use ShootPath to manage your business, but you cannot send emails to clients (quotes, contracts, etc.) until verified.

Q: Can I transfer ownership to someone else? Yes, but you must contact support. Ownership transfers require verification from both the current and new owner.

Q: How do I delete my account? Owner only: Settings > Security Settings > Delete Account. This is permanent and cannot be undone!

Q: Is my data safe if I use a public computer? Avoid logging into ShootPath on public or shared computers. If you must, enable "Auto-logout after inactivity" (Settings > Security) and manually log out when done.

Q: Can I use ShootPath on multiple devices? Yes! Your account works on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Download the iOS or Android app for on-the-go access.

What's Next?​

Now that you understand account setup basics, dive deeper into specific areas:

Business Profile - Set up your business name, logo, contact info, and branding

User Preferences - Customize notifications, timezone, display settings, and more

Security Settings - Protect your account with 2FA, strong passwords, and access monitoring

Or explore other topics:

Getting Started - Learn how to use ShootPath's core features

Team Management - Add team members and configure permissions

Integrations - Connect Stripe, Gmail, and other services

Questions? Look for the help links throughout ShootPath, or reach out to support if you need assistance!