Exclusive iPad Interview With Sort Shots Developer, Christa Taylor
We recently reviewed this iPad app, Sort Shots and are very fond of it here link. We thought we have a chat with the developer to find out a little more about the background of Sort Shots. Read this fascinating interview here…
The Beginning
Can you tell our readers how your iPad app was originally thought of, what were your thoughts behind the marketplace, specifically?
The moment Steve Jobs introduced the iPad to the world; we knew we had the perfect medium for Sort Shots. Not only could a user view their images on an amazing display but the limitations of the iPhone version were also eliminated which got us really excited. ‘Bigger is better’ is particularly true when viewing photographs but the quality of the display and its portability is perfect for photo sharing. So we took our original vision of providing users with a quick and efficient method of sharing their images and added a whole new level of functions and features.
Sort Shots initial inspiration originated from my own anguish of friends stopping mid-sentence to find an image relating to a story they were telling. A picture may be worth a thousand words but doesn’t add a lot of benefit when the receiver can’t remember the story because it took so long to find an image so I figured there had to be a better way.
Design
Can you tell us how you came up with the colors and themes ideas, design?
We did not want the design of the app to interfere with the images themselves so we wanted a neutral, clean and simple design.
Target Market
Who do you see as the main target market for this iPad app, in terms of genre, age?
Anyone who loves photography – young or old and wants to efficiently share their images.
Production Process
How long did it take from the original planning to the production process of your iPad app?
It took us approx a week to determine the key features we wanted to include in the first iPad Edition with the intent that we would add on additional features once we were approved. We did get the features approved and in for opening day but a lot of endless nights and never-ending workweeks were required to accomplish this. Apple’s turnaround time was really amazing.
Sales Market
How do you predict sales to be, is there a good solid market for this style of app?
The iPad app is perfect for Sort Shots due to its increased screen size – it’s perfect for sharing images.
Obstacles
What has been the hardest obstacle you have had to overcome regarding this iPad app development?
Implementing Folders on the iPad was a bit of a challenge followed by image quality and size. Working within Apple’s limitations on compressing and accessing photos data have been our biggest challenges since then.
Third Parties
Would you consider developing iPad apps for third parties?
No
App Store
What have you learnt from the App Store?
You are just one little fish in a great big sea, you need to be persistent and listen to the users. The number of iPad users who have e-mailed us with their feedback and ideas has been a great motivation.
The Future
What next, are you developing another iPad app? Would you go for the same genre again, if not which?
Continually improving and implementing various functions within Sort Shots – iPad Edition is our current focus. A lot of users wanted the ability to be able to put their images in a custom sequence so we just finished an update with this functionality. Now, we are focusing on the integration of keywords that will be imported into other photo programs is our next big hurdle.
Sort Shots – iPad vs iPhone
How do you think the iPad version differs from the iPhone version?
The iPad version is completely different from the iPhone version of Sort Shots. First, we made an entirely new interface that would utilize the larger display. Implementing ‘Folders’ allowed users to import hundreds of photographs from iTunes in just a few minutes. Popular social media sites including Flickr and Picasa were added. Sequencing slideshows for custom sharing of images was also implemented. The iPad app is has an entirely different feel and functionality over the iPhone version.
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
