In December 2020, Sony launched Visual Story, a new cloud service for photographers of weddings and other events. The service was born out of an initiative to create new experiential values for professional camera users.

"I want to look back on the precious memories of the day and share them with dear friends and family immediately."
Meeting such demands from clients used to be a difficult challenge for photographers because it takes considerable time to edit and select photographs of such events.
Sony conducted user research with photographers in the United States, China, and Japan with a view to resolving the issues involved. We accompanied photographers for days at a time, observing their behavior and interviewing them to ascertain what they were doing before, during and after shoots, and the environments they worked in. Based on the results, we analyzed the actions and thoughts of photographers in chronological order to identify the ideal customer experience that the solution should achieve, and the functions and UI (user interface) necessary to realize that experience. We also conducted client interviews and questionnaires to determine the experiences they wished for, and the necessary functions and UI.
This user research and analytical process involved members of the solutions development team, including planners, designers, and design staff, as well as HCD experts. Understanding the behavior and thoughts of actual users and implementing ongoing improvements through the PDCA cycle enabled us to achieve appropriate functions and an easy-to-use UI.

The result of these activities was Visual Story, which has revolutionized the photographer's conventional workflow and allows same-day deliveries. Delivering images of the client's precious event in the form of a storybook has also created added value and a new experience for both the photographer and the client.

• A cloud service for wedding photographers | Visual Story (sony.net)