Chic Spotlight: Capstory
Cincy Chic: Tell us more about the concept behind Capstory and how it works!
Dustin Studer, Co-founder of Capstory: Capstory is the easiest way for couples to get access to all of the guest photos that will be taken along their wedding journey, including the engagement party, bridal showers, the rehearsal dinner and, of course, the Big Day. We like to call ourselves the “modern day replacement for disposable cameras.” Our service allows for all sharing to occur via text messaging! It’s really that easy. As guests take photos on their mobile devices, they simply attach the picture to a text message and send it to the couple’s personal webpage, which we call a “capsule.” Because of the instant nature of the technology, couples can live stream the photo feed at the reception hall on TV monitors or a projector. Guests have called it “addicting” to get to watch the beautiful photos they capture on their phone show up on the big screen.
Guests submit hundreds of different perspectives allowing the couple to re-live the journey through the eyes of their closest friends and family. They get to see the fun, behind-the-scenes style images, which makes Capstory the perfect complement to a professional photography package.
Cincy Chic: Who’s behind the business?
Studer: Myself and Suprasanna Mishra were random roommates our first year of college at Ohio State.
I hail from Columbus and started at Ohio State on a full-ride scholarship in the honors pre-med program as an engineering undergraduate student. I have experience running small businesses from launching a landscaping company in high school and managing a combination of commercial and residential contracts.
Suprasanna Mishra is from Mason and started at Ohio State in the honors pre-med program as an honors neuroscience student. With his own web design company in high school, building a new technology business in college was a natural progression and the love for entrepreneurship runs in his blood.
Cincy Chic: When did it get started and where is it located?
Studer: Capstory was originally started in a college dorm room at The Ohio State University. We came up with the idea when we wanted an easy way for large groups of friends to share all of their memories into one location online. The service was tested by thousands of students in Greek Life and other student organizations at Ohio State. This was an excellent test market to ensure every phone on every carrier worked with Capstory. The natural progression of our user base led Capstory into the wedding and event market! We have now launched in Cincinnati and Columbus with offices in both major cities.
Cincy Chic: What was the inspiration for launching Capstory?
Studer: We wanted our friends to have an easy way to remember the countless photos, quotes and video clips that were captured on mobile devices over the course of the year during our first year at Ohio State. We quickly realized the only universal technology between every phone, whether it’s simply a flip phone or an advanced smartphone, is text messaging. What easier way to share a photo from a phone to a website? Everyone knows how to text a picture. Our three step process includes: taking a picture, texting the picture and treasuring the memories!
Cincy Chic: How has Capstory grown since you launched during your first year at Ohio State?
Studer: We launched in March 2014 with a celebrity endorsement from ABC’s very own Bachelorette, Desiree Hartsock< http://www.desireehartsock.com/photo-sharing-for-your-wedding-capstory/>. Capstory sponsored her engagement party where the technology was utilized to be sure no moment was missed between friends and family. From this event moving forward, Capstory has been enhancing wedding days for brides all across the Tri-State. We’ve even had some awesome clients use Capstory for their destinations weddings in the Caribbean! We can’t wait to be in as many weddings as possible throughout the remainder of our inaugural wedding season, so make sure you get access to every photo from your next wedding or event by visiting www.capstory.me.
Cincy Chic: Can you share more about the packages you offer clients?
Studer: Capstory currently offers three packages ranging in price from $500 to $1,200. Our base package provides the necessities: a personalized webpage, a custom text messaging address, guest instruction cards, live moderation of the photo stream at the wedding and one large keepsake photo book with the best guest-submitted photos.
Our more expensive packages offer more printing options and the choice of having a video put together documenting your entire wedding journey.
Cincy Chic: What makes you different from other similar businesses?
Studer:Similar businesses in our space are iPhone and Android apps. The great thing about Capstory is that it’s focused on text messaging, making it easier for more people at an event to use! We heard a lot of feedback that moms, grandmothers, aunts and uncles know how to text on their mobile devices, but they may not be comfortable trying to download a new app and sign up for a new service while their primary concern on the wedding day is to celebrate with their closest friends and family. Because of Capstory’s ease of use, we capture many more photos and perspectives of the wedding journey.
Cincy Chic: Is there anything new on the horizon for Capstory?
Studer: Capstory is piloting a new beta version of our technology at larger public events as well as corporate events. If your business has an upcoming celebration, anniversary or you are hosting a public event, contact us to figure out how Capstory can enhance the experience and offer a fun, new level of engagement!
Cincy Chic: Where can readers go to learn more?
Studer: Readers can visit our recently updated website at www.capstory.me. We’d also love to talk, so feel free to reach out at hello@capstory.me! You can also check out Capstory on Facebook. The team from Capstory will be at the Red, Pink and Blue fashion show on the Purple People Bridge June 27! So, be sure to check us out there, too!
