Photography in action. © SNS Group
SNS Group: Bringing sports to life through photography
From camera to publishing in minutes - SNS Group uses Fotoware Veloz to capture, organize, and deliver sports images in real time. Photos are ingested directly from the camera, automatically tagged with metadata, and instantly shared with media outlets and sponsors across the UK.
The challenge: Managing high volumes and high expectations
Working in live sports means working against the clock. Each match generates thousands of images, all of which need to be reviewed, tagged, and shared while the game is still underway.
SNS’s previous Fotoware On-Premises setup hosted by an external server provider couldn’t keep up with the growing demand for speed and flexibility. Relying on VPN connections made remote access cumbersome, and maintaining infrastructure added unnecessary complexity.
To keep up with client demands and prepare their operations for future developments, the SNS team decided it was time to move to a more flexible, reliable, and modern cloud-based DAM solution – Fotoware Veloz.
The solution: Migrating the DAM to the Cloud
SNS Group moved from the Fotoware On-Premises solution to Fotoware Veloz, a SaaS version of Fotoware’s Digital Asset Management platform.
This move allowed them to eliminate reliance on external hosting and VPNs while benefiting from:
- Automatic software updates and access to the latest Fotoware features.
- Built-in redundancy and backups, ensuring peace of mind.
- Simplified access for photographers and editors across the UK.
While their DAM now runs entirely in the cloud, SNS still uses Color Factory (a server application that automates image processing) locally for now, to process and store RAW files.
However, the team plans to transition to Flow, and add-on to Fotoware Veloz, enabling full automation and cloud-based processing in the near future.
The workflow: From camera to client in minutes
Speed is everything in live sports photography, and Fotoware sits at the heart of SNS’s streamlined workflows.
Images are ingested directly from the camera into Fotostation (desktop application developed for advanced image and metadata management), where the Digital Media Staff performs a quick culling and selection process. Once selected, images are automatically enriched with metadata and distributed through automatically created albums, smart folders, and FTP, ensuring every client receives the right content instantly.
From there, newspapers, broadcasters, and sponsors alike can access the images immediately.
The results: Faster, simpler, and more reliable
Since migrating to Fotoware Veloz, SNS Group has seen a significant improvement in performance and efficiency.
- No more VPN delays: Cloud access enables instant, secure availability from anywhere.
- Automatic backups: Redundancy and security are built in, reducing maintenance overhead.
- Always up to date: The team benefits from the latest Fotoware features without managing installations.
- Streamlined collaboration: Photos move from camera to client faster than ever before. Editors, photographers, and clients can access assets in real time.
Looking ahead: Future-proofing with Flow
Having completed a successful migration to Fotoware Veloz, SNS Group is already planning their next step: moving from Color Factory to Flow.
This transition will allow them to automate RAW file processing and metadata handling directly in the cloud, further streamlining their end-to-end workflow.
With Fotoware, SNS continues to boost efficiency in sports photography, ensuring that every image, from every match, reaches its audience faster than ever.
