How to Build An Ondemand Photography App

Just like we have Swiggy for Food, Uber for on-call taxis, Urbanclap for your house repair, and other servicing needs, then why can’t we have an on-demand photography app? 

This venture can better be termed as Uberization of Photography or uber for photography. 

The evolving economy is disrupting how the traditional industries operate by transforming the existing services and making them more convenient and available.  

With apps like Snappr, Pinpic, and Snapsquad in the marketplace, the photography industry has also ventured into the on-demand app development setup.

Why launch an On-demand Photography App?

If there is one thing that we are always short of, is time. 

We want to get our job done, our demands met as quickly 

as possible with minimal fuss and effort. This nature of ours has paved the way for the on-demand apps to flourish as of late. 

Photography is one such area, where this on-demand concept completely makes sense. 

Suppose, you are hosting a grand party to celebrate your promotion or a get together in the last minute, or a major corporate event to introduce a potential client. Surely you will need these cherishable moments to be captured with perfection. Then there are professional photographers and beginners to this field who are looking for corporate events, parties, and family gatherings to put their skills to good use and gain a reliable source of income. 

Hang on, here is a great trick. Why not simply combine these two aforementioned needs?

While planning any event, people can use the on-demand photography app to book suitable photographers from the comfort of their homes. For hiring a photographer, or to get hired, a photographer can create a profile in the app to get paid on an above-average doing what they love to do. 

Some companies such as Snappr, Photoshesh, Pinpic, and Scoopshoot are already doing it. They are setting themselves as middle-men between the potential clients and photographers and have turned this into a very successful concept. 

 The Struggle is Real

There are many enthusiasts and passionate photographers who want to make it big in the industry, but not everyone, makes it big or meets with the same amount of success.  When Snappr was found in Australia, most of the photographers were either found to be underpaid or worse underemployed. 

In the United States, for example, the number of professional photographers decreased by 18% between the stretch of 2008 and 2016. The wages also dropped down by 6% during that same stretch of time. What remains is that Photography can only survive as premium services. 
Well, because lenses are a costly investment. Cameras and lights are a costly investment. Learning the trade requires dedication and a lot of time, also money if you decide to learn at an elite photography institute. 

But there is another much bigger factor that is at play, photographers spend far more time running the business than doing the actual work, i.e. shooting photos.  Based on what professional photographer Benjamin Von Wong said, a lot of time is spent in connecting and organizing with the individuals and getting his content, his portfolio out there rather creating the content itself. 

Because once you a photographer gets the work, the whole shooting process surprisingly takes up as little time as possible….all the other steps to get there is what takes forever!

40% of the time - spent on Emails

20% of the time - spent on Social Media

15% of the time - Spent on Networking

14% of the time - spent on Blogging

1% of the time - spent on Shooting

5% of the time - spent on Editing

5% of the time - spent on Phone Calls

2% of the time - spent on Billing

3% of the time - spent on Finance Management

94% of his hourly wage is not spent on his work of shooting and editing, but for marketing and a little bit of management. These are some of the mandatory expenses that most of the photographers are faced with. Hence, it should come as no surprise that the average booking fee for a wedding photographer stands to $2,600 in the United States and nearly $4,000 AUD in Australia and equally equivalent in India. 

But most of the consumers do not have that kind of money, hence the demand remains all-time low. It's not that the photographers are overcharging, but the exorbitant expenses of running this kind of business necessitate the fee that most of the people are not able to afford. 

The process of researching and ultimately finding the perfect photographer is cumbersome for the consumers as well. The consumers have to screen through dozens, hundreds if not thousands of photographers to find the one that fits all of their needs. 

It is not guaranteed that the client will like the first photographer that they meet even if that photographer is the most established player in the market. 

Also, not all established photographers are great image-makers, it's just that they are slick networkers. In that case, they have to go through the whole process of searching for photographers and exchanging tons of emails and calls again until their eyeballs fall out! 

The next thing you know they might toss the idea of finding a professional photographer and surrender their cheap DSLR onto the hands of a relative or an intern and be at peace with it. 

How on-demand photography apps like Snappr solves these issues

• By offering an intuitive and easy platform for the customers to comfortably search and book a photographer at affordable flat rates be it for a few days or a few hours.
• By providing a direct and sincere pipeline of work to the photographers so that they do not need to spend any of their time on networking, marketing, negotiation, billing, and more. 

With direct supply work, photographers from now on will not require to spend any of their time and effort to do behind the scenes labor work. The on-demand photography app will take all of these through its various features.

Let’s create an on-demand photography app!

Now that you know that there are ample reasons and objectives behind creating this app, there are certain factors to go through before jumpstarting on the process of on-demand photography app development:

• Shoot of Varied Types

Since photography needs vary from person to person, event to event your app should provide consumers with a variety of options to choose from. This will grow the customer base by catering to their varied needs. Some might require a photographer only for a few hours, others might him for a day, the users should have the option to choose for whatever kind of service they want to.

• Clear Categorization

Not all photographers have specialization and proficiency to cover all types of events. A wedding photographer will not look forward to covering an outdoor excursion. It is very rare for a certain photographer to be proficient in all projects.  This is why an on-demand photography app should have clear categorization that can help the customers to search for a particular photographer based on their requirements. Some of the categories you can include are;

1. Birthday Parties
2. Corporate Events
3. Wedding
4. Portrait
5. Excursion/Travel
6. Fashion

• Recommendations from the Absolute Best Photographers

Tying up and getting advertised by the absolute best professionals in the business, will amp up the profile and visibility of your app to the larger customer base.

• Linking the Social Media Accounts of Photographers

If the Flickr and Instagram accounts of the photographers can be linked to their profiles it will do a world of good to the consumers. Presenting their best work on Social Media is how photographers can influence and gain customers nowadays. Users will also be able to judge and decide with ease on the choice of a particular photographer if he or she is fit for their job or not by looking at their work. This will also serve to be a good marketing asset for your app.

• Comprehensive Reviewing System

The on-demand photography app should definitely have an all-inclusive reviewing option in place. Both the customers and photographers should be able to comment and rate each other, with the reviews of a photographer being all visible. This will help to maintain the overall standard and enhance the user experience of the app by providing transparency to both the parties involved. Constructive criticism always helps, as these will also provide tips to photographers on ways to improve their skills.

• Automatic Mode

Convenience should be a key factor in the business model of creating your app, not just on the consumer side but also on the photographer side. If a particular photographer is unavailable, the app should employ a matching system that will automatically connect the user to the next on-demand photographer that matches the user’s requirements. This approach will save valuable time for both customers and photographers. On-demand photography apps such as Snappr, Perfocal, Pinpic have this feature.

• Competitive Pricing

You have integrated all of the latest features, hired all of the best photographers into your platform. But what use is all of these if you charge higher than the photo studios or the average freelancer? A competitive and attractive pricing feature should be given paramount importance. It will help to sustain your app. Surely people will understand if you charge a bit higher for the doorstep service, but there should be a set limit on the pricing. Quality services, the trust of loyal customers, and attractive pricing are essential to help you sustain in this competitive world.

Now you know all about the major factors that you determine the making of your app. How to actually create one? Let’s get into it in detail.

How to Develop an Ondemand photography App?

Firstly you need to decide on the features to be incorporated in the app.It is the features that will portray the utilization of your app and set it apart from others in the marketplace.

Structure of the On-Demand App consists of the following Units:

Customers’ App – It’s actually the version of the app that the user can see after downloading the app from the store. In this scenario, the users are the customers and photographers, and their user version will mainly include all of the features related to the customers and photographers.

Admin panel – It’s a platform of an on-demand app where you can manage the users, create, track orders and requests, create reports, access analytics, manage prices and commissions and maintain the smooth functioning of the app.

Core Features for the User App Version:

• Smooth sign-up interface & process

The on-demand photographer app of customers should come with a seamless sign-up process so that the users can easily sign-up, fill up the required details, including the verification process. 

• Select Location

This feature will allow users to choose their location so that they know about the listed photographers in that area.

• Listed photographers at one Place

The customer's app should allow the users to surf through all of the listed photographers of a particular location. Users should also be able to read through their relevant information such as cost per shoot, previous clients, total experience and work portfolio all in one place, while going through the profile of the listed photographers.

• Book with just a click

The booking process should be equally smooth where customers should be able to book the relevant photographer with only a click, after going through their profiles.

• Search option 

The Uber for photography app to find on-demand photographers should offer relevant search filters to all the customers, letting them search photographers based on expertise, category, ratings and experience. There should also be an accompanying Automatic matching option. In case a customer finds a particular photographer to be unavailable, or a photographer declines a scheduled shoot, the app should automatically connect the user to the next available photographer with the same set of skills and experience.

• All bookings

All bookings feature lets the users, that is the customers and photographers to check all of their bookings, be it past, canceled and active along with the relevant details for any future references. 

• Proposals & Quotes

With this feature, customers will receive proposals and quotes in real-time, which they can compare side by side and select the best one of the lot. Customers can compare reviews & ratings, costs, portfolio & total experience to make the most fitting choice. 

• Packages

The photographers should offer at least 4 to 5  package types to the customers, describing the cost per shoot and remuneration details. The lowest-priced or most economical package should be mentioned on the top so that the customer can choose based on their budget without any hassle.

• Secure Payment gateway 

There should be a safe and secure mode of a payment gateway so that the customers can easily make payments from the app. Customers will choose one appropriate option from the multiple payment options provided. 

• Add to favorites

Integration of an ‘add to favorites’ component into the on-demand photographer app will allow the customers to add all of their favorite photographers to their favorite list. They can keep that list in handy to hire them for any requirement in the future.

• Self-Help Option

Customers have a specific set of requirements based on which they hire a particular photographer. This feature in the app will allow them to perform a custom inspection as per their needs. An online bot should be available to help out customers 24/7, to solve any issue they might be facing with the app, regarding bookings or the registration process. 

• In-app chat 

Customers with queries related to availability of photographers, their cost and remuneration per shoot, or any other concern can get it cleared by directly communicating with photographers through an inbuilt in-app chat feature. 

• Rate Your Experience

Customers and photographers should be allowed to review and rate their experience at the end of every shoot on the app.

• Alerts and push notifications

Through this feature both customers and photographers will get real-time notifications and updates regarding their bookings, confirmation or cancellation, and other important updates related to the app.

• Manage Your Earnings

This feature is particularly for the photographers to check and monitor their amount of earnings, so that they can withdraw it anytime that they require.

Features of the Admin Panel version of the App should include the following:

• Manages All Customers and Photographers

Admin Panel will let the admin manage all of the photographers and customers on one platform. Depending upon the given criteria, the admin can accept or reject any registration request of the photographers. Admin can manage the customers by going through their profile, budget, and requirements and even help both the old and new photographers and customers to manage their information.

• Create Bookings

This feature will allow the admin to create bookings manually for multiple dates. Users can only do single day booking from the app but through the panel platform, the admin will be able to generate multiple bookings. In fact, he or she can view all of the bookings of all of the users whether it is canceled, expired, completed, active, or even disputed.

• Reports

Through the panel, the admin will create reports on the total number of photographers, customers, earning, deals on a monthly, yearly, and quarterly basis.

• Manage Commission Rates

This feature will allow the admin to define the commission rates of each photographer, which can be edited if required in the future.

• Block any User

The admin is responsible to maintain the quality and standard of the app. Through this feature, he can block any customer or photographer who is creating a problem for others in the app and can manage all of the blocked users. If required he can unblock any user as well..

• Edit Photography Categories

This feature allows the admin to edit, add or remove any photography categories as per the requirement.

• Generate Promo Codes

This feature is for the admin to generate promo codes during the wedding season, festival or any kind of special event, for the customers, so that they can get a discount on their bookings. After generating it, the admin can notify the users only of a particular region or all the users about the promo codes and discounts. 

To enter into the development phase, you need to affiliate with the professionals. Contacting the prospective professionals, telling them about the project, and convincing them to join the project is perhaps the most crucial step of the development process, without which starting on the project will be useless.

After this comes the matching algorithm. Now, what is a matching algorithm you may ask? Matching Algorithms are codes created by developers to match you with a suitable photographer, based on your search filters, or requirements. You could use manual or automatic matching depending on the resources. It will be better to start with a small location to know about the viability and working of the matching algorithm. After you are convinced, expand, and tweak the matching algorithm based on your needs.

Also, you will require three types of apps - one for the photographers, one for the customers and one for the Admin Panel aka the app Manager. A fine-tuned and sturdy UX and UI and solid servers that can handle the massive data of the photographers and customers is a must. 

The other basic technologies comprise of the following:

Back-end

• Frameworks: Symfony, Phalcon
• Programming languages: NodeJS, Go, PHP
• Caching system: Memcached, Redis
• DBMS: MySQL
• NoSQL DB: MongoDB, RethinkDB
• Queue server: German

Front-end

• Markup Languages: CSS3/HTML5
• Programming languages: JavaScript, TypeScript
• Preprocessors: SaSS
• Frameworks: Vue.JS, EmberJS, Angular

For Android

• Kotlin programming languages, Java
• Room databases, realm

For iOS

• Realm database
• Swift programming language

Let's do the Cost estimation!

Now that you have decided and finalized on the design and list of the features to be integrated into the app, the one and only thing that you are concerned is:

How much will it cost me to develop an Ondemand Photography App?

If you have a good budget, then it would be way smarter to look for an experienced and professional ondemand photography app development company. You will end up with a great product that will justify the budget spent. 

Of course, the cost estimation for any ondemand photo app depends on certain basic factors. 

• The technologies that will be used
• The number of essential & additional features, the complexity of the design
• The platform or platforms that the app is being created for, iOS, Android
• The technical complexities and possible difficulties that you will face while developing the app
• The development process that you will go for, Agile or Waterfall

Overseeing these factors you might decide to build a simple, less complex app, but will that cost less?

To know more about these factors in detail that can give you a fair idea on the complete cost estimation of ondemand photography app development, please go through our blog, 

How Much Does An APP DEVELOPMENT COSTS? LET’S ESTIMATE!

Ready to Create Your Own Uber for Photography App?

We have reached the end of this blog and by this time, we are hoping that you are already foreseeing your final product, or have an awesome idea for an uber for photography. Similar to developing any other app, it will be a laborious process, but with a proficient team of developers by your side,  we at Innofied are dedicated to delivering only the best to you.

Have an idea in mind, or want to create an app just like Snappr or Pinpic? Go ahead to get a quote. Let's start creating your on-demand photography app!

An Introduction to Royal Thrills: A Mountain Trekking Company based in USA

How important is choosing a good trekking company? What are the factors that you should look for before booking a package with a particular trekking agency? Well, the choice is very important and depends on a number of factors like an extensively detailed itinerary plan with ample time, emphasizing on the choice of date for all trekking trails, supplying the required safety gears, adept professionals accompanying trekkers and chopper facilities for evacuation of trekkers in case of any fluctuating weather conditions and physical discomfort faced during the journey and many more. It is very important that enthusiastic trekkers should get the proper guidance from the beginning until the very end of the journey and should book with a particular company only after they are assured of that guidance. 

Royal Thrills is a premium trekking company that checks all of these points and many more to make trekking a luxurious, one of a kind experience rather than an arduous one. Of course, it will be a bit arduous as the activity involves climbing slopes and trekking on rocky terrains in high altitude areas more than the basic hiking. It will make sure that you get the supreme experience starting from the very basics of accommodation options, prepping for the trek till its accomplishment. RT aims to drive away all of your apprehensions of undertaking this activity and give the best experience during this well-deserved break that you have taken for yourself out of your busy schedule. And Royal Thrills will make this memorable for you, infusing adventure with cultural exploration.

Let's take a detailed look at its features and facilities:

 Uniqueness and the importance of start date - Every single trail has its own shades and colors to explore during its peak season. Royal Thrills understands the nature of the trail and imbibes this feature particularly into account when suggesting its packages and itinerary to its privileged customers. For example, January to May and from September to October are considered the best months for EBC trek because of less challenging weather conditions. Similarly January to March and then from June to October are recognized to be the ideal months for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro because of warmer temperatures, dry and better weather conditions that will provide amazing mountain views and more time for acclimatization. 

Provision of quality and the required safety gears - Good quality safety gears are one of the key essentials for the safe and successful completion of a trekking journey. So you should choose a trekking company that has detailed knowledge regarding, safety gear, camping gear, and warming equipment. Royal Thrills has their own in house mountain trekking specialists who possess expertise in this required field and will be of great help to give knowledge about the equipment required for a trek, and to answer all your queries and doubts regarding it. Along with Royal will take care of all the provision of trekking gear starting from the very basics - fleece jacket, waterproof breathable pants, insulated parka to trekking specific footwear such as waterproof hiking boots, micro spikes for snow treks (like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp) and of course the provision of trekking gear, for example, climbing harness, climbing helmet, daisy chain, climbing ropes, crampons, glacier glasses, etc. Other than these, Royal Thrills will also provide a four-season tent or convertible, down sleeping bag, trekking poles, and all required trekking supplies,l resourced from exclusive trekking gear brands, so that you do not have to worry about a thing. Along with trekking gears and pieces of equipment, there will be the provision of a minimum of three oxygen cylinders that will accompany every team that goes from Royal Thrills. On longer treks, there will be four cylinders (for treks that are more than 5 days long). These cylinders are of heavy-duty material and handle most medical emergency situations. Oxygen lasts for 2 hours in an emergency. Treks that have fixed camps have additional cylinders installed at every camp. At high altitude, the biggest risk is the low availability of oxygen, more than the risks of falling or getting lost. An increase in the number of bottles that are carried on a trek brings more safety.

On-Call Doctor Facility - The facility of an on-call doctor or medical professional at all times is extremely required in case a trekking experiences altitude sickness or physical discomfort before the start or the end of the journey or feels like returning back to the hotel from mid-journey itself, due to those reasons. One of the most exclusive facilities Royal Thrills aims to provide to its privileged trekkers is a health check-up on a regular basis by a qualified medical professional. The on-call doctor or medical professional has also been kept for cases if and when a trekker faces any kind of health risks while being on the trek. 

Chopper Access - Continuing from the last point, any trekker can suddenly get hit with Acute Mountain Sickness in high altitude trekking at any point during the journey. Henceforth, it is extremely needed that the trekking company has its own chopper facilities for such rescue or evacuation requirements. For that specific reason, Royal Thrills will provide helicopter and chopper facilities at all times throughout the trekking journey. In such cases, the trained helicopter rescue team at Royal Thrills will be able to reach you with its critical care paramedics and evacuate you.

Premium Quality Accommodation Facilities - Quality and luxurious lodging facilities of the premium range are one of the major points to consider that will determine the selection of the trekking company. When you will choose Royal Thrills as your travel partner, you do not have space a second worrying about such aspects. In RT, we will provide tried and tested accommodation that can offer you relaxation and comfort after a hard day or a number of hard days of climbing and walking a challenging trail. We will select and provide only the ones that we consider the best accommodation for each destination. Depending on the accessibility of the location, we will only choose 3 stars to 5-star hotels or similar mountain refuge accommodations with excellent quality hygiene and sanitization. The elaborate suite rooms with their plush interiors, intricate wood carvings are equipped with air purifiers, humidifiers and heaters to keep you warm and toasty in the brisk, jaw-dropping temperatures of the night. Most people judge a place entirely by their washroom facilities and these tea houses have some of the nicest bathrooms that you will come across in such mountainous regions. The washroom has western toilets with all basic toiletries, and running hot and cold water 24 hours a day, 7 days and nights. Also all of the elaborate suite rooms will have the most breathtaking views of nature and mountains that will make stay a memorable experience for years to come.

Premium Quality Food Arrangements - The Food menu should have enough delicious varieties & nutrition balance to keep revitalize your taste buds and keep you energized in every aspect. The kitchens and restaurants are run and overlooked by prestigious chefs In the luxury accommodation facilities provided by Royal Thrills,. They will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner comprising of assorted dishes from all types of cuisines, be it simple Indian dishes like daal bhaat roti or spaghetti, pizza and burgers or tacos. Depending on the region, they will also include the local cuisine to give a whole cultural experience. For example, the luxury tea houses located in the Everest Base Camp Trek Region will provide an assortment of dishes from Nepalese cuisine that consists of momos soups, dumplings made of various types of filling like veggies, corn, chicken or pork and their famous Sherpa Stew which will be one of the recommended food items in those restaurants. Sumptuous breakfast, lunch and dinner spread with the unlimited provision of varying kinds of tea and coffee, will energize you to start on your trekking journey from the next day itself. If you have special nourishment requirements like protein shakes or for any particular preference of tea and coffee type, that can also be arranged if you let us know about such requirements at the time of booking. 

Seamless Internet and Cell Connection - One of the main aspects that entrepreneurs or businessmen look before selecting a trekking company is seamless internet and cell connection especially in remote and altitude regions. Royal Thrill’s packages have the provision of unlimited phone recharges and seamless Wi-Fi connection that will be offered to all of the guests, be it trekking from the plains or to the high altitude like Mount Kilimanjaro Trek, or only in the high Altitude regions like the Everest Base Camp Trek, or The Annapurna Circuit Trek. It is provided especially for needs like sharing their favorite moments live from the trip or for taking care of any urgent personal or professional matter.

Post Trek Medicated services - One of the main drawbacks rather impacts of trekking, especially in high altitude regions like the Everest Base Camp, is the reduced energy efficiency and body fatigue. This drawback discourages a lot of influential and famous personalities from taking up a trekking expedition as they feel that their bodies might take a longer time to recover from all the fatigue and exhaustion, to go back to work upon returning. All of Royal Thrill’s packages have been created specifically keeping these aspects in mind. The Luxury Hotels’ and lodges’ varied range of body spa and massage services will rejuvenate your body and soul driving away from the existence of any fatigue and energizing you so that you can go back to work that week itself upon returning. 

One of our most popular packages, The Everest Base Camp Trek, has been created keeping all of these aspects in mind. An overview of its features is given below:

Accommodation features:

• Luxurious Stay
• Fresh Linen Sheets
• Daily Laundry Service

Inclusives:

• Unlimited Recharges to Phone
• Daily Two Bottles of Packaged Drinking Water
• Fresh Towels for the Trek
• 60 Servings of World-Class Cuisines
• Chopper Ride for Emergency
• Extra 5Kg Baggage 
• Grappling and Jumaring on the Way
• Hap Bag for Emergency
• Stay-in Internet Service

If you want to get a detailed sneak peek into all of our packages and exclusive facilities please click the following link: https://www.facebook.com/royalthrills/

Trekking Rejuvenates Not Just your Body but Also, Your Soul

A soul searching experience is one where you need to give time to yourself to your family and friends and re-evaluate certain priorities in your life. And trips in unfamiliar zones that test your limits and push you to overcome your fears are the ideal places where you can have a spiritual experience to challenge your mind and body and feel thankful for just being alive, there at that moment.  For me, trekking has always been that activity. Why? Because since childhood I have always been fascinated with mountains, their enigmatic stature, and vastness, soaring to the skies with their head in the clouds, has always attracted me. So whenever I got a chance to go trekking I took it to venture into the long, winding paths, challenging rocky terrains that have gifted me with certain spiritual, soul searching, memorable experiences to last for my lifetime.  

In this article, I am penning down my thoughts that I have accumulated with my private exclusive time with the mountains. Mind you, this is not my trekking diary but some of my reflections that I have gathered through my trekking experiences. I am attempting to jot down what mountain has given me throughout my past years:

Well-being

It all started when I went on a trek with my friends. There was something that we liked about the whole experience. It made us happy to the extent that most of us decided to go trekking on a regular basis.

I don’t know if it was the inner peace or the connection with the primal elements of nature, (Air, earth, water, and Fire), A sense of emotional connection to these elements in their basic forms, which we are deprived of in our hectic and repetitive lives. The trek opened up new things that could be worked upon, one of them being our strength and physical capabilities which we are unaware of.

Gratitude, Positivity and Inner Strength

A trek during the monsoon time helped me to realize just ‘how many people’ and ‘how many things’ have contributed to our well-being.

It poured continuously during the trek to Bhrigu Lake. We walked in the rain, ate in the rain, slept in the rain and rested in the rain. The area was prone to flooding. Thankfully, we had our guides and porters from Royal Thrills with us to rescue and guide us through such perils without any hassle. 

When we put on the warm clothes, after reaching the base village, we felt truly blessed. We understood the enormousness of Mother Nature and felt utter gratitude towards Mother Nature for endowing us with all its natural resources. 

Now, are we doing what we are supposed to do to co-exist in this equilibrium of nature? Do we even know what we are supposed to do? Are we at least allowing Mother Nature to do the intended good for us?

One of the trekkers in our group was completely unprepared and unfit for the trek and we had asked her to turn around because of that reason. But she got past me and reached the summit. When she reached the summit, tears started streaming down her face with her hands folded in a prayer of deep gratitude. It took a friend on the trek to embrace her in a warm hug to calm her down.

When I later brought up the topic, she said that climbing the summit had a profound effect on her.  She was always the typical image of someone who was under-confident with low self-belief. Through climbing to the summit, she discovered a new person within her. The trek filled her mind with strength and positive thoughts that no amount of pep talk or counseling could.

Upon talking, I discovered that she recently became one of the partners in her law firm. The up and coming partner did not think she was capable of being one. She was always soft-spoken, who hardly drew any attention to herself. Through the trek, she discovered an inner strength, an inner resolve which was much beyond than she had imagined. The climb showed that she can overcome obstacles much larger than herself. And that she could do it alone with anyone’s support. The climb changed her mind in irreversible ways. The positive thoughts filled her body, mind, and soul and stayed with her for long. She returned to work as a changed person.

Trekking impacts our body, soul, and mind in ways deeper than we can imagine.

 

On a trek, without the distractions of our regular world, the mind automatically starts to feel better. Even if we want to, there is nothing to distract us. It is just us and nature.

We are constantly looking at picture-perfect sceneries — mountains and hills, jungles and forests, flowers and birds, snow, clear streams, rivers and waterfalls, sunrises and sunsets, moonrises and stars. Every hour on the trek these constant positive images are around us. Over days, this constant immersion in positivity removes negative thoughts (actually any thoughts) from our minds. We even forget what day and time it is. It is almost miraculous what it does to our minds.

It has an immediate calming effect. The buzz that is in our heads begins to fade away. Our nerves start soothing. Laughter flows easily. There is a spring in our step.

There is a science behind these feelings. It is to do with hormones.

When we trek, our body releases large doses of endorphins, the hormone that makes us happy. Added to that there is a boost of serotonin that relaxes us. And there’s also a good amount of oxytocin (that gives us a sense of tranquility and love).

These hormones make us feel good, calm, connected, happy and energized.

Self-Reflection

I was on a trek in September 2017. Landslides had added extra ascents and descents to the trail. We stopped at a small house to rest. By then all our water bottles were empty. We went to a nearby village to explore it where the locals welcomed us and gave us water.  Nothing about the villagers giving us water is surprising.

But there’s a story behind it.

Every drop of that water was brought up to this small house by going down-hill close to 1800 ft, all the way to the river. We had just come up that way, finishing all our water bottles on the way.

We knew what they would have to go down to get more water for themselves. But did we have the heart to do such favors in a terrain like this? 

 

Treks, in many situations, have held a mirror in front of us and challenged us, “How good are you?” We are physically questioned, intellectually questioned and emotionally questioned.

A trek is a mirror that reveals our true capabilities. There are many situations where we feel good because we fare better than we thought we would. Then, there are equal if not more situations where we need to get better. This is how personality development begins from deep within.

Clarity

Trekking through the unknown terrains and paths improves our clarity. Clarity improves our precision, our clearness of mind with added perceptions that in turn enhances our problem-solving abilities.

Walking alone in the mountains is a great experience. Trails cut between mountains and run by the riverside. I get this opportunity mostly in my Himalayan treks. There are miles and miles of mountains in front of us and miles behind us.

I feel minuscule among the mighty mountains. It is here I start wondering about the purpose of our existence. Have we found it yet? Do we even know that we need to find it? What are our primary and secondary duties in life? What are the factors derailing us from our duties?  These questions are not tricky ones.

Sometimes on a trek, we get answers that are extraordinarily impactful on our lives. It helps the people, who are struggling, who are unable to get their self imposed boundaries. It makes us more resilient. Getting to the mountains, trekking to a high point, overcoming difficulties, achieving success, makes us more tough and determined. It is almost like if I can do this trek, I can do anything. This is extremely empowering. It helps people fight odds and difficulties of everyday life easier.

We feel more confident. We have greater self-belief. We feel at peace with the feeling of this self-achievement.

We also begin to think creatively and clearly. What was limiting earlier becomes a possibility.

Rediscover your Relationships and Forge Lifelong Friendships

Trekking impacts the spirit of a person. It helps to rediscover our relationships, and form strong friendships with not only our near and dear ones but with people with whom we work day in day out. It evolves us to become better human beings.

Around September 2018, I went on a 3 to 4-day trekking trip with a bunch of my business partners. Undertaking the trek, that pushed our bodies to its limits, and bonding within the pristine nature, away from the hustle and bustle of work, and disturbance of our electronic devices, I conversed with each and every one of them on a personal level. The kind of frank conversations and bonding that we had under the starry skies and helping each other throughout the journey would not have been possible to have in the limited time span that we have in the professional environment of our office. I experienced a different caring, vulnerable side to each and every one of them during this trekking journey that we had together. 

It is not the shared interest of trekking that brings us together. It is something else that works here.

On a trek, we talk uninterrupted with deep focus. Nothing disturbs us. There aren’t any electronic disturbances. We talk openly and frankly, because, after a while, the mask of the city wears off. Be it with your business partners, your family members or your partner, the environment, trekking improves the strength and health of your relationships. It brings people closer, improving your social status among your friends, your colleagues and your closeness with your partner.

In this modern world where acquaintances are fleeting, friendships fickle, the opportunity to bond so deeply on a trek is something that we cannot ignore.

Living together in tents, doing chores, solving problems, participating in a shared adventure only brings us closer.

We are able to reveal ourselves, we become vulnerable, the conversations are honest and frank.

In one week we talk more intimately with our trek mates than we do with friends who are with us for years.

Out of these conversations emerge a deep connection that we form with another human being. This connection stays intact and we make friendships that last for life.

Trekking is known to be one of the best forms of fitness activities. From keeping your heart agile to having stronger bones, it gives you all but it can be tiring and demanding at times. Days into the trek and you might come to a point where you just can't walk anymore. At this point fatigue gets you but when you see a fellow trekker hiking instead of resting then all it gives you is a sense of motivation. Opposite sexes not just attract but also inspire! A good female trekker can inspire many men to give it their best shot and similarly a good male trekker can make his fellow lady trekker commit for that one last extra mile. Trekking is not only about physical fitness and mental strength, but also about having inspirations that drive you in the most challenging times. Along with those mountains, trekkers are now finding more sources of inspiration in people around them these days.

 

Well, learning from treks is a completely relative and subjective experience. What have you learned from your treks so far?

And if you have not started trekking, then it is high time that you must!

If you consider yourself a trekker, then we would love to hear your thoughts, more on this topic. Do drop in your views in the comments section below.

Best Pet Insurance in Arizona

Your pet is an adored member of your family and like any other family member is susceptible to illness or injury. Without proper planning, this might cause both you and your pet uncertainty, hassle and financial drain. This is exactly where pet insurance comes in handy. It will save both you and your family from bearing any hassle or financial costs of your pet’s treatment and extend his life in cases of sickness.

Now the concept of pet health insurance works in a similar manner, like human health insurance policies. They both include deductibles, copays, and annual premiums.

●     Annual premium refers to the amount that you pay to the insurance provider in exchange for insurance coverage of a 1-year term plan. The coverage guarantees payments for certain types of treatment, depending on the type of health insurance selected.

●     Deductibles indicate the amount you pay for the covered healthcare services before your chosen insurance plan starts to pay benefits for the eligibles expenses. The amount of the payment for the deductible is determined based on the health insurance plan type and the benefits.

●     Copay is a fixed amount that you pay for a specific medical treatment. Let’s say that your health insurance plan allows you a fixed amount of a $30 copay to visit a primary healthcare physician. Your visit to the physician costs around $100. So, you pay $30 out of your pocket and the remaining $70 is paid by your insurance provider.

According to a recent survey by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, there are nearly 179 million pets in North America, accruing an estimated total of $58.5 billion in annual expenses. Veterinary visits and care are considered to be the 3rd largest investment in the category, where pet owners spend about $15.25 billion per year.

More than 1 million pets today are covered under a pet insurance policy, amounting to an expenditure of $595 million.

To better understand your options and policies, do careful research to get the best coverage for your family member. Selecting the best pet insurance coverage means considering the following:

●     Vet your vet. As long as they are licensed, your insurance provider cannot instruct you whom you can see.

●     Consider policies with a variety of tiers. Most companies offer a number of tiers to select from. Some cover only accidents, others may cover both accidents and illnesses.

●     Decide on a premium tier and payment plan. The average monthly expense of a dog can range from as low as $1 to $98 per month. Of course, banks on a number of variables like age, breed of the dog and your area of residence. Cats cost even less. Premium amounts can be paid quarterly, monthly, annually or semi-annually.

What if my pet is not a cat or a dog? If you have iguana, bird or any other pet, you can check out Veterinarian Pet Insurance (VPI), a division of the famed insurer Nationwide. It is presumably the largest and acknowledged insurance provider of exotic pet animals.

Pet Insurance in Arizona: An Overview

The Grand Canyon State is a great place for a pet, with its numerous outdoor activities and terrain for your four-legged friends to indulge in.

But while romping on the rocks, what if your dog injures his paw accidentally and has to be rushed to the emergency ward? Knowing you have good pet insurance from a reputable Arizona carrier will bring you relief and peace of mind.

Average pet expenses:

●     Amount spent on bills annually: Approx. $1,200–$1,300 per year

●     The average cost of pet insurance annually: Monthly premium of $42.45 for dogs and $20.99 for cats

What Does Pet Insurance Typically Cover?

Pet insurance covers medical costs when your dog or cat gets into an accident or becomes unexpectedly sick. Some policies cover routine checkups and rabies shots, while others consider these add-ons to your policy.

There are 4 types of pet insurance coverage plans: Accident, Illness, Wellness, and Endorsements.

●     Accident-only coverage: Covers injuries and incidents such as poisoning, indigestion of foreign objects, bite wounds, broken bones, torn ligaments and other critical health needs

●     Illness coverage: Most insurance companies provide this coverage based on the pet’s age, so it’s best to get this plan while your pet is young to reduce your monthly costs and preexisting conditional exemptions. Illness coverage takes care of things like allergies, infections, arthritis, UTIs, ear infections, obesity, diarrhea and vomiting and internal parasites.

●     Wellness: This is an all-inclusive optional coverage plan that covers illness and accidents and may also cover routine checkups, tick and flea medication, vaccinations, dental care, heartworm prevention, burial, and cremation, as well as dietary consultations.

●     Endorsements: Endorsement coverage is also known as riders. These include wellness or cancer add ons as wellness plans are normally purchased as add-ons.

Most insurance plans do not cover preexisting conditions or preceding chronic illnesses. 

Out of the 4 pet insurance types, 98% of covered pets have either illness or accident insurance or wellness insurance as add-ons. The remaining 2% is insured with accident-only coverage.

3 Reasons to Buy Pet Insurance in Arizona

Below are some of the most common illnesses and conditions for pets to expect in Arizona:

●     Spider bites: Can cost around $1,000

●     Diabetes: Can cost around $6,000

●     Ear infections: Can cost around $2,000 to $3,500

Arizona’s extreme weather conditions can exhaust your pet and make them susceptible to illness. Also, the presence of animal predators — coyotes, wildcats, bears, lizards, toads, snakes, tarantulas and scorpions — presents significant danger. It’s vital for your pet to be under your watch whenever they go out to play or for a walk. Getting regular checkups are also important to maintain healthy pets.

The Best Pet Insurance in Arizona

The minimum and maximum coverage of numerous insurance plans available differ from pet to pet and plan to plan. Your selection depends on a number of factors such as your pet’s history of illness, your financial situation and the type of coverage that you want.

Benzinga has compiled a list of the best pet insurance providers in Arizona with impeccable customer service and a seamless reimbursement process. Get quotes from your selected choices of the best pet insurance Arizona providers and compare them side by side to see who offers the best premium price for your pet.

1.   High-Quality Pet Insurance: Spot Pet Insurance 

Spot Pet Insurance is the top insurance provider in the U.S according to Benzinga’s research, renowned in Arizona along with 50 other states. It is recommended by the acclaimed dog whisperer and dog training expert, Cesar Milan. Some of its insurance highlights are:

●     Up to 90% of remuneration on legible vet bills

●     No age limit to avail coverage

●     Premium amounts can start from as low as $1 per day

●     Customizable coverage plans with additional Spot On Coverage

●     Coverage options consist of the following:

○     Behavioral issues

○     Accidents

○     Dental diseases

○     Preexisting congenital and hereditary conditions

○     Preventive services

●     Seamless service claims process

2. Most Affordable in Arizona: Pets Best

●     Affordable insurance plans starting from
as low as $6 per month

●     A+ rating by the Better Business
Bureau (BBB)

●     Unlimited benefits for lifetime
in higher-tiered plans

●     Customizable insurance packages offering with wellness plans add on

●     No age limit to avail coverage

●     Congenital and hereditary conditions covered

●     70% to 90% of reimbursements processed and paid within 1 week

●     Additional benefits provided in wellness packages like blood, parasite and fecal examinations, heartworm medications and vaccinations

●     Prices are not increased in cases where beneficiaries issue multiple claims

●     Competitive pricing for premiums:

●     Dogs in Arizona monthly average: $30

●     Cats in Arizona monthly average: $21

3.   Best for Remuneration Claims: HealthyPaws

●  Has an A+ rating with BBB on customer
satisfaction

●     Has unlimited comprehensive benefits
coverage on all plans

●     Quick processing and payment of claims
within 1 week (99% of its claims processed within 2 days of filing,
an accomplished feat that is achieved through its online mobile app)

●     4 deductible choices ranging from $100–$750 on an annual basis

●     Alternative therapy choices

●     Competitive pricing

●     Dogs in Arizona monthly average: $32

●     Cats in Arizona monthly average: $16

4.   Best for Wellness Coverage: Embrace

●     A+ rating by the BBB

●     Flexible deductible adjustment options from $100 to $1,000 annually

●     Limits cap of $15,000 on benefits

●     Offers alternative and behavioral therapy, as well as wellness benefits including training and grooming

●     Provides $650 for dental care in standard plans

●     Covers illnesses, accidents, preventive veterinary care and exam fees

●     A provision of $50 discount on deductibles each year when you do not file a claim (provided with its diminishing deductible feature)

●     Claims can be easily filed through fax, mail or electronically. Majority of the policyholders have received 90% of their claims

●     Competitive Pricing

●     Dogs in Arizona monthly average: $34

●     Cats in Arizona monthly average: $19

5.   Best for Short Waiting Periods: PetFirst

●      A+ rating by the BBB since 2006 with customer service ratings of 4 out of 5 on consumer affairs

●     Annual deductibles ranging from $50 to $100

●     No age limit to avail coverage

●     No waiting period required for hip dysplasia

●     Congenital and hereditary conditions covered

●     Benefit limits go up to $20,000

●     Quick and smooth enrollment and claims reimbursement process through fax, email or direct upload on its website

●     A provision of $50 discount on deductibles each year whenever you do not file a claim, provided with its diminishing deductible feature

●     Competitive pricing

●     Dogs in Arizona monthly average: $32

●     Cats in Arizona monthly average: $26

The Bottomline

Purchasing a pet insurance plan is not about going for an affordable option or preventing yourself from dipping into your hard-earned savings during an emergency. Your pet may never get hurt or sick. You might want the coverage just for routine medical check-ups and wellness. Whatever the reason, going without insurance is a risk you might want to avoid taking. Buying peace of mind for your furry family member is, well, priceless.