Case Study: Panoramic Images achieves scalable management of millions of photos and archival preservation with Claris FileMaker Platform

For Panoramic Images, a custom app helps manage millions of professional photos

Panoramic Images, an Illinois-based specialty stock photo agency, faced the challenge of organizing and monetizing a massive, mixed-format archive — more than 300,000 images including rare large-format film “yardlong” negatives — while adapting to industry shifts that drove down traditional licensing fees. The company also needed to catalogue and preserve the Fred Schutz Historical Collection of oversized negatives and support bespoke, high-resolution projects like large murals and immersive imagery.

Using a custom app built on the FileMaker Platform, Panoramic streamlined metadata, search, review, licensing, payment and scanning workflows, and added mobile access for staff. The system enables rapid retrieval (e.g., sourcing suitable panoramic shots for a mural in a day), has archived 1,200 Schutz negatives at 1–4 GB each, supports new revenue streams (large-format prints, 360°/VR) and preserves historical assets for museum exhibition.

Panoramic Images

Doug Segal

Co-Founder