New system for Club Daguerre aktuell
Why we have changed - and what will change for you
We have been sending out "Club Daguerre aktuell" as an email newsletter since March 2025. What was well-intentioned quickly caused problems: HTML emails were displayed incorrectly for some recipients, images were blocked and messages ended up in spam. Creating the newsletter was time-consuming and error-prone, there was no searchable archive and certainly no English version.
Time for a better solution.
What changes for you
Almost nothing - and that's exactly the point.
As usual, you will receive an e-mail with the most important topics of the month. Instead of the full newsletter, you will receive a clearly organised list of articles. Are you interested in a topic? Just click on the link and you can read the newsletter on our website - on any device, whether computer, tablet or smartphone.
No complicated registrations, no apps, no hurdles. Just read it.
What will change for us
Everything will be simpler and more professional for the editorial team.
The newsletter is now created in a content management system (CMS) - software that is also used by many German-language media and specialist publications. We use "Ghost", a tried-and-tested open source solution that we operate entirely ourselves. No subscription fees, no dependence on external services, full control over our content.
Articles can be created individually, enriched with images, galleries, videos or audio files. Several authors can work in parallel. Compiling the monthly newsletter is child's play.
The system automatically translates every German article into English - not perfect, but good enough for a first impression. This is a great benefit for our international members and interested parties.
The archive
Every newsletter is automatically archived and can be found using a search function. Want to know what we wrote about the workshop for Photographica collectors in March 2025? Simply search, find and read.
The archive is publicly accessible at
https://aktuell.club-daguerre.de
The technology behind it
Club Daguerre has developed this system itself - based on free, tried-and-tested software. Ghost provides the basic framework, while we have programmed the adaptations for our member list, personalised salutations and automatic translations ourselves.
As we run everything on our own server, there are no more running costs. We had previously deliberately opted for a very inexpensive service provider - but now even these low costs are completely eliminated. At the same time, we get better results: more reliable delivery, a more professional appearance, more options.
A look into the future
The system is designed for growth. In the future, it could also be used for other publications of the club - multilingual, multimedia and with an international reach. Such a platform offers new opportunities, especially for the club's international focus.
But that is still a long way off.
For now, we are pleased that the monthly newsletter is now easier to create, nicer to look at and easier to read.
Welcome to the new "Club Daguerre aktuell".
For comments, questions or problems: [email protected]