Logging In
How to access your photo booth account.
Login Options
On the login page, you can log in using any of the following:
- Booth slug — the short identifier for your booth, e.g.
spark - Booth display name — the full name of your booth, e.g.
Spark Events(not case-sensitive) - Email address — the owner email registered to your account
Enter your chosen identifier along with your password and click Log In.
Staying Logged In
After a successful login, your booth name is remembered so you won't need to type it again next time. Your session stays active for 7 days. If you return within that time, you'll be taken straight to the setup page.
Signing Up
If you don't have an account yet, click the Don't have an account? Sign up link on the login page. You'll be taken to the sign-up page where you can choose a plan, enter your details, and complete payment via Stripe. Once payment is confirmed, your account is immediately active and you'll receive a welcome email with your login details.
Forgot Password
Click the Forgot password? link on the login page. Enter the email address associated with your account and a reset link will be sent. The link expires after 1 hour and can only be used once.
Getting Started
Set up an event and start the photo booth in a few simple steps.
Quick Start
- Fill in the Event Details — client name, date, and end time are required.
- Select a Camera and click Preview to test it.
- Optionally configure text overlays and a photo frame — you'll see them live on the preview.
- If you're using LED lighting, click the LED Control button in the Camera card to connect and test.
- Customise the Attract Screen and Email Template if needed.
- Click ▶ Start Booth to save all settings and launch the photo booth.
Setup Page Layout
The setup page is arranged in a compact layout:
- Event Details — top row with client name, email, date, and end time.
- Live Preview — shows the camera feed with overlays applied in real time.
- Text & Frame Overlay — font, size, colour, horizontal/vertical positioning, decorative frame selection, and client logo upload with positioning controls. Each section has a Reset to defaults button with confirmation.
- Camera — camera selection, refresh, and preview (sits below the Live Preview).
- Attract Screen — customise the idle screen shown when the booth isn't in use.
Header Buttons
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| ▶ Start Booth | Save all settings and launch the booth immediately. Checks your booth limit before starting. |
| Gallery | Open the Gallery Management page to browse, download, and share photos. |
| Open the Email Template editor — customise the gallery email sent to clients. This template is shared across all your booths. | |
| Open the Post-Shot Messages editor — customise the fun messages shown after each photo is taken. | |
| Mobile Camera — validate and save event details, then generate a QR code to link your phone as a roaming camera. | |
| Connect and test LED strip lighting for the booth. | |
| Open Event History — view all past events, email delivery status, gallery links, passcodes, and resend emails. | |
| Open Account Settings — change your email, password, or manage billing. | |
| Open this help page. | |
| Log out of the current session. |
Internet & Connectivity
The booth is entirely cloud-based — a reliable internet connection is essential.
Why internet is required
Unlike traditional photo booth software that stores everything locally, this system runs entirely in the cloud. Every photo is uploaded to a remote server the moment it’s captured, and the setup page, gallery, slideshow, and email system all depend on a live connection. If the internet drops, the booth cannot save photos.
This cloud-first approach has significant advantages — photos are instantly backed up off-site, the gallery link can be emailed to clients immediately, and you can manage events from any device — but it does mean connectivity is not optional.
Using the venue’s Wi-Fi
This is the ideal setup. Before the event, check the following:
- Ask for the Wi-Fi password in advance. Don’t assume you’ll be able to get it on the day — the person who knows it might not be around.
- Test the signal at your booth location. Wi-Fi can be strong in the lobby but weak in the function room. Walk to the exact spot where the booth will be set up and run a speed test.
- Check for captive portals. Some venues (especially hotels and conference centres) use a login page that pops up when you connect. These can time out and disconnect you mid-event. Ask the venue if they can whitelist your device or give you a direct connection.
- Ask about bandwidth limits. Some guest networks throttle upload speeds or cap data usage. You need decent upload speed — each photo is roughly 200–400 KB, so even a slow connection will cope, but throttling down to near-zero will cause uploads to stall.
- Watch out for 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz. If the venue offers both, use 5 GHz where possible — it’s faster and less congested, though it has shorter range.
Using a mobile hotspot
If the venue has no Wi-Fi, or the signal is unreliable, your fallback is to hotspot from a mobile phone. This works well in most situations, but be aware of the following:
- Use a phone with a strong 4G/5G signal. Check signal strength at the booth location before committing. One bar of 4G is not enough — you need a solid connection.
- Keep the hotspot phone plugged in. Running a hotspot drains the battery fast. Plug it into a power bank or mains charger and leave it near the booth.
- Don’t use the same phone for hotspot and mobile camera. If you’re using the Mobile Camera feature, you need a second device. The phone running the hotspot should be left alone — using its camera at the same time will increase battery drain and can cause the hotspot to drop on some devices.
- Check your data allowance. A typical 4–5 hour event with 200–300 photos will use roughly 100–200 MB of upload data. That’s manageable on most plans, but if you’re on a limited data contract, keep an eye on usage.
- Disable auto-sleep / screen lock carefully. Some phones turn off the hotspot when the screen locks or after a period of inactivity. Check your phone’s hotspot settings and disable any auto-off timer if possible.
- Basements and thick walls. Mobile signal can drop to nothing in underground venues or old buildings with thick stone walls. If you can’t get signal at the booth location, consider placing the hotspot phone near a window or doorway where signal is stronger (as long as it’s within Wi-Fi range of the booth laptop).
What happens if the connection drops?
If the internet goes down during an event:
- Photos will fail to upload and you’ll see an error on screen. The photo is not lost — it stays in the browser until the page is closed — but it won’t reach the server.
- The booth will continue to function for capturing and previewing photos, but the save step will fail until connectivity returns.
- The gallery and email system won’t be affected for photos that were already uploaded — they’re safely on the server.
Recommended minimum speeds
| Activity | Minimum Upload Speed |
|---|---|
| Photo booth (single shots) | 1 Mbps |
| Mobile camera (continuous use) | 2 Mbps |
| Comfortable for both simultaneously | 5 Mbps+ |
You can check your upload speed at any speed test website. Focus on the upload number, not download — photos are being sent to the server, not downloaded from it.
Event Details
Configure the event information before starting the booth.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Client Name | Yes | Name of the event host. Used to generate the photo folder name and appears in the gallery email. |
| Client Email | No | If provided, a gallery link and passcode will be auto-emailed 10 minutes after the event ends. |
| Event End Time | Yes | When the event finishes. Triggers the "Thank You" screen on the booth and schedules the auto-email. |
Event Date & Folder Name
The event date is automatically set to today's date when you click Start Booth. There is no manual date picker — this prevents operators accidentally setting the wrong date.
The folder name is auto-generated from the client name and today's date in the format ClientName_DD-MM-YYYY. You can see a live preview below the event fields. All photos taken during the event are saved into this folder.
Email Template
Click the ✉ Email Template button in the header bar to customise the gallery email that gets sent to clients. See the Email Template section for details.
Auto Email
When a client email is provided, the system waits 10 minutes after the event end time, then sends an email containing a link to the photo gallery plus a passcode for access. The email status is shown next to the Email Template button.
Auto-Clear After Event
15 minutes after the event end time (allowing time for the auto-email to send), the system automatically clears event-specific fields to prevent details carrying over to the next event:
- Client name and client email — cleared to prevent the next client's photos being emailed to the wrong person.
- Event end time — cleared so a new end time must be set.
- Text overlay and frame selection — cleared to prevent incorrect info appearing on photos.
- Client logo — cleared as it's event-specific.
Settings that are kept: font, size, colour preferences, camera selection, attract screen, email template, and LED settings.
This works two ways:
- Live timer — if the setup page is left open, the fields clear automatically when the time is reached.
- Page load — if you reload or reopen the page after the event ended 15+ minutes ago, the fields are cleared immediately.
A green notification appears briefly confirming "Previous event details cleared".
Camera & LED
Select your camera and optionally connect LED strip lighting.
Selecting a Camera
The dropdown lists all connected cameras (USB webcams, built-in cameras, capture cards). Select the one you want to use for the booth.
Camera Controls
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| Refresh list | Re-scan for cameras (useful if you plug in a USB camera after page load). |
| Preview | Start the live camera feed in the preview window. Also tests that camera permissions are granted. |
Capture Resolution
The camera is requested at 1600x1200 (4:3). The final photo is cropped and exported at 1456x816 (16:9) as a JPEG at 92% quality.
LED Control Modal
Click the LED icon button in the header bar to open the LED modal. From here you can:
- Tick Enable LED to activate LED control.
- Click Connect — your browser will show a device picker. Select your Arduino or CH340 board.
- Use the test pattern buttons to verify the connection.
LED Test Patterns
| Button | Effect |
|---|---|
| Rainbow | Cycling rainbow colours (default idle state). |
| White Hold | Solid bright white — used during photo capture for lighting. |
| White Tail | White with a fade-out tail effect. |
| Blackout | All LEDs off. |
Automatic LED Sequencing
During booth operation, the LEDs are controlled automatically:
- Idle — Rainbow cycle
- Capture — White Hold (solid light for the photo)
- Post-capture — White Tail (1s) then Rainbow
- QR/Download screen — Rainbow
LED Hardware Guide
Click the About LED Strip button in the LED modal for a full guide on building and wiring an LED strip, including the Arduino code.
Text & Frame Overlays
Add text and decorative frames to every photo.
Text Overlay
Type any text into the Overlay Text field and it will be stamped onto every captured photo. You can use line breaks for multi-line text. The live preview updates in real time and accurately reflects the final photo output, so what you see is what you get.
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Font | Choose from 10+ fonts including elegant scripts (Great Vibes, Parisienne, Sacramento), display serifs (Playfair, Cinzel, Abril Fatface), and modern options (Inter, Bebas Neue, Amatic SC). |
| Weight | Regular, Semibold, Bold (default), or Black. |
| Size | Slider to set font size in pixels (default 64, range 16–200). The current value is shown next to the label. Scales proportionally to the final 16:9 output. |
| Colour | Pick any colour using the colour picker. Default is white. |
| Horizontal | Slider (1–99%) — horizontal text position. 50% = centred. Text is automatically kept within the photo boundaries with a small cushion from the edges. |
| Vertical | Slider (1–99%) — vertical text position. 90% = near bottom (default). Text is automatically kept within the photo boundaries with a small cushion from the edges. |
Photo Frames
Select a decorative frame from the dropdown. The frame is overlaid on top of the photo at capture time. Available frames:
- Wedding — Elegant Gold, Floral Soft, Rose & Blush, Silver Crystal
- Birthday — Confetti Party, Balloons & Stars, Neon Glow, Rainbow Bunting
- Party — Disco, Retro
- Seasonal — Christmas Festive, Halloween Spooky, New Year Fireworks
- Elegant — Corporate Modern, Corporate Elegant, Love Hearts, Gatsby Art Deco
- Fun — Emoji, Polaroid
Select None to disable frames. The chosen frame appears on the live preview immediately.
Add a Logo
At the bottom of the Text & Frame card you can upload a client logo. Once uploaded, positioning controls appear inline — see the Add a Logo section for details.
Reset to Defaults
The Reset to defaults button clears the text overlay, frame selection, and client logo. A confirmation prompt will appear before applying.
Add a Logo
Upload and position a client logo on every photo.
The client logo controls are located at the bottom of the Text & Frame Overlay card. Upload a logo and the positioning controls appear inline — no separate modal or popup needed.
Uploading a Logo
Use the file picker in the Add a Logo section to upload a PNG (with transparency), JPEG, or SVG file (max 5 MB). The logo is saved to the server and stamped onto every photo taken during the event. Once uploaded, a thumbnail preview and "Logo active" indicator appear, and the positioning sliders are revealed.
Positioning Controls
These controls appear automatically when a logo is uploaded:
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Horizontal | Slider (0–100%) — sets the horizontal position. 0% = left edge, 50% = centre, 100% = right edge. |
| Vertical | Slider (0–100%) — sets the vertical position. 0% = top edge, 50% = middle, 100% = bottom edge. Default 90% (near bottom). |
| Size | Logo size as a percentage of the photo (5–40%, default 15%). |
| Opacity | Logo transparency (20–100%, default 100%). |
| Default Position | Blue button — resets horizontal and vertical sliders to their defaults (50%, 90%). |
| Clear Logo | Red button — removes the logo entirely. Requires confirmation. |
The logo preview updates live on the camera feed so you can see exactly where it will appear.
Attract Screen
Customise the idle screen shown when the booth isn't in use.
The Attract Screen card sits in the right column of the setup page. It lets you customise what guests see when nobody is actively using the booth.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Welcome Text | Large welcome message (e.g. "Welcome to MyPhotoBooth"). |
| Title Text | Fun title line (e.g. "Let's Get Snappy!"). |
| Call-to-Action Text | Prompt for guests (e.g. "Touch the screen"). |
| Subtitle Text | Additional instruction (e.g. "Press the camera button to take a photo"). |
| Idle Timeout | Seconds of inactivity before the attract screen appears (default 30, range 25–60). Values outside this range are automatically corrected. |
| Custom Image | Upload a custom image (JPEG/PNG/GIF/SVG, max 5 MB) to display on the attract screen. |
Preset Graphics
Instead of uploading your own image, you can choose from built-in preset graphics. Available presets include camera, party, star, heart, smiley, lightning, and film strip.
- Click any preset icon to select it — it will be shown on the attract screen.
- Click the + icon to upload your own custom image instead.
- Click Save to apply your selection.
Click Reset to defaults to clear all custom attract screen settings. A confirmation dialog will ask “Are you sure?” before applying. Leave fields blank to use the built-in defaults.
Email Template
Customise the gallery email sent to clients after their event.
Click the ✉ Email Template button in the header bar to open the email template modal. This lets you personalise the email that clients receive with their gallery link and passcode.
Template Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Sender Display Name | The "from" name shown in the client's inbox (e.g. "My Photo Booth"). |
| Reply-To Email | Optional reply-to address so clients can respond to you directly. |
| Subject Line | Email subject. Supports tokens. |
| Greeting | Opening line (e.g. "Dear {recipientName},"). |
| Body Text | Main message body. Supports tokens. |
| Sign-off | Closing lines (e.g. "Best wishes,\nMy Photo Booth"). The first line is normal text; subsequent lines are bold. |
Token Insert Buttons
Above the template fields you'll see clickable token buttons. Click on any field first, then click a token button to insert it at the cursor position. Each button shows a short description of what the token does.
Available Tokens
Use these placeholders in any text field — they're replaced with real values when the email is sent:
| Token | Replaced With |
|---|---|
{recipientName} | The client's name from Event Details. |
{date} | The event date in UK format (e.g. "15th March 2026"). |
{passcode} | The auto-generated gallery access code. |
{link} | The gallery URL. |
Live Preview
The modal includes a live preview that updates as you type, showing exactly how the email will appear to recipients. The preview uses the client name and event date from Event Details (or sample values if those fields are empty).
Click Reset to defaults to restore the built-in email template. A confirmation dialog will ask “Are you sure?” before applying.
Reply-To Address
The reply-to address on outgoing emails is automatically set to your account email (the one you log in with). If you change your email in Account Settings, future emails will use the new address as the reply-to. You can also set a custom reply-to in the template fields to override this.
Post-Shot Messages
Customise the fun messages shown after each photo is taken.
What are post-shot messages?
After every photo capture, a random message flashes on screen for a couple of seconds — things like “NICE ONE!”, “BOOOOM!”, and “YOU LOOK AWESOME!”. These add energy and personality to the booth experience.
Customising messages
Click the 💬 (speech bubble) icon in the header bar to open the Post-Shot Messages editor. You’ll see a list of individual input fields, each containing one message.
- Edit any message by typing directly in its field.
- Delete a message by clicking the ✕ button next to it.
- Add a new message by clicking + Add Message at the bottom (maximum 15 messages).
- Each message has a 25 character limit to ensure it displays correctly on screen.
Click Save to apply your changes. The booth will use your custom messages immediately.
Resetting to defaults
Click Reset to Defaults to restore the original 15 messages. This saves automatically — the default messages will be used from that point on.
Default messages
The 15 built-in messages are:
NICE ONE! BOOOOM! LOOKING SHARP! LOVE THAT SMILE! LOVE IT!
YEAH BABY! YOU LOOK AWESOME! AMAZING! PERFECT! THE CAMERA LOVES YOU!
LOOKING HOT BABY! NAILED IT! WOW GORGEOUS! DRESSED TO IMPRESS! HOT HOT HOT!
Running the Booth
How the photo booth works for guests.
Starting the Booth
Click ▶ Start Booth in the header bar to save all settings and launch the booth. The booth runs in full-screen mode with a 150% zoom for a kiosk-friendly display.
Capture Sequence
- Guest taps the camera shutter button.
- "Get Ready" banner appears (2 seconds).
- "Strike A Pose!" banner appears (1.5 seconds).
- Countdown — 3... 2... 1... (3 seconds).
- Flash — a white flash effect signals the capture.
- A random fun message appears (e.g. “NICE ONE!”, “BOOOOM!”, “LOOKING SHARP!”). These can be customised — see Post-Shot Messages.
- The captured photo is shown for review.
After Capture
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| Retake | Discard the photo and return to the live camera view. |
| Save | Upload the photo and show a QR code for the guest to download it. |
QR Download
After saving, a QR code is displayed that the guest can scan with their phone to download the photo. A 60-second auto-return timer counts down — when it reaches zero (or the guest taps I'm Done), the booth returns to the live camera view ready for the next guest.
Attract Screen
If nobody interacts with the booth for the configured idle timeout (default 30 seconds), the attract screen appears with your custom welcome message and instructions. You can customise all the text and upload a custom image via the Attract Screen card on the setup page. Any touch, click, or keypress dismisses it.
Event Ended
When the event end time is reached, a full-screen "Thank You" message appears automatically, letting guests know the booth has closed and that photos will be shared with the client.
iPad / Tablet Support
Run the photo booth on an iPad or Android tablet.
Overview
The booth works on iPads and Android tablets as well as traditional laptops and desktops. The front-facing camera is used by default, and photos are properly oriented with no rotation issues.
Getting Started on a Tablet
- Open the booth URL in Safari (iPad) or Chrome (Android) and log in as normal.
- For the best experience, Add to Home Screen first — this removes the browser address bar and runs in full-screen PWA mode.
- Set up your event details, overlays, and camera as usual, then tap ▶ Start Booth.
Kiosk Mode on iPad (Guided Access)
To lock the iPad to the booth app so guests can’t swipe away or press the Home button:
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access and toggle it ON.
- Set a passcode (this is what you’ll use to exit later).
- Open the booth (ideally from the Home Screen PWA icon).
- Triple-click the Side button (or Home button on older iPads) to start Guided Access.
- Tap Start in the top-right corner. The iPad is now locked to the booth — the Home button, notifications, and Control Centre are all disabled.
To exit Guided Access, triple-click the Side button again and enter your passcode.
AssistiveTouch (if the Home button is broken)
If your iPad’s Home button isn’t working (common on older models), you can still triple-click to start/stop Guided Access using AssistiveTouch:
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch and toggle it ON.
- A floating button appears on screen. Tap it, then tap Device → More → Accessibility Shortcut to trigger the triple-click action.
Cellular / Data SIM
iPads and tablets with a cellular data SIM work without Wi-Fi. If the venue has poor Wi-Fi, a tablet with its own 4G/5G connection is a reliable alternative.
Secret Exit from Booth
How to return to the setup page without guests knowing.
Touch / Mouse Exit
Press and hold the top-left corner of the screen for 5 seconds to return to the setup page. This works on all devices — touchscreens and mouse. There is no visible button or indicator, so guests won’t accidentally trigger it.
Keyboard Exit
If you have a keyboard connected, press Ctrl + Shift + S to return to the setup page instantly.
Mobile Camera
Turn any smartphone or tablet into a second camera for your event.
What is it?
Mobile Camera lets an operator (or second shooter) use their own phone as an additional camera that’s linked to the current event. Think of it as a roaming camera — you walk around the venue taking candid shots of guests, and every photo is automatically:
- Uploaded to the server over your phone’s internet connection
- Processed with the same overlays as the main booth (text, frame, logo)
- Saved into the same event folder so they appear in the gallery alongside booth photos
- Included in the gallery email sent to the client
Photos taken on mobile are prefixed with mob_ in the filename, so you can tell them apart from main booth photos if needed, but to the client they all appear together as one collection.
How to connect (first time)
- On the setup page, fill in your event details — you need at least a client name and an event end time.
- Tap the 📱 (Mobile Camera) icon in the header bar. The system checks your details are valid, saves everything (event settings, overlays, logo, email config), and displays a QR code in a popup.
- On your phone, open your camera app and point it at the QR code. A link will appear — tap it.
- The Mobile Booth web app opens in your phone’s browser and connects automatically to the event session. You’re ready to shoot.
If required fields are missing or the end time has passed, you’ll see a message telling you exactly what needs filling in before the QR code can be generated.
How to connect (returning — app installed)
If you’ve previously added Mobile Booth to your home screen (see Installing the App below), the flow is slightly different:
- Open the Mobile Booth app from your home screen.
- The app opens to a built-in QR scanner — point it at the QR code on the setup page.
- The app reads the code and connects to the session automatically.
This is the recommended flow for regular use. The app runs full-screen with no browser bars, which gives more screen space for the camera viewfinder.
Taking photos
| Shutter button | The large centre circle. Tap to capture a photo. A brief flash confirms the shot. |
| Flip camera 🔄 | Toggles between the rear (main) camera and front (selfie) camera. |
| Preview | After each capture you see a preview. Tap Save to upload it to the server, or Retake to discard and try again. |
| Photo count | The status bar at the top shows the event name and a running count of photos taken this session. |
| Disconnect ✕ | Ends the session and returns to the QR scan screen. Tap this when you’re done shooting. |
Always hold the phone in landscape (sideways). Photos are cropped and resized to a 16:9 landscape format (1456×816 pixels) to match the main booth output. If you hold the phone in portrait, a “Rotate to Landscape” prompt will appear over the viewfinder.
What happens to the photos
When you tap Save, the raw photo is uploaded to the server where it goes through the same processing pipeline as main booth photos:
- Crop & resize — The photo is centre-cropped to 16:9 and scaled to 1456×816.
- Frame overlay — If a photo frame is selected in setup, it’s composited on top.
- Logo — The client logo (if uploaded) is placed at the configured position, size, and opacity.
- Text overlay — The overlay text (client name, custom text) is rendered in the chosen font, size, and colour.
The finished photo is saved to the event folder and recorded in the database, exactly as if it came from the main booth. It’s immediately visible in the gallery.
Installing the app (Add to Home Screen)
Mobile Booth works in any modern browser, but for the best experience you should add it to your home screen. This gives you:
- Full-screen mode with no browser address bar or navigation buttons
- A proper app icon on your home screen
- Automatic landscape orientation lock (Android only)
- The built-in QR scanner for faster session connections
On iOS (iPhone / iPad):
- The first time you scan a session QR and the app opens in Safari, look for the install banner at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing up).
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
- Tap Add to confirm. The app icon will appear on your home screen.
On Android:
- Chrome may show an Install App button automatically in the install banner.
- If not, tap the ⋮ menu (three dots, top right) and tap Add to Home Screen or Install App.
Once installed, simply open the app from your home screen before each event — the QR scanner is ready to go.
Can I use mobile camera without the main booth?
Yes. The mobile camera works independently of the main booth. You don’t need to start the booth to use it. Just fill in your event details on the setup page, tap the Mobile Camera icon, scan the QR, and start shooting. This is useful for events where you only want roaming photography without a stationary booth setup.
Session & security
Each mobile camera session is locked to a specific event. When you tap the Mobile Camera icon on the setup page, the system generates a QR code that contains a signed token encoding the current event’s details (event ID, folder name, and overlay settings). The phone can only upload photos to that one event — it cannot switch events or access other tenants’ data.
If your subscription allows multiple booths, each booth generates its own independent QR code tied to its own event. Mobile cameras connected to one booth have no interaction with another — they are completely separate sessions.
- Each QR code contains a signed token that’s valid for 24 hours. No login is needed on the phone — the QR code is the authentication.
- The app checks the session is still valid every 2 minutes. If the token expires or the event ends, the camera disconnects and shows a message. Scan a new QR to reconnect.
- All uploads happen over HTTPS. Photos are sent directly to the server and are not saved on the phone.
- If you need a fresh QR code (e.g. you changed overlay settings), tap Regenerate in the Mobile Camera popup on the setup page.
- The mobile camera does not count as a separate booth against your plan limit. It is part of the booth session it was connected to.
Known limitations (beta)
- iOS Safari tab bar: In landscape mode, iOS Safari shows a secondary tab bar that takes up screen space. Adding the app to your home screen eliminates this.
- Orientation lock: iOS does not allow web apps to lock screen orientation. The app will show a rotate prompt, but it cannot force landscape. Android supports orientation lock when installed as a PWA.
- No offline mode: An active internet connection is required. If the phone loses signal, uploads will fail. There is no offline queue in this beta — this is planned for the native app.
- Camera quality: The web camera API has less control over focus, exposure, and white balance compared to native camera apps. Results vary by device.
Native iOS and Android apps are planned for a future release and will address these limitations with deeper camera integration, offline photo queueing, and push notifications.
Gallery Management
Browse, download, and manage captured photos.
Accessing the Gallery
Click Gallery in the setup page header, or navigate directly to the Gallery Setup page.
Folders
Each event creates a folder. Use the dropdown to select a folder and view its photos. The pill badge shows the number of photos in the selected folder.
Viewing Photos
Photos are displayed in a grid sorted by newest first. Each photo card has three action buttons:
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| View | Open the photo in a full-screen lightbox. Use arrow keys or buttons to navigate. |
| Download | Download the individual photo as a JPEG file. |
| Delete | Permanently delete the photo (confirmation required). |
Bulk Actions
Use the header buttons for bulk operations:
- Select All / Clear All — toggle button to select or deselect all photos.
- Download — download all selected photos as a ZIP file.
- Delete Selected — permanently delete all selected photos.
Delete Folder
The Delete Folder button removes an entire event folder and all its photos. You'll be asked to type "DELETE" to confirm. This action cannot be undone.
Slideshow
Display photos in a full-screen slideshow.
Configuration
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Transition | Fade | Animation style: Fade, Slide, Zoom, or Ken Burns. |
| Duration | 6s | How long each photo is displayed before advancing. |
| Speed | 700ms | How fast the transition animation plays. |
| Shuffle | Off | Randomise the photo order. |
| Loop | On | Repeat the slideshow after the last photo. If off, it stops at the end. |
Launching
Click Save to persist your slideshow settings, then click Launch Gallery to start. The slideshow will attempt to enter full-screen mode.
Controls During Slideshow
- Esc — stop the slideshow and exit full-screen.
- → (right arrow) — skip to the next photo immediately.
- The exit button is visible when not in full-screen mode.
Sharing & Emailing
Share gallery access with clients via email.
Automatic Email
If you enter a client email in the Event Details on the setup page, the system will automatically email the gallery link 10 minutes after the event end time. The email uses your custom template (see Email Template) and displays the date in UK format (e.g. "15th March 2026").
Manual Email
- On the Gallery Setup page, select the event folder.
- Click Email Gallery.
- Enter the recipient's name and email address.
- Click Send Email.
The recipient will receive an email with a link to view the gallery and a passcode for access.
Gallery Access
Recipients visit the gallery link, enter their passcode, and can browse, view, and download all photos from the event. They can also download all photos as a ZIP file.
Event History
View past events, email status, and resend gallery links.
Click the 📋 clipboard icon in the header bar to open the Event History modal. This shows all events for your account in reverse chronological order.
Event Cards
Each event card displays:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Client Name | The name entered when the event was created. |
| Status | Live (event still running), Ended, or Upcoming. |
| Folder | The photo folder name on the server. |
| Client Email | The email address associated with the event. |
| Event Started / Ended | Date and time of the event. |
| Email Delivery | Status of the gallery email: Sent, Pending, or Not Sent. |
| Passcode | The gallery access code. |
| Gallery Link | Clickable link to the shared gallery page. |
Resend / Edit & Resend
Each event card has a collapsible Resend / Edit & Resend section at the bottom. Use this to:
- Update the client name or email — useful if there was a typo in the original entry.
- Customise the email content — expand the optional "Customise email content" section to override the subject, greeting, body, or sign-off for this specific resend. Leave fields blank to use your saved template.
- Send Email — generates a new passcode and share link, then sends the email.
Token placeholders ({recipientName}, {date}, {passcode}, {link}) work in all customisation fields.
Delivery Tracking
When a recipient opens the gallery link and enters the passcode, the system records this as "viewed". This appears in the event card as confirmation that the email was received and the gallery was accessed.
Account Settings
Manage your email address and password.
Click the ⚙ Settings button in the header to open the Account Settings modal.
Change Email
Update your login email address. You'll need to enter your current password to confirm the change. The new email must be unique across all accounts.
Your account email is also used as the reply-to address on gallery emails sent to clients. Changing it here will automatically update the reply-to on future emails.
Change Password
Update your password. Enter your current password, then your new password (minimum 6 characters) and confirm it. The change takes effect immediately.
Forgot Password
If you've forgotten your password, click the Forgot password? link on the login page. Enter your account email and a reset link will be sent. The link expires after 1 hour and can only be used once.
Manage Billing
If your account has an active subscription, a Billing section will appear in the Account Settings modal. Click Manage Billing to open the Stripe Customer Portal where you can update your payment method, change your plan, view invoices, or cancel your subscription.
Accounts with free access (granted by the administrator) will not see this section.
Billing & Subscription
Managing your plan, payments, and account status.
Plans
MyPhotoBooth offers four plans. All plans include every feature — the only difference is how many booths you can run at the same time:
| Plan | Active Booths | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 | £29/mo | £23.20/mo |
| Pro | Up to 3 | £49/mo | £39.20/mo |
| Business | Up to 10 | £79/mo | £63.20/mo |
| Enterprise | Unlimited | £3,000/year (annual only) | |
Booth Limits
Your subscription controls how many booths can be running at the same time, not which machines you use. You are not locked to any specific device — you can run your booth on any computer, tablet, or phone with a camera and a browser. If your plan allows one booth, you can use it on a different machine each time; you just can’t run two simultaneously.
If you try to start a booth when your limit is already reached, you’ll see a “Booth Limit Reached” message. Once the other booth is stopped (by closing the page or navigating away), the slot frees up within a couple of minutes.
Gallery, slideshow, and the setup page are not affected by booth limits. You can view the gallery, run a slideshow on a separate screen, or manage your settings from as many devices as you like, regardless of your plan.
Managing Your Subscription
To manage your subscription, open the ⚙ Settings modal from the setup page header and click Manage Billing. This opens the Stripe Customer Portal where you can:
- Update your payment card
- Switch between plans
- Change between monthly and annual billing
- View and download past invoices
- Cancel your subscription
Cancellation
If you cancel, your account remains active until the end of your current billing period. After that, your booth will become inactive and you won't be able to use the setup page, take photos, or access the gallery. Your data is retained — if you resubscribe later, everything will still be there.
Payment Issues
If a payment fails (e.g. expired card), your account will be marked as past due. You'll need to update your payment method in the Stripe portal to restore access. Stripe will automatically retry failed payments before marking the subscription as cancelled.
Free Access
Some accounts may be granted free access by the administrator. These accounts don't require a subscription and won't see billing options. Free access can be set to expire on a specific date or be granted for a lifetime.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Handy shortcuts for operators and setup.
Setup & Gallery Pages
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Esc | Close any open modal or dialog. |
Photo Booth
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Hold top-left corner (5s) | Return to the setup page (touch and mouse — works on all devices). |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Return to the setup page (operator shortcut — not visible to guests). |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Toggle the "Event Ended" overlay (for testing/preview). |
| Esc | Exit full-screen mode. |
Gallery Lightbox
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ← | Previous photo. |
| → | Next photo. |
| Esc | Close the lightbox. |
Slideshow
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| → | Skip to the next photo. |
| Esc | Stop slideshow and exit full-screen. |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Stop slideshow and return to gallery setup (stays on the gallery page). |
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to fix them.
Camera Not Showing
- Make sure you've granted camera permissions in your browser (look for the camera icon in the address bar).
- Try clicking Refresh list to re-scan for cameras.
- If using a USB camera, unplug and replug it, then refresh.
- Some cameras only work with one application at a time — close any other apps using the camera.
LED Won't Connect
- Open the LED modal via the LED Control button in the Camera card.
- Make sure the Enable LED checkbox is ticked.
- Web Serial only works in Chrome, Edge, or Opera. It is not supported in Firefox or Safari.
- Check that your Arduino/CH340 board is plugged in and the correct drivers are installed.
- Try clicking Disconnect then Connect again.
Full-Screen Issues
- On iOS Safari, true full-screen isn't supported through the browser. Use "Add to Home Screen" for the best experience.
- Some browsers block full-screen requests unless triggered by a user action (tap or click).
- Press Esc to exit full-screen at any time.
Photos Not Uploading
- Check your internet connection to the server.
- Ensure the event folder name has been set (check the folder preview on the setup page).
- Look at the browser console (F12) for error messages.
Gallery Email Not Sending
- Double-check the email address is correct in the Event Details.
- Auto-emails are sent 10 minutes after the event end time — they won't send immediately.
- Check the Event History (clipboard icon) for detailed email status and any error messages.
- If the auto-email failed, use the Resend feature to manually trigger a send.
Forgotten Password
- Click Forgot password? on the login page.
- Enter your account email — a reset link will be sent if the account exists.
- The link expires after 1 hour. If it's expired, request a new one.
- Check your spam/junk folder if the email doesn't arrive.
Gallery Email Not Arriving
- Check the Event History (clipboard icon) to see the email delivery status.
- If the status shows "sent" but the client hasn't received it, ask them to check spam/junk folders.
- Use the Resend feature in Event History to send a fresh email with a new passcode and link.
- If the email was sent to the wrong address, update it in the Resend form and send again.