How to Use the Live Photo & Video Carousel

The live carousel displays guest-uploaded photos and videos in real-time on any screen at your event. Connect it to a projector, TV, or monitor to create an engaging visual experience where guests can see their photos appear moments after uploading.

Accessing the Live Carousel

1. From your event dashboard, click "Photos" in the sidebar
2. In the Actions section, click "Live Photos"
3. The carousel will open and start displaying your approved photos

The carousel automatically updates in real-time as new photos are uploaded and approved.

Carousel Controls

The carousel has several controls accessible from the top bar:

Auto Approve

Toggle this to automatically approve photos as they're uploaded, making them appear instantly in the carousel. When disabled, photos need manual approval before appearing.

Full Screen

Click the expand icon to enter full-screen mode. This is ideal for displaying on projectors and large screens. Press Escape or click the icon again to exit.

Settings (Gear Icon)

Opens the carousel settings modal where you can customize display duration, overlays, effects, and more.

Frame Settings (Grid Icon)

Adjust how your custom frame overlay displays with photos. This option is only available from the Premium plan up, when you have a custom frame activated in branding.

Remote Control (Phone Icon)

Opens the Carousel Remote — a mobile-friendly page that lets you pause, skip, pin photos, show the QR code on demand, and send announcements to every connected screen from your phone.

Share (Share Icon)

Generate a public link to share the carousel with your DJ, venue staff, or AV team so they can display it without needing access to your account.

Pricing may vary depending on your country and currency. See the latest pricing on the pricing page.

Carousel Settings

Click the settings gear icon to customize how your carousel behaves.

Settings are saved to your event and synced live to every connected screen — including screens opened through the public share link. Change the speed on your laptop and the venue projector updates within a second, no refresh needed.

Photo Display Duration

Control how long each photo stays on screen. Slide from Fast (3 seconds) to Slow depending on how much time you want guests to have viewing each photo.

Show QR Code Overlay

Display your event's QR code periodically on the carousel. Guests can scan directly from the screen to upload their photos. Perfect for encouraging participation.

QR Code Frequency

When QR code overlay is enabled, adjust how often it appears - from More often to Less often (e.g., every 30 seconds).

Song Request QR Code

Enable this to show a QR code that links to your event's song request feature, allowing guests to request songs from the carousel display.

Branding Overlay

Show your event logo and branding periodically on the carousel. Great for corporate events, branded weddings, and professional occasions.

Branding Frequency

Control how often your branding appears - from More often to Less often (e.g., every 40 seconds).

Custom Frame Overlay

Display a custom decorative frame around each photo. Requires the Premium plan or above with a frame configured in your event branding settings.

Media Settings

Show Videos

Toggle whether videos appear in the carousel rotation alongside photos. When enabled, videos will play automatically when they appear. Video support requires the Premium plan or above.

This setting applies to short videos (up to 30 seconds) only. Long videos (Films) never appear in the carousel: a 5-minute video would stall the rotation, so they appear in your album instead, mixed in with the photos.

Show Voice Messages

Toggle whether voice messages play on the carousel. When a voice message appears, a compact card displays the guest's name while the audio plays through your speakers. Requires voice messages to be enabled in Content Types settings.

Show Text Messages

Toggle whether text messages appear on the carousel. Written messages display on screen with the guest's name. Requires text messages to be enabled in Content Types settings.

Show Drawings

Toggle whether guest drawings appear in the carousel rotation alongside photos. Drawings display as regular images. Requires drawings to be enabled in Content Types settings.

Photo Effects

Display Mode

Choose how the screen presents your guests' uploads:

• Slideshow (default) — one item at a time, full screen, with the transition and effects below.

• Collage wall — a living board of recent photos stays on screen and every new upload drops into it, so the wall is never a single picture. Pick a Collage layout:

  • Mosaic grid — a clean grid with one large hero tile. Each new photo lands in the hero tile and the previous one visibly slides down into the grid, so guests can follow the rotation.
  • Polaroid board — prints pinned over the background with a caption strip; each new print takes the centre and the previous one moves to the edge. Pairs beautifully with the Corkboard artwork.
  • Photo pile — each new photo is tossed onto the table on top of the previous ones, tilted and slightly offset, gradually covering the older prints. The pile spreads across the whole screen and the oldest prints fade away underneath.

  Captions, media toggles, QR and branding overlays, the remote control and Vertical Screen Mode all keep working; a photo pinned from the remote still takes the whole screen.

Ken Burns Effect

Enable a subtle pan and zoom animation on photos for a more dynamic, cinematic feel. This creates gentle movement that makes static photos feel more engaging on large displays.

Transition Style

Choose how photos change on screen:

• Crossfade (default) — photos blend smoothly into each other
• Slide — photos glide in from the side
• Zoom — photos zoom gently into place
• Drift (elegant) — a slow, graceful rise-and-settle, made for weddings

Blurred Photo Backdrop

Fills the empty bars beside portrait photos with a softly blurred copy of the photo itself, so the screen feels full and cinematic. Off by default — turn it on in Photo Effects if you prefer it over the solid background.

Pair Portrait Photos

When the current photo is portrait and another recent portrait photo is available, the carousel shows the two side-by-side instead of a single photo with empty space. Enabled by default; it steps aside automatically when you use a custom frame or Vertical Screen Mode.

Collage Moments

Every so often, the carousel mixes in a slide showing a 2×2 grid of recent photos instead of a single one — a nice change of rhythm that shows off more of the album. Every photo still gets its own full-screen turn. Enabled by default.

Matrix Background Effect

When enabled, displays a cinematic "falling photos" animation in the background, similar to the famous Matrix movie effect but with your event photos. The photos from your gallery gently fall down the screen behind the main photo display, creating an immersive visual experience. Disable this if you prefer a cleaner, solid-color background.

Background Color

Choose a custom background color for your carousel. Click the color picker to select any color that matches your event theme or venue lighting. The default is black (#000000), which works best for most projection setups and creates high contrast with photos. Consider using darker colors for better photo visibility, or match your brand colors for corporate events.

Background Artwork

Pick one of the bundled backdrops to show behind the photos in either display mode — Midnight Aurora, Golden Bokeh, Velvet Rose, Confetti Night, Marble Noir, Botanical Night, Neon Haze, Slate Chalk, Corkboard or Linen Cream — or choose None to keep the flat background color. The darker artworks are tuned so photos stay readable on top; Corkboard and Linen Cream suit bright venues and the Polaroid board.

Background Image

Upload a custom background image to display behind the photos on your carousel. This is perfect for adding venue branding, themed graphics, or decorative backdrops. Click "Upload Image" to select an image from your device. The image is automatically optimized for performance and fills the entire screen. If both a background color and a background image are set, the image takes priority, and an uploaded image also replaces any Background Artwork you picked. To remove the image, click the "Remove" button next to the preview.

Vertical Screen Mode

Enable this if you're displaying the carousel on a portrait/vertical screen (such as a TV or monitor rotated 90°). When turned on, the carousel optimizes the layout for vertical displays so portrait photos fill the screen edge-to-edge with no extra padding, and captions appear as an overlay on top of the photo instead of below it. Leave this off for standard horizontal/landscape screens.

Text Settings

Show Photo Comments

Display captions and comments that guests added when uploading their photos. Great for adding context and personal messages to the display.

Font Size

Adjust the size of displayed text from Small to Large. Useful for ensuring readability on different screen sizes and viewing distances.

Long Captions

Decide what the screen does with a caption that does not fit:

• Trim with an ellipsis (default) cuts the caption after the number of lines you allow and ends it with "…".
• Scroll through the text keeps the caption box at that height and slowly scrolls the whole message through it — it rests for a moment at the start, glides to the end, rests again and starts over, so guests can read every word.
• Show the whole caption wraps the entire message under the photo, however long it is, and lets the caption bar grow to fit.

On the collage wall the tiles are too small to scroll or grow, so they always trim to the line limit.

Caption Lines

How many lines of a caption stay visible before the long-caption rule applies, from 1 to 10 (2 by default). This is also the height of the scrolling box.

Maximum Characters

Cut every caption after a set number of characters (an ellipsis marks the cut). Leave the field empty for no limit. Handy when guests write essays and you only want the first sentence on the big screen.

Message Font

Pick the font used for guest captions and messages on the carousel. The default is Playfair Display (an elegant editorial serif), with seven additional choices including refined serifs (DM Serif Display, Cormorant), handwritten scripts (Dancing Script, Great Vibes, Sacramento, Pacifico) and a clean modern sans (Montserrat). Pick the one that matches your event's mood — wedding scripts feel romantic, modern sans feels editorial, bold display serifs feel celebratory. A live preview at the bottom of the dropdown shows exactly how the font will look on the carousel before you save.

Frame Adjustments (Premium and above)

When using custom frame overlays, fine-tune the positioning with these controls:

Photo/Video Size

Adjust the size of the photo or video within the frame (percentage scale).

Frame Size

Scale the frame itself up or down relative to the content.

Frame Position

Choose whether the frame displays Behind Photos or In Front of them.

Branding Logo

Toggle visibility of your branding logo when using custom frames.

Sharing the Carousel

To let others display your carousel without giving them account access:

1. Click the Share icon in the carousel controls — or the small Share pill in the top-right corner of the "Live Photos" card on the Photos page (you don't need to open the carousel first)
2. A public link will be generated (e.g., dashboard.fotify.app/live/abc123...)
3. Copy the link and share it with your DJ, venue staff, or AV team
4. Anyone with the link can view the carousel in their browser

Security note: This is a public link - anyone with it can view the carousel. If you need to revoke access, click "Generate New Link" to create a new link and invalidate the previous one. This link is shared with the public album, the guest upload page, the song request page and the DJ panel, so generating a new one also invalidates every QR code printed for those. The same button is available on the Public album card of the Photos page.

Live Video Stream on the Carousel

If you've enabled Realtime Live Streaming, the carousel automatically switches between photos and live video — no setup required on the carousel side.

What Happens When You Go Live

The moment you click "Go Live" from the streaming page:

• The photo slideshow fades out
• The live video fills the screen with a LIVE badge in the corner
• If you've selected Kiss Cam or Cheers! mode on the streaming page, the matching overlay (floating hearts or rising bubbles + banner) appears on top of the video
• Mode changes propagate to every connected carousel within 1–2 seconds

When You Stop Streaming

When you click "Stop Streaming" (or the stream times out, or your device disconnects):

• The live video fades out
• The photo slideshow resumes from where it left off
• Any photos uploaded during the stream join the rotation

This works on every screen showing the carousel — venue projector, lobby TV, the public share link, every device. No refresh needed.

Configuring the Look

You don't need to change any carousel settings to support live streaming. All your existing settings (background, frame, branding overlay, captions) apply automatically when the stream stops and the slideshow resumes.

Connection Quality Matters Both Ways

The device broadcasting needs a strong, stable connection — but so does every screen watching the carousel. If the venue projector or shared-link viewers are on weak Wi-Fi, the live video will stutter for them even if the broadcast itself is perfect.

For best results, put the device showing the main carousel (projector, TV) on wired ethernet or a dedicated Wi-Fi network. See the streaming connection requirements for full details.

Tips for the Best Display

• Use full screen: Always display in full-screen mode for the cleanest presentation
• Match the screen: Set photo display duration based on how many photos you have - faster for many photos, slower for fewer
• Enable QR overlay: Show the QR code periodically so guests who haven't uploaded yet are reminded
• Test beforehand: Run the carousel during setup to ensure everything looks good on your specific display
• Stable connection: Ensure the device running the carousel has a reliable internet connection for real-time updates
• Multiple displays: Share the carousel link to display on multiple screens throughout your venue
• Keep the remote handy: Open the Carousel Remote on your phone so you can pause for speeches, pin special moments, or trigger the QR code without touching the display

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I control the carousel from my phone? A: Yes! Open the Carousel Remote (phone icon in the carousel controls). From your phone you can pause/resume, skip photos, pin a photo to the screen, show the QR code on demand, send full-screen announcements, and adjust speed and transition style — on every connected screen at once.

Q: Do my settings apply to the shared carousel link too? A: Yes. Settings are saved to your event and synced live to every connected screen, including screens opened by your DJ or AV team through the public share link. When you save a change, all screens update within a second.

Q: Can I change the transition between photos? A: Yes — pick a Transition Style in the Photo Effects settings: Crossfade (default), Slide, Zoom, or Drift, a slow elegant motion that suits weddings beautifully.

Q: What are Pair Portrait Photos and Collage Moments? A: Two Photo Effects that make better use of the screen: Pair Portrait Photos shows two portrait photos side-by-side instead of one photo with empty space, and Collage Moments occasionally mixes in a 2×2 grid of recent photos. Both are on by default and can be toggled in settings. There's also an optional Blurred Photo Backdrop (off by default) that fills the empty space with a blurred copy of the photo.

Q: What is the Collage wall? A: A second Display Mode (next to the classic Slideshow) that keeps a board of recent photos on screen and drops each new upload into it, with a large hero tile for fresh photos. Choose between a Mosaic grid, a Polaroid board and a Photo pile layout in Photo Effects. It works on the public /live link, on vertical screens and with the phone remote, which also has a quick Display mode switch.

Q: Can I broadcast live video on the carousel? A: Yes — with the Realtime Streaming add-on (or its 2-minute free trial available on paid events), you can broadcast live video from your phone or laptop directly to the carousel. The photo slideshow automatically pauses and the live video fills the screen with a LIVE badge. When you stop streaming, the carousel resumes photos — no refresh needed.

Q: What are Kiss Cam and Cheers modes on the live stream? A: When you're broadcasting via Realtime Streaming, you can switch the carousel into Kiss Cam mode (pink banner + floating hearts) or Cheers mode (golden banner + rising bubbles) directly from the streaming page. The overlay appears on top of the live video on every connected carousel within 1–2 seconds. See Realtime Live Streaming for details.

Q: How do I display photos at my event on a big screen or projector? A: Open the Live Photos carousel from your Photos page, connect your laptop/device to the projector or TV, and click the full-screen button. The carousel will display photos automatically as they're uploaded.

Q: Can I show videos in the carousel? A: Yes! Enable "Show Videos" in the Media Settings. Videos play automatically when they appear in the rotation. Video support requires the Premium plan or above.

Q: How do I set up a live photo wall for my wedding? A: Go to Photos → Live Photos to open the carousel. Connect to your display, enable full screen, and optionally turn on QR code overlay so guests can scan and upload directly from the screen.

Q: What is the Ken Burns effect? A: The Ken Burns effect adds subtle pan and zoom animation to photos, creating a more dynamic, cinematic look. Named after the documentary filmmaker who popularized this technique, it makes static images feel more engaging on large displays.

Q: Can I control how fast photos change on the slideshow? A: Yes, use the "Photo Display Duration" slider in settings. Slide toward Fast for quick transitions (3 seconds) or toward Slow for longer viewing time per photo.

Q: How do I show my logo or branding on the photo display? A: Enable "Branding Overlay" in the carousel settings. Your event's logo and branding will appear periodically. Adjust the frequency to control how often it shows.

Q: Can I moderate photos before they appear on the screen? A: Yes! Turn off "Auto Approve" in the carousel controls. Photos will then require your manual approval before appearing. You can also enable AI Moderation in your event settings for automatic content filtering.

Q: How do I show the QR code on the slideshow so guests can upload? A: Enable "Show QR Code Overlay" in settings. The QR code will appear periodically, and you can adjust how often with the "QR Code Frequency" slider.

Q: Can I share the carousel with my DJ or AV team? A: Yes! Click the Share icon to generate a public link. Anyone with this link can display the carousel without needing account access. Great for venue staff running your displays.

Q: Can I add a custom frame around the photos? A: Yes, on the Premium plan and above. Enable "Custom Frame Overlay" in settings, then use Frame Adjustments to fine-tune the size, position, and layering of your frame.

Q: How do I show photo captions and comments? A: Enable "Show Photo Comments" in the Text Settings section. Adjust the font size and pick a font that matches your event's vibe — Playfair Display is the elegant default, Dancing Script and Great Vibes look great for weddings, Montserrat is the cleanest sans option.

Q: Can I change the font of the messages on the carousel? A: Yes — open the carousel settings and look for Message Font in the Text Settings section. There are eight curated options: Playfair Display (default), DM Serif Display, Cormorant, Dancing Script, Great Vibes, Sacramento, Pacifico and Montserrat. A live preview shows how the font looks before you save.

Q: What resolution should I use for the display? A: The carousel adapts to any screen size. For best results, use Full HD (1920x1080) or higher resolution displays. The carousel automatically fills the screen in full-screen mode.

Q: Can I use the carousel on multiple screens at once? A: Yes! Use the Share feature to get a public link, then open that link on as many devices as needed. Each screen will show the same carousel in sync.

Q: Do photos appear instantly when guests upload them? A: If Auto Approve is enabled, photos appear within seconds of being uploaded. If Auto Approve is off, they'll appear after you manually approve them from the Photos section.

Q: What if I need to revoke access to the shared carousel link? A: Click the Share icon and select "Generate New Link". This creates a new URL and invalidates the previous one, so anyone using the old link will no longer have access. Keep in mind the public album, song request and DJ panel links change with it, so reprint any QR codes. If you only want to pause access, turn public sharing off instead: the same link comes back when you turn it on again.

Q: Can I display the carousel before guests start uploading? A: Yes, but the carousel needs photos to display. Consider pre-populating your album with some initial photos, or the carousel will wait until the first photos are uploaded.

Q: Does the carousel work offline? A: No, the carousel requires an internet connection to receive real-time photo updates. Ensure your display device has a stable connection.

Q: What is the Matrix Background Effect? A: The Matrix Background Effect creates a cinematic "falling photos" animation behind your main photo display, inspired by the famous Matrix movie. Your event photos gently cascade down the screen, creating an immersive visual backdrop. You can disable it in Photo Effects settings if you prefer a cleaner look.

Q: How do I change the carousel background color? A: In the carousel settings under Photo Effects, click the Background Color picker to choose any color. The default is black, which provides the best contrast for photos on most displays. You can match your brand colors or venue lighting for a customized look.

Q: Are there ready-made carousel backgrounds? A: Yes — under Photo Effects, Background Artwork offers ten bundled backdrops (auroras, bokeh, velvet, marble, botanical, neon, chalk, cork, linen). They apply in both Slideshow and Collage wall modes and need no upload. A custom uploaded background image always takes priority over the artwork.

Q: Can I add a custom background image to the carousel? A: Yes! In the carousel settings under Photo Effects, click "Upload Image" to upload a custom background. The image is automatically optimized and fills the entire screen behind your photos. Images must be under 10MB. You can remove it anytime to go back to using a solid background color.

Q: Can I use the carousel on a vertical/portrait screen? A: Yes. In the carousel settings under Photo Effects, turn on Vertical Screen Mode. The layout optimizes for portrait displays so vertical photos fill the screen edge-to-edge, and captions render as an overlay over the photo instead of below it. This is ideal for TVs or monitors rotated 90°.