How to Use Realtime Live Streaming

Realtime Live Streaming lets you broadcast video from your phone or laptop camera directly into the event's live photo carousel — for moments when the slideshow alone isn't enough. The bride walking down the aisle, the speeches, a surprise dance, a Kiss Cam moment between guests. Whatever the highlight, everyone watching the carousel sees it the second it happens.

You can try it free for 2 minutes on any paid event before purchasing the add-on — no extra payment needed. The trial is available on events that have an active event subscription or were created with credits (see Free Trial below for details).

⚠️ A strong, stable internet connection is required. Live video is far more bandwidth-sensitive than uploading photos. If your venue's Wi-Fi is weak or unreliable, the stream will stutter, freeze, or drop. Test the connection at the actual venue before the event — see Internet Connection Requirements below.

Perfect For

Weddings — broadcast the ceremony, first dance, or speeches to a screen at the reception
Corporate events — keep keynote presentations on screen while photos rotate around them
Parties — start a Kiss Cam, run a Cheers toast cam, or capture spontaneous moments
Conferences — relay the main stage to other rooms or breakout areas
Multi-room venues — share what's happening in one space across every screen in the venue

Try It Free First

Every paid event gets a 2-minute free trial so you can test that everything works on your camera, network, and venue display before purchasing the streaming add-on.

How the Trial Works

You get 2 minutes total of streaming time, split however you want across multiple short sessions
The remaining time counts down as you broadcast — you'll see the badge update in real time (e.g. "Trial · 0:45 / 2:00")
When the 2 minutes are up, the stream stops automatically and a "Trial budget used" state appears
Purchase the add-on at any point — your stream resumes with the full quota and your existing carousel viewers stay connected

Eligibility — Paid Events Only

The trial is available on paid events only — events that were either:

Created under an active event subscription, or
Purchased with credits

Free / demo events cannot start the streaming trial. If you try, you'll see a "trial is only available on paid events" message — purchase or assign a subscription or credits to the event first, then come back and start the trial.

Starting the Trial

From your event dashboard, scroll to the Realtime Streaming card
Click "Try free — 2 min of stream time"
You'll be taken to the streaming page — see Accessing the Streaming Page below

The trial is one-time per event. Once it's been used, you'll see a banner asking you to purchase the add-on to keep streaming.

Internet Connection Requirements

This is the single most important thing to get right. Live video uses ~50× more bandwidth than uploading a photo, and unlike photos, it cannot be retried in the background — if the connection isn't fast and stable enough, viewers see frozen frames or the stream drops entirely.

Recommended Connection (Streaming Device)

The device that is broadcasting (your phone, tablet, or laptop) needs:

Stable Wi-Fi or wired ethernet — strongly preferred over cellular
At least 3 Mbps upload speed — sustained, not peak. The stream broadcasts in 720p at 30fps, which needs steady headroom
Low latency — under 100 ms ping to a public server (run a quick speed test with fast.com or speedtest.net)
No competing traffic — if 200 guests are uploading 4K photos on the same Wi-Fi, your stream will suffer. Use a separate network if you can

Connection on the Viewer Side

The screens watching the carousel need:

At least 2 Mbps download per concurrent viewer
Stable Wi-Fi or wired ethernet (especially for the main projector/TV)

Venue Wi-Fi Warning

Hotel and venue Wi-Fi is the #1 cause of stream problems. It's often:

Shared with hundreds of guests
Capped by the venue
Bandwidth-throttled at peak times (during speeches, dances)

If you can't verify the venue Wi-Fi in advance, plan to use a dedicated mobile hotspot (a 4G/5G phone hotspot or a portable router with its own data plan). A reliable hotspot beats unknown venue Wi-Fi every time.

What Happens on a Bad Connection

Mild congestion: video quality drops automatically (fuzzier picture, lower frame rate)
Major congestion: stream stutters or freezes for viewers
Disconnect for 30+ seconds: the stream is auto-stopped server-side and the carousel returns to photos. You'll need to click Go Live again

Test Before the Event

Always run a test on the actual venue network during setup, not just at home. Use the free 2-minute trial to:

Stand where you'll be streaming from on the day
Click "Try free — 2 min of stream time" and go live
Watch the stream on the venue's actual carousel display
Look for stutters, freezes, or dropped connections

If anything looks bad during setup, it'll be worse during the event when more people are on the network. Switch to a hotspot or wired connection before the guests arrive.

Accessing the Streaming Page

Open your event dashboard
Scroll to the Realtime Streaming card
Click "Open Streaming" (or "Try free — 2 min of stream time" if you haven't started the trial yet)
You'll arrive at the streaming page (/streaming/your-event-id)

You can stream from any device with a camera and a modern browser — most people use their phone for mobility, or a laptop for fixed camera angles.

Going Live

The streaming page walks you through a 3-step flow:

Step 1: Start the Camera

Click "Start Camera". Your browser will ask for permission to access the camera — choose the one you want to use. On phones, you can flip between front and back cameras using the camera selector that appears once the preview is live. If your phone has a torch, a flashlight button shows up too.

Step 2: Position and Preview

The preview shows exactly what your viewers will see. Use this time to:

Frame the shot
Test the lighting
Make sure the camera isn't blocked
If you're using a phone, mount it on a tripod or steady surface

The preview is silent on your screen — but the actual stream is video only (no audio is broadcast), so you don't need headphones.

Step 3: Click "Go Live"

Click the red "Go Live" button. The page shows a connecting checklist:

Camera ready
Streaming session created
Negotiating connection

After a few seconds you'll see a LIVE badge in the corner and the status changes to "You are now live!". Your stream is now showing on the carousel.

Stopping the Stream

Click "Stop Streaming" to end the broadcast. The carousel automatically returns to showing photos within a few seconds.

If you want to leave the streaming page entirely, the stream stops and the camera releases.

Stream Modes: Normal, Kiss Cam, and Cheers

Below the video preview you'll see three mode chips. Tap one to apply a visual overlay to the live carousel — perfect for crowd moments at a wedding or party.

Normal

The default — clean live video with no overlay. Use this for ceremonies, speeches, or whenever you want the camera content to speak for itself.

Kiss Cam

Point the camera at two guests and switch to Kiss Cam mode. A pink banner appears at the top of the carousel screen and dozens of hearts float up across the video. Great for weddings, anniversaries, and reception games.

Cheers!

Switch to Cheers! when toasting. Golden bubbles rise across the screen with a clinking-glasses icon and a "CHEERS! 🥂" banner at the top. Works well for champagne toasts, awards, and corporate happy hours.

Switching Modes Live

You can switch between modes at any time during the stream — just tap a different chip. The carousel picks up the change within ~1–2 seconds. Switch back to Normal whenever you want the camera content unobstructed.

What Carousel Viewers See

When you go live, anyone watching the live carousel sees an automatic switch:

The photo slideshow temporarily fades out
The live video fills the screen with a LIVE badge in the corner
If you've selected Kiss Cam or Cheers, the matching overlay (hearts or bubbles + banner) appears on top of the video
When you stop streaming, the carousel returns to photos within seconds — no refresh needed

This works on every device watching the carousel: the projector at the venue, the TV by the bar, the public share link, every shared screen.

Time and Viewer Limits

Stream Time

Free trial: 2 minutes total per event (paid events only)
Paid add-on: 120 minutes total per event, split across any number of sessions

The time counter is visible at the top of the streaming page (e.g. "1h 30m remaining"). When the limit gets close, the indicator turns amber, and when you hit zero the stream stops automatically.

Concurrent Viewers

Up to 100 concurrent viewers can watch the live stream at once. This covers anyone connected to the carousel — every projector, every shared link, every phone. If a 101st viewer connects, they'll see the photo carousel instead of the live stream until a slot frees up.

Auto-Stop on Disconnect

If the streaming device loses connection (Wi-Fi drops, browser closed, phone runs out of battery) the server detects this within ~30 seconds and stops the stream automatically. The carousel returns to photos and no time is wasted.

Sharing the Live Carousel

Anyone with the public carousel link sees the live stream the moment you go live — you don't need to share anything extra. To share the carousel:

From your event dashboard, open the Live Photos carousel
Click the Share icon
Copy the public link and send it to your DJ, AV team, venue staff, or anyone watching remotely

See How to Use the Live Photo & Video Carousel for full details on the public link.

Tips for the Best Stream

🥇 Verify your internet first — the #1 reason streams look bad is weak Wi-Fi. Use the free trial at the venue during setup to confirm 3+ Mbps stable upload (see Internet Connection Requirements)
Bring a mobile hotspot as backup — even if the venue Wi-Fi looks fine in advance, a 4G/5G hotspot is cheap insurance against the network getting saturated when guests arrive
Avoid mixing networks — don't stream over the same Wi-Fi that 200 guests are uploading photos through. Use a separate network for the streaming device
Mount the phone — a tripod or even a clamp makes a huge quality difference for longer broadcasts
Disable notifications — if you're streaming from a phone, switch to Do Not Disturb so popups don't show on screen
Charge or plug in — live video drains the battery; have the charger ready
Mind the time budget — 120 minutes goes faster than you think. Save it for the moments that matter (ceremony, speeches, dances) and use Stop Streaming between them
Try the modes during a fun moment — Kiss Cam and Cheers shine during the dance floor or toasts, not during the ceremony

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What internet connection do I need to stream? A: You need a stable connection with at least 3 Mbps sustained upload speed on the streaming device. Wi-Fi or wired ethernet is strongly preferred over cellular. If the venue Wi-Fi is shared with hundreds of guests or unknown in advance, plan to use a dedicated 4G/5G hotspot instead. Always test on the actual venue network with the free trial during setup — bad Wi-Fi is by far the #1 cause of stream problems. See Internet Connection Requirements for the full breakdown.

Q: My stream looks choppy or keeps freezing. What's wrong? A: 95% of the time it's the network. Run a speed test (fast.com or speedtest.net) from the streaming device while standing where you'll broadcast from. You need at least 3 Mbps sustained upload and low ping. If you're below that, switch to a 4G/5G hotspot, move closer to the router, or unplug other devices from the same network. If the speed test is fine but the stream still struggles, restart your browser and re-try.

Q: Why is video so much pickier about internet than uploading photos? A: Photos can be uploaded slowly in the background, retrying if needed. Live video has to push 720p frames in real time with no retries — every second of stream traffic that doesn't make it through is lost forever and shows up as a freeze or stutter on the viewer's screen. That's why connection quality matters so much more for streaming.

Q: Can I try Realtime Streaming for free before paying? A: Yes — every paid event gets a 2-minute free trial. Click "Try free — 2 min of stream time" on the Realtime Streaming card in your event dashboard. The trial only works on events you've already paid for (subscription or credits) — it's not available on free/demo events. The trial is one-time per event.

Q: Why does the trial require a paid event? A: Live video streaming has a real per-minute cost on our side. Restricting the trial to paid events keeps the feature sustainable while still letting every paying customer test it before committing to the streaming add-on. If you want to try streaming first, the simplest path is to purchase the event (subscription or credits) and then start the streaming trial on that event — the 2 minutes will be more than enough to verify everything works.

Q: I see "trial is only available on paid events" — what does that mean? A: The event you're trying to start the streaming trial on doesn't have a payment attached yet. Either assign an active event subscription to it, or purchase it with credits, then come back to the Realtime Streaming card and start the trial.

Q: What's the maximum stream length? A: With the paid add-on, you get 120 minutes total per event, which you can split across any number of sessions (e.g. ceremony, speeches, dances). The free trial is 2 minutes total.

Q: Does the stream have audio? A: No, streams are video-only. This keeps latency low and avoids audio feedback issues at the venue (where the carousel speakers might be near the streaming device's microphone).

Q: Is the stream recorded? A: No, streams are live-only and are not stored. If you want a recording, use your phone's own camera app to record alongside the broadcast.

Q: How many people can watch the live stream at once? A: Up to 100 concurrent viewers across all devices connected to the carousel. If more try to connect, they'll see the regular photo carousel until a slot opens up.

Q: What happens if my phone loses connection mid-stream? A: The server detects the disconnect within ~30 seconds and stops the stream automatically. The carousel returns to photos. When you're back online, click Go Live again to resume. To prevent this, follow the internet connection requirements — most mid-stream disconnects are caused by weak Wi-Fi, not the device itself.

Q: Can I switch cameras while streaming? A: You can switch cameras before going live. Once you're live, the camera is locked in — stop the stream, switch the camera, and Go Live again to change view.

Q: What does Kiss Cam mode do? A: It adds a pink "KISS CAM" banner at the top of the live carousel and rains floating hearts across the video. The video itself isn't changed — just the visual overlay viewers see.

Q: What does Cheers mode do? A: It adds a golden "CHEERS! 🥂" banner with rising bubbles and a clinking-glasses icon. Use it during toasts and celebrations.

Q: Can I switch between modes during a stream? A: Yes — tap any mode chip on the streaming page and the carousel updates within 1–2 seconds. You can switch as often as you want.

Q: Do I need to share a new link when I go live? A: No. Anyone already watching the carousel link will see the live stream automatically the moment you go live. When you stop, they go back to photos.

Q: Can I stream from a laptop? A: Yes. Any device with a camera and a modern browser works — phones, tablets, laptops. Laptops are great for fixed angles (stage, sweetheart table); phones are better for mobile shots.

Q: Does the live carousel still show photos uploaded during the stream? A: While streaming, the carousel shows only the live video. Photos uploaded during the stream are added to the album as normal and appear in the carousel rotation as soon as you stop streaming.

Q: Can I use the trial more than once? A: The free trial is one-time per event. If you've already used it on an event, you'll need to purchase the add-on to keep streaming on that same event. A new event gets its own fresh trial.

Q: What if the carousel viewers don't see the stream? A: Make sure the streaming page shows "You are now live!" status. Then have viewers refresh the carousel if needed — the switch normally happens automatically within 1–2 seconds, but a refresh fixes any stuck cases.

Q: Does streaming work on iPhones and Android? A: Yes, both. Use a recent version of Safari (iOS), Chrome, or Edge for best results.