How to Set Up Your Kept Candid Digital Album in 5 Minutes

You can have a fully functional guest photo album ready for your event in under five minutes. Kept Candid is designed so that setup takes less time than ordering coffee — no technical skills required, no app downloads for your guests, and no complicated configuration. Follow these five steps and your album will be live before your next coffee break ends.

What You Need Before Starting

All you need is an email address or Google account, your event name, and a date. Optional but recommended: a cover photo for your album and a rough guest count so you know how many QR prints to order. Everything else can be adjusted later from your dashboard.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Visit keptcandid.com/register and sign up using your Google account or a magic link sent to your email. Magic links let you log in without remembering a password — click the link in your inbox and you are in. The entire signup takes about 30 seconds.

Once logged in, you land on your dashboard where all your events are organized. You can create multiple events if you are planning a wedding, rehearsal dinner, and bridal shower separately.

Step 2: Create a New Event

Click Create Event on your dashboard. Fill in three fields:

• Event name: Something guests will recognize, like "Sarah & John's Wedding" or "Emma's 30th Birthday."
• Event date: Sets the timeline for your album. Photos are organized chronologically around this date.
• Cover photo: Upload an engagement photo, party invitation graphic, or any image that represents your celebration. This appears at the top of your album when guests visit.

Click save and your event is created. You will see it listed on your dashboard with a thumbnail and status indicator.

Step 3: Generate and Download Your QR Code

Every Kept Candid event automatically receives a unique QR code. Open your event and click Download QR Code to save a high-resolution PNG file. This code links directly to your album upload page — guests scan it and start sharing immediately.

Where to use your QR code:

• Print on table tents for reception tables (4x6 inch cards work well)
• Add to wedding programs or invitation inserts
• Display on a welcome sign at the venue entrance
• Include in digital invitations or email follow-ups
• Create stickers using the QR Sticker Designer tool

Test your QR code before printing by scanning it with your own phone. You should land on your album page within one second.

Step 4: Configure Privacy Settings

Kept Candid gives you control over who sees what. In your event settings, choose:

• Guest viewing: Decide whether guests can browse all uploaded photos or only contribute their own. Full-gallery viewing encourages more uploads when guests see others participating.
• Download permissions: Enable or disable high-resolution downloads. Disabling downloads keeps your photos viewable but not easily redistributable — useful for private family events.
• Upload permissions: Open uploads let any guest with the QR code contribute. This is the recommended setting for weddings and parties.

You can change these settings at any time, even during the event. Adjust them from your phone if needed.

Step 5: Place Your QR Codes and Celebrate

Print your QR codes and distribute them across your venue before guests arrive. The more touchpoints, the more photos you collect. Recommended minimum: one table tent per reception table, one welcome sign at the entrance, and a mention during the reception toast or MC announcement.

Once the event begins, photos start appearing in your album automatically. Open your dashboard on your phone to watch uploads roll in throughout the celebration. Many hosts project a live slideshow of guest photos during the reception for an interactive experience.

Pro Tips for Maximum Photo Collection

• Announce the album during your toast. A 10-second mention from the couple or host boosts uploads significantly.
• Share the album link in your wedding hashtag posts. Guests who see others uploading are more likely to contribute their own.
• Send a follow-up email 48 hours after the event. Include the album link for guests who forgot to upload during the celebration.
• Use the Guest Photo Guide to give guests specific shot ideas and increase photo variety.

What to Do After Your Event

Your album remains active so guests can continue uploading for days or weeks after the event. Download your full collection from the dashboard whenever you are ready. Kept Candid stores your event data for 12 months, giving you plenty of time to save everything to your personal storage. Back up your favorites to Google Photos, iCloud, or an external drive for permanent safekeeping.

That is the entire setup — five steps, five minutes, and you are ready to collect every candid moment your guests capture.