A drawer of disposable cameras means two chores after the party: waiting on a film lab, then chasing guests for the shots that ended up in their own cameras. Disposable cameras images only become an album once someone has collected, developed and sorted every roll.
sync.camera puts the images in one place as guests shoot. Guests join from a QR code or an eight-character invite, with no account required, and the invite link opens in any modern phone browser. The disposable-camera surprise stays too: you choose between three reveal modes, including a delayed reveal, and you can split a long day into moments that each have their own QR code. It is free to start, and SYNC PRO is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. Read more about the idea on our digital disposable camera page.
How guests get a disposable camera on their phone
The host creates an event, names it and picks an end time. That is the whole setup. From there the event has a QR code and an eight-character invite to hand out.
Guests join from the QR code or the invite, and no account is required. The invite link works in any modern phone browser, so a guest can start shooting without installing anything. Installing the iOS or Android app is optional: it adds better camera controls and push notifications for new photos.
If you want to put the code where guests will see it, our guide to a QR code for a disposable camera covers the join flow in more detail.
Where the images go after the shutter clicks
Every guest's photos land in one shared event album, so nobody has to chase friends for their shots. There is no roll to hand in and nothing to develop. The album is a single place for the whole event, which is the idea behind shared event albums.
For a day with distinct stages, moments split the event up. A wedding might use ceremony, reception and after-party, each with its own QR code and its own reveal timing. Guests move between moments without switching apps, so one set of guests can contribute all day.
When you want to look at one person's shots, the host can filter by photographer.
Choose when the photos are revealed
A film lab always made you wait. Here the wait is a choice, and there are three reveal modes. During: guests see photos live as they are taken. After the event: the gallery unlocks when the event ends.
The third, additional delay, unlocks the gallery a set number of hours after the event ends, which keeps the disposable-camera surprise: nobody sees anything until the morning after, if you want it that way.
The mode is the host's choice. For a closer look at each option, see reveal modes.
Sort, filter and export the images you keep
Once the album is full, filter by photographer to narrow it to one contributor's shots. That is handy when you want to find the pictures a particular friend took on a trip or at a party, without scrolling through everyone else's.
Then export your favorites, so the photos you want to keep leave the album and go wherever you want them. Together, filtering and exporting replace the sorting-through-prints step that comes after a stack of disposable cameras comes back from the lab.
Who it is for
Couples planning a wedding
Put the QR code on table cards so every guest's candids end up in one album, revealed after the event ends. See also our page on a [disposable camera for wedding guests](https://sync.camera/for/disposable-camera-for-wedding-guests).
Birthday party hosts
Guests shoot all night and the host picks a delayed reveal so nobody sees the photos until the morning after.
Friends on a group trip
Everyone contributes to one album and the host filters by photographer to find a particular friend's shots.
Corporate event organizers
Attendees join from a QR code with no account, and the organizer splits the day into moments. For example, a day might be divided into keynote, workshops and dinner. More in our page on a [disposable camera app for events](https://sync.camera/for/disposable-camera-app-for-events).
Features
QR and invite join
Guests join from a QR code or an eight-character invite. No account required, unlike a roll of film that has to be handed in and developed.
Works in any phone browser
The invite link opens in any modern phone browser. The iOS and Android apps are optional and add better camera controls and push notifications for new photos.
Three reveal modes
During the event, after the event, or after an additional delay in hours. A delayed reveal keeps the disposable-camera surprise.
Moments
Split an event into stages, each with its own QR code and reveal timing. Guests move between them without switching apps.
Filter by photographer
Narrow the album to one contributor's shots.
Export favorites
Export the photos you want to keep.
One-time SYNC PRO
Free to start with up to 7 guest uploaders per event. SYNC PRO is a one-time purchase, not a subscription, that expands the guest and photo limits for a single event.
Frequently asked questions
Do guests need an account to take disposable cameras images?
No. Guests join from a QR code or an eight-character invite with no account required. The invite link works in any modern phone browser, and installing the app is optional.
Is it free?
It is free to start: the free tier covers up to 7 guest uploaders per event. SYNC PRO is a one-time purchase, not a subscription, that expands the guest and photo limits for a single event, so you upgrade again only when you create a larger event.
Can guests see the photos while the event is on?
That is the host's choice. The reveal modes are during the event, after the event, or an additional delay of a set number of hours after it ends.
Can I split a wedding or trip into parts?
Yes, with moments. Each moment, such as ceremony, reception or after-party, has its own QR code and reveal timing, and guests switch between them without leaving the app.
Are my photos private?
sync.camera does not sell your photos or your data, shows no ads and does no cross-app tracking. Photos are encrypted in transit and stored in event-scoped buckets, with access enforced by per-event row-level security. It does use pseudonymous product analytics (PostHog) and a crash reporter.
Can I delete my account and photos?
Yes. Deleting an account removes the profile, the events it owns and their photos within 30 days.