How to Collect Photos From Wedding Guests

Your professional photographer captures the planned moments. But the candid shots — the dance floor disasters, the happy tears, the kids stealing cake — those come from your guests' phones. The problem is getting those photos from 100+ camera rolls into one place.

Here are the methods that actually work, ranked by how realistic they are.

Method 1: QR Code Photo Upload (Best Option)

Place QR codes on your reception tables. Guests scan with their phone camera (no app needed), and it opens a webpage where they can select and upload photos directly. Done in 15 seconds.

Why it works: Zero friction. No downloads, no accounts, no typing. Works on every smartphone made in the last decade. Even your least tech-savvy relatives can do it.

How to set it up:

1. Create an album on a service like Keepix
2. Download your auto-generated QR code
3. Print it on table cards (include a "Scan to share your photos!" message)
4. Place on tables before guests arrive

Cost: Free tier available. Paid options typically $20-60 for unlimited photos.

Method 2: Shared Link via Text

Send a text message to all your guests with a link to upload photos. Best used as a follow-up after the wedding to catch photos that weren't uploaded during the event.

Why it works: Direct and personal. A text message has a much higher open rate than email. Include a simple message like "We'd love to see your photos from Saturday! Upload here: [link]"

Limitation: Requires having phone numbers for all guests. Also, people are less likely to act on a text days after the event compared to scanning a QR code in the moment.

Method 3: Email Request After the Wedding

Send a thank-you email a few days after the wedding with a link to upload photos. This catches people who didn't upload during the event.

Why it works: Low effort on your part. Can be combined with your thank-you message. Guests have time to go through their camera roll at home.

Limitation: Lower urgency means lower participation. The longer you wait, the fewer responses you'll get.

Method 4: Hashtag on Social Media

Create a unique hashtag (e.g., #SarahAndJohn2026) and ask guests to tag their posts. You can then search for the hashtag to find photos.

Why it's limited: Only works with guests who use Instagram/social media. Photos are compressed. You don't actually own the photos — they live on someone else's platform. Many guests won't bother. And you'll spend hours scrolling through posts to save each photo individually.

Methods to Avoid

The Best Approach: Layer Your Methods

Don't rely on just one method. The couples who collect the most photos use a layered approach:

1. QR codes at the reception — Capture the moment while guests are excited
2. Text reminder the next day — Catch the guests who forgot or were too busy dancing
3. Email with thank-you card — Final sweep for any remaining photos

With this approach, you'll end up with hundreds of candid photos from dozens of perspectives — moments you'd never see from the photographer alone.