How Fotaly works for photographers and guests.
Everything you need to go from download to a live guest gallery. For legal terms and privacy, see our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
What Fotaly does
Fotaly helps event photographers share photos with guests while the celebration is still happening.
Shoot on your camera as usual. Fotaly Desktop picks up each new photo and adds it to a live guest gallery — usually within about 30 seconds.
- Fotaly Desktop for photographers — run events, share the QR, and watch photos upload live
- Live guest galleries — guests open them from a link or QR, with no account or app needed
Desktop vs website
Fotaly is desktop-first. You run your events from the Mac or Windows app; the website is where guests view galleries and where you download the app.
Fotaly Desktop
- Sign in and manage your studio
- Create, publish, and run live events
- Bring in photos from a folder or straight from your camera
- Download QR codes and follow uploads in real time
fotaly.com
- Download the desktop app
- Live guest gallery for every published event
- Your studio's public portfolio, if you turn it on
- Pricing, guide, privacy, and terms
Getting started
Set up once, then run every event the same way.
1. Download and sign in
- Download Fotaly for Mac or Windows from fotaly.com
- Create an account with email, Google, or Apple
- Verify your phone with a one-time code on first sign-in
- Complete your studio profile — name, logo, and contact details
2. Create an event
- Add the event title, type, venue, and start and end time
- Assign team members if your studio works with a crew
- Save as a draft while you prepare, then publish when ready
3. Go live at the venue
- Your event goes live automatically at its start time
- Print or display the QR stand so guests can open the gallery
- Keep Fotaly Desktop open — new photos sync on their own
Getting photos in
Fotaly works with JPEG, PNG, and WebP photos from your normal shooting workflow — no one needs to move files by hand.
Folder watch
Choose a folder on your computer. Every new photo saved there is added to the event gallery automatically.
- Ready-made folders for common event types such as Wedding, Mehendi, Ceremony, and Reception
- If the app closes, uploads pick up where they left off — no photos are lost
Camera FTP
Send photos straight from your camera to Fotaly Desktop over Wi-Fi, using the FTP details shown in the app.
- See which cameras are connected while sync is running
Desktop shows the progress of every photo, and you can retry any upload that fails.
Guest galleries
Every published event gets its own gallery link and QR code. Guests scan or tap — no sign-up, no app install.
- New photos appear automatically while the event is live
- Designed for phones
- View, download, and share photos
- Find My Photos — guests take a selfie to see the photos they appear in, when you turn it on for the event
- Your studio name and branding on the gallery
Place the QR at the entrance, bar, or photo booth so guests can find the gallery easily.
Event status
Each event shows a status, so you always know what guests can see.
- Draft — you're still editing; nothing is visible to guests
- Upcoming — published and scheduled; it goes live automatically at the start time
- Live — photos sync and guests can view the gallery; one event can be live at a time per studio
- Completed — the event has ended; the gallery stays available according to your settings
- Archived — closed out for your records
- Postponed or Cancelled — for when plans change
Pause Sync stops new uploads while keeping the gallery open for guests. End Event finishes the event.
Studio and team
Each account belongs to a studio. Owners manage billing, settings, and team members. Members work on the same events.
- Add team members with roles such as photographer, videographer, or editor
- Assign team members to specific events
- Your studio profile appears on guest galleries and QR stands
Privacy
Only you and your team can manage events and upload photos. Guest galleries are public by design — anyone with the link or QR can view that event's photos.
- Share the gallery link only with people you want to see the photos
- Photos are stored securely and load quickly on guests' phones
- Fotaly counts gallery views, downloads, and QR scans so you can see how your gallery is used — guests never need an account
See our Privacy Policy for full details on data collection and retention.
Need help?
For download links, account access, or event-day troubleshooting, contact our team.
support@fotaly.com