Configuring Countdown Timers
Timing is everything — especially in a photo booth. Too fast and guests look like deer in headlights. Too slow and the line starts to back up. ALIVE lets you dial in the perfect pace.
Two Countdown Timers
ALIVE has two separate countdown settings that control the capture flow:
Time Before First Photo
This is the countdown before the first photo is taken. It gives guests time to get ready, strike a pose, and settle in.
- Default: 2 seconds
- Where: Settings → Capture, or web dashboard Remote Setup → Camera
Time Between Photos
This is the countdown between each subsequent photo in a multi-photo session. It gives guests time to change poses, swap props, or bring in more friends before the next shot.
- Default: 3 seconds
- Where: Settings → Capture, or web dashboard Remote Setup → Camera
How They Work Together
In a 4-photo session, the timing works like this:
- Guest taps Start (or auto-starts)
- Time Before First Photo countdown (default 2 sec)
- Photo 1 captured
- Time Between Photos countdown (default 3 sec)
- Photo 2 captured
- Time Between Photos countdown (default 3 sec)
- Photo 3 captured
- Time Between Photos countdown (default 3 sec)
- Photo 4 captured
Recommended Settings
Event Type | First Photo | Between Photos |
|---|---|---|
Weddings | 3 seconds | 3–4 seconds |
Corporate events | 2 seconds | 3 seconds |
Kids' parties | 3 seconds | 4 seconds |
High-traffic events | 2 seconds | 2 seconds |
Tips
- Faster isn't always better — If you set timers too low, guests won't have time to get ready and you'll end up with blurry or awkward shots
- Watch the line — If the queue is long, consider shortening timers by a second to speed up throughput
- Kids need more time — They take a beat longer to understand what's happening. Give them an extra second
- Use the web dashboard — You can adjust both timers remotely via the Remote Setup tab without being at the booth
Updated on: 07/05/2026
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