Articles on: Sharing

Sharing Station Setup

Set up a dedicated sharing station where guests can browse, view, and share their photos from a second screen — no booth attendant required.



What Is a Sharing Station?


A sharing station is a separate screen (typically a tablet or monitor) that displays all the photos from your event in a gallery view. Guests walk up, find their photo, and share it via QR code, SMS, email, or print — all on their own.


It's the perfect complement to your photo booth. While the booth captures photos, the sharing station handles distribution.



How to Access the Sharing Station


The sharing station runs as a web page, so any device with a browser can be used:


  1. Open a browser on your sharing station device
  2. Navigate to your event's sharing station URL: photobooth.alive-pic.com/sharing-station/[your-event-id]
  3. The gallery loads automatically and updates in real time as new sessions are captured




Display Modes


The sharing station supports two display modes, configurable through the Remote Setup tab on the web dashboard:


Sharing Station Mode

The default mode. Displays a scrollable photo grid where guests can tap any photo to open sharing options.


Magic Mirror Mode

A premium display mode that shows a full-screen live camera preview, transitioning to the most recent photo. Great for setups where the sharing station doubles as a display piece.



Configuring Sharing Station Settings


Configure your sharing station through the web dashboard:


  1. Go to Events → select your event → Remote Setup tab
  2. Scroll to the Sharing Station section
  3. Configure the available options:


  • Mode — Choose between Sharing Station or Magic Mirror
  • Branding Idle Timeout — How many seconds of inactivity before the branding overlay appears (default: 60 seconds)
  • SMS Sharing — Enable or disable SMS sharing
  • Email Sharing — Enable or disable email sharing
  • QR Code Sharing — Enable or disable QR code sharing
  • Copy Link — Enable or disable the copy-link button
  • Print — Enable or disable printing from the station
  • Native Share — Enable or disable the device's built-in share sheet




Branding


If you're on a Pro plan, your sharing station automatically picks up your custom branding:


  • Custom logo — Displayed in the gallery header and branding overlay
  • Brand color — Applied to accents throughout the station
  • Gallery title and subtitle — Custom text shown at the top of the gallery (defaults to your event name)


The branding overlay appears when the station is idle, keeping your brand visible even when no one is actively using it.



Real-Time Updates


The sharing station uses real-time subscriptions to stay current. As soon as a new session is completed at the booth, the photo appears in the sharing station gallery — no refresh needed. Guests see their photos within seconds of stepping away from the booth.



Tips


  • Use a dedicated device — A second iPad or a large tablet works great as a sharing station
  • Position it near the exit — Place the station where guests naturally walk after leaving the booth
  • Go fullscreen — Use the browser's fullscreen mode for a cleaner, more professional look
  • Set a reasonable idle timeout — 60 seconds is a good default. Shorter timeouts show branding more often; longer timeouts let guests browse without interruption
  • Disable sharing options you don't need — If you're not set up for printing at the station, turn it off to keep the interface clean


The sharing station URL is public and doesn't require a login. Anyone with the link can view and share photos — which makes it easy to set up on any device.



What's Next?


Updated on: 07/05/2026

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