How to Set Up a Virtual Booth

E

Eve Martin

Last updated on Jun 20, 2026

A Virtual Booth lets guests participate in your photo booth experience from their own devices — no physical booth required. Share a link, and guests can access the full capture and AI experience from their phone, tablet, or computer.


When to Use a Virtual Booth

  • Remote or hybrid events — Guests who can't attend in person can still participate
  • Client previews — Share a link with your client so they can test the experience before event day
  • Brand activations — Extend a physical booth's reach by letting online audiences join in
  • Testing your event — Use Virtual mode from the Control Panel to test from any device

Prerequisites

  • An active Pictor license
  • Sufficient tokens for AI processing (each virtual capture consumes tokens just like in-person captures)
  • A created event (Simple or Advanced Mode)

Step 1: Create or Open Your Event

If you haven't already, create an event. You can use either Simple Mode or Advanced Mode. See Creating My First Event for a full walkthrough.

[Screenshot: Event dashboard]


Step 2: Enable Virtual Booth

  1. Open your event and go to the Output tab (Output Delivery settings).
  2. Find the Virtual Booth toggle and switch it ON.

[Screenshot: Output settings with Virtual Booth toggle enabled]


Step 3: Configure Settings (Optional)

Once enabled, you can customize the virtual experience:

  • Branding — Apply your Global Style Settings and flow stage design tools so the virtual booth matches your event's look and feel. Note that some elements (such as logo size) cannot be resized through these settings.
  • Sharing methods — Choose how guests can receive their processed photos (email, text, download)

[Screenshot: Virtual Booth configuration options]


Advanced: Custom HTML Branding

For full control over the visual design of your Virtual Booth, you can bypass the flow stage and global style settings entirely and use custom HTML in the Virtual Booth output settings.

This gives you complete design flexibility — custom fonts, layouts, colors, and sizing — but means you are working outside the standard template-based flow. Choose this approach if you need pixel-perfect branding that the standard settings cannot achieve.


Step 4: Get the Virtual Booth Link

After enabling Virtual Booth and launching your event:

  1. Go to the Control Panel.
  2. Find the Virtual Booth link or QR code.
  3. Share the link via email, social media, messaging apps, or embed it on a website.

Guests who scan the QR code or click the link will be taken to the virtual booth experience in their browser.

[Screenshot: Control Panel showing Virtual Booth link and QR code]


Step 5: Launch Your Event

Start the event as usual from the Control Panel. The Virtual Booth is available as soon as the event is live.


How Guests Use the Virtual Booth

Once a guest opens the Virtual Booth link on their device:

  1. They see the guest experience — The same workflow you designed, adapted for their device's camera.
  2. They take a photo — Using their device's front or rear camera.
  3. AI processing runs — If your template uses AI effects, the photo is processed in the cloud.
  4. They receive their photo — Via the sharing methods you've enabled.

Guests don't need to install an app or create an account.


Virtual Booth vs. Sharing Station

Feature Virtual Booth Sharing Station
Purpose Remote guests take their own photos In-person guests share booth photos
Camera used Guest's own device Main booth camera (iPad)
Requires physical booth? No Yes
Best for Remote events, hybrid reach Speeding up in-person events

You can enable both on the same event — they serve different purposes and work well together.


Tips for a Great Virtual Booth Experience

  • Test the link yourself first — Open it on your phone to verify the flow and AI output.
  • Keep the workflow simple — Virtual guests don't have an operator guiding them.
  • Check your token balance — Virtual captures use tokens just like in-person ones.
  • Share the link strategically — Include it in event invitations, display it on screens at the venue, or post it on social media.
  • Consider bandwidth — AI processing requires internet on the guest's end.

Troubleshooting

Issue What to Do
Link doesn't work Make sure the event is launched and Virtual Booth is enabled in Output settings.
Camera doesn't activate The guest needs to grant camera permission in their browser.
AI output is slow Depends on the guest's internet connection. Ensure they have a stable connection.
Photos not delivering Check Email/Text Delivery Troubleshooting.

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Need Help?

Reach out through the chat widget on pictor.pro or email [email protected].