Your wedding photographer captures 500 polished shots. Your guests capture 2,000 unfiltered ones — the ugly-laughing, the crying, the dancing, the sneaky shots of grandpa napping during the speeches. That's the photo dump. The raw, unedited, real version of your day.
The problem isn't getting guests to take photos. They're already doing that. The problem is getting all those photos from their camera rolls to you.
What is a wedding photo dump?
A photo dump is exactly what it sounds like — everyone dumps their photos into one shared place. No curation, no filters, no "let me pick my best 3." Just everything. The blurry dance floor shots are part of the charm.
For weddings, it means giving guests a way to upload every photo and video they took, without friction. The result: hundreds of candid moments you never knew existed, from angles your photographer couldn't be at.
How to set up your wedding photo dump
You need two things: a place for guests to upload, and a way to tell them about it.
Create the upload page
Go to getfiles.app. Type something like "Sarah & Tom's Wedding Photo Dump" or just "Wedding Photos — [Date]". Click create.
You get a short link (getfiles.app/a3kx9p) and a private dashboard where all uploads land.
Optional settings: - Add your wedding logo and colors (custom branding) - Set expiration for 7-10 days after the wedding - Leave file types as "Any" so guests can upload photos AND videos
Takes 10 seconds. No account needed.
Create a QR code
Go to qree.app, paste your upload link, download the QR code. Free, no sign-up. You also get scan analytics to see how many guests used it.
Tell your guests
Before the wedding: - Add the link to your wedding website - Include a note in your digital invitations: "We're doing a photo dump! Upload your photos here" - Post in your wedding group chat
At the wedding: - QR code cards on every table: "Dump your photos here!" - A sign at the entrance or near the photo booth - Ask the MC to announce it: "Scan the QR code on your table to add your photos to the photo dump!"
After the wedding: - Send a WhatsApp/text reminder: "Photo dump is still open! Add your photos from Saturday before the link closes"
Wedding photo dump ideas
The table card. The classic. A small printed card on each table with the QR code and a fun message. Match it to your wedding theme. "Dump your pics here!" or "Your photos belong in our album" or just "📸 Scan me."
The welcome sign. A large poster or frame at the entrance with the QR code. Sets the expectation before guests even sit down.
The photo booth addition. If you have a photo booth, add the QR code right next to it. People are already in "photo mode" — perfect moment to capture them uploading.
The cocktail hour prompt. Display the QR code at the bar. People waiting for drinks have their phones out anyway.
The after-party reminder. Text the link in the morning-after group chat. "Dump everything from last night. We want to see it ALL." This catches the best late-night photos.
The bridesmaid/groomsmen task. Assign one person from each side to remind their table to scan the QR code. Personal nudges work better than announcements.
Why not just use Instagram or a hashtag?
A wedding hashtag (#SmithWedding2026) seems easier. But:
Photos are public. Aunt Linda's blurry dance floor shots are now on Instagram for the world to see. Not everyone wants that.
Photos are compressed. Instagram reduces photo quality significantly. You're not getting the original files.
Not everyone uses Instagram. Older guests, privacy-conscious friends, international guests on different platforms — they're excluded.
Photos are scattered. Some people use the hashtag, some don't. Some spell it wrong. Some have private accounts. You end up with half the photos at best.
You don't own the photos. They live on Instagram's servers under Instagram's terms. A photo dump with an upload link gives you the actual files.
Why not a shared Google Photos album?
Google Photos requires a Google account. If even one guest doesn't have Gmail, they can't participate. Plus:
- Guests can see and delete each other's photos
- No way to track who uploaded and who didn't
- Album stays open forever unless you manually close it
- No video upload limit control
An upload link has none of these issues. Scan, upload, done. No login, no account, no shared access.
What about a wedding photo dump app?
Several apps exist for this (Wedibox, GuestPix, Kululu). They work, but most require paid plans for full features and more setup time. If you just want a photo dump — everyone uploads, you download — a free upload link does the same thing without the complexity.
See our full comparison of wedding photo sharing apps for details.
How many photos will you actually get?
With no prompting at all (just QR codes on tables): expect 10-20% of guests to upload.
With one MC announcement + table cards: 30-50%.
With announcement + table cards + follow-up text: 50-70%.
At a 100-guest wedding with 50% participation, you'll get roughly 200-500 photos and 20-50 video clips. That's 200-500 moments your photographer didn't capture.
After the dump
Open your getfiles.app dashboard. Browse the uploads — images have thumbnail previews. Download everything as a single ZIP. Sort through them over the honeymoon, pull out the gems, and share your favorites back with the group.
Some couples create a shared Google Photos album AFTER collecting the dump — curate the best shots and share that album with guests. This way you control what's shared, but you have the complete raw collection.
Get started
- Create your upload page at getfiles.app — 10 seconds
- Generate QR code at qree.app — 10 seconds
- Design and print table cards
- Tell your guests
Total cost: $0 + printing. Total effort: 5 minutes. Total result: every photo from every guest.
Your guests are going to take the photos anyway. Give them somewhere to dump them.