---
title: "Capture & Upload Photos"
locale: en
slug: uploading-photos
audience: guest
summary: "Use the built-in camera, edit shots, and rely on background sync if connectivity drops."
version_introduced: 2025.4
requires_app_version: "^3.2.0"
status: draft
translation_state: aligned
last_reviewed_at: 2025-02-22
owner: guest-success@fotospiel.app
related:
  - slug: getting-started
  - slug: offline-sync
---

## When to read this
You already joined an event and want to understand the capture workflow, quality limits, and what happens if uploads fail or the connection disappears.

## Step-by-step
1. **Open the Fotospiel camera.** Swipe up from the timeline or tap the shutter icon.
2. **Pick a capture mode.**
   - *Single shot*: default mode with HDR tuning.
   - *Burst*: hold the shutter to capture up to 5 frames; the app picks the sharpest by default.
   - *Import*: tap the gallery thumbnail to select existing photos/screenshots.
3. **Apply adjustments.** Crop, rotate, or add the optional text sticker. All edits happen on-device. Tap *Save* to confirm.
4. **Choose the album & tags.** Assign to the correct chapter (e.g., Ceremony) and optionally add mood tags. Albums are cached offline.
5. **Review upload queue.** Pending items appear in the `Uploads` tab with a status pill: *Queued*, *Sending*, or *Needs attention*.
6. **Let background sync finish.** Closing the app keeps uploads going for ~30 seconds (platform limit). Reopen later to resume automatically.
7. **Fix failed uploads.** Tap the warning icon → *Retry now* or *Delete*. Common issues: airplane mode, revoked permissions, storage full.

## Tips
- Photos inherit the device timestamp; if clocks differ from event time, toggling “Use event time” adjusts metadata.
- Batch-select up to 10 pending uploads to delete or retry at once.
- Likes and comments sync separately and don’t block photo uploads.

### Need more help?
Read `offline-sync` for long offline stretches or contact support from Settings → Help.