Frequently asked questions
Everything photo lab and photography studio owners ask us most often. Can't find your answer? Write to us or check the documentation.
How can I try the software?
Is there an activation fee?
No, there is no activation fee. Our pricing is fully transparent, with no hidden costs. It is entirely up to you which subscription period you choose.
You can find the full pricing of our services on the pricing page.
What is the difference between the BASIC and PRO plans?
The PRO plan includes everything in BASIC, plus a few extras:
- hiding the Foto.Guru branding,
- connecting your own domain (or subdomain),
- sending e-mails to customers from your own address,
- an extended file storage period,
- a dedicated program for automatically downloading orders to your computer,
- uploading your own logo for the website and e-mails,
- customizing the texts shown to your customers,
- additional SEO options.
You will find the full comparison in the table on the pricing page.
Do I need the BASIC plan to buy PRO?
Can I upgrade from BASIC to PRO later?
Yes, you can upgrade to PRO at any time. You only pay the price difference between BASIC and PRO for the remaining part of your billing period.
The exact amount is calculated automatically when you place the upgrade order. All prices are net (excl. VAT).
What are Photo Products?
This feature lets you create your own photo products that customers can order directly through your website — e.g. mugs, calendars, T-shirts and more.
Each product is fully configurable. Among other things, you can define:
- how many photos it consists of (and their sizes),
- a preview image of the product,
- the product description,
- the price (including quantity-based pricing — just like photo prints).
The feature covers customers uploading photos for a product. It does not include ready-made design templates (such as a layout editor or a photo-book creator) — we do not offer that functionality.
You can see this feature in action on the demo page.
Which license do I need to use Photo Products?
Photo Products is a separate (paid) feature that works with the Free, BASIC and PRO licenses alike.How do I add photo products?
Do unused free SMS messages carry over to the next month?
Do purchased SMS packages have an expiry date?
After logging in to the panel I only see a blank page
- If you use antivirus software, add our site to its exceptions (
https://app.foto.guru). - Alternatively, try logging in again in your browser’s incognito/private mode.
If the page works correctly in incognito mode, the problem is most likely caused by the browser cache, stored cookies or installed extensions. Try the following steps:
Disable browser extensions (e.g. AdBlock, uBlock, etc.) Some add-ons may block page elements, which can break the page. Extensions are usually disabled in incognito mode by default, so if the page works there, this is the likely cause.
Reload the page bypassing the cache Use the Ctrl + F5 keyboard shortcut to force a full reload without using locally stored data.
Clear the browser data related to our site In Google Chrome:
- click the icon next to the address bar,
- choose “Site settings”,
- click “Delete data”.
Alternatively, use: Browser settings → Privacy and security → Delete browsing data.
My firewall/antivirus detects a virus in Foto.GUI!
Don’t worry — it’s a false alarm :)
We have full control over the source code and the files we make available for download. What’s more, our program is signed with a certificate issued to Yak Consulting sp. z o.o. Unfortunately, even that does not stop some security software from misclassifying it. This happens mainly because it is a very niche, little-known program.
In that case we suggest:
- adding an exception to your antivirus software,
- or, if the file is removed automatically while being unpacked:
- temporarily disabling the antivirus and unpacking the program,
- adding the program to the exceptions,
- re-enabling the antivirus.
This should let you use the program normally on Windows.
Standard method (via Control Panel)
This is the quickest way to grant the application network access:
- Open the Control Panel (you can search for it in the Start menu).
- Go to System and Security, then click Windows Defender Firewall.
- In the menu on the left, choose Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
- Click Change settings (requires administrator rights).
- If the program is not on the list, click Allow another app… at the bottom of the window.
- Click Browse, locate the program’s executable file (
.exe) on your disk and confirm with Add. - Tick the appropriate boxes next to the program name:
- Private: for trusted home or office networks,
- Public: for untrusted networks, e.g. in cafés or at airports.
- Confirm everything by clicking OK.
Adding exclusions in Windows Security (virus protection)
If the file is blocked as suspected malware, you need to add it to the antivirus exclusions:
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security.
- Choose Virus & threat protection.
- Under Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.
- Scroll down to Exclusions and click Add or remove exclusions.
- Click Add an exclusion and select the file you want to unblock.
On macOS, all you need to do is allow the program to run in System Settings, under Privacy & Security.
Which photo print ordering software should I choose?
When choosing software for taking photo print orders, pay attention to a few key aspects: how easy it is for your customers to use, the available payment and delivery integrations, whether customers can crop their photos, and the monthly cost.
Foto.Guru stands out because it works directly in the browser (no app to install), offers a 30-day free trial and integrates with popular online payment and delivery providers.
Importantly, subscriptions start from €10.50 per month, with no activation fees and no file-transfer charges — regardless of the number of orders. Prices are net (excl. VAT).
How much does an online photo ordering system cost?
The cost of Foto.Guru depends on the plan and billing period you choose:
- BASIC plan: from €10.50/month (with annual billing),
- PRO plan: from €21/month (with annual billing),
- Photo Products: available as a paid add-on to any plan.
There is no activation fee, and for the first 30 days you can use the system completely free of charge. The cost does not depend on the number of orders — whether you take 10 or 100 orders a month, the price stays the same. All prices are net (excl. VAT) — see the pricing page for details.
Is it worth investing in an online print ordering system?
Absolutely! An online print ordering system brings a photo lab many benefits:
- Time savings: customers place orders 24/7 without taking up your time with phone calls,
- Fewer mistakes: a digital system eliminates errors caused by rewriting orders by hand,
- More customers: younger generations prefer ordering online — without a system you lose this group,
- Automation: notifications, payments, delivery integrations — everything runs automatically,
- Fast payback: starting from €10.50/month, the system pays for itself very quickly while saving you hours of work.
You can test the system free of charge for 30 days and see for yourself.
How does a photo order management system work?
The Foto.Guru system works in a simple, intuitive way:
- A customer visits your website (e.g. prints.your-website.com) from a computer or phone,
- uploads photos straight from their device — the system accepts all popular formats,
- chooses the options — print size, quantity, cropping (if enabled),
- enters delivery details — in-store pickup, parcel locker or courier,
- pays online (optionally) or on pickup,
- you receive an e-mail notification about the new order,
- you download the photos from the panel (or via our download program) and fulfil the order.
The whole process is automated — the customer receives an e-mail confirmation (optionally also an SMS) and later a notification that the order is ready. You manage everything from a simple admin panel.
How long does it take to set up a photo ordering system?
Getting Foto.Guru up and running takes 15–30 minutes:
- 5 minutes: account registration,
- 10–15 minutes: configuring your price list and print formats,
- 5–10 minutes: delivery and payment settings.
You can start taking orders right after the setup! You don’t need a developer — you configure everything yourself in an intuitive panel.
Additional features (your own domain, look-and-feel adjustments, advanced integrations) can be configured later, at your own pace. We also have detailed documentation and technical support.
Do I need a developer to run Foto.Guru?
No! Foto.Guru was designed to be easy to use without any technical knowledge.
You configure all the features in a simple admin panel:
- price lists and products — an editor with selectable attributes,
- website appearance — a simple color picker,
- payment integrations — you fill in a form,
- delivery settings — checkboxes and lists.
The only moments when technical help might be needed are:
- connecting your own domain (PRO plan) — but we provide step-by-step instructions,
- advanced customizations (if you want something very non-standard).
In 99% of cases you will manage on your own, and if something doesn’t work — technical support has your back!
What are the benefits of an online system for a photo lab?
An online order-taking system brings a photo lab measurable benefits:
Time and money savings
- fewer phone calls during working hours (on average 1–2 hours saved daily),
- no mistakes from rewriting orders,
- automatic customer notifications.
More orders
- taking orders 24/7 (also after hours and on weekends),
- you reach younger customers who don’t call,
- easier ordering = more conversions.
Professional image
- a modern website with your logo,
- automatic confirmations and order statuses,
- integrations with popular payment and delivery providers.
Better customer service
- customers see their order status online,
- automatic “ready for pickup” notifications.
How do customers place orders through Foto.Guru?
Placing an order is as simple and intuitive for the customer as possible:
- Opening the website: the customer opens your address (e.g. prints.your-website.com) on a phone or computer,
- selecting photos: clicks “Select photos” and picks files from the phone/computer (multiple at once),
- uploading: the photos are uploaded automatically — with a progress bar,
- configuring the order: for each photo they can choose:
- the print format (according to your price list),
- the number of copies,
- cropping (if enabled) — by dragging a frame on the photo,
- delivery method: in-store pickup, parcel locker or courier (according to your settings),
- contact details: name, e-mail, phone, address (for delivery),
- payment: online or on pickup,
- confirmation: an e-mail with the confirmation and order number arrives immediately.
The whole process takes 2–5 minutes. No app installation is needed — everything works in the browser on any device.