Why a disposable camera for a birthday
Birthday photos usually come from one or two people, and they are mostly of the cake. Give every guest a roll and you get the conversation in the kitchen, the dog under the table, and the birthday person from twelve angles they did not know about.
For a child’s party, hand the phone to the kids. A camera with no screen to check and a hard limit of 36 is the best photography lesson there is, and the roll the next morning is theirs.
Settings that work
| Feature | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Close the roll | End of the partyOr midnight for a grown-up one |
| Develop the roll | Next morningOver coffee, together if you can |
| Guest capacity | Headcount, rounded upFree for up to 5. Raise it mid-party if needed |
| Cover photo | A photo of the birthday personPreferably an old one |
Where to put the code
- Beside the cake and beside the drinks. Everyone passes both.
- The invitation, so the roll starts as people arrive.
- The group chat for people who read ahead.
From running it
- Ask the birthday person not to join until the reveal. Their first view of the roll is the gift.
- For a kids’ party, one shared phone per two children works well. They take turns and argue about it, which is the fun.
- Type any name at the join screen. “Grandma” is a fine name.
What it costs
One payment for the event, by how many guests can join. Free for up to 5 guests. Capacity only goes up, so start with the number you expect and add on the night if more arrive.
| Feature | Kept, one-time |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 guests | Free |
| Up to 10 guests | $1.29 |
| Up to 25 guests | $3.49 |
| Up to 50 guests | $9.99 |
| Up to 100 guests | $19.99 |
| Up to 150 guests | $34.99 |
| Up to 200 guests | $54.99 |
| Unlimited guests | $69.99 |
Questions
Can children use Kept?
Kept is a camera with a shutter button and a counter, so yes, with a parent's phone. The join screen asks only for a display name. Kept does not create accounts for guests and does not collect a guest's email or phone number to shoot.
How many people can join a birthday roll?
As many as the tier allows, from 5 on the free tier to unlimited for $69.99. Capacity can be raised during the party.
Do guests need to download an app to use Kept?
No. Guests scan the QR code, type a name, and the camera opens. On an iPhone it launches as an App Clip, a small temporary version of the app that needs no App Store download. On Android and everything else it runs in the browser.
Can the host see the photos before everyone else?
No. Before a roll develops the server does not send photo addresses to anyone, including the host and the person who took the picture. The host can choose to develop the roll early, which opens it for everyone at once.
How much does Kept cost?
Free for up to 5 guests. Larger films are a one-time price for the event, from $1.29 for 10 guests to $69.99 for unlimited guests. Nothing renews. An Unlimited Shots add-on for $6.99 removes the 36-frame cap for everyone on the roll.
Give everyone a camera. Take away the screen.
Free for your first 5 guests. Your first roll takes about a minute to set up, and nobody has to install anything.