Overview
Entagged is a revolutionary camera attachment that cuts down on your admin time by eliminating the need for QR cards. Entagged links your photos to your subjects' data by inserting a unique barcode into each photo's metadata, making the sorting process a breeze. There are multiple options for running your shoot using an Entagged device. In this article, we'll review the process for running a shoot using the Entagged device together with a Name List subscription.
- If you do not already own an Entagged device, you can order the right model for your camera here.
- Follow the instructions linked here for connecting your Entagged device to your camera and pairing your Entagged device with your phone (Make sure to complete the step titled Pairing the Entagged Device with the Name List Feature).
Setting up your Photo Job involves steps within your GotPhoto account and within the Entagged app.
The following video shows a quick explanation of setting up your Photo Job within the Entagged app.
Written instructions continue below.
- Within your GotPhoto account, create a new job and set the tagging method to QR Tagging with List of Names.
- Create your nameslist csv file:
- For a school job: Enter the grade information in the group column, and the teacher or homeroom information in the teacher column.
- For a sports job: Enter the team name in the group column, and add the Coach name as well in cases of multiple teams within a division (e.g. U12-14 Fernandez or Wildcats).
- If you are using batch shipping, we recommend adding both the grade and teacher/team and coach information into the group column. Only the information that is listed in the group column will be transferred to your lab, so this will facilitate the distribution of the orders later.
- Upload and import the name list into your Photo Job.
- In the Entagged app, tap on the Folder with the "+" icon:
- Tap on Add from account... and enter your GotPhoto account credentials:
- You will now see a list of your jobs that are either set to planning, selling, or prepay. Tap the job you would like to import.
- You have now the option to adjust the Project Name if necessary. In addition, you can adjust the grouping. By default, the grouping is set to Group → Teacher, meaning that you will have main folders for the group (e.g. grade 9), and subfolders for the teachers (e.g. Mr. Miller).
- Make sure to add spare subjects for subjects who aren't in your name list ahead of time. This will ensure you will be able to add unexpected subjects during your shoot, even if you do not have Internet access.
- If needed, you can also adjust how often the Entagged will sync with your GotPhoto account by clicking on the button under the Synchronization header.
- Tap Done to save. It may take a few moments for the save to be completed.
Your job is now listed under your projects and is available to use on Picture Day. You're good to go, even without an Internet connection!
The following video shows a quick explanation of how to use the Entagged app during your Picture Day.
Written instructions continue below.
- Open the Entagged app and make sure your device is connected (You will see a turquoise dot in the upper left corner next to your device name).
- Tap on the project you've imported for this shoot. Unless you made changes during your import, subjects are grouped by grade and teacher.
- Find the subject you would like to photograph. You can do this via the groups within the project, but you can also search for any subject using the magnifying glass.
Pro Tip: Sorting Your Subjects
Subjects can be sorted by first name, last name, Entagged code, or the original sorting of your imported names list. To change your sorting method:
→ Tap the pencil icon next to the group or project name. This action can be done on any level of a job. Tap the icon in the bottom toolbar, and then select your preferred sorting method. This method will automatically be applied to all other Photo Jobs. - Tap on the name of the subject you are about to photograph. The name will be highlighted in yellow (indicating that the code has been sent to your camera) and then turquoise (indicating that the code has been saved successfully):If an error occurs, a red frame will appear, and an error message will indicate the issue. The previous code will remain saved and displayed at the top. Follow the instructions in the error message to resolve the issue, and scan again.
- The name that is currently saved in your camera is now displayed at the top of the screen, and a checkmark will appear next to the name in the list for easy assessment of tagged subjects. You can always tap the checkmark in the list to uncheck a subject.
Pro Tip: Check/Uncheck Whole Groups
→ → Tap the pencil icon next to the group name. Tap Select All in the upper left corner In the bottom toolbar, tapping the icon will check all selected subjects, and tapping the will uncheck them. - It's time to take some pictures! All photos taken at this point will have the subject's unique barcode saved in their metadata.Canon: Info is stored in the Copyright field
Nikon & Fuji: Info is stored in the User Comment field
Sony: Info is stored in the Image ID field (ExifTag 0x2043, ExifTool calls it Sony_0x2043)Sony users: If you plan to edit your images via an editing software (Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.), the software will most likely not know this field, and the metadata won't be saved. We have created a Windows script that will copy the metadata from the Sony field into the UserComment and Copyright field, which will ensure the metadata is stored being edited, and GotPhoto will still be able to detect the codes after you export the images from your editing software. You can download the script here.
- Repeat steps 3-6 with the rest of the subjects in the group.
- When you're ready to move on to the next group, tap the back arrow to select the next group.
→ | → | |||
Navigate to the subject's group, and tap the pencil icon next to the group name. | Select the subject's name to select them, and then tap the pencil icon in the bottom toolbar. | It's time to edit the subject's information. See below for more details on what can be altered. We DO NOT recommend editing the subject's barcode, as this can negatively impact your tagging. |
To change a subject's group, tap on their group name, and then select the group you would like to place them in. You can also tap on New Group. This will take you back to the subject's information, and open an empty text field for you to type the new group name into. Please note: A new group cannot be created if a subject is not selected. The same can be done with the Teacher category, if applicable. | If you would like to edit a subject's information beyond name, group and teacher, tap on Additional Information to see the full range of editable options (full address, gender, birthdate, institution, identifier). | When you are finished with your edits, tap the yellow Save button, and back on the screen with the list of names, tap Done. |
There are two options for adding additional subjects to the name list during a shoot, depending on whether or not you have Internet access.
If you have an Internet Connection:
Under the appropriate group, tap the pencil icon to add a new subject to the list. | Tap Add at the top of the list of names, or scroll to the bottom of the list and tap Add Subject. | Add your subject's information. A barcode will automatically be assigned. You can also adjust the subject's group if necessary. You can also tap on Additional Information to see the full range of editable options (full address, gender, birthdate, institution, identifier). When you are finished with your edits, tap the yellow Save button, and back on the screen with the list of names, tap Done. |
If you do not have an Internet connection:
This is where you will utilize and edit one of the spare subjects you've created in Step 8 of the planning phase. Make sure you make a note of the subject's information so that you have a hard-copy record of these changes.
Please follow the instructions in the previous tab — "Edit an Existing Subject" — and edit the spare subject's information.When you are back online, the Entagged app will sync the information to your GotPhoto account.
To delete a subject:
→ | ||
Tap the pencil icon next to the group of the subject you want to delete. | Tap the subject's name, and then tap the trash icon in the bottom toolbar to delete them. |
- Clear the code that is currently saved in your camera by tapping the X next to the subject name on the top of your screen. Alternatively, delete the barcode from the copyright field of your camera (Canon cameras), the user comment field (Nikon) or the image ID field (Sony users).
- If you'd like to delete projects from the Entagged app, you can do so by tapping the pencil icon, selecting the project, and then tapping the trash icon.
- If you are planning on extracting backgrounds outside of GotPhoto, make sure that the metadata is kept in your files, most extraction software will wipe this information as part of the extraction process. If you're using GotPhoto's extraction service, there's no need to worry about your galleries. They'll already be tagged and activated before you request the service, ensuring that your GotPhoto galleries remain intact even if the metadata is removed.
- The following video shows a quick explanation of how to upload photos after running a Picture Day with Entagged. Written instructions continue below.
- Upload your photos. Make sure to use one of the faster upload methods (i.e. not browser upload). The system will automatically activate the galleries, and the images will all be in a single album.
⚠ Important: If you need to change any student information after you have already uploaded your photos, DO NOT upload a new Name List, as this will render your automatic tagging unusable. Please update your student data manually via the Manage Name button on the Photo Job's main settings page, or from within the Photo Management tab. - Within the album, click on the Individuals actions dropdown and select Resort photos to albums, and then select your preferred sorting scheme (e.g. Group → Teacher):
Each group will then have their own album under Photo Management. The Upload album will then be empty and can be deleted.
If you accidentally used both QR Tagging and barcode tagging on Picture Day, please upload the images separately (in two different folders instead of just one) to prevent any tagging issues. - Your job is ready to go! You can now upload any group photos, check out GotPhoto's options for easy, streamlined photo editing*, and get ready to set your job to Selling!
Q: I have already imported my names to the Entagged app, but I needed to update/adjust my name list or add additional subjects in GotPhoto. How can I update the name list afterward in the Entagged app?
A: Simply delete the existing project from the Entagged app, and import the name list again.
Q: Is the subcription fee per device? We have multiple devices.
A: Yes, it is per device. However, the same Entagged can be paired by multiple users via the Entagged app on their individual devices. E.g., photographer A uses the Entagged on Monday, photographer B uses the same device with a different smartphone or tablet on Tuesday.
Q: Can I select multiple subjects in the name list for sibling/buddy photos?
A: Yes, you can tag multiple subjects in a photo. However, because the character limit varies for different camera types, the maximum number of barcodes you can fit will depend on your camera model. See the below table for more information:
Camera Brand | Field Used | Character Limit | Max Subjects per Photo |
Nikon | User Comment | 36 | 2 |
Canon | Copyright | 63 | 4 |
Sony | ImageID (EXIF Tag 0x2043) | 64 | 4 |
Fujifilm | User Comment | 255 | 17 |
This option is disabled by default to make sure you do not accidentally tap it. You can enable it in the app Settings: Menu → Entagged with Gear icon → Your Entagged → Settings then toggle Disable append code button to off.
Q: Can I take pictures without adding metadata to them when I use the Name List feature (e.g. for group photos)?
A: Yes, simply delete the last name that was saved in the app by tapping the X next to the name on the top of the screen; all photos taken after this will not be tagged.
Q: How can I verify that the barcode is stored in a photo's metadata?
A: Access the image's properties in your photo editing app. You can find the stored barcode in the field mentioned above, depending on your camera.
The Takeaway
The Entagged device, combined with the Name List feature, makes it easy to organize and manage your photos by embedding unique barcodes directly into the image metadata. Whether you’re setting up your photo job, running a shoot, or adding unexpected subjects on Picture Day, this guide provides all the steps to streamline your workflow and save time.