This guide is for capturers — the people using the CaptrID mobile app to take photos. If you’ve been given a link to this page, your organisation has set up CaptrID for a photo session and you’ve been assigned to capture photos.
Getting started
- Download the app — Install CaptrID from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
- Sign in — Use the email and password from your invitation email
- Find your session — Your assigned sessions appear on the home screen
If you don’t see any sessions, your admin hasn’t assigned you yet. Contact them to be added to a session.
Capturing a photo
- Select a session from your home screen
- Choose a person from the roster — use the search bar or scroll through the alphabetical list
- Filter by status to find people who still need photos:
- Needs Photo — No photo submitted yet (the default filter)
- Retake Requested — Admin has asked for a new photo
- Rejected — Photo was rejected, needs a new one
- Tap on a person to open the capture screen
- Take or choose a photo:
- Camera — Use the in-app camera with the framing guide
- Gallery — Choose an existing photo from your device
- Review the photo — The app checks image quality automatically
- Crop if needed — Adjust the crop to match the required aspect ratio
- Add notes (optional) — If there’s something the admin should know
- Submit — The photo uploads immediately (or queues if you’re offline)
Photo guidelines
For the best results, follow these guidelines when capturing photos:
| Guideline | Detail |
|---|
| Lighting | Use good, even lighting. Avoid harsh shadows on the face. Natural light works well. |
| Framing | Centre the subject with head and shoulders visible. Use the framing guide on screen. |
| Resolution | Hold the device steady. Minimum recommended resolution is 600 x 800 pixels. |
| Background | Use a plain, neutral background where possible. Avoid busy or cluttered backgrounds. |
Photos with very low resolution, extreme blur, or no visible face will trigger warnings. You can still submit, but your admin may reject the photo and ask for a retake.
Image quality checks
After you take a photo, the app automatically checks for common issues:
| Check | What it looks for |
|---|
| Resolution | Image is at least 600 x 800 pixels |
| Brightness | Not too dark or overexposed |
| Blur | Image is in focus and sharp |
| Face detection | A face is visible in the photo (iOS and Android only) |
| File size | Under 5 MB |
Working offline
The CaptrID app works without an internet connection:
- Capture photos as normal — They’re saved to your device
- A queue badge appears on your home screen showing how many photos are waiting
- When you reconnect, photos upload automatically in the background
- Tap the queue badge to see the status of each photo
No photos are lost when you work offline. The app stores them safely on your device and retries up to 5 times if an upload fails. You can also tap Sync Now to manually trigger uploads.
Photo statuses
After you submit a photo, it goes through a review process:
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|
| Pending | Submitted, waiting for admin review | Nothing — wait for review |
| Approved | Admin accepted your photo | You’re done for this person |
| Rejected | Admin rejected the photo | Check the reason and take a new photo |
| Retake Requested | Admin specifically asked for a new photo | Read the retake notes and capture a new photo |
Data sessions
If you’ve been assigned to a data session (no photos), the workflow is slightly different:
- Select the session and choose a person
- Fill in or update the data fields shown
- Fields marked as required must be completed before you can submit
- Some fields may be read-only — these are shown for context but can’t be edited
- Submit when complete
Tips for a smooth photo day
- Charge your device fully before starting
- Test the app by capturing one photo before the main session begins
- Use the framing guide — it helps you centre the subject consistently
- Check your submissions periodically in the Activity tab to catch any rejections early
- If working offline, sync your queue before the end of the day to ensure nothing is left on your device
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| No sessions visible | Ask your admin to assign you to a session |
| Camera permission denied | Go to your device Settings > CaptrID > Camera and enable access |
| Photos stuck in queue | Check your internet connection, then tap the queue badge > Sync Now |
| ”Session no longer exists” error | The admin may have deleted or archived the session. Contact them. |
| Photo rejected repeatedly | Read the rejection reason carefully. Common issues: poor lighting, blurry, wrong person |
Need help?
If you’re stuck, contact your organisation’s admin — they manage the CaptrID account and can help with access issues. For technical problems, your admin can submit feedback through the app or email support@captrid.com. 
