How to Capture Branded UGC at Events (No App Required)

Short answer: To capture branded UGC at events without app downloads, place QR codes throughout your venue that link to a web-based photo upload page. Guests scan, snap, and submit photos directly from their phone browser. Use scavenger hunt prompts to guide guests toward specific on-brand shots.

• Use QR codes at every touchpoint so guests can upload photos instantly
• Skip app downloads and account signups to remove friction
• Create scavenger hunt prompts to guide guests toward specific content
• Brand your upload pages with your colors, logo, and messaging
• Moderate and organize submissions in a central gallery

Who this is for (and not for)

This guide is for:

• Event marketers running brand activations, product launches, or trade shows
• Corporate teams organizing conferences or experiential events
• Brand activation managers who need organized, on-brand content from attendees
• Sponsors who want logo visibility and controlled media from events
• Marketing teams looking to extend event impact through organic social content

This guide is NOT for:

• Hosts of small personal gatherings like birthday parties or dinners
• Teams looking for professional photography services
• Events where guests will not have smartphones

Why branded UGC matters

When guests take photos at your event and share them, that’s marketing you didn’t pay for. It’s authentic in a way that staged content never quite manages. Someone holding your product at a festival, wearing your merch at a conference, or interacting with your activation at a trade show. That stuff resonates because it’s real.

The problem is collecting it. Guests take great photos all the time. They just don’t send them to you. Life gets busy, the moment passes, and those shots stay buried in camera rolls forever. You need tools that remove the friction.

The simple approach: no app, no signup

If you want photo sharing to actually happen, you have to meet people where they are. That means their phone, their camera, their browser. Not some app they have to download. Not an account they have to create.

Gather Shot is a photo sharing platform for events built for exactly this. Guests scan a QR code, their camera opens, they take a photo and upload it . Done. No app store, no login screen, no “create an account to continue.”

You can put QR codes anywhere. Table tents, signage, the bar, the entrance, the product display. Every touchpoint becomes a photo opportunity. And because there’s zero friction, people actually use it.

The photos flow into a central gallery you control. You can moderate what appears , organize by prompt or category, and download everything in bulk when you need it.

Using scavenger hunts to get specific content

Random UGC is fine, but what if you could guide people toward the exact shots you need?

That’s what scavenger hunts are for. Instead of hoping guests photograph your product, you prompt them to. “Snap a photo with our logo in the background.” “Show us your favorite item from the demo table.” “Capture your team trying the new flavor.”

Each prompt is a mini creative brief. You’re telling guests what would make a great photo, and they’re motivated to find it because the game format makes it fun. You can create up to 15 prompts covering product shots, logo visibility, interaction moments, and candid reactions.

For more ideas on setting up photo challenges, check out our guide on guest photo games and scavenger hunts .

Keep your brand front and center

When guests scan your QR code, they should land on a page that feels like your brand, not some generic upload form.

Branded event pages let you customize colors, logos, and messaging so every touchpoint stays on-brand. When someone shares a link from your gallery, the social preview pulls in your branding too.

For sponsors, this is huge. They want to know their brand is visible and controlled. With moderation tools and branded pages, you can promise that and actually deliver.

Frequently asked questions

How do I collect UGC from event attendees without an app?

Use a QR code that links to a web-based upload page. Guests scan with their phone camera, take a photo, and submit it through their browser. No app download or account required.

What types of UGC prompts work best at events?

Prompts that are specific and achievable work best. “Photo with our logo,” “selfie at the demo station,” or “your favorite product on display” give guests clear direction while staying fun.

How do I keep UGC on-brand at a sponsored event?

Use branded upload pages with your colors and logo, moderate submissions before they go public, and provide prompts that guide guests toward the visuals you need.

Can I organize UGC by category or prompt?

Yes. When you use scavenger hunt prompts, photos are automatically organized by prompt. You can also tag and sort submissions in your gallery.

How do I share the collected photos with my team or sponsors?

Download everything in bulk from your gallery. You can also share a link to the gallery so stakeholders can view and download what they need.

The bottom line

UGC extends your event’s impact long after the last guest leaves. It’s organic, authentic, and aligned with your brand when you set it up right. The key is removing friction: no app downloads, no account creation, no chasing people afterward. Just QR codes, a branded upload page, and optional scavenger hunts to guide the content you collect.

Create your free event and start capturing branded UGC at your next activation.