Pay-Per-Use Overview

Foto Master supports fully unattended pay-per-play operation, allowing guests to walk up to a photo booth and pay for a session on the spot -- no event staff required. This turns your photo booth into a self-service revenue machine at high-traffic locations like malls, museums, entertainment centers, and more.

This article covers what pay-per-use is, how it works, and where it fits into your business.

What Is Pay-Per-Use?

Pay-per-use is an operating mode where your Foto Master booth runs without an attendant. Guests approach the booth, make a payment, and the booth automatically launches a photo experience. Once the session is complete, the booth returns to its idle state and waits for the next guest.

This model eliminates the need for on-site staff and lets you generate revenue around the clock. Whether the booth is in a hotel lobby running 24/7 or in a mall during business hours, pay-per-use makes your booth work for you even when you are not there.

Supported Payment Methods

Foto Master integrates with a range of payment hardware and systems to accept guest payments:

• Credit card readers -- Accept contactless and chip-based credit card payments directly at the booth
• Mobile payment -- Support for mobile wallets and tap-to-pay options
• Coin acceptors -- Traditional coin-operated payment for arcade-style setups and venues where cash is preferred

Supported Payment Integrations

Foto Master works with industry-leading unattended payment platforms:

• Nayax -- The most popular integration for Foto Master operators. Nayax provides cashless payment terminals with built-in cellular connectivity, remote management, and detailed transaction reporting. See Setting Up Payment Devices for Nayax configuration steps.
• Intercard -- A widely used cashless payment system in family entertainment centers and amusement venues. Intercard readers integrate with Foto Master to accept debit card payments tied to the venue's card system.
• Embed Card -- Another entertainment venue payment system that connects to Foto Master for seamless pay-per-play operation within arcade and FEC environments.

How It Works

The pay-per-use flow is straightforward:

1. Idle screen -- The booth displays an attract screen inviting guests to start a session. This screen can be customized with your branding, pricing information, and a call to action.
2. Payment -- The guest inserts coins, taps a credit card, or uses a venue payment card. The payment device communicates with FMX to confirm the transaction.
3. Experience launches -- Once payment is confirmed, FMX automatically starts the configured photo experience. This can include any workflow you have set up -- standard photos, AI-powered effects, GIFs, boomerangs, or any combination.
4. Session completes -- The guest receives their photos through the configured sharing options (print, email, SMS, QR code, or gallery). The booth then returns to the idle screen, ready for the next guest.

Revenue Tracking

Every transaction from your pay-per-use booths is tracked in real time through the Foto Master Cloud dashboard. You can monitor:

• Revenue by location -- See how each booth location is performing
• Revenue by time period -- Identify peak hours, days, and seasons
• Revenue by experience type -- Understand which photo experiences generate the most income
• Transaction history -- View every individual transaction with timestamps and amounts

This data helps you make informed decisions about pricing, placement, and which experiences to offer at each location. For a detailed walkthrough, see Revenue Tracking.

Ideal Locations for Pay-Per-Use

Pay-per-use booths perform best in high-traffic locations where people are already in a spending mindset or looking for entertainment:

• Shopping malls -- High foot traffic and a captive audience of shoppers looking for fun
• Museums and attractions -- Guests want to capture memories of their visit
• Entertainment centers and arcades -- A natural fit alongside other pay-per-play activities
• Hotels and resorts -- Lobby and common-area placement for guests looking for unique experiences
• Restaurants and bars -- Add a revenue stream and encourage social sharing
• Universities and student centers -- Popular with students who love shareable content
• Retail stores -- Drive foot traffic and create branded customer experiences
• Tourist destinations -- Visitors are eager to capture and share their experiences

Next Steps

• Setting Up Payment Devices -- Configure your payment hardware and integrations
• Pricing Your Booth Experiences -- Set prices and build a pricing strategy
• Revenue Tracking -- Monitor and analyze your booth revenue
• Choosing Your Cloud Plan -- Make sure your Cloud plan supports the features you need