Photo Timing turns bib-tagged RaceDay Photos into reads in RaceDay Scoring. Each tagged bib becomes a read stamped with the photo’s capture time. The stream type is RaceDay Photos (Beta).


Use it as a backup to chip timing, or to collect splits on course when you cannot get a chip system to that point. Do not use it as a primary timing method. Photos are often taken before a runner crosses a mat, and bib tagging can miss or misread numbers. Assign the photo stream as a Backup Stream so chip reads take priority at any location that also has a Main stream. A photo read is used only when there is no Main stream read for that participant at that location.


The race must be linked to RunSignup. Participant uploads and photos on sites such as SmugMug are not included.


Capture photos

  1. In RaceDay Mobile, open the race and choose Photo Capture. The race cannot be a local (offline) race.
  2. Open settings and set Photo Album Select to the album for this spot on course (finish, split, and so on).
  3. Set Select auto-capture mode to Timed Interval for a steady cadence, or Race Timing Trigger to fire the camera from chip reads. Race Timing Trigger needs RaceDay Hub collecting live reads in RaceDay Scoring, then Trigger photos with RaceDay Hub live stream in RaceDay Mobile.
  4. Turn Tap to Focus off. Leave Tap the camera to focus on a point off so the camera can stay on moving bibs.
  5. Frame further up the course so runners stay in view longer. Use a device on each side of the path when you can. Remind participants to keep bibs visible on the front of the shirt or shorts.
  6. Let photos upload to RunSignup. If Upload photos with wifi only is on, the device needs Wi-Fi before tagging and reads can start.


See this blog for some setup best practices: https://info.runsignup.com/2026/08/12/new-photo-based-timing-field-test/


If you use more than one camera, sync the devices to each other and to your timing hardware before the race. Two cameras that upload to the same album share one stream. Use a separate album (and a separate stream) for a different timing location.


Create the RaceDay Photos stream

  1. In RaceDay Scoring, open Streams and click Add Stream.
  2. Set Stream Type to RaceDay Photos (Beta). Give it a Stream Name you will recognize, such as Finish Photos.
  3. Under Photo Album, pick the same album RaceDay Mobile is using. Use the refresh button next to the dropdown if the album is missing.
  4. If the dropdown shows No RunSignup integration on this race, link the race to RunSignup first, then refresh.


Assign the stream

  1. In Assign this Stream to a Timing Location, assign as a Backup Stream for the matching Timing Location. That is the recommended assignment, including at a split where you have no chip system.
  2. Create one RaceDay Photos stream per album. Finish photos go to one stream; a mid-course album goes to another.
  3. Set Accept Times Between on the Timing Location the same way you would for any other stream.


See Main vs Backup Streams and Assign a Stream to a Timing Location.


Collect and review reads

  1. Click Start Collecting Reads on the Dashboard. RaceDay Scoring checks the album about every 30 seconds for newly tagged photos.
  2. On the RaceDay Photos stream, click View Reads. Each tagged bib is a read. One photo can produce several reads if several bibs were tagged.
  3. In the Other column, click Photo to open the image. Confirm the bib, then Ignore or Unignore that read.

If a photo read is being used for scoring, the dialog warns that photo times are approximate and that a chip or Main stream read should be preferred when one exists.

See View Raw Reads and Troubleshoot Missing Scored Reads.


On-course splits

When you cannot get a chip system to a water station, turnaround, or other point on course, add a Timing Location for that spot and assign a RaceDay Photos stream to it as a Backup Stream. Those tagged photos become split reads for scoring and participant tracking. Times are still approximate. Do not use Photo Timing as the primary method for start or finish results.


If reads do not appear

  • “Reads from Photo are being seen by the Connector, but they are not being imported because photo is not mapped to any Stream.” That message is about a chip or middleware stream whose Hardware Name is Photo. It is not the RaceDay Photos stream. Create or edit the chip stream and set Hardware Name to Photo, or rename that location in the chip system. Photo Timing still needs its own RaceDay Photos stream and album.
  • Photos are in the album, but the photo stream has no times. Tagging did not take. Open the photos on RunSignup and tag the bibs yourself. After a photo is tagged, wait for the next poll (about 30 seconds). If the stream was already collecting before those photos were tagged, click Replay on the RaceDay Photos stream to pull again from the RaceDay Photos source.
  • The Timing Location has no stream assigned. Assign the RaceDay Photos stream as a Backup Stream for that location. Reads on View Reads will not score until the stream is assigned.
  • The wrong album, or an empty album list. Confirm RaceDay Mobile and the stream use the same album. Refresh the Photo Album list. The race must be linked to RunSignup, and you must be signed in with the RunSignup account that can see those albums.
  • Photos are on the phone but not in RaceDay Scoring. Photos have to upload before they can be tagged. Check network, Upload photos with wifi only, and disk space on the device.

Notes

  • Automated bib detection works best with 4 or more digit numeric bibs. It cannot read letters (except an F prefix), most symbols (except a dash before the last digit), or bibs longer than 5 digits. Background numbers such as speed-limit signs can be tagged by mistake.
  • Runners in the same photo share one capture time.
  • This stream type is in beta.