Add Student and Staff Photos for ID Cards
Use Photo Desk to upload pictures or take them with a webcam, move quickly from person to person, and show the photos on printed ID cards.
For School administrators. Updated 2026-10-13.
Overview
Photo Desk (Students > Photo Desk) is a single page for adding a photo for every student, teacher or staff member. Pick someone from the list, upload a picture or take one with the webcam, then save and move straight on to the next person who still has no photo. A progress bar shows how many people have photos, and you can hide everyone who is already done.
Photos are cropped to a portrait ID size automatically. Once saved, the photo is used on the front of that person's ID card in both the preview and the exported PDF, as long as Show photo on front is switched on in the ID card setup.
Before you start
- Enable ID Cards
- Permission to edit students, teachers or staff, depending on who you are adding photos for
- A webcam (optional) or photo files saved on the computer
Steps
- Open Students > Photo Desk.
- Choose who you are adding photos for at the top: Students, Teachers or Other staff.
- For students, pick a Class if you want to work through one class at a time.
- Switch on Only show people without a photo so finished people are hidden. The first person without a photo is selected for you.
- To upload: select Upload photo, then Choose photo (or drag a picture onto the page, or paste one). Drag the photo to centre the face and use the slider to zoom.
- To use the webcam: select Use webcam, allow camera access when the browser asks, ask the person to face the camera inside the oval and select Take photo (or press Space).
- Select Save & next (or press Enter). The photo is saved and the next person without a photo is selected.
- Repeat until the progress bar reaches 100%.
- Open ID cards from Photo Desk (or Students > ID Cards) and make sure Show photo on front is switched on, then select Save.
- The photo now appears on the front of each card in the preview. Print the cards or export the PDF.
Common problems
The webcam does not start
Allow camera access when the browser asks, or in the address bar. Check no other app is using the camera. You can use Upload photo instead.
Photos do not show on the ID cards
Open the ID card setup and switch on Show photo on front, then save. Cards for people with no photo show the school logo instead.
I saved the wrong photo
Select the person in the list and take or upload a new photo, or choose Remove current photo.
I want to add many photos quickly
Switch on Save automatically & move on. Each photo is saved the moment you take or pick it. Shortcuts: Space takes a photo, Enter saves and moves on, Esc retakes, and the arrow keys move between people.
I cannot see Photo Desk
Photo Desk needs the ID Cards module and permission to edit students, teachers or staff. Ask a school administrator to grant it.