The short answer
TacBoard gives a celebration of life or funeral its own phone number. Family and friends text photos of the person you are remembering, before and during the service, and the photos play as a slideshow on a TV or projector at the venue. Nobody needs an app or an account, which matters when many guests are older. Everything goes into a private gallery the family keeps. It costs $159 once, or $49 for a QR-code-only version.
- For guests
- Text a photo to one number. Nothing to download.
- Before the service
- Share the number in the obituary or the family email so photos arrive in advance
- Privacy
- A private gallery shared only by link, plus a review queue for anything the filter flags
- Afterwards
- The family downloads every photo in one click and keeps the gallery
Why families use a shared slideshow
Building a memorial slideshow usually falls on one person in the week after a loss. They chase relatives for photos, scan prints and wrestle with slideshow software, and the result only includes the photos they managed to collect.
A shared slideshow spreads the work. Everyone who knew the person has photos the family has never seen: coworkers, neighbors, old school friends, grandchildren. When they can text a photo to a number, they send it. The slideshow at the service then reflects the whole life, not just the photos in the family album.
Texting is the right tool for this audience. Many guests at a funeral are older and will not download an app or create an account, but almost all of them can text a photo. Anyone holding an old print can photograph it with their phone and send it in.
How to set it up
- 1
Create the gallery
Choose the SMS & QR Code plan for a text number. It takes a few minutes, and you can start collecting photos right away. Choose from 18 gallery themes and add your own cover photo.
- 2
Share the number before the service
Put the number in the online obituary, the funeral home's event page, the family group chat or the email that shares the service details. Ask people to send any photos they have.
- 3
Review what arrives
Open the gallery on your phone to see photos as they come in. Delete anything you would rather not show. The automatic filter also holds anything it flags for your approval.
- 4
Set up the screen at the venue
Most funeral homes and churches have a TV or projector. Connect a laptop by HDMI, open the gallery and press Display Live. The photos play in a continuous loop. See the display setup guide.
- 5
Invite guests to add photos during the service
Put a small card with the number at the guest book. New photos join the slideshow within seconds.
- 6
Keep and share the gallery
Your event number accepts texts until 30 days after the event date. The gallery itself does not expire: you can view, share and download it for as long as you like. Hosts download the whole gallery in one click.
Wording you can use
Families often ask how to word the request. Adapt these as you like.
For the obituary or service announcement
We are gathering photos of [Name] to share at the celebration of life. If you have any, please text them to (555) 555-5555. They will be shown during the service and kept for the family.
For the card at the guest book
Share a memory of [Name]. Text a photo to (555) 555-5555 and it will appear on the screen.
Your real number appears in your account as soon as you create the gallery. The sign shop prints cards with the number and QR code laid out for you.
Privacy and control
- The gallery is private. It is not listed or searchable. People see it only if you share the link.
- You decide what is shown. An automatic content filter checks every photo and message. Anything it flags waits in a queue where you approve or delete it, and you can block a sender.
- Names are attached. The first time someone texts, TacBoard asks for their name, so the family knows who shared each photo.
- The number closes on schedule. The number stops accepting texts 30 days after the event date, and the gallery stays available to the family.
Before, during and after the service
| When | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as the service is planned | Create the gallery and share the number with close family | The family's own photos form the base of the slideshow |
| When the obituary is published | Include the number in the obituary or on the service page | Friends and coworkers you may not know how to reach can contribute |
| The day before | Review the gallery and remove anything that is not right | The slideshow is ready, with no late-night editing |
| At the venue | Connect the laptop to the screen and press Live | Photos play in a continuous loop as guests arrive and during the reception |
| During the reception | Leave a card with the number at the guest book | Guests add photos they took that day, and new ones join the slideshow within seconds |
| The weeks after | Share the gallery link with everyone who attended | Family members far away can see and download photos |
For funeral homes and celebrants
Funeral directors and celebrants are often asked to help with the photo slideshow. A shared gallery takes that work off the family and off your staff. The family collects the photos, and your staff only need to connect a laptop to the screen in the chapel or reception room.
- Recommend it to every family. Each family should have its own private gallery, so point them to the one-time $159 plan, which they can set up from home in a few minutes.
- Keep a laptop with the screen. A laptop that stays connected to the chapel display makes setup a two-minute job.
- Put the number in your service folders. A short line printed on the program or memorial card brings in photos during the visitation.
Families can buy the gallery themselves in a few minutes, and the gallery belongs to them, not to the funeral home.
Cost
| Plan | Price | How guests send photos | Own phone number | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QR Code | $49 One time, per event | Scan a QR code or open a link, upload from the phone's browser | No | Events outside the US and Canada, smaller budgets, younger crowds |
| SMS & QR Code | $159 One time, per event | Text photos to the event's own number, or use the QR code | Yes, active until 30 days after the event | Weddings, awards nights, memorials and any crowd with older guests |
| Unlimited SMS & QR Code | $99/month Monthly, cancel anytime ($198 due at signup covers the first two months) | Text or QR code | Yes, stays on while subscribed | Venues, schools, associations and planners running events every month |
Every plan includes unlimited guests and photos, the live photo stream, a private gallery that never expires and the free sign shop. See pricing
For a memorial, the $159 SMS & QR Code plan is the usual choice because texting is easiest for older guests. Funeral homes that want to offer this to every family can use the monthly plan. See TacBoard for venues.
Frequently asked questions
Can older relatives use it?
Yes. If they can send a photo by text message, they can add to the slideshow. There is no app and no account.
Can people send photos before the funeral?
Yes. Share the number as soon as you create the gallery, and photos sent beforehand will be in the slideshow from the start.
Can we scan old printed photos?
The simplest way is to photograph the print with a phone in good light and text it in. For the best quality, upload a scan through the QR code page, which keeps the original file.
Who can see the photos?
Only people you share the gallery link with. The live slideshow is shown on the screen you connect at the service.
Can we remove a photo?
Yes, at any time from your phone or laptop. It disappears from the screen and the gallery.
Can guests send video clips?
TacBoard collects photos and short text messages. It does not accept video uploads.
How long do we keep the photos?
Your event number accepts texts until 30 days after the event date. The gallery itself does not expire: you can view, share and download it for as long as you like.
Last reviewed by the TacBoard team.