frequently asked q's

Checkpoint is a cultural photo network. Walk up to a Checkpoint, take a photo, and it prints instantly on BPA-free thermal receipt paper, a physical keepsake you take home, not another file lost in your camera roll. We want the future of social connection to happen IRL, not just through our personal devices. The Checkpoint network consists of highly curated spots from all corners of culture. We're like your Michelin Guide for the coolest places in a city, as written by the next generation. Get out there and explore! You can read our story at checkpoint.pictures/about.

Scan the QR code on the bottom of your receipt to see your photo in full color. You can also download, share it, or get a black/white version.

A Gallery is a page dedicated to our locations where you can see the latest photos submitted by people who were in the space.

Stories are printed on the bottom of other people’s receipt photos. Simply tap the “print a story” button and write your story (1000 chars max). The Story is automatically printed on other receipts at the location you left it. More details here.

We're currently in 90+ locations across NYC, LA, Vancouver, Tokyo, SF, and Miami. You can see the full map of all Checkpoints.

Read more about Checkpoint rentals.

Your data is kept confidential and may only be used to communicate important details from us. Read the Checkpoint privacy policy.

We use BPA-free thermal paper.

11.31” W × 16.25” H × 8.25” D.

Power, a stable Wi-Fi connection, and 3⅛" thermal paper are all you need.

We love featuring all the amazing members of our community! Just tag us @checkpoint.pictures.

A few quick things before your first photo:

1. Remove the plastic tape around the camera. It's there to protect the lens during shipping.
2. Remove the inner foam. Keep the foam inserts along with the original box. They make great transport packaging if you ever need to move or ship your Checkpoint.
3. Plug in the power. A power cable is included, but it needs to be plugged into the power bar. The power bar then needs to be plugged into the circuit board on the right side via the circular plug (aka barrel jack). We unplug this before shipping to keep everything safe in transit.
4. Load the printer with paper. Use 3⅛" thermal paper and make sure it's loaded in the right orientation.
5. Connect to Wi-Fi. A stable connection is all you need.

These steps cover Checkpoint 2.5 hardware. Earlier boxes are laid out differently inside, so give us a call at (213) 567-3762 and we'll walk you through it.

It's printed on the inside panel. Keep it handy if you ever need to reach out to us.

These steps cover Checkpoint 2.5 hardware. Earlier boxes are laid out differently inside, so give us a call at (213) 567-3762 and we'll walk you through it.

To prepare your Checkpoint for safe shipping, we unplug the power bar from the main circuit board. Follow the power bar's cables from the end that plugs into the wall outlet all the way to the other end, where you'll find a circular plug (aka barrel jack). Plug that into the right side of the circuit board and you're good to go.

No worries, this is an easy fix. The wires connecting to the LED panels have likely come loose during shipping. Make sure the grey wide cables are inserted correctly and that the LED power cables are also inserted correctly. If anything is loose or has come undone and you're not sure how to reconnect it, give us a call at (213) 567-3762.

Two things to check:

• The camera isn't registering. Something is loose. Check that the ribbon cable and the camera attachment are both fully plugged in. To get to the camera, rotate the black camera cap so the notch moves from 12 o'clock to 9 o'clock, then gently pull the cap straight out to reveal the camera. We recommend calling us at (213) 567-3762 before you do this so we can walk you through it.
• The printer isn't on or has no paper. Make sure the printer is powered on and loaded with paper in the right orientation.

Every Checkpoint is hand built, and we do our best to make sure everything is done right. Occasionally there are small, fixable quirks, like a slight angle on the button mount that makes the button sit slanted. It's not detrimental to how the Checkpoint works, but it can be fixed by unscrewing the mount and re-screwing it at a different angle. If this happens to you, give us a call at (213) 567-3762 and we'll walk you through it.

This can happen when a Checkpoint is transported. Give us a call at (213) 567-3762 and send a picture of the inside along with your Checkpoint number (on the inside panel) so we can figure out which cable needs to be plugged back in.

Call or text us at (213) 567-3762, email checkpoint@fp.inc, or reach out to @checkpoint.pictures on IG if you have any questions.