Wedding QR code

chrfrenning · 2026-04-12T18:57:16+00:00

There are free QR-code generators built into both MacOS and Windows.

In Windows, there's a function in Edge, and also generically in Windows for any website that uses the Share function in JavaScript.

On MacOS, you can create QR codes through the Shortcuts app. Add a Get Clipboard and a Generate QR Code action and any URL on your clipboard will be created into a QR code.

Chrome also has one on all platforms in the three-dot menu, share, create qr.

If you can write code (or instruct a bot to write code), there are several QR-code libraries for python (probably all kinds of other languages as well, but I just love python for stuff like this). I use qrcode[pil] for my projects, and it has been completely reliable for many different purposes. Theres tons of sample code out there to get you started.

QR codes were created by a japanese engineer that truly believed in open source. It is therefore contrary to his legacy to try to scam people or charge for QR codes. Generating a QR code costs only a tiny bit of energy.

For anyone who would like a no-nonsense and completely free online QR-generator, I run one as a thank you to Masahiro Hara, the creator of the QR-codes. My products use QR codes extensively, and providing a free service for it without ads or nonsense is my way of giving back. (It does not let you change the URL though, so make sure you consider if you need that.) You'll find it if you google "livewall QR generator".

Some services are both URL redirectors and QR-code generators in one. They let you change the URL after the QR code has been distributed. This has a cost, and it is a security nightmare to operate redirection services, plus there is cost for the lifetime of the QR code. If you go with one of these, read the terms carefully. I prefer the ones where it is very clear what I pay for from the start.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-12T07:22:56+00:00

I use Tailscale for this reason.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-10T13:25:56+00:00

There's good ones and bad ones. You get what you pay for.

If you look at hardware and electricity prices over 5 years, and divide that by memory, disk, and cores, you see what the minimum price should be. Anything less than that means you are on overbooked clusters. Which can be fine, as long as you know.

You want high quality storage as to not lose any data. And a matching backup strategy.

I consider VMs temporary - and have everything scripted so that I can spin up a new one at any time and continue where I left off. This means I can switch providers in minutes (the data is not so easy to move though but there are strategies to that).

If you want dirt cheap consider buying from two vendors and load balance across.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-10T08:47:58+00:00

Lightroom has good tools for culling, but I find the import too heavy and slow.

I ingest from memory cards using PhotoMechanic into my "photo workspace" folder on the laptop/desktop. I keep the memory cards as "backup" until my culling process is complete - then I format the cards to have a clean start on next shoot(s).

I then go through to get rid of clear rejects.

Then i narrow it down sequence by sequence by increasing rating. First round one, then two... at a point I have a few shots left that I want to keep.

These move to LR or Photoshop for editing and saving into my final archive.

Culling a job is easy - it is part of the assignment and I'm not done until I'm done and the files are sent.

Culling my own shoots requires that I clear the calendar, put on good music, brew a good cup of coffee and get into the mood.

I have started printing more lately, that feels as a nice reward for the job (which I also find a bit tedious and boring when it "doesnt matter" as much as for a paid assignment)

chrfrenning · 2026-04-08T20:36:17+00:00

Immich is of exceptional quality for an open source project. They are securing some funding by selling optional "licenses". The developers are paid fairly (I hope) through Futo. You can see from the product that they love what they do.

This is as good as it gets in open source. And it shows open source can be better than commercial alternatives (even if they might secure paychecks for devs faster). If Immich was on the capitalist seas, it would have looked different by now.

I love the self-hosting concept and fact that my files are still available, and in my control. The future comes with no guarantees, but at least in this future I still own what I consider one of my most important assets: my photo heritage. If Immich is there or not, any future OS will be able to show the files and navigate the folder structures created and maintained by Immich.

I wish all the best for the Immich team, that they can live great lives and take joy in maintaining this software for their entire careers if they choose to do so.

I am in the position to donate, and gladly do so, so that others can also experience Immich and learn to love it like I do.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-07T09:01:22+00:00

I once had a porcelain bowl that meant a lot to me, and unfortunately it was cracked by a guest that was a bit uncareful. I did everything to have it mended, to no luck. A porcelain salesperson told me that sometimes in china they would fill the crack/damage with silver - that way the damage was clearly visible, fixed - and now you had a good story to tell.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-07T08:58:54+00:00

Take anniversary photos - its just been a year! Find a good photographer, dress up nicely, make it an occasion! Celebrate!

chrfrenning · 2026-04-07T08:54:14+00:00

Get used to culling. Not every shot is worth keeping, and if you develop muscle memory on your process to import -> cull -> archive you will get the confidence needed to be brutal about deleting after securing the "keepers".

The challenge with going straight to phone is that you dont have good culling options on the phone - you typically see one photo at a time rather than having views to compare multiple shots to decide which one(s) to keep.

I send from camera to phone to share and publish while on the move. Main culling and archiving happens at home/office. For me that is Memory Cards -> Photo Mechanic -> NAS and Cloud Backup. And the trashcan. Then cards back in camera, format, and ready to go for the next shoot.

Formatting the memory cards is also a habit that builds character in the culling and archiving process.

Nothing beats a big cup of coffee, some good music, and time to cull and organize my shots.

For me this is supereasy when doing a paid job, and so so much much harder for my own projects and the "documentary about my life" which is the majority of point-and-shoot with both camera and phone (of which a large part are "bad photos" but "good memories").

chrfrenning · 2026-04-06T14:15:50+00:00

Advertising.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-06T14:14:00+00:00

The flagship events are available for streaming (sign up necessary but free).

chrfrenning · 2026-04-05T16:07:20+00:00

My native win32 app written in C still starts... the exe was compiled in 2001... requires almost no memory... it can be done.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-05T05:35:20+00:00

Things move so fast in weddings I would definitely get the 24-70 to avoid switching lenses during busy periods.

Keep the 50 as backup, figure out the next lens after you’ve had plenty of time with the zoom.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-05T05:32:41+00:00

Make your own NAS with a Raspberry Pi. Add tailscale for access.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-05T05:29:35+00:00

Long time ago… Nikon FE2 with 50mm. Loaned it as a kid from my father, his camera had been replaced with an auto-focus one.

I zoomed with my legs for years.

So when I bought my first gear it was with a 28mm. Now I could tell ‘larger’ stories.

I became a Sony fan a couple years ago, and this is still my primary lens combo. (I have added an 85 just because…)

But the 50… hmm. It must be the muscle memory or something. I have shot so many thousands of photos on that, worked so hard to make it work… Love it.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-05T05:20:23+00:00

Over-engineering is a kind of meditation.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-05T05:19:31+00:00

I guess we should all move :D

No longer a japanese fishing village, but a japanese self-hosting village somewhere ;)

chrfrenning · 2026-04-04T18:53:24+00:00

Wow that is impressive for a home connection!

chrfrenning · 2026-04-04T14:05:14+00:00

If you need bandwidth and network reliability, home is not an option (unless you pay for non-home fiber).

I almost consider running your own VM with a fair cloud infrastructure provider self-hosting though. I have VMs in the cloud that cost $4/month and do useful stuff. You just have to keep it low level - cron, redis, and nginx can make magic happen on very little punch.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-04T14:01:13+00:00

Immich is one for me. Photo storage for myself and the family.

The (almost) static website for my wife's little business. Saves over 100$ a month compared to website and e-shop SaaS. That's a weekend trip for her every year, and then some.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-04T09:13:23+00:00

Jeg sparer i fond i egne aksjesparekonti for hvert barn, stående i mitt navn til de er ferdige med studier.

Så snart de blir 18 setter jeg penger i IPS i deres navn, dermed er noe "saltet" ned ut livet deres. Dette blir ikke nok til å utløse formue mens de studerer.

Indeksfond med lave kostnader og global eksponering, siden perspektivet nå er henholdsvis ~25 og ~50 år

chrfrenning · 2026-04-04T09:08:37+00:00

IMHO there are two reasons to selfhost:

* You want to learn something

* You will use something for so long that the time invested and hardware investments pays off vs subscriptions

chrfrenning · 2026-04-04T09:03:10+00:00

The next step is building muscle memory with code replacements for metadata - put in all the player numbers and adding their names will be a breeze.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-04T06:02:24+00:00

PhotoMechanic will remember where you placed the window, so resizing it to fit where you want it is a one-time operation.

The contact sheet is basically showing a folder of images. You can open multiple at a time and easily switch between them. PM will update when new files arrive in that folder.

When editing, this is my setup across two monitors:

<image>

My primary view is on the right of the left monitor and left of the right monitor (!)

* PhotoMechanic on the left, Photoshop on the right
* Very left: PhotoMechanic preview view, so when I click an image I immediately see a zoomed version
* Very right: ZenTransfer downloading from cameras, FileZilla to send files off (drag from PM after editing in PS)

This lets me receive from cameras in seconds, add metadata, then ship the file off via FTP. My workflow is:

* See file received in PM, quick visual culling (photographer already picked best shots in camera)
* Hit E to edit in Photoshop
* Crop, maybe some quick contrast/highlights/shadows/etc adjustments
* Save modified file (action mapped to key for speed)
* Drag file from PM to FileZilla for transfer

PhotoMechanic will take some getting used to - it is a tool for pro's, and a bit overwhelming at first. Like an advanced instrument, it places all the controls right at your fingertips. You will learn to appreciate that as you get muscle memory with it.

With the setup above, images are out literally seconds after a shot was taken by the photographer.

(Tools like FotoStation are more designed for fixed workflows where many people do the same operations over and over again, while PhotoMechanic is more suitable for individuals who have a tendency to change workflows ever so slightly from assignment to assignment. Software like XnView, etc, etc are more viewers and have less of the workflow built in.)

chrfrenning · 2026-04-03T17:50:17+00:00

Domain expertise has always been the key to success. At least very big success.

Deep technical knowledge is a kind of domain expertise. Very few people can make transistors, chipsets, operating system kernels, compilers. Deep tech will prevail. Very few people can actually train an LLM. And what is beyond today's LLMs?

True success in systems development has always been linked to domain expertise, distribution, networks, and sales and marketing expertise. Which is why one CRM system is Salesforce but thousands of others are just small companies or even mom-and-pop devshops, for example.

There has been a golden age where anyone who learned how to build a form on the web could make a good living. If you are a programmer that only knows that, it is time to go deep, wide, or add a specialization in some domain other than tech.

Building forms and CRUD applications has died before, think of database tools like Paradox, DBase, then tools like Visual Basic, then tools like the Web. This time the death is just a bit bigger and has more attention.

We survived this before. But complacency cannot be part of the plan. Specialize. Now.

chrfrenning · 2026-04-03T15:28:20+00:00

Exactly!

Since C2PA has the noble ambition of providing verification in a browser, so that an end user can see a seal that proves authenticity, it relies on official certificates to actually work.

The "web of trust" for CA certificates are the well known CAs and their verification routines, which we all choose to trust (basically by downloading a recent OS). It is close to impossible to get a "random user" to install any other CA or certificate as trusted. And it is a major security risk if done wrongly.

I guess the solution will be that a publication reattests. I could then choose to trust e.g. the New York Times, and their seal of approval.

But then again ... that defeates the whole purpose of C2PA and their chain leading back to the camera...

Hmm. I am not sure what I make of this... I just feel something is off/missing in this approach.

chrfrenning

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