Organizer Check List

Step 1: Place an order


  • Choose how many Chronolog photo stations to order. Discounts are applied when you order more than 1 Chronolog:
    • For 1 photo station the cost is $200 annually.
    • For 2 photo stations the cost is $180 each, for a total of $360 annually. 
    • For 3 photo stations the cost is $170 each, for a total of $510 annually.
    • For 4 photo stations the cost is $160 each, for a total of $640 annually.
    • For 5 photo stations the cost is $150 each, for a total of $750 annually.
    • For 6 photo stations the cost is $140 each, for a total of $840 annually.  
    • For 7 photo stations the cost is $130 each, for a total of $910 annually.  
    • For 8 photo stations the cost is $120 each, for a total of $960 annually.  
    • For 9 photo stations the cost is $110 each, for a total of $990 annually.  
    • For 10 photo stations the cost is $100 each, for a total of $1,000 annually.  
    • For 10 photo stations (and above) the cost is $100 each.
  • Decide if you would like to pay for multiple years of service upfront:
    • You can purchase up to 5 years of service upfront.
    • You will receive an email at the end of your pre-paid billing cycle asking if you’d like to continue your time lapse. The same bulk order discounts will apply when it is time to renew. There is no contract or commitment to continue your time lapse.
    • The start date of your year-long begins on the day of the first photo upload so there is no wasted time between when the photo station is purchased and when it is installed.
  • Choose your Site ID:
    • The Site ID are the 3 letters that your photo station codes begin. Visitors use the Site ID as the subject line when submitting photos. When deciding on a Site ID, it is best practice to use letters from your organization’s name (ex: SHE for Shenandoah National Park) and not from the specific location of the photo station in case your organization has more than one photo station or decides to add more photo stations later. If you have a preference, please share it with us at the time of ordering. If you do not share your preference, we will suggest one for you. 
    • There will be a place to list your organization’s name, partners, and the location of the photo station on the sign. Here is an example instruction sign for reference.
  • Place an order by emailing info@chronolog.io with the number of Chronolog photo stations you would like an your preferred 3-letter organization code:
    • We will follow up with an invoice for your new Chronolog(s).
    • Organizers outside of the U.S. are charged a flat $100 shipping fee.

Step 2: Set up your account

Once your invoice is paid, we will create your account on the Organizer Dashboard where you can set up and manage your photo stations. You will receive an email inviting you to the newly created Organization. Follow the instructions in the invitation email to get started. Once you are logged into the Organization dashboard, get started with a few important steps:


  • Share your shipping address:
    • When you first log in to the dashboard, you will be prompted to share your shipping address. This is where we will send the photo station materials. 
  • Upload logos to be featured on your sign:
    • We will design the custom sign and ship it directly to you along with the bracket.
    • We can include the logos of your partners in this project so you can credit them.
    • Once you’ve submitted logos on the dashboard, we will make a proof of the instruction sign and get your approval before printing (example).
  • Describe your scene:
    • Add information about what you are monitoring so others can learn about your project. You will also be asked to upload coordinates of your photo station(s).
    • If you aren’t sure what to monitor yet, you can always come back to this step.
    • Your time lapse page won’t be public until you upload the first photo.
  • Once you approve of the instruction sign you can expect the bracket and instruction sign to arrive within 2 weeks.

Step 3: Install your photo station

Here are examples of photo stations installations.

Tips for picking a location:

  • Decide what the story is that you want to tell with your Chronolog, this will help you decide where to install it.
  • Make sure you have authorization from the organization that manages the land.
  • Choose a location that is accessible to the public and easy to find. Photo stations that are clearly visible and along areas with foot traffic get the most uploads. 
    • If needed, you can move it to another location and reset your time lapse. 
  • Once you’ve picked a general location, use your cell phone camera as a viewfinder to frame the scene you want to monitor and find the best location to install your photo station. 
  • Decide how you will mount your bracket and sign. You can mount the bracket and sign either on an existing structure (example) or on a new 4x4 wood post (example).
  • Collect the required tools:
    • To install the bracket and sign, you will need a drill with square screw drive - otherwise known as a Robertson screwdriver.
    • To install without mounting on an existing structure, you will also need a 4x4 inch wood post and a post hole digger and shovel. The post is not provided. 
  • Install the photo station:
    • Ideally the bracket should be about 4 feet from the ground.
    • The instruction signs do not have predrilled holes. You can use the provided screws to puncture the instruction sign, or drill bits to pre drill the holes for the instruction sign mount.  
    • Make sure the side of the bracket with the Chronolog logo faces outwards towards the scene. The logo side of the bracket should not face towards the visitor. 
  • Take the first photo and upload it to Chronolog:
    • You should receive an email receipt of your contribution. Congratulations, your Chronolog photo station is now live! 
    • Now is a good time to make sure you have added a title, description, and coordinates to the Organizer Dashboard so that your Chronolog time lapse page is visible to the public. You can learn more about uploading coordinates here.
  • Before you leave the site, take a photo of the installed photo station and upload it on the Organizer Dashboard. This serves as a record that we can refer to in the future (ex: how to properly reinstall in case of damage). 


Step 4: Collect and use your photos

You will be able to manage your account through a dashboard, remove photos, and update site description. 


Share your Chronolog with the public:

  • Embed your Chronolog time lapse on your own website (example).
  • Create a press release (example). 
  • Post about your new photo station on social media, website, or with an article (example).

Periodically maintain your Chronolog project:

  • Review photos and remove any that don’t belong in the time lapse.
    • Photos will be automatically added to your time lapse, you do not need to review them first. 
    • Chronolog provides an automatic system that screens photos for illicit content.
    • Sometimes people upload photos to the wrong photo station or poor quality photos that reduce the quality of the time lapse- these are easy to remove if you are logged into the Organizer Dashboard.  
  • Update your site description to share progress about your monitoring project. 
  • The Organizer Dashboard makes it easy to keep the public up to date about your project. You can also link to your own website.
  • Check your photo stations to remove debris that may inhibit contributors from using the phone bracket or sign. 


Let’s get started


Place an order by emailing info@chronolog.io with the number of Chronolog photo stations you would like an your preferred 3-letter organization code.


FAQ about placing an order

  • What if I want to buy a Chronolog now, but install it later? 
    • Your billing cycle does not start until the first photo is uploaded, so you can pay for the photo station and install it on a different schedule (for example, you can order photo stations in December but wait until the spring to install, and your billing cycle won’t start until after the photo station is installed and operating).
  • Is there any contract or commitment? 
    • There is no contract or commitment to renew. We will send you an email at the end of your billing cycle asking if you’d like to continue the time lapse. The same bulk order discounts will apply when it is time to renew. 
  • Do I need to pay extra for the sign and bracket? What about shipping?
    • No. The price of a photo station is a flat rate and includes all required materials (the sign, bracket, and installation hardware) as well as shipping costs. 

FAQ about Features

  • Do I need to review every photo? 
    • No, Chronolog automatically downloads and processes every photo uploaded to your photo station and stores it in the cloud for you.
  • What if someone uploads inappropriate photos?
    • Chronolog automatically scans every photo uploaded by a user before it is added to the time lapse. Photos containing inappropriate or explicit content are identified and removed before they are made public.
  • What if someone uploads a photo with a person in it? 
    • By default, Chronolog allows photos containing people to be uploaded to a time lapse, as long as they do not contain explicit or inappropriate content. However, organizers may request to have photos containing humans automatically filtered and removed from their time lapses, in addition to the automatic filtering Chronolog does to remove explicit content. You can find instructions here.
  • What if someone uploads a photo that doesn’t belong?
    • Sometimes people accidentally upload the wrong photo to a Chronolog, or accidentally point their camera facing the wrong direction. As the organizer of your Chronolog, you can delete any photo for any reason easily from the dashboard.
  • Do I have access to the photos?
    • Yes. You can download the processed photos for your Chronolog time lapse at any time. You can also email Chronolog support to get access to full resolution photos and metadata about the photos. 
  • Can I show the Chronolog time lapse on my own website?
    • Yes. It is easy to embed a Chronolog time lapses into any web site. You can follow instructions here.
Did this answer your question? Thanks for the feedback There was a problem submitting your feedback. Please try again later.

Still need help? Contact Us Contact Us