> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dscout.com/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/photo-questions.md).

# Photo questions

<table><thead><tr><th>Study type</th><th data-type="checkbox">Availability</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Screeners</strong></td><td>true</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Usability tests</strong></td><td>false</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Media surveys</strong></td><td>true</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Intercept studies</strong></td><td>false</td></tr><tr><td><strong>AI moderated studies</strong></td><td>false</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Diary studies</strong></td><td>true</td></tr></tbody></table>

Photo questions let participants answer by either taking or uploading a photo. Use a photo question when you want to see something in a participant's world instead of asking them to describe it, such as a product in use, a workspace, or a screenshot. In screeners, a photo can also serve as proof that an applicant is eligible.

<figure><img src="https://3976082747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FIKfn7RcT4CW9XaIbqAdd%2Fuploads%2F6Um6RascZFhfxHrzSmfA%2FIgnore.png?alt=media&amp;token=49e469dc-1c45-4481-847f-10c18d4fe71b" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Each photo question collects a single photo in .png or .jpeg format. To collect more than one photo, add a separate photo question for each. For the number of photo questions each study type allows, see [Media limits](/study-basics/design-a-study/media-limits.md).

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Photo questions aren't available in usability tests, intercept studies, or AI moderated studies.
{% endhint %}

### Photo question settings

The settings available on a photo question depend on which type of study you're building. Select your study type below for more information.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Screeners" %}
Add a photo question to a screener in the **Additional questions** section of the **Screener** tab. A screener can include one photo question.

| Setting                   | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Prompt**                | The question applicants answer, such as a request for a photo that shows they qualify. Tell applicants what they'll need to take the photo, such as being at home or having a car with them. You can format the prompt with `*bold*`, `_italic_`, and `[link text](http://example.com)`. Type @ to recall a closed-ended response from earlier in your screener. |
| **Stimuli** (optional)    | Attach up to 5 images for applicants to react to. For more information, see [Question stimuli](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-stimuli.md).                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Stimuli randomization** | Presents attached stimuli in a random order to each applicant. This setting appears once the question has more than one stimulus attached.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Skip logic** (optional) | Route applicants to a later question or end the screener after they answer. For more information, see [Skip logic in screeners](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-screeners.md).                                                                                                                                                                        |

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Photo questions aren't supported in screeners for Partner Panels. For more information, see [Recruit from Partner Panels using a screener](/recruit-participants/partner-panels/recruit-from-partner-panels-using-a-screener.md).
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Media surveys" %}
Add photo questions on the **Media survey** tab of your builder. A media survey can include as many photo questions as you need.

| Setting                   | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Prompt**                | The question participants answer. Describe what the photo should show, and consider attaching an example as a stimulus. You can format the prompt with `*bold*`, `_italic_`, and `[link text](http://example.com)`. Type @ to recall a closed-ended response from earlier in your study. |
| **Stimuli** (optional)    | Attach up to 5 pieces of media for participants to react to. For more information, see [Question stimuli](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-stimuli.md).                                                                                          |
| **Stimuli randomization** | Presents attached stimuli in a random order to each participant. This setting appears once the question has more than one stimulus attached.                                                                                                                                             |
| **Skip logic** (optional) | Route participants to a later question, question group, or the end of the study after they answer. For more information, see [Skip logic](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-usability-tests-media-surveys-and-intercept-studies.md).                                            |
| {% endtab %}              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

{% tab title="Diary studies" %}
Add photo questions to a diary study on the **Questions** tab of your builder. An activity can include up to 5 photo questions.

| Setting                   | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Prompt**                | The question participants answer. Describe what the photo should show, and consider attaching an example as a stimulus. You can format the prompt with `*bold*`, `_italic_`, and `[link text](http://example.com)`. |
| **Stimuli** (optional)    | Attach up to 5 images for participants to react to. For more information, see [Question stimuli](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-stimuli.md).                              |
| **Stimuli randomization** | Presents attached stimuli in a random order to each participant. This setting appears once the question has more than one stimulus attached.                                                                        |
| **Skip logic** (optional) | Route participants to a later point in the activity after they answer. For more information, see [Skip logic in diary studies](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-diary-studies.md).                        |
| {% endtab %}              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| {% endtabs %}             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

### Add a photo question to a study

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** In a screener, photo questions go in the **Additional questions** section. They can't be knockout questions, and they aren't available on the screeners of auto-recruit studies, which support only multiple choice questions. For more information, see [Question types in screeners](/recruit-participants/what-are-dscout-screeners/question-types-in-screeners.md).
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Navigate to the tab of your builder where you want the question—**Questions**, **Media survey**, or **Screener**, depending on your study type.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **+ Add** in the center of the builder or in the left sidebar. (**+ Add question** in diary studies, or **Add additional question** in screeners.)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select **Photo**.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3976082747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FIKfn7RcT4CW9XaIbqAdd%2Fuploads%2FacRdSf07EeICHn45YOm4%2FPhoto_questions.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=8f57697e-0746-4317-977b-7d1ba0384227" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Enter your **Prompt**.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3976082747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FIKfn7RcT4CW9XaIbqAdd%2Fuploads%2F3S51ZwMXLZUE9xwb6Idn%2FPhoto_questions%20(1).jpg?alt=media&amp;token=ec4c5886-4622-4d77-834b-0011dbd3af3b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Configure the remaining settings. For details, see [Photo question settings](#photo-question-settings) above.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **Done**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

#### Group and randomize photo questions

Photo questions work with Dscout's question-organization features:

* [**Question groups**](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-groups.md) keep related questions together and can randomize the order they're presented in.
* [**Multi-variate testing**](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/multi-variate-testing.md) presents different concepts or design variants to different participants.
* [**Question banks**](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-banks.md) let you save a photo question and reuse it in other studies that support photo questions.

### Analyze a photo question

Photo responses appear as photos alongside your participants' answers to the rest of your questions.

#### Screeners and media surveys

In the **Questions** view, a photo question shows a grid of thumbnails, each labeled with the participant's name. Select a thumbnail to open the photo at full size, then use the left and right arrow keys to move through the other photos. Select **Expand** to see the question's responses on their own.

Use **Sort by** to order the photos by **Newest to oldest**, **Oldest to newest**, **Participant name: A to Z**, or **Participant name: Z to A**.

<figure><img src="https://3976082747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FIKfn7RcT4CW9XaIbqAdd%2Fuploads%2FrhXd3axVso75Fl3LCdQ3%2FPhoto_questions%20(2).jpg?alt=media&amp;token=7432b1fe-3359-4264-935a-9696ae71bc19" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Diary studies

In diary studies, open an entry to see the participant's photo with the rest of their responses.

<figure><img src="https://3976082747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FIKfn7RcT4CW9XaIbqAdd%2Fuploads%2F4CkAb6xIXlUKbH8Wm6wG%2FPhoto_questions%20(3).jpg?alt=media&amp;token=ec7d6b82-a06d-4852-9a42-cb14eb9548ff" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### View individual responses

Open a participant's entry or session to see their photo at full size alongside their other responses. Under the photo, **Rotate** turns the image, and **Download** saves it to your computer. **Download** isn't shown if you don't have permission to export data or if the study is in test mode. If you can't seem to download media from your Dscout studies, contact [Dscout Support](mailto:support@dscout.com).

<figure><img src="https://3976082747-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FIKfn7RcT4CW9XaIbqAdd%2Fuploads%2FcXXFP4cnMaUqbzgLOm6C%2FPhoto_questions%20(4).jpg?alt=media&amp;token=ba1674e9-c723-4abf-94fc-f80296eb222e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Export photos

To download every photo at once, use your study's export. In media surveys, **Entry photos and videos (.zip)** includes each photo as a .jpg file. For more information, see [Export media survey data](/media-surveys/analyze-a-media-survey/export-media-survey-data.md).

### Frequently asked questions

<details>

<summary>How many photos can participants upload?</summary>

Each photo question collects one photo. To collect more, add more photo questions. Media surveys have no limit on the number of photo questions. A diary activity can include up to 5, and a screener can include 1. The limits are counted along any one path through your skip logic, so what matters is the most photos any one participant could be asked for. If you go over the limit, Dscout asks you to remove photo questions before you can launch your study or submit it for review.

</details>

<details>

<summary>What file types can participants upload?</summary>

Participants can upload .png and .jpeg files.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can participants upload a GIF?</summary>

No. Photo questions accept .png and .jpeg files. A GIF won't upload, and the participant’s response may be incomplete or missing from your results. Tell participants in your prompt to upload a still photo or screenshot.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can I make a photo question optional?</summary>

No. Dscout doesn't currently have a setting to make a question optional. To let participants skip a photo, first ask a multiple choice question, such as "Can you take a photo?", and use skip logic to send participants who answer "No" past the photo question. For more information, see [Skip logic in usability tests, media surveys, and intercept studies](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-usability-tests-media-surveys-and-intercept-studies.md), [Skip logic in diary studies](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-diary-studies.md) and [Skip logic in screeners](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-screeners.md).

</details>

<details>

<summary>Why can't I add a photo question to my usability test, intercept study, or AI moderated study?</summary>

Photo questions aren't available in these study types because they are continuously recorded. For the question types each study type offers, see its question types article:

* [Question types in usability tests](/usability-tests/what-are-usability-tests-in-dscout/question-types-in-usability-tests.md).
* [Question types in intercept studies](/intercept-studies/what-are-intercept-studies-in-dscout/question-types-in-intercept-studies.md).
* [Question types in AI moderated studies](/ai-moderated-studies/what-are-ai-moderated-studies/question-types-in-ai-moderated-studies.md).

</details>

<details>

<summary>Why can't I add a photo question to my Partner Panels screener?</summary>

Screeners for Partner Panels don't support photo questions. You can include a photo question in your study itself. For more information, see [Recruit from Partner Panels using a screener](/recruit-participants/partner-panels/recruit-from-partner-panels-using-a-screener.md).

</details>


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