[Back to Blog](/blog/)  **A better alternative to mass coupon distribution**: Many teams used bulk coupons to offer photo deals before an event. With [9Pic Checkout](/products/checkout/) pre-sale, buyers can purchase a photo pass directly on the platform, so the sale, buyer details, and future claim journey stay connected. Like the rest of Checkout, pre-sale keeps **0% platform commission** on your photo sales (payment-provider fees still apply). Why pre-sell event photos? -------------------------- Interest in event photos starts before the starting gun. Participants are already checking their BIB, collecting their race kit, and planning what they will share after the event. That is the right moment to offer a clear photo pass instead of asking them to remember a coupon code or return to a separate sales page later. Pre-sale gives organizers a direct way to collect early photo purchases on 9Pic AI. Buyers choose a pass and complete checkout before the media is ready, while their purchase remains connected to the event and their account. One platform from pre-booking to claiming ----------------------------------------- Set up a pre-event plan in the 9Pic AI dashboard Checkout area, choose the photo pass options and prices you want to offer, then publish the purchase journey for your event. Buyers can purchase a single-photo pass, a multi-photo pass, or an all-photos pass before race day. Pre-sale builds on the same Checkout foundation introduced with direct [Stripe](/blog/9pic-checkout-stripe-zero-commission/), [Xendit](/blog/9pic-checkout-xendit-zero-commission/), and [PayMongo](/blog/9pic-checkout-paymongo-zero-commission/) integrations. ### Pre-book before the event Let participants select and pay for a photo pass while your event is still in its pre-sale window. ### Notify buyers when photos are live Automatically email buyers with a clear next step: their photos are live and ready to claim. ### Claim in the right workflow Guide each buyer into the discovery and claiming experience configured for your event. Share the offer at BIB or race-kit collection --------------------------------------------- Pre-sale is especially useful at BIB collection and race-kit collection, when participants are already engaging with your event. Share the 9Pic pre-book link through a QR code, event message, registration follow-up, volunteer desk, or partner communication. Instead of issuing a batch of discount codes and reconciling them later, participants can make their purchase directly on the platform. Your team has the buyer information needed for the next step, and participants have a clear path back to their pass. When photos are live, make claiming simple ------------------------------------------ Once event media is live, pre-booked buyers can be sent an automatic message such as: *“Your photos are live—go claim your photos.”* The message brings them back to the same platform where they bought their pass, rather than making them search for a different gallery or remember a code. The claim experience can use the discovery workflow that fits your event. Participants can find photos through [BIB search](/products/bibtrack/), [selfie search](/products/facefind/), or another supported event journey. They then claim the photos included in their pass and continue to their entitled downloads. For the broader monetization workflow after photos are live, see [Sell Event Photos Online](/blog/sell-event-photos-online/). Pre-sale ideas for your next event ---------------------------------- - Offer an early photo-pass price to participants during BIB collection. - Bundle a photo pass with a race-kit pickup message or event partner offer. - Give runners a choice between one photo, a selected-photo bundle, and an all-photos pass. - Use a time-bound pre-sale window, then move to your post-event checkout plans when photos are live. - Use coupons for targeted promotions while keeping the main pre-sale purchase journey on 9Pic AI. Build your pre-sale in the 9Pic AI dashboard -------------------------------------------- Open the [9Pic AI dashboard](https://admin.9pic.ai/), select your event, and configure the pre-event plan in Checkout. Checkout is available as an Enterprise plan feature—talk to us if you need help enabling it. The result is a more connected buyer experience: purchase before the event, notification when media is ready, and a direct route to claim the photos they came for. Related reading: [9Pic Checkout](/products/checkout/) · [Stripe](/blog/9pic-checkout-stripe-zero-commission/) · [Xendit](/blog/9pic-checkout-xendit-zero-commission/) · [PayMongo](/blog/9pic-checkout-paymongo-zero-commission/) · [Stamp watermark preview](/blog/9pic-stamp-smart-watermarking/) · [Sell event photos online](/blog/sell-event-photos-online/). Start selling photo passes before your event -------------------------------------------- Set up a pre-sale plan in 9Pic Checkout and give participants one connected path from purchase to photo claim—with 0% platform commission on photo sales. [Get Started](https://admin.9pic.ai/sign-up)[See Checkout](/products/checkout/)