[Back to Blog](/blog/)  **TL;DR**: Use [9Pic Certify](/products/certify/) to deliver unlimited event certificates under an annual subscription without per-participant certificate fees. Let participants pick a race day photo, use timing-provider data or a CSV upload, and still keep the option to issue simple standard certificates to every participant. Why boring certificates fail ---------------------------- Most event certificates are technically correct but emotionally flat. They carry the participant name, event name, and maybe a finish time. That is useful for records, but it does not feel like the event. Participants share the certificate when it feels personal. A runner wants the photo where they crossed the finish line. A hackathon winner wants a certificate that carries the team name and award category. A school, college, corporate, or community event may want a clean participation certificate that still feels official and branded. What a personalized certificate can include ------------------------------------------- A stronger certificate connects participant data, event branding, and event media in one downloadable asset. Depending on the event, that can include: ### Race Day Photo Let participants select a favorite matched photo from the event gallery and place it directly on the certificate. ### Timing Data Add finish time, category, rank, bib number, or other fields from a timing-provider integration or uploaded CSV. ### Event Branding Use event colors, sponsor logos, organizer branding, and certificate layouts built for official delivery. Give participants photo choice ------------------------------ The simplest way to make a certificate feel personal is to let the participant choose the photo. 9Pic AI can match participants with photos using [FaceFind](/products/facefind/) or [BibTrack](/products/bibtrack/), then organizers can offer a certificate workflow where the participant chooses the image they want to keep. This matters because the "best" photo is subjective. One participant may prefer a finish-line smile. Another may want a mid-race action shot. A personalized certificate should support that choice instead of forcing the same static design for everyone. Use timing provider data or upload CSV data ------------------------------------------- Certificates only work at scale when the participant data is structured. 9Pic Certify supports the practical workflows event teams already use: - **Timing-provider integration**: pull official event data where the race timing stack is connected. - **CSV upload**: upload participant names, bib numbers, teams, categories, timings, rankings, or award fields. - **Manual review before rollout**: preview certificate output before sending links or emails to participants. This means race directors can include finish time and category placement, while non-race organizers can use fields like department, team, project title, workshop name, or award category. Regular certificates are still supported ---------------------------------------- Not every event needs photo personalization. Some events simply need a clean certificate for every participant. 9Pic Certify supports that too: upload the participant list, map the required fields, and generate a regular branded certificate for each person. This is useful for events where a certificate is expected by default: training programs, workshops, college festivals, hackathons, internal company events, community competitions, and school activities. Not only for running events --------------------------- Running events are a natural fit because they already have bib numbers, timing data, and race photos. But certificates are not limited to marathons. | Event type | Useful certificate fields | Photo option | | --- | --- | --- | | Running, cycling, triathlon | Bib number, finish time, rank, category | Participant-selected race day photo | | Hackathons | Team, track, award, project name | Team photo or award-stage photo | | Corporate and college events | Department, activity, role, workshop | Gallery photo or standard certificate | | Competitions and festivals | Category, placement, participation type | Performance or podium photo | Unlimited certificates without per-participant certificate fees --------------------------------------------------------------- Per-participant certificate pricing becomes uncomfortable fast. If you run a 500-person workshop, a 5,000-runner race, or a multi-event college festival, every extra certificate should not create a new billing decision. With the annual 9Pic Certify subscription, organizers can issue unlimited certificates to participants without a per-participant certificate fee. That makes certificates easier to include as a default benefit instead of treating them like an add-on reserved for a few winners. If the event also uses 9Pic AI for photo hosting, selfie search, bib search, or other media workflows, those services follow the relevant platform pricing. The certificate delivery itself is designed to scale across participants under the annual Certify subscription. Certificate rollout checklist ----------------------------- - **Pick the certificate type**: regular certificate for everyone, personalized photo certificate, or both. - **Prepare participant data**: timing-provider data or a clean CSV with names, bibs, categories, and custom fields. - **Map certificate fields**: name, timing, ranking, team, award, photo placement, and sponsor areas. - **Preview before sending**: generate test certificates before sending the full participant rollout. FAQ --- ### Can participants choose their own certificate photo? Yes. You can offer a workflow where participants pick from their matched event photos and use the selected image on the certificate. ### Can I upload CSV data instead of using a timing provider? Yes. CSV upload is supported for participant data such as name, bib number, category, team, timing, ranking, award, or any custom field your certificate needs. ### Can I issue regular certificates without photos? Yes. You can generate standard participation or achievement certificates for every participant, even when you do not want a photo on the design. ### Is this only for marathons and running events? No. Running events are a strong use case, but the same system works for hackathons, college events, workshops, corporate events, festivals, competitions, and community programs. ### Do I pay per participant for certificates? Under the annual 9Pic Certify subscription, you can issue unlimited certificates without a per-participant certificate fee. Related photo hosting or AI search services may still follow their own platform pricing. Next steps ---------- If certificates are part of your participant experience, stop treating them as a plain PDF afterthought. Use [9Pic Certify](/products/certify/) to build a certificate workflow around participant data, race day photos, and official event branding. To plan your event setup, [contact us](/contact/). Ready to Get Started? --------------------- Join hundreds of event organizers who trust 9Pic AI for photo hosting, AI search, and media delivery. [Get Started](https://admin.9pic.ai/sign-up) [Book Demo](https://cal.com/arghya/9pic-ai)