How to Pre-Populate Your Album
Pre-populating your album lets you add your own photos before or during the event. This is a great way to seed your gallery with professional shots, engagement photos, or early event moments to encourage guests to contribute.
Pricing may vary depending on your country and currency. See the latest pricing on the pricing page.
How to Pre-Populate
- Go to Photos in the sidebar
- Click Album in the Actions section
- Click the "Pre-Populate Album" button
- Drag and drop photos anywhere in the dialog, or click the upload area to browse your device. Each photo shows a thumbnail, and you can remove one or add more before uploading
- Choose the photo quality for the batch (see below)
- Click "Upload". Photos are automatically approved and added to your album, and the dialog closes on its own once everything is in
If a file cannot be added (a video, a file over the size limit, a duplicate, or one that would exceed the batch limit) the dialog tells you which ones were skipped and why. If some photos fail to upload, you get a summary with a "Retry" button for just the ones that failed.
Upload limits:
- Up to 20 photos per batch
- Up to 80 MB per file
- JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and HEIC (iPhone) photos are supported. HEIC files are converted automatically
Choosing the Photo Quality
Each batch uploads in one of two qualities, the same ones guests get on the upload page:
- Optimized (selected every time you open the dialog) — Photos are compressed to at most 1920 pixels on their longest side. They upload fast and look sharp on any screen, the live carousel included.
- Full HD — Your original files are uploaded as they are, so downloads and prints keep full resolution. Larger files take longer to upload. Available on paid plans.
Pick Full HD for a photographer's set you want guests to download in full quality. See Optimized vs Full HD for the details.
When to Use Pre-Populate
Before the Event
- Add engagement or save-the-date photos for weddings
- Include venue photos or event branding
- Upload promotional images for corporate events
During the Event
- Add professional photographer shots in real-time
- Include photos from your own phone
- Share behind-the-scenes moments
After the Event
- Add professional photos once received from the photographer
- Include any photos guests sent you directly
Do this before the event finishes. Once it is Finished (you clicked End event, or the upload window closed), the pre-populate button is no longer offered. If the photographer delivers later, extend the upload window while the event is still live.
Tips for Pre-Populating
- Start with a few photos - Having some photos already in the gallery (and live carousel) encourages guests to add their own
- Mix content types - Include a variety of shots (group photos, details, candids)
- Upload in batches - If you have more than 20 photos, upload them in multiple batches
- Quality matters - Pre-populated photos set the tone for your gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do pre-populated photos count toward my photo limit? A: Yes, pre-populated photos count toward your event's total photo limit (50 for free events, unlimited for paid plans).
Q: Are pre-populated photos automatically approved? A: Yes, all photos you upload through pre-populate are automatically approved and visible in the gallery immediately.
Q: Can I upload more than 20 photos? A: You can upload 20 photos at a time. To add more, simply repeat the process with another batch of photos.
Q: Can I upload videos through pre-populate? A: No. Pre-populate accepts photos only, and a video in your selection is skipped with a notice. Guests can upload videos through the QR code upload link (on plans that support video).
Q: Can I pre-populate after the event has finished? A: No. Pre-populate is available while the event is upcoming, live or paused. A finished free event can be reopened by upgrading it; for a finished paid event, contact support through the support chat.
Q: Which album do pre-populated photos go to? A: The main album. You can then move them to another album, one by one or with Select photos.
Q: Can guests tell which photos were pre-populated? A: No, pre-populated photos appear the same as guest uploads in the gallery. There's no indicator showing who uploaded a photo.
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