Photographer resource center

On the settings page in Navigate, you can update your market coverage at any time. Please only select the markets you’ll complete assignments in.

Airbnb determines the areas and regions included in specific markets. During the onboarding process, you can select the markets you would like to receive photography assignments in. For example, by selecting "Paris," you will receive requests from the whole Paris market. Note ‘markets’ are typically  larger  than cities. If you receive an assignment within your market that is too far away, you can always decline the assignment in Navigate . You can always update your list of selected markets on the Navigate settings page.

We’re sorry to see you go!

Please change your status to ‘Inactive’ on Navigate. You can switch the status anytime and become an active photographer again. If you would like your account to be deleted please email our team at photography@airbnb.com 

Yes. Airbnb secures full ownership and copyrights to the photos but we provide you a right to display any photos you take in your portfolio, subject to the term of your agreement with Airbnb. Please do not provide any raw or untouched images to Hosts.

Yes, we now have pro photography programs that support homes, luxe, hotels, experiences, and services photoshoots. If you’re interested in being considered for other programs, you can submit examples of your work using this form. We will review your application to that program, and let you know if you’re a good fit.

Yes! Please update your address and markets within your profile settings in Navigate. If traveling abroad, please ensure you have all of the proper VISA requirements that allows you to continue to receive these freelance assignments. Please remember to update your address once you’re back to avoid receiving future requests in that location.

Payments are typically made every two weeks. All payments can be tracked on both Navigate and your Airbnb ‘Transaction History.’ These payments are processed to a payout method on your Airbnb account; here’s an FAQ with instructions on how to add one.

During non promotional periods, you will only receive assignments when hosts near you request them. If you are not receiving assignments, it’s because there are no photoshoot requests near you.

The rate is defined by multiple criteria such as the location of the listing, the number of bedrooms and the distance of the listing from your registered address.

We sometimes offer travel compensation based on the driving distance between the listing and your registered address. Travel compensation varies from market to market. If travel compensation is offered, it will be visible on the assignment request in Navigate.

We will compensate up to 50% of the rate for cancellations made by the host within 24 hrs of the photoshoot. To notify us and request compensation, please contact our team via the Chatbot in Navigate. To qualify for this payment, please be sure to enter the shoot date in the system as soon as you know it, which will allow our team to validate the cancellation. Additionally, we will require a screenshot of your text conversation with the Host confirming the last minute cancellation. 

We encourage you to photograph when you and the host can find a mutually beneficial time in your schedules. However, try to optimize based on the type of property being photographed. For example, schedule ASAP if it’s an apartment without a view in London, but try to schedule on a sunny day for a villa in the south of Spain. Or for experiences/services, prioritize good weather for outdoor shoots, when it’s possible.

Please prioritize uploading the images as soon as possible. Preferably the same day or within 24 hours of the photoshoot.

We’re sorry for the inconvenience and understand how frustrating this can be. While we link to the Host Prep Guide in the host’s dashboard, we recommend also reminding them to review it ahead of the photoshoot, as this often improves readiness. That said, some hosts may still not follow the guidelines, please do your best to proceed. If the shoot can’t move forward, email photography@airbnb.com.

Our goal is to have the images live for the host in less than 7 days after we receive the assets. Please prioritize uploading the RAW images as soon as possible!

You should never send photos directly to the Host. If Hosts have additional questions on how this service works, please direct them to contact our team with the Chatbot which can be located on their Host Portal link. 

After you have accepted the assignment, you will be connected with the Host via email, and we encourage you to communicate on this thread. If you can’t find the introduction email with the subject line, "Meet your photographer", look for it in your spam folder. The Host’s phone number will also be visible on the assignment page within Navigate.

This is not required and it is up to you if you would like to share your portfolio with the Host. We recommend directing the Host to this page which has more information on our photography style and creative direction.

If you ever feel as though your personal safety is threatened in any way, find the quickest and most non-confrontational way to excuse yourself from the situation. Once you have left any unsafe situation, please alert us of the situation at photography@airbnb.com. In the event of an emergency, contact your local authorities. You are never obligated to complete an assignment, and will not be penalized for canceling a request. If a Host is rude or hostile, you should cancel the request.

You may not solicit Hosts for any additional photography work. However, if a Host contacts you to discuss and request a quote on another photography project, you are welcome to collaborate with the Host on the photography project.

Each photography assignment is generated only after the Host has approved the price quote. Occasionally, when a photographer arrives at a property, the Host requests that they take photographs of multiple listings. You may take photographs of all listings requested, but please let the Host know that their photographs will be updated only after they have approved the additional price quotes. Please contact our team via the Chatbot on Navigate should this happen so that we can generate new quotes and create additional upload folders. Please only upload photos that belong to a given assignment. 

Please upload all images of the property so that the Airbnb editor can make selections and handle all retouching. Once the photos are published to the listing, the host may rearrange or delete any photos. If the Host is unhappy with the selection, they may email photography@airbnb.com.

Hosts can contact our team via the Chatbot on the Host Portal if they have any questions. A link to their Host Portal page is available in every email they receive from our team. 

You are required* to use a full frame camera* with zoom lenses that can go between 16 - 24mm and 35-70mm. We do not accept lenses wider than 16mm, only tighter than 24mm, or strictly prime lenses. If photographing for homes, a tripod is also required.

*If capturing with a cropped sensor body, we only accept 10-20mm lenses.

For each new request you will receive on Navigate, you will find a link to the specific assignment creative brief. The brief in the assignment can change from assignment to assignment, so we recommend always checking the brief attached.

You are required to submit merged RAW brackets. The preferable file format for submission is DNG, as it uploads faster. We recommend Lightroom for this process. If you are not able to create DNGs, you can always upload the merged RAW files. learn more here.

It’s best to photograph these forms using your camera, as you will be able to process the images of the forms, the same way you would any other asset. Once you process them in lightroom (or another application) you can export the image of the form as a DNG file. If you’re having trouble with this, please email photography@airbnb.com

Contact our team via the Chatbot on Navigate and we can reactivate the upload folder to receive additional images.