Bring Your Experience to Life

Photos help potential guests get excited about booking your experience. This guide will help you prepare and understand what to expect for your upcoming professional photoshoot.
Group of people practicing yoga on a beach with an instructor guiding them, ocean in the background

Before the photoshoot

Planning

Be sure to talk to the photographer ahead of time, so you can plan around the most important aspects of the photoshoot. Plan on showcasing the entire experience, and coordinate with the photographer to help them highlight the most important moments, locations, and details.
Surf instructor high-fives two students on the beach with their surfboards after a successful session.

Guests

Invite 2-4 friends to pose as guests for the photoshoot. All participants will need to sign release forms.
Person in red shirt and black hat holding a fish while standing in a lake with trees and mountains in the background.

Wardrobe

Wear something relevant for the experience. Solid colors tend to bring a vibrant energy to photos. Always avoid logos and heavy patterns.
Man in yellow shirt standing with mountain bike on rocky terrain under clear blue sky.

Lighting

Consider the weather and time of day that makes the most sense to host your activity. Select a time of day when the light is the optimal for the space.
Interior of a cozy, rustic room with wooden furniture, shelves, and a kitchen area, emphasizing a welcoming and serene atmosphere.

Location

Please select one or two of the most visually appealing locations to represent your experience. Get approval to photograph at any/all locations.

Model release forms

Prior to the photoshoot, all participants, including hosts and guests, are required to complete a standard release form. The photographer will prepare printed model release forms to distribute before the experience starts. Each participant will be photographed holding their completed model release, along with a close-up shot of the form itself.
Download release form
Person outdoors holding a printed document titled 'Global Options Release Agreement' with the Airbnb logo on it.

Photoshoot prep

Prep the photographers

  • Date/time of experience
  • All location(s) included
  • Light available at location(s)
  • Number of participants
  • Activity type

Prep the guests

  • Date/time of experience
  • Activity information
  • Model releases required
  • Appropriate clothing for the activity (avoid logos)

Prep for photoshoot

  • Check the weather.
  • Organize/declutter location(s)
  • Select an outfit without logos
  • Prepare a finished product, if relevant (food, crafts, etc.)
  • Get approval to photograph at each location

During the photoshoot

Variety is key

The four main themes we intend to capture will help to tell the story of your experience:
A Host standing in a modern industrial kitchen with brick and cement walls.

Host portrait

4-5 imagesFriendly & approachable photos of you, the host, in the environment the experience will take place. This will help tell guests who the expert is.
A group of people participating in a cooking class, with various ingredients and kitchen tools laid out on the table.

Activities

5-6 imagesCapture the most important activities using the guest’s perspective in order to highlight the essence of the experience.
Close-up of a dark chocolate bar with various toppings including dried apricots, nuts, and berries

Close-ups

4-5 images Focus on hands, tools, processes, and moments on clean backgrounds. Capture the finished product if the activity results in one. Try some really tight shots to focus on textures.
Interior of a bright, spacious coffee shop with two women talking behind the counter and various coffee products displayed in the foreground.

Places

2-4 imagesEstablish the setting with wider images, show multiple angles of where the experience takes place, activated by the presence of you and your guests. Include both interior and exterior.

Location

The photographer will capture both exteriors and interiors, showcasing the space as well as the surrounding environment during the activity. We recommend that they take these photos either before or after the experience. Be sure to get approval to photograph at the location.
Entrance of a building with an archway, showcasing plants and a signboard listing breakfast options, capturing the exterior before an Airbnb experience.
Entrance to a stylish location with a neon sign that reads 'Libertine', showcasing the interior space decorated with plants and seating areas.
A cozy cafe interior with wooden booths, white brick walls, and hanging green plants. A person is seated at a light blue table.
Interior of a restaurant with light wood furniture, white stone walls, and green foliage hanging from the ceiling.

Photoshoot timeline

Before photoshoot

  • Meet photographer 15 minutes early
  • Show photographer the locations & environment.
  • Take your host portraits (in front of 3 different backgrounds)
  • All participants will complete model release forms before photoshoot

During photoshoot

  • Run through the activity
  • Slow down for details of hands
  • Replicate moments as needed
  • Be expressive, and engaging with guests.

After experience

  • Capture any missed shots
  • Confirm that all releases are completed

What to avoid

An example of a host with sunglasses on.
Wearing sunglasses
Please remove sunglasses and hats, if possible.
Example of a host wearing a backpack during their portrait.
Unnecessary amenities
Please remove bags and backpacks during the portraits of you.
An example of the host portrait without eye contact.
No eye contact
When taking your host portraits, always make direct eye contact with the camera.
an example of the host pointing in the picture.
Pointing (in all photos)
Limit the number of images that feature you pointing. Use other gestures, when possible.
An example of experience where people's backs are to the camera.
Backs to camera
Position the group to walk towards the camera, rather than away from the camera.
An example of a host wearing a shirt with branding on it.
Logos and brands
Avoid wearing/featuring logos, branding, and 3rd party intellectual property.

After the photoshoot

What you'll get

We will make a selection of the best 10-15 photos, retouch them, and carefully curate them for your experience page.
Four people standing around a marble table arranging food items into small trays in a kitchen setting.
Close-up of a white-haired person in casual attire, with a brick wall behind them.
Five individuals standing around a marble table with cocoa pods and condiment dishes, engaging in a conversation in a contemporary office setting.
Two women talking behind a modern coffee bar with large windows in the background. Various coffee products are displayed on the counter.
Close-up of an opened cocoa pod next to a whole pod, illustrating the professional photography for your experience.
A man dressed casually in a light shirt and khaki pants stands next to a long countertop in a modern kitchen, showcasing a workspace for preparing food.
Participants in a cooking class engaging in a discussion about the various ingredients and dishes laid out on the table.
Close-up of someone presenting a tray of artisanal chocolate filled with assorted nuts and dried fruit.
Person in an orange sweater piping chocolate into a mold during an Experience session
Close-up of a person filling a mold with chocolate, surrounded by ingredients like nuts and dried fruits on a marble counter.
A large yellow coffee roasting machine in a factory setting, filled with raw coffee beans.
Individuals showcasing a gift box filled with chocolate and nuts, illustrating the curated selection for an Airbnb Experience.
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