AIRBNB EXPERIENCES

Tours Category Guide

Tours experiences offer a unique way to explore a city or neighborhood on foot or bike or car. They allow participants to discover hidden gems, local culture, and historical landmarks guided by knowledgeable hosts.
Five people on a guided tour in a scenic countryside setting with wildflowers, olive trees, and a distant house nestled among greenery.

Activity

16-70mm lens   |   3+ different spots in the room/space   |   Wide, mid, & tight    |   Focus on activity engagement.

Wide   |   16-24mm lens

Include wide images that illustrate the tour within the environment. Try to find straight-on/squared perspectives, and include negative space around the subjects full body.
A group of five people walking through a narrow cobblestone street in a historic neighborhood with beige stone buildings and arched doorways.

Mid    |   35-50mm lens

Get a little closer to highlight the tour in action. Encourage moments of engagement and connection. This can include the full body of the subject but without negative space.
A group of people walking along an ancient stone wall outdoors, engaging in conversation and exploration.

Tight   |   50-80mm lens

Get tighter to really hone in on the activity. Focus on engagement with tools, equipment, objects or on the hosts gestures. This can focus more on the torso of the subject(s). It’s most helpful when the group is very close together.
Urban exploration scene featuring groups of tourists. On the left, three people with cameras stand near detailed historical buildings. On the right, two people look at a map in front of a bright, stately palace under sunny skies.

Avoid

Two people sitting on top of a turquoise 4x4 off-road vehicle with arms raised, surrounded by lush green forest and overlooking a distant view of a city.

Posed images

A lively street scene at the Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, showcasing iconic billboards, pedestrians, and the area's dynamic city atmosphere.

Not centered (doesn’t work in crop)

Visitors admire a bronze sculpture embedded in a stone wall featuring a man reaching outward, guided by a host explaining the artwork.

Backs of host & guests

Details

35-50mm lens   |   Close up of the action   |   tools, processes, & moments   |   Shallow depth of field
Reminder: Only provide close-ups of those who sign the release forms.

Avoid

A person working on a wooden loom, creating a vibrant textile with red, blue, yellow, and white geometric patterns.

Too close

Images that are too tight can be difficult to read. Provide more context by photographing wider.
Tourists standing in front of the Kaminarimon Gate at Senso-ji Temple, a famous cultural landmark in Tokyo, Japan, under a bright blue sky.

Too far away (for a detail)

Get in really tight to focus on a small moment of the tour, the city, the equipment, interaction, etc. This is okay for a location.
Nighttime view of a brewery in Shinjuku with bright neon signs and beer barrels stacked vertically along the building facade.

Unreleased branding

Avoid all branding (including clothing logos, signage) unless the host owns the company/IP and signs a materials release to feature it.

Location

16-24mm lens | Front-facing exterior | interior views | Empty spaces without the group
Ruins of an ancient Roman structure with stone arches and greenery, under a bright blue sky.
Tips: Take a front-facing photo of the location. Consider using a tripod for interiors if lower than 1/60s. Avoid tilting the camera upward (creating distortion). Focus on capturing straight vertical lines.

Avoid

Decorative ceiling with colorful paintings of figures and clouds, framed by golden accents and classical architectural elements.

Unclear location

(Acceptable as a detail)
Arched sign with the text 'Salkım Şarap Evi Hatırası' and grape graphics, set against a red-lit stone wall.

Close ups of signs

View of the iconic Colosseum in Rome, Italy, showcasing its ancient arches and partially ruined walls with a clear sky overhead.

Too tight

(Acceptable as a detail)

Host

35-70mm lens   |   2+ backgrounds   |   Simple uncluttered backgrounds    |   Straight-on body posture
Two individuals seated on a blue bench outdoors, with a vibrant blue wall behind them featuring the word 'Dayglow.' The setting includes simple and uncluttered elements.

Co-hosts

If hosted by more than 1 person, capture a full body or full-torso composition of the hosts together.
Hands-on workshop setup with a person preparing a drink, featuring minimalist black cups, a white kettle, and colorful boxes on a clean, round table in a bright blue setting.

Environmental portrait

A wider portrait (mid to full body) with elements of the activity present  (i.e wine glass, wine bottles etc.)
Individual sitting in a relaxed pose with a simple and uncluttered background featuring a bright blue wall and a subtle indoor space visible through a doorway.

Standard portrait

A different background with a more standard portrait focusing on the upper torso.
Upper body shot of a person in a white t-shirt and unbuttoned blue denim shirt, positioned in front of a neutral light wall with minimal distractions.

Close-up portrait

A different background showcasing a tighter composition of the hosts head and shoulders.

Avoid

Close-up of a person wearing a smartwatch and a navy blue t-shirt with ocean-themed text and illustrations, sitting indoors against a gray brick wall.

Off-center/angled body posture

host portrait without eyes making direct contact with camera.

No eye contact

Close-up of a person in a blue embroidered shirt, with a blurred face, standing in front of a red wall and green plant. A red 'X' in the top right suggests this is not a recommended example.

Distracting backgrounds

Person holding a bottle of artisanal liquor with a dark label, standing in front of a wall with a poster of illustrated maps.

Posing with item near face

Capturing in crowds/public

A bustling city street filled with bright advertisements and pedestrians, with three individuals walking in the foreground, exploring the area.

Create distance

When crowds are unavoidable, step back to create distance so the environment remains the main focus.
A crowded city scene showcasing people crossing a striped crosswalk, large billboards, and modern architecture in the background.

Group in the foreground

Photograph wide (without tilting the camera). Create space between the group and the crowd. Avoid distortion, and center the group.
A bustling outdoor market in front of a traditional Japanese temple at night, surrounded by cherry blossoms and illuminated stalls.

Make the focus the location

In a busy crowd, raise the camera, use a shallow depth of field, focus on a clear spot on the building, and let the rest fall out of focus.
Japanese cityscape featuring lively advertisements for food and drink, a Lawson store at the center, and a large fish sculpture on the building to the right, under a clear daytime sky.

Create more distance

You can also get even more distance to capture even more of the location and minimize the crowd.
A vibrant Japanese alley with colorful shop signs, exposed utility wires, and small, tightly packed storefronts, showcasing a lively and authentic local atmosphere.

Seek out quiet moments

Keep an eye out for moments of calm.
A view of a city with a prominent bridge over the water, seen from behind two individuals enjoying the scenery.

V format

Use shallow depth of field to blur the crowd in the foreground.

Car tours

Two people on a vintage motorcycle with a sidecar in front of the Eiffel Tower during daylight, showcasing a scenic car tour in Paris.
A rocky coastline with turquoise water near a scenic road, and a vintage car parked in front of a cathedral showcasing ornate architectural details.

Food tours

A food tour featuring a group dining in a cozy restaurant, a vibrant dish served on a banana leaf topped with red chilies, and the exterior of Sambal Shiok, a Malaysian-inspired eatery with red and blue decor.
A coffee tour moment showcasing people sampling beverages, frothy coffee in black cups, and the bright blue façade of 'Dayglow' café with outdoor seating.

Walking tours

A group of people walking along a historic city street next to an ornate stone building, with a mix of adults and children exploring the area.
A group of visitors gathers in front of a grand historic building with a clock tower, as part of a walking tour.

Shopping tours

Close-up of a tray with artisanal chocolates being offered during a guided shopping tour experience.
A pair of gold hoop earrings displayed on a stand, showcasing curated local jewelry in a boutique setting.
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