Today’s travelers are looking for more than just checking destinations off a bucket list—they’re chasing stories, emotions, and moments worth sharing. Many now choose destinations with photo opportunities in mind.
For tour operators and online travel agencies, this shift presents a golden opportunity to stand out by offering professional photography as part of the experience. Guests want professional-grade photos to capture their adventures. When done right, photography not only boosts satisfaction but also drives engagement and unlocks new revenue streams—all with little to no effort on the businesses' part.
But, what’s the best way to approach photography for your tours? Do you skip it entirely, DIY, or outsource? Or do you partner with a solution like Smiler for Business, which takes care of everything?
Today, we’ll break down four common approaches to photography in the travel industry—skipping photography, in-house solutions, generic photography platforms, and Smiler so you can decide which way of integrating photography is the right move for your organisation.
If you decide not to offer photography services in your tours, you’re missing out on a unique, low-effort way to enhance your tours—and the impact is twofold.
Most tour operators already do their best to elevate the guest experience: by offering comfortable accommodations, exclusive packages, or live events. These are great, but they only go so far—and their impact often ends when the tour does. Photography, on the other hand, provides a powerful, zero-disruption enhancement that leaves a lasting impression beyond the tour itself.
Think about it: To what extent do you really control your guests’ experience after they’ve left? How do you stay connected with them long after their trip has ended—without being intrusive or annoying? And even if you manage to stay in touch, how do you ensure it’s a positive interaction? How do you keep your brand top-of-mind, weeks or even months later?
Professional photography achieves all this effortlessly.
Curious about the 'how'? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. If you’re the impatient type, feel free to skip ahead to Option 4: Smiler for Business—we won’t judge.
Offering photography doesn’t just improve your guests’ satisfaction—it drives business benefits you might not have considered:
The travel industry is fiercely competitive, and today’s travelers value authentic, shareable moments over material goods. According to GetYourGuide, these stunning, shareable photos amplify your brand’s reach naturally and give you the competitive edge you need to attract and retain guests.
Photography allows guests to relive their experiences over and over again. Each time they look at their photos, they’re revisiting your brand, remembering the adventure, and reliving the joy. That emotional connection makes them more likely to recommend your tours to others—or even return themselves.
Skipping photography might save you effort, but it’s a missed opportunity to:
If you thought professional photography was just about taking great photos, think again. It’s about creating lasting memories that build meaningful connections, and unlock valuable business opportunities.
Some tour operators bring their own photographers along for the ride. They handle equipment, manage photo delivery, and keep everything in-house. On the upside, having a photographer on board gives you full control over the photography process and opens up opportunities to generate revenue through photo sales.
But here’s the catch:
Running your own photography operation gives you control, but the costs and operational headaches can quickly outweigh the benefits.
If you already have photographers but aren’t tapping into their full potential, Smiler can lend a hand—absolutely. Whether you use our photographers, your own, or a mix of both, Smiler makes sure your tours deliver a professional, seamless photography experience that drives real results.
By leveraging Smiler’s tools and technology, you get access to powerful features like:
Some platforms offer tools to sell photos and some provide photographers—but there’s a major gap: they don’t own the entire journey.
In short, these platforms offer software but leave the heavy lifting to the operator or event team.
The result? You get software and photographers, but not a seamless end-to-end solution. The heavy lifting still falls on you.
Smiler for Business offers a complete, professional photography solution designed specifically for tour operators and online travel agencies. Unlike other options, Smiler offers software and service, delivering stunning guest experiences that drive real value—without disrupting your operations or adding to your team’s workload.
Our talented photographers become part of your team, seamlessly blending into your operations to capture authentic, high-quality tour photos. Photos are delivered within 48 hours through beautifully branded online galleries, powered by cutting-edge technology:
We know that tight schedules, operational strains, and limited resources can make it hard to add value-added services. That’s why Smiler is designed to fit seamlessly into your workflow:
Smiler gives you the best of both worlds: professional-quality photography and an all-in-one system that simplifies operations. While there’s an initial investment, the time saved, guest satisfaction, and revenue gains make it well worth it.
Plus Smiler is built to fit your unique business model. Whether you want to add photography to your existing tours or create a premium, photography-driven experience, we offer flexible solutions:
With globally accessible pricing and adaptable options, we make it easy to get started, no matter where you operate.
While skipping photography might seem like the easiest and most cost-efficient option at first glance, this table highlights what you’re missing out on in the long run.
Smiler for Business is the best choice for OTAs and tour operators who want to unlock a new revenue stream, enhance guest satisfaction, and differentiate their offering—all with minimal effort.
