For many travelers, the best way to commemorate a vacation is with the perfect photo. Whether it's a windswept family selfie at the top of Mount Fuji or a newlywed kiss in front of the Eiffel Tower, photos capture special moments from a trip and give clients something to look back on once they return home.
But getting the shot is not always easy. Often, it means awkwardly approaching strangers with phone cameras, dealing with poor lighting or struggling with a selfie stick. So, a growing number of travelers are turning to professional vacation photography services to ensure they leave with high quality souvenirs of their trips.
Jennifer Kellum, owner and destination specialist at Neverland & Main Travel, often recommends professional photo shoots for honeymooners looking to capture intimate moments in scenic destinations; families and multigenerational groups who want portraits with everyone together; solo travelers seeking high-quality photos of themselves without having to rely on strangers; and for clients celebrating special occasions while away.
Although clients might not consider booking a destination photo shoot until she recommends it, Kellum says that once her clients receive their images, they recognize the value of the experience.
“It gives them something to look back on," Kellum said. "It’s like sending them home with a gift.”
Many advisors source photographers individually, but there are a growing number of dedicated vacation photography services that make it easy to connect clients with local photographers around the world, saving everyone the hassle of finding highly rated local photographers. Some even offer commission or special perks for advisors and their clients. Here are a few to know.
Flytographer
Flytographer is one of the most popular destination photography companies, with a network of more than 600 photographers in 350 cities. Founded in 2013, the platform has more than 35,000 five-star reviews. Flytographer only accepts the top 3% of photographers who apply, and every member is an English-speaking local who has been personally interviewed and hand-picked from thousands of applicants.
“I’ve had couples use Flytographer in Paris for anniversary shoots and families in Italy who now say the photo session was one of their favorite parts of the trip,” said Brianna Glenn, a travel advisor and owner of Milk + Honey Travels. “It takes what might be a stressful idea — hiring a local photographer abroad — and turns it into something fun, relaxed and memorable.”
Flytographer’s popular “Classic Souvenir” 90-minute package goes for $590 and includes 50 photos with digital files and the option of shooting in multiple locations around the selected destination. Proposal shoots are a bit pricier, but comprehensive — photographers work with clients to create a game plan, recommend locations and create mockup images. A 90-minute “Capture the Glow” proposal package goes for $690.
To partner with Flytographer, travel advisors can join the Travel Advisor Program or the Affiliate Program. The Travel Advisor Program is a good option for advisors who want to manage their clients' bookings. This means finding photographers, choosing a location for the shoot and handling the scheduling. The program also provides a 10% commission, which can be applied after the shoot is complete or upfront as a discount. The Affiliate Program lets clients book the shoots on their own, while still providing a 10% commission for the advisor’s referral. This is a good option for advisors who want their clients to choose photographers that match their specific style and goals for the shoot. Along with commission, the Travel Advisor Program and Affiliate Program both include perks for advisors, including a $25 discount to be shared with their audience.
Pix Around
Pix Around is a great option for clients looking for a bespoke photoshoot experience. Since 2015, the service’s global network of more than 300 professional photographers has focused on providing carefully tailored photo shoots that match each client’s style and desired aesthetic.
"From the very beginning, we envisioned a luxury, high-end service, because we believe that excellence should never be compromised, especially when it comes to choosing the right photographer," said Francesca Onidi, CEO and founder of Pix Around. "We’ve purposely chosen not to scale up but to focus on what truly matters — exceptional quality over quantity."
Pix Around has a much more hands-on approach than other services — they offer to book makeup artists, rent vintage cars or orchestrate elaborate wedding proposals. This is a great option for clients who have a very specific visual concept and plan for their shoot, perhaps for a proposal or elopement. Pix Around has also recently expanded their offerings to include video services, as well. Their video shoot option offers a more comprehensive visual narrative, including b-roll from the location and candid clips of the subjects. Meanwhile, their video reels capture the moments in between the photos, focusing only on clips from the photoshoot session.
By using a vetted resource of photographers, we're able to offer our clients an additional service that will enhance their trip and preserve their memories long after the trip ends.
The company has long tailored their services to a B2B format, collaborating with DMCs, resorts and hotels across Europe. They also work with travel advisors directly and provide an initial agent commission of 10%. Through their fidelity program, commission jumps to 15% after 10 confirmed bookings, then 20% after 20 confirmed bookings. They also offer agents five complimentary photos for each shoot, 20% off book prints, canvas and photobooks and free personalized gift cards that make great VIP client gifts. Agents can also receive special rates and exclusive packages for their own private photo shoot sessions.
Pix Around’s packages tend to be slightly pricier than Flytographer’s — their standard, 60-minute shoot goes for about $560 and includes 35 edited, high-resolution photos.
When choosing between Flytographer and Pix Around, Glenn typically reviews the available photographers in her client’s destination.
“In some cities, one service may have stronger portfolios or more distinctive creative talent,” Glenn said. “That usually helps guide my recommendation.”
No matter what service a client opts to use, chances are good they'll be thrilled with the result.
Credit: 2025 FlytographerLocal Lens
Founded in 2014, Local Lens is a female-run vacation photography service aimed at making photo shoots more accessible and affordable. The company, which was featured on Shark Tank in 2016, has built a global network of more than 500 vetted photographers across hundreds of destinations, offering flexible packages and pricing that accommodates everything from solo travel and family vacations to surprise proposals and business branding.
Local Lens’ popular 90-minute “Storyteller” shoot offers great bang for your buck — for $300, clients receive 45 edited, high-resolution digital images in under five days. Like Flytographer, Local Lens works with local photographers who double as informal guides, sharing tips on what to do and where to eat while shooting in multiple spots around the city.
While the service does not offer commission for advisors, they do have a rewards program. For each booked and completed shoot, advisors get exclusive perks, including discounts on photoshoots and prints and access to limited seasonal sales.
Shoott
For travelers in the U.S. who want the personalized photo shoot experience on a budget, Shoott offers free 30-minute sessions in cities across the country, only charging for the photos your client buys. Founded in 2018, the AAPI-female run small business has built a network of top-rated photographers in more than 60 U.S. cities. Services are wallet friendly, but still completely customizable.
Shoott maintains a highly selective hiring process, accepting only 2–5% of photographers who apply. After each shoot, clients will only pay for their favorite photos. Their “Basic” package includes 10 edited photos for $180, while the full gallery of 40-plus photos is available for $298. Clients can also choose to purchase individual photos a la carte for $30 each (or $25 during the current spring sale).
It’s worth noting that while the first 30-minute session is free, clients will need to pay upfront for future shoots if they spent less than $100 on their most recent booking. This policy helps keep Shoott’s business model sustainable and supports its mission to democratize access to professional photo shoots while also improving conditions in the gig economy for freelance artists.
Advisors can earn a small commission from Shoott by joining their affiliate program and referring their clients. For each referred photo shoot, advisors will receive a flat rate commission of $20.
No matter what service a client opts to use, chances are good they’ll be thrilled with the result. And for advisors, booking a photography session — whether it be for a proposal in Madrid or a family shoot in a national park — is a thoughtful way to personalize a trip and help clients come home with meaningful souvenirs.
“I truly believe these services are valuable to us as travel advisors,” said Megan Halberstadt, founder of MH Custom Travel. “By using a vetted resource of photographers, we're able to offer our clients an additional service that will enhance their trip and preserve their memories long after the trip ends."