SmartShoot
SmartShoot is a San Francisco-based marketplace platform connecting brands with a global network of 10,000+ vetted photographers and videographers for scalable custom photo and video production, serving enterprise clients and SMBs via a web-based collaboration platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What SmartShoot does
SmartShoot is a San Francisco-based marketplace platform that connects brands and businesses with professional photographers, videographers, and 3D capture specialists for custom visual content production. The company operates a curated global network of over 10,000 vetted creative professionals who have collectively completed more than 750,000 shoots and delivered millions of professionally produced images and videos. Its client base includes enterprise brands such as Google, YouTube, Uber, Expedia, Airbnb, Yelp, Zillow, Groupon, HomeAway, TripAdvisor, and ApartmentGuide, as well as SMB and mid-market customers using a self-serve web portal.
The platform's core technology is a web-based project collaboration tool that pairs creatives with shoots using matching logic built from data on over 200,000 appointments, factoring in location, availability, areas of expertise, and experience. Enterprise customers access an API-based production platform with real-time scheduling, scalable editing workflows, customized communications, and dashboard reporting, with packages starting at 30 projects per month. SmartShoot handles brand guidelines compliance, quality assurance, payment processing, and tax compliance for distributed creative workforces, with data stored on AWS cloud infrastructure.
The company monetizes through transaction fees on bookings between clients and creatives, employing a hybrid go-to-market model that combines dedicated enterprise partner managers with a self-serve SMB marketplace. SmartShoot has raised approximately $9.5 million across multiple funding rounds from investors including Hearst Ventures, Venrock, and Uncork Capital, though no funding activity has been disclosed since 2013. Headcount is lean at roughly 12 identified team members, and the company operates as a founder-owned private entity under SmartShoot, Inc., incorporated in Delaware, with served markets spanning North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
SmartShoot firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SmartShoot
- Legal name
- SmartShoot, Inc.
- Website
- https://smartshoot.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SmartShoot is a San Francisco-based marketplace platform connecting brands with a global network of 10,000+ vetted photographers and videographers for scalable custom photo and video production, serving enterprise clients and SMBs via a web-based collaboration platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SmartShoot industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Services Marketplace
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & Hyperautomation Platforms (HDAEAKAF)
Keywords
Where SmartShoot is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SmartShoot business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Photography and Videography Services: SmartShoot provides an online booking, job offer marketplace and payment processing service connecting photographers and videographers with users requesting visual content. The platform takes a commission on transactions between clients and creatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Enterprise packages start at 30 projects/month |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
SmartShoot product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SmartShoot operates an online marketplace connecting brands and businesses with a curated global network of over 10,000 vetted professional photographers and videographers. The platform handles project matching, brand guidelines compliance, project management, payment processing, and delivery through a web-based collaboration tool, with enterprise clients receiving dedicated partner managers and customizable production workflows.
Product overview
SmartShoot is a platform and community connecting photographers and videographers with brands and businesses needing visual content. The core offering is the SmartShoot Services marketplace, which provides photography, videography, and 3D Tours services through a curated network of over 10,000 professional creatives. The platform handles project matching, brand guidelines compliance, project management, quality assurance, payment processing, and delivery. Enterprise tier offers scaled operations with dedicated partner managers and API-based production tools for companies requiring 30+ projects monthly.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SmartShoot Marketplace Online booking, job offer marketplace and payment processing service connecting photographers and videographers with users requesting visual content; handles matchmaking, project management, and production workflow.
- Photography Services Professional photography services delivered by vetted photographers covering Events, Food, People, and Real Estate categories.
- Videography Services Professional video production services delivered by vetted filmmakers covering Business Profile, Events, Product Introduction, and Real Estate videography.
- 3D Tours Service Three-dimensional virtual tour services for properties and spaces, providing immersive property viewing experiences.
Companies that use SmartShoot
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SmartShoot technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SmartShoot partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SmartShoot competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Shutterstock: Operates a global visual content marketplace combining stock imagery, footage, and a custom content production services tier. Direct overlap with SmartShoot on brand-custom photography and video for enterprise marketing.
- Snappr: On-demand photography marketplace connecting businesses with professional photographers for events, products, and lifestyle shoots. Closest direct competitor to SmartShoot's SMB and self-serve model.
- Offset: High-end stock and custom photography platform serving advertising, design, and editorial buyers. Competes with SmartShoot on premium commissioned shoots and curated talent access.
- Getty Images: Global visual content company with stock and bespoke creative services for enterprise brands, including editorial, commercial, and custom production. Directly comparable in serving enterprise content acquisition at scale.
Broad incumbents
- Adobe Stock: Stock and custom visual content service embedded within Adobe Creative Cloud, serving the same enterprise marketing and creative teams. Broader incumbent with overlapping custom content offerings.
- Thumbtack: Local services marketplace including photography and videography pros. Comparable marketplace infrastructure for matching SMB buyers with creative professionals, though photography is one of many categories.
Others
- HoneyBook: Business management and marketplace platform for creative professionals, including photographers. Adjacent because it serves the same SMB photographer segment with workflow and client management tooling.
- Catalant: Enterprise marketplace for on-demand professional services and consulting talent. Thematically comparable as a curated professional services marketplace with enterprise workflow tooling.
Emerging players
- 500px: Photography community and licensing platform connecting brands with photographers. Comparable creator-network model though with a more licensing-centric monetization approach.
- Foap: Marketplace where brands source user-generated and professional photos from a global creator base. Partial overlap with SmartShoot's marketplace model, focused on UGC and brand campaign content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SmartShoot social profiles
Digital presenceSmartShoot financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SmartShoot leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
SmartShoot funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SmartShoot M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SmartShoot
What does SmartShoot do?
SmartShoot operates an online marketplace connecting brands and businesses with a curated global network of over 10,000 vetted professional photographers and videographers. The platform handles project matching, brand guidelines compliance, project management, payment processing, and delivery through a web-based collaboration tool, with enterprise clients receiving dedicated partner managers and customizable production workflows.
Is SmartShoot a public or private company?
SmartShoot is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was SmartShoot founded?
SmartShoot was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SmartShoot based?
SmartShoot is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does SmartShoot make money?
One revenue line is on record: photography and Videography Services.
Who are SmartShoot's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shutterstock, Snappr, Offset and Getty Images. Broad incumbents are Adobe Stock and Thumbtack. Others are HoneyBook and Catalant. Emerging players are 500px and Foap.
Does SmartShoot have an API?
No public API is recorded for SmartShoot.
What industry is SmartShoot in?
SmartShoot's product category is Creative Services Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAKAF, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & Hyperautomation Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7330.