Smiler, a Dutch startup that connects photographers with visitors at popular tourist locations and hotspots, announced the successful completion of its latest funding round of €7.9 million. Led by Octopus Ventures, this investment brings Smiler’s total funding to over €13.9 million, propelling the company’s expansion plans and its mission to offer affordable, high-quality photoshoot experiences around the world.
With the newly acquired funds, Smiler aims to introduce thousands of new locations and photoshoot experiences in the next year. The photography marketplace is already integrated with leading Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), further enhancing the tours, activities, and attractions sector.
Smiler’s funding announcement is also paired with the launch of Smiler.co, a consumer website that taps Smiler’s supply of 20,000 photographers, allowing consumers to find, plan and book these quick and easy photoshoots in advance. Smiler.co already lists some of Europe’s most iconic, must-see destinations where Smiler photographers can be found, including Paris’s Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum in Rome, and Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia, with new locations added every week.
“The process of starting your own photography business, self-promotion, and generating bookings traditionally requires significant effort, connections, and a bit of luck,” says Smiler CEO and co-founder Kasper Middelkoop. “Smiler simplifies this process, enabling photographers to connect directly with real consumer demand for high-quality photography using just their camera and the Smiler Photographer app.”
With the global revenue in this industry anticipated to exceed pre-COVID levels, hitting an expected mark of €241 billion by 2024 according to research from Phocuswright and Arival, Smiler is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the growing demand for unforgettable travel experiences by capturing them in high-quality.
“Smiler has a unique value proposition for its photographers – have demand delivered into your app, and all of the tech infrastructure to find, take and share amazing photos with an incremental customer base,” says Matt Chandler, Investor at Octopus Ventures. “The output of this is a level of service that is far superior to the existing way that people create photographic memories. We are delighted to Partner with the Smiler team on their mission to become the dominant global player in their space.”
Since its launch in May 2021, Smiler’s technology has been used by photographers to offer impromptu photoshoots at attractions and tourist destinations. These spontaneous photoshoots have been a huge hit with consumers, who benefit from having their visit effortlessly captured in high-quality photos. The ability to find, plan and book these short photoshoot sessions in advance has been one of the most requested features by consumers and photographers alike.
