Demand for user-generated content has exploded in 2025 and will only continue to grow, so if you’re wondering how to become a UGC travel creator, you’re in the right place.
More travellers than ever are getting paid to create authentic photos and videos for hotels, tours and travel brands - without needing thousands of followers or influencer status.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to start UGC travel content creation, from building a portfolio and sharing your work online to outreach and finding real UGC travel opportunities with brands actively looking for creators.
What Is a UGC Travel Creator?
A UGC travel creator creates user-generated content (such as photos and short-form videos) that brands can use in their own marketing, such as social media, websites and ads. The content is often shot on a phone - you don't need any fancy camera gear.
Instead of promoting destinations to your audience, you’re creating content for the brand to use - which is why UGC travel work has become one of the most accessible ways to start working with travel brands. You don't need to be famous or “established” to get started.
UGC doesn't always need to be polished or high quality - the term "user-generated" means it's real, authentic and relatable.
UGC travel content is commonly created for:
- Hotels and resorts
- Tour and activity companies
- Travel apps and startups
- Tourism boards
- Airlines and transport brands
- Travel products
Do You Need Followers to Be a UGC Travel Creator?
No, you do not need followers to be a UGC travel creator. Most brands hire UGC creators for their ability to create authentic photos and videos, not for their audience size or reach.
That said, having a social media presence can definitely help. Posting your work online makes you more discoverable and acts as a form of social proof.
In short: you don’t need followers to get started, but sharing your work publicly can increase trust, visibility and opportunities as you grow.
Step 1: Create UGC Spec Work for Travel Brands
Before pitching any travel brands, you need to have a portfolio or page showcasing your work, but how do you do that if you've never worked with anyone? Spec work.
Spec work is content you create on your own, without being paid by a brand. It allows you to practice UGC-style storytelling, build a portfolio and show travel brands exactly what you can offer, even if you’ve never worked with a brand before.
For UGC travel creators, spec work can include:
- Hotels, hostels or Airbnbs you stay at
- Cafés, restaurants or coworking spaces
- Tours, activities or experiences
- Destinations, cities or regions you visit
When creating spec work, treat it exactly like a paid UGC project and think about how a travel brand could realistically use the content in ads or on their website.
A great way to get started is by recreating UGC-style travel ads you already see online. Pay attention to hooks, pacing, captions and how the creator tells a story in just a few seconds.
This not only improves your skills but helps you understand what travel brands are actually looking for when hiring UGC creators.
If you don't have the budget to pay for hotels, activities or trips, start by using travel products you already own or content you've taken on previous trips.
Step 2: Build a Simple UGC Travel Portfolio
Before you start outreach or applying for UGC travel opportunities, you’ll need a simple portfolio that shows brands what kind of content you can create.
The good news is that a UGC travel portfolio doesn’t need to be complicated.
Your portfolio can be as simple as:
- A dedicated Instagram or TikTok account
- A Notion or Canva page
- A one-page website
What matters most is that your work is easy to view and clearly shows your style.
If you’re using Instagram or TikTok as your UGC travel creator portfolio, keep it focused and only post your best UGC-style travel content. You can also pin your strongest videos to the top of your profile so brands can quickly understand what you offer.
At a minimum, your UGC travel portfolio should include:
- 3-5 high-quality photos or short-form videos
- Clear examples of how a travel brand could use your content
- A short bio explaining that you’re a UGC travel creator
Step 3: Share Your Work Online
Although this step isn’t strictly required, it can make a huge difference when it comes to landing UGC travel opportunities.
Posting your UGC travel content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok helps travel brands discover you organically. It also acts as social proof - when brands can see your content performing publicly, even on a small account, they’re often more confident working with you.
You don’t need to post daily or go viral. Focus on:
- Sharing your best UGC-style travel videos and photos
- Keeping your content natural and brand-friendly
- Using captions that explain what the content is for (for example: “UGC-style hotel content”)
- Staying consistent, even if it’s just a few posts a week
Think of your social media as a living portfolio. Over time, it shows your growth, reliability and style - all things travel brands look for when hiring UGC creators.
The goal isn’t to build a huge following. It’s to make it easy for brands to find you, understand your work and imagine how they could use your content in their own marketing.
You can also use social platforms to interact with brands you’d like to work with and create warm leads (brands that have already engaged with your content) which can make them more inclined to work with you.
Step 4: Outreach to Travel Brands
Once you have spec work, a simple portfolio and some content shared online, you can start outreaching.
Outreach can be an effective way to land your first UGC travel brand deal, especially as a beginner.
Outreach simply means contacting travel brands directly and pitching your UGC services. This can be done via email, Instagram DMs or contact forms on brand websites.
While it might feel uncomfortable at first, it’s a normal part of becoming a UGC travel creator and is something most successful creators still do regularly.
When reaching out to travel brands, focus on:
- Being clear about what you offer (UGC photos or short-form videos)
- Showing examples of your work or portfolio
- Explaining how your content can help them
- Keeping your message short and personalised
You don’t need to pitch every brand under the sun, just start with hotels, tours or travel businesses that already align with your content style or locations you’ve visited.
If a brand has interacted with your content before, even better - warm leads often convert more easily than cold outreach.
Outreach is a numbers game and rejection (or no response) is normal. The goal isn’t to hear “yes” from everyone, but to start conversations and build relationships with travel brands over time.
Step 5: Find UGC Travel Opportunities (Without Cold DMing All Day)
While outreach works, constantly cold emailing and DMing brands can be time-consuming, and it's difficult to know which brands are actively hiring UGC creators.
This is where using a dedicated platform like Travel Collabs can make a big difference - instead of pitching blindly, you can apply to brands that are already open to working with creators and need content right now.
Travel Collabs makes the process easier by sharing daily UGC and travel collaboration opportunities from hotels, tourism boards, tour companies and travel brands.
These opportunities are often beginner-friendly and allow you to apply with your portfolio rather than relying on follower count.
How Much Do UGC Travel Creators Earn?
One of the most common questions when learning how to become a UGC travel creator is how much you can actually earn. The answer depends on the type of work, the brand and how your content will be used.
Beginner UGC travel creators often start with gifted collaborations or lower-paid projects while building experience. As your portfolio grows and you gain experience, many creators increase their rates and can start charging $500+ for one video.
Your rates will also depend on factors like:
- Number of photos or videos delivered
- Content format (photo vs short-form video)
- Usage rights (where and how long the brand can use your content)
- Exclusivity or whitelisting
Because of this, earnings from UGC can vary widely. Some creators earn around $2-3k per month, while others make $10-15k+ per month - depending on their experience, deliverables, rates and how many projects they take on.
Final Thoughts: Start Before You Feel Ready
Learning how to become a UGC travel creator can feel overwhelming at first, but you don't need followers, expensive equipment or past brand deals to get started - you just need to take action.
By creating spec work, building a simple portfolio, sharing your content online, and doing outreach, you put yourself in the position to start landing travel UGC jobs.
If you want to speed up the process and find travel UGC opportunities without spending all your time cold pitching, sign up to Travel Collabs to start receiving real opportunities straight to your inbox.
If you’re serious about landing collabs (& making money) with your travel content - here are the best resources to help make it happen 👇
- 🔓 Travel Collabs Pro - Get unlimited access to the full library of travel collab opportunities - updated weekly.
- 🚀 Travel Collabs Playbook - A system for pitching, following up & securing deals - with templates, scripts and first-hand advice.
- 💸 Travelpayouts - Earn passive income from your blog or social media with the largest affiliate network for travel creators.
- 🏨 Stay22 - Maximize your hotel booking commissions with AI that skyrockets conversions (if you're a travel blogger, you need this).
