FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for photographers
Zillow Showcase Product and Program
What is Zillow Showcase?
Zillow Showcase is a unique listing marketing product that allows agents to create an elevated listing experience on Zillow. Showcase listings combine interactive media, listing agent prominence and powerful exposure on Zillow to impress sellers and help agents win more listings.
What is the listing agent asking me to do?
Agents have the option to work with their photographer of choice – that's you – to capture the listing media for their Showcase listing. We're here to facilitate that process and connect you with the resources you need to capture and upload all the high-quality, interactive media needed to create the elevated Showcase listing experience.
We’ve heard from agents that their established photographer relationships are important. We respect these relationships and through this program can offer agents who want to leverage Zillow Showcase in their business more choice, while supporting independent photography businesses.
Do I need an Aryeo account to capture media for Zillow Showcase?
No. A link will be provided for you to upload the completed media for the Showcase listing.
I work for a photography company, can we onboard our entire team to capture media for Zillow Showcase?
Yes! We have tools available to help onboard an entire team of photographers to participate in Zillow Showcase. Please reach out to photographersupport@showingtimeplus.com and ask to be connected with a Photography Account Coordinator who can help walk you through this process.
Media Rights for Showcase Listings
Who owns the rights to the still photography I capture for Showcase listings?
As the photographer, you own the rights to the still photography, panos and the copyright to the virtual tour. ShowingTime+ receives a license to use the media to create the elevated Showcase listing experience.
Can I add my own watermark to the images on the Showcase listing?
Currently, still images captured for Showcase listings are branded with “ST+." Independent photographers may add their own watermark to the images for Zillow Showcase as long as the photographs captured for Zillow Showcase are uploaded through the media upload link. To avoid impacting the integrity of the listing or photographs, we suggest no more than 144 pixel width x 54 pixel height.
Who can upload the media for Zillow Showcase that was captured by a participating photographer?
Can my assistant or team member upload the media? The simplest way to assure you are providing the necessary license to ShowingTime+ to create the Showcase listing experience is to have the photographer who captured the media upload it and agree to the media terms and conditions. If you have another photographer, assistant, or other member of your team who will be managing uploading the media, please make sure they have the necessary rights to the media required to agree to the media terms and conditions. If you are unsure or have any questions, please reach out to us at photographersupport@showingtimeplus.com.
Zillow 3D Home & Interactive Floor Plans
Do I have to capture a Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan?
Yes, you must capture a Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan using the Zillow 3D Home capture app. Select “Virtual Tour & Floor Plan” when beginning to capture the media. You can find detailed instructions in our capture guide.
What kind of camera can I use to capture a Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan?
To capture using the Zillow 3D Home app, you must use a compatible 360 camera from the following list: Ricoh Theta Z1, V, X, SC2, or SC2 for Business, or Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition, X4, X3, or X2 cameras.
Will the type of compatible 360 camera impact the image quality of the Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan?
Though any compatible camera can be used to capture Zillow 3D Home tours & interactive floor plans, higher-quality 360 cameras tend to produce higher-quality tours. We recommend the Ricoh Theta Z1 or Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition, as they are the highest quality cameras from each manufacturer.
Do I have to use a floor marker to capture a Zillow 3D tour & interactive floor plan?
Do I need to create a Zillow or Zillow 3D Home Capture app account before capturing an interactive floor plan?
Yes, you will need to create a free Zillow 3D Home Capture app account. This can be completed when you open the app.
Can I capture Matterport or Cubicasa instead of a Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan?
No. Showcase listings feature a Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan, which must be captured using the Zillow 3D Home app.
Am I expected to offer Zillow 3D Home tours and interactive floor plans to all my clients?
Showcase listings require a Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan.Zillow 3D Home is available to you at no cost if you would like to take advantage of this free offering for your clients, separate from Zillow Showcase. It is up to you to determine the charge for the service and how it fits into your suite of offerings.
Can I offer Zillow 3D Home tours and interactive floor plans to all my clients?
Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plans are available to you at no cost to include in the suite of services you offer to agents as you see fit. Zillow’s interactive floor plan is a cost-effective way to enhance your value to help your clients get specialized exposure for their listings. Interactive floor plans bring your client’s listing to life into a seamless, interactive experience, buyers and renters can get a sense of your home without stepping foot inside. See more details on the Zillow 3D Home website.
Zillow 3D Home & Interactive Floor Plans - Capture Process
How long does it take to capture a Zillow 3D Home Interactive Floor Plan?
This varies based upon the size of the home. On average, it should take approximately 45 minutes to simultaneously capture a Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan.
What if I can’t find the address of the listing in the Zillow 3D Home Capture app?
Inside the app, select the “Keep Private” option on the “Complete your tour screen”. You can then use the 3D Home Dashboard here to add the address and post the tour to the Zillow listing.
I selected the "virtual tour only" option and clicked finish. Can a floor plan still be created?
In order to properly create the floor plan, creators must select the floor plan and virtual tour” option inside the Zillow 3D Home app. If this option was not selected, creators may need to return to the property and recapture the entire Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan by selecting the “floor plan and virtual tour” option inside the Zillow 3D Home app.
I forgot to add a room, can I edit the tour?
Yes! A new panorama will need to be captured on-site. To add a panorama to a completed tour, please follow these steps:
- Navigate to the tour from your Zillow 3D Home app under the “My 3D Homes” tab
- Tap on the three dots on the lower right corner of the tour you would like to edit
- Select “Add/remove panoramas”
- Read through and check the boxes in the “Add/remove panoramas” pop-up
- Select “Continue”
Once you have added the new panorama(s), click Finish. The existing tour link will update to show the new panoramas that you added to your tour.
Can I update label names on the floor plan?
Yes. Any edit requests can be submitted to floorplan@zillowgroup.com and then reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Edit requests will be reviewed within one business day.
Note: The labels on floor plans are independent of the labels of the Zillow 3D Home tour, so changing the labels on the tour will not change the labels on the floor plan. We use the labels on the 3D Home tour as a guide when creating the floor plans.
How do I share my Zillow interactive floor plan tour with my client?
We recommend that you share the unbranded tour link with your client. Your client can submit the tour to the MLS using this link. You can find the unbranded tour links in the 3D Dashboard here. An email with the unbranded tour link will also be sent to the email address that was used to login to the Zillow 3D Home app and create the tour.
Can I capture the Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan at a different time than the still photography (I’ve already captured still images for the property)?
Yes; however, we recommend that you capture the Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan as close to the same time as the still photography as possible so that all of the media matches – for example, the furniture and paint are consistent throughout all media.
Uploading Media for Zillow Showcase
What media am I required to capture for Showcase listings?
Participating photographers are required to capture still photography and a Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan.
What media am I expected to upload for Showcase listings?
You are only required to upload the still photography and Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan. If your client requested additional media, that should be delivered directly to them (Showcase listing agent) so that the media can be added to the MLS listing.
Can I upload other floor plans as an alternative to Zillow 3D tours and interactive floor plans?
No. Zillow 3D tours and interactive floor plans are required for Showcase listings on Zillow. If you encounter an issue with your Zillow interactive floor plan, please contact 3DHome@zillowgroup.com for assistance.
Can I upload media separately and at different times to the media upload form, or does all the media need to be uploaded at the same time?
The media required for Showcase listings can be uploaded at different times but at a minimum, you must submit 10 total photos that represent a minimum of 3 interior rooms (at least one photo of three distinct rooms) and the URL link for the Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan. You can return to the form and add additional photos or links.
Where can I find the media upload form?
When the listing agent books their Showcase shoot, you will receive an email with the appointment details, media capture requirements (still photography and a Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan), and a media upload link.
Can I upload the still listing photos to the media upload form using Dropbox?
Yes, you can use Dropbox when uploading your media.
Can I upload the still listing photos to the media upload form using Google Drive?
Yes, you can use Google Drive when uploading your media.
I already have all the required media. Can I use that instead of reshooting the entire house?
If you own the required media (still photography and Zillow 3D tour and interactive floor plan), you can use the media for the Showcase listing. Photographers and agents are not authorized to use media they do not have the rights to for Showcase listings.
What image file types are acceptable for upload?
We recommend that still photos be uploaded as .jpeg files. Other file types such as .heic will automatically be converted to .jpeg after the image files are uploaded. We do not accept video, music or zip files.
Is there a maximum file size for each still image?
Yes, the maximum file size for each individual image is 10MB.
Is there a maximum number of still images that can be uploaded?
No, there is not a maximum number of still images that can be uploaded.
I only captured still photos for the listing. What additional media do I need to capture and upload for the listing to become Showcase?
If you only captured still photos and did not capture a Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan for the listing, you will need to return to the property and capture a Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan. Photographers need to upload both the still photos and the link to the Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan to the Showcase listing.
Where can I find the link to my Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan in order to upload it?
In the 3D Home Dashboard here, find your tour and click on the Share option to access the link. You can share and manage every Zillow 3D Home tour and interactive floor plan that you complete using the 3D Home Dashboard.