Pexels connector

Set up the Pexels connector in Kaivo: authentication, configuration, the 5 BigQuery tables it syncs, and answers to common questions.

Written By Lauri Raivio

Last updated 15 days ago

Kaivo is a fully managed data platform that syncs your Pexels data into a Google BigQuery warehouse and keeps it up to date automatically. There is no pipeline to build and no infrastructure to run, so you can spend your time analysing your data from Pexels instead of moving it.

What is the Pexels connector

Sync your Pexels photo and video search results into BigQuery with Kaivo to track available stock media and build a searchable asset record.

Category	Other
Authentication	API key
Setup	Self-service

Getting started with the Pexels connector

Sign up for Kaivo and create a workspace.
Connect your Pexels account.
Choose which tables to sync.
Wait for the initial sync to finish.
Query your data in BigQuery or your favourite AI or BI tool.

Authenticating Pexels

Authenticate with your API Key.

Field	Description
API Key	Your Pexels API key. Create a free account at pexels.com/api and copy your key from the API dashboard.

Configuring the Pexels connector

When you set up the connector, you provide:

Field	Description
Search Query	The search query used to fetch photos and videos. E.g. Ocean, Tigers, Pears.
Color	Filter photos by color. Supported: red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, violet, pink, brown, black, gray, white, or any hexadecimal color code.
Locale	The locale to search in. Supported: en-US, pt-BR, es-ES, ca-ES, de-DE, it-IT, fr-FR, sv-SE, id-ID, pl-PL, ja-JP, zh-TW, zh-CN, ko-KR, th-TH, nl-NL, hu-HU, vi-VN, cs-CZ, da-DK, fi-FI, uk-UA, el-GR, ro-RO, nb-NO, sk-SK, tr-TR, ru-RU.
Orientation	Filter photos by orientation. Supported: landscape, portrait, or square.
Size	Filter photos by minimum size. Supported: large (24MP), medium (12MP), or small (4MP).

Tables and columns synced from Pexels

Kaivo syncs 5 tables from Pexels into a dedicated dataset in your BigQuery warehouse. Click any table to see its columns and types.

collection_featured (7 columns)

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`next_page`	`STRING`
`page`	`INT64`
`per_page`	`INT64`
`prev_page`	`STRING`
`total_results`	`INT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: collection_featured__collections

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`description`	`STRING`
`id`	`STRING`
`media_count`	`INT64`
`photos_count`	`INT64`
`private`	`BOOL`
`title`	`STRING`
`videos_count`	`INT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

photos_curated (6 columns)

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`next_page`	`STRING`
`page`	`INT64`
`per_page`	`INT64`
`total_results`	`INT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: photos_curated__photos

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`alt`	`STRING`
`avg_color`	`STRING`
`height`	`INT64`
`id`	`INT64`
`liked`	`BOOL`
`photographer`	`STRING`
`photographer_id`	`INT64`
`photographer_url`	`STRING`
`src__landscape`	`STRING`
`src__large`	`STRING`
`src__large2x`	`STRING`
`src__medium`	`STRING`
`src__original`	`STRING`
`src__portrait`	`STRING`
`src__small`	`STRING`
`src__tiny`	`STRING`
`url`	`STRING`
`width`	`INT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

photos_search (6 columns)

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`next_page`	`STRING`
`page`	`INT64`
`per_page`	`INT64`
`total_results`	`INT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: photos_search__photos

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`alt`	`STRING`
`avg_color`	`STRING`
`height`	`INT64`
`id`	`INT64`
`liked`	`BOOL`
`photographer`	`STRING`
`photographer_id`	`INT64`
`photographer_url`	`STRING`
`src__landscape`	`STRING`
`src__large`	`STRING`
`src__large2x`	`STRING`
`src__medium`	`STRING`
`src__original`	`STRING`
`src__portrait`	`STRING`
`src__small`	`STRING`
`src__tiny`	`STRING`
`url`	`STRING`
`width`	`INT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

videos_popular (6 columns)

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`page`	`INT64`
`per_page`	`INT64`
`total_results`	`INT64`
`url`	`STRING`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: videos_popular__videos

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`duration`	`INT64`
`height`	`FLOAT64`
`id`	`INT64`
`image`	`STRING`
`url`	`STRING`
`user__id`	`INT64`
`user__name`	`STRING`
`user__url`	`STRING`
`width`	`FLOAT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: videos_popularvideosvideo_files

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`file_type`	`STRING`
`height`	`FLOAT64`
`id`	`INT64`
`link`	`STRING`
`quality`	`STRING`
`width`	`FLOAT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: videos_popularvideosvideo_pictures

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`id`	`INT64`
`nr`	`INT64`
`picture`	`STRING`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

videos_search (6 columns)

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`page`	`INT64`
`per_page`	`INT64`
`total_results`	`INT64`
`url`	`STRING`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: videos_search__videos

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`duration`	`INT64`
`height`	`FLOAT64`
`id`	`INT64`
`image`	`STRING`
`url`	`STRING`
`user__id`	`INT64`
`user__name`	`STRING`
`user__url`	`STRING`
`width`	`FLOAT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: videos_searchvideosvideo_files

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`file_type`	`STRING`
`height`	`FLOAT64`
`id`	`INT64`
`link`	`STRING`
`quality`	`STRING`
`width`	`FLOAT64`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

Subtable: videos_searchvideosvideo_pictures

Column	Type	Description
`_kaivo_parent_id`	`STRING`	Foreign key referencing _kaivo_id in the parent table. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`_kaivo_id`	`STRING`	Primary key that uniquely identifies the row. Auto-generated by Kaivo.
`id`	`INT64`
`nr`	`INT64`
`picture`	`STRING`
`_kaivo_extracted_at`	`TIMESTAMP`	Timestamp that shows when the row was extracted. Auto-generated by Kaivo.

How the Pexels sync works

After the first load, Kaivo keeps your BigQuery warehouse up to date for you. Where Pexels supports it, each sync pulls only new and changed records so it stays fast; otherwise it refreshes the whole table. Every record keeps its original ID, so you won't get duplicate rows.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the initial sync take for Pexels?

It depends on how much history is in your Pexels account. Most initial syncs finish within minutes, while large accounts can take a few hours. After that, syncs only fetch new and changed records, so they're much faster.

Can I sync only some tables or columns?

Yes. You pick which tables to sync when you set up the connection and can change the selection later. Tables you don't select are never copied to your warehouse.

What happens when Pexels's schema changes?

New fields are never added automatically. You choose which fields to sync, so data you haven't selected (sensitive personal data, for example) never lands in your warehouse. When a new field appears, it becomes available for you to add. What happens to removed or renamed fields depends on a table's sync mode: full-refresh tables always match what's currently in Pexels, so dropped fields disappear, while incremental tables keep their existing columns and history, so an old field stays and newly added fields fill in over time.

Your data lives in your own Kaivo-managed BigQuery warehouse, so the most direct option is to delete or anonymise specific records right in BigQuery. If you delete data in Pexels instead, full-refresh tables drop it on the next sync, while incremental tables keep it, so you would remove the row in BigQuery or ask us to run a full refresh. To remove everything, delete the Pexels connector in Kaivo and all of its synced data is deleted with it.

Common use cases for Pexels data

Asset search

Use photos_search and videos_search to record what media is available for your queries.

Curated content

Track photos_curated and videos_popular to see trending assets over time.

Collection coverage

Use collection_featured to follow curated collections.

Media library

Bring results into BigQuery to build a searchable record of assets.

Use Pexels data in your AI and BI tools

Once Pexels data lands in your Kaivo-managed BigQuery warehouse, you can explore it with AI tools or any BI tool that connects to BigQuery. Here's how the most common destinations work with Pexels data.

Claude

Use Kaivo's MCP server to give Claude secure, workspace-scoped access to your data. Setup guide →

Power BI

Microsoft's BI tool with a native BigQuery connector. Supports direct query and scheduled refresh. Setup guide →

Data Studio

Free Google BI tool with native BigQuery support. One-click connection to your Kaivo warehouse; great for SMB teams on Google Workspace. Setup guide →

Tableau

The premium analytics standard, with native BigQuery integration. Setup guide →

Google Sheets

Use Connected Sheets to query BigQuery directly from a spreadsheet, with no SQL. Setup guide →

Excel

Connect via Power Query's BigQuery connector. Setup guide →

Metabase

Open-source BI tool with strong BigQuery support. Setup guide →

See our pricing page for Pexels connector pricing and plan details.

Demo: Sync Demo to BigQuery.
Care Quality Commission: Sync Care Quality Commission to BigQuery.
DingConnect: Sync DingConnect to BigQuery.
CIMIS: Sync CIMIS to BigQuery.
Navan: Sync Navan to BigQuery.
Eventbrite: Sync Eventbrite to BigQuery.

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