You are correct that, according to the theory of special relativity, photons do not experience time. From the perspective of a photon, its journey from emission to absorption is instantaneous. This is because, as a massless particle, photons travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, and for them, time does not elapse.
In the frame of reference of a photon, there is no concept of "lifetime" or "duration" because time does not exist. The photon exists in a universe where its entire existence is compressed into a single moment.
However, it's important to note that we can still describe the behavior of photons and their interactions with matter using our framework of time and space. While photons themselves do not experience time, their effects can be observed and measured in our frame of reference.
When we observe photons from our stationary frame of reference, we can measure their speed, frequency, and other properties. We can also detect their interaction with matter, such as when they are absorbed or reflected. These observations and measurements are made within our frame of reference, which includes the concept of time.
So, while photons themselves do not experience time, we can describe their behavior and measure their effects using our framework that includes the concept of time.