A picture really is worth a thousand words or more like thousands of dollars in potential bookings. Photos are one of the top 3 reasons guests choose to book after location and price. The goal of photography is to attract guests to stay at your property. If you plan on taking photos yourself (which you can totally do!) here are a few tips that could help make your space look it's very best in person and for your online property listing.

Clean and declutter

Having a clean and functional space is priority number one. Guests are trying to escape the chaos, they don’t want to stay amongst it all.  Make sure there are minimal knick-knacks and declutter spaces.  That even includes putting away clean dishes in the sink! 

Before taking any photos, clean the property from top to bottom.  A cleaning list would include but is not limited to:

• Sweep and Mop the floors

• Dust furniture and baseboards

• Wipe down all surfaces

• Wash all linens

• Clean mirrors

Set the scene

Stage your space to make it open and inviting. Make sure beds are made and toilet lids are down.  These might sound simple but attention to detail goes a long way. Adding a few pieces of wall art, house plants, throw pillows and fresh flowers can really give the feeling of a warm inviting place to stay. 

Flow 

Share pictures on your listing as if the guest is walking through your property.  Make the flow make sense in a logical way starting with a front exterior shot then guide them through so they get the best feel of the overall space.  And most importantly take pictures of all the spaces guests will have access to including shared spaces.  

Humanize the space

Placing people in your property photography does three things.⁠

1. The model's attire & posture can increase your property's perceived value. ⁠

2. Placed scenes can show guests how to utilize your space or what activities your location offers.⁠

3. It humanizes your property and allows potential guests to envision themselves there. ⁠⁠

Let’s shoot!

We have set up the space for success so let’s start taking photos! Make sure to use natural sunlight and turn off all artificial lighting.  Open window coverings and let the light shine in! Everything has a good side so make sure you capitalize on each room's best angles.  Stand at the widest vantage point of the room, usually from the entry door.  Try to include two walls and the ceiling to create open views. A good rule of thumb is to take several pictures for each room in your rental and select the best ones to upload.

Edit your photos

Be sure to give all your photos a review and a touch-up. Simple adjustments to the brightness can create more airy lighter spaces. You can also adjust by cropping the photos to make sure flash reflections aren’t included in mirrors or to minimize large blank walls. Just take the time to look over each photo before you upload them. 

According to Airbnb, you can earn up to 20% more with professional photos of your listing. By including 20–30 photos in total for your property, you are sure to give potential guests a transparent view of the property with no unexpected surprises.

Want More Photography Tips?

Check out our complimentary 2022 Hospitality Social Media Marketing Guide on how to create desirable photography and 5 questions you should ask a professional photographer.

If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.