Finally! You got your space spruced up and ready to go on Airbnb. Now all you need are great photos to include in your listing. What do you use? Airbnb photography vs. real estate photography? And what’s the difference?
Shooting a vacation rental is very different from standard real estate photography. Short-term rental properties have a unique look and feel, and these have to be seen in your photos.
If you advertise your place like any regular piece of property, it’s not going to be noticed. People are looking for substance and personality, and you have to depict them in your images.
Airbnb photography is different in a few fundamental ways. It’s more akin to interior photography, which focuses on the inside of a room. More attention is given to the useful features: the furniture, appliances, decor, and the various elements that make a place comfortable and appealing. The best Airbnb photos will look like images from an interior design magazine or a Pottery Barn catalog.
Here are 4 key aspects where real estate and Airbnb photography differ. If you’re planning to shoot and update the images on your listing, here are Airbnb photography guidelines you can follow.
With real estate photography, what you’re trying to sell is the space. A photographer will depict rooms in such a way that they appear taller, wider, brighter, and more expansive. Often, homes will have no or minimal furnishings and décor.
But with vacation rental photography, what you’re primarily selling is the amenities, and along with them, a unique experience. You have to remember that guests book short-term rentals for a variety of reasons: to find a clean, quiet space to work or relax in, to bond with friends or family, or to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. That means they’re looking for a fun, comforting, or snazzy experience.
Do you have a porch with a swing? A patio with a table, chairs, and some plants? Is there a path near your property that leads to a wooded trail, river, or lake?
Ask your photographer to highlight amenities and details that lend a particular feel. If you designed your property in such a way that it has a unique theme, tell them to capture that on film. It could be anything from an old-world, vintage vibe, a rugged country feel, or a Zen-like aura — whatever ambiance you want to evoke.
Do you offer a bathtub with a tray where scented a glass of wine or cup of tea can sit? A fireplace with a La-Z-boy nearby? A closetful of board games?
If you have amenities that others don’t, show them off. In Airbnb photography, it’s not just the house you’re selling. It’s the creature comforts.
Read also: Why Branding Your Airbnb is Critical for Your Short-term Rental Business
Closely related to the product is the staging. You’ll want to highlight the frills by arranging them in such a way that their quality and convenience are emphasized.
Whether they’re luxury toiletries on a bathroom counter, neatly folded towels on a bed, or cans of coffee, cream, and tea at a coffee station. You’ll want to impress your potential guests.
Set up that fire pit with a couple of lounge chairs, a grill, and a live fire. (Feel free to throw in a couple of skewered marshmallows.)
Extend those pull-out beds to show exactly how many people can sleep in the kids’ bedroom.
Think of props you can use: fresh flowers in a vase, a local travel book, or a glass of wine on the kitchen counter won’t cost much.
What you’re trying to do is pitch a story on how convenient and pleasurable it is to stay at your place.
Aside from a photographer, you may want to collaborate with a stylist or staging designer when shooting your place.
If you’re offering pet-friendly amenities, include your dogs in one of the photos.
But don’t go overboard and show things you’re not ready to give for free. For example, don’t show a welcome basket if you’re not willing to provide it on every stay.
In Airbnb photography, photos aren’t limited to wide, angular shots taken from a corner. Great Airbnb photos will show tighter perspectives that highlight a lot of details. The soft and thick GSM thread of those plush towels. The signature label on your coffee maker. Or the high-end brand of your heavy-duty cookware.
Show special vignettes like a welcome sign on the front door, wind chimes hanging on a tree, and pots of succulents on a window sill.
In real estate photography, you won’t see any of those. You usually just show a general view of a house with one perspective of each room. But in Airbnb photography, you highlight the best features of each conceivable spot.
We recommend getting a professional. Since you’ll be needing lots of details, your interior or Airbnb photographer should have the following equipment (aside from the basic high-resolution DSLR camera):
You don’t want to show just 7 or 8 images of your property. Strive for 15 or more.
Of course, it would depend on the size of your place and the number of rooms you have. But when you provide a good mix of wide and detailed shots, you’ll end up with a good amount of images.
Often, listings with more and better photos tend to show up first in Airbnb’s search results. So come up with as many perspectives as you can. The more images potential guests see on your listing, the better idea they’ll have of what you offer.
Remember, many guests book based on what they see.
And when you finally upload your photos, arrange them in a way that the first 5 show your best amenities. Then, provide 1 to 2 images of each room. That way, your guests can get a quick view of the top features right off, before scrolling further to get a glimpse of each room.
To get the best images and perspectives of your property, you should definitely use Airbnb photography. Get a professional photographer with a good eye for interiors and the right set of skills, experience, and equipment.
Poor-quality photos just won’t deliver. You’ll be stuck with sub-par images that won’t stand out, and won’t get many bookings because nobody will notice your listing.
Don’t hesitate to invest in Airbnb professional photography. You can recoup the fees in just a night or two’s booking, anyway. And you’ll have excellent pictures to last you a few years.
Listen to the podcast: Airbnb Photo Tips from a Vacation Rental Photography Expert
Ready to learn how we built & operate a $2M/year short term rental business, operate properties throughout the USA remotely, and acquired 70+ properties without owning any in just 2 years? Attend our free online master class to learn how you can do the same. Click here.
