Captivating photography is crucial for making Airbnb listings irresistible to prospective guests. Clean pixels and clever captions simply cannot convey the full experience of inhabiting your thoughtfully designed rooms. Professional photography illuminates rooms with brilliance and depth, rivaling glossy magazines through masterful composition and careful attention to lighting.
This guide pulls back the curtain on how to stage Airbnb photos worthy of framing. Transform plain spaces into photographically decadent interiors using targeted cosmetic enhancements and temporary upgrades.
Discover expert tricks normally reserved for luxury real estate and hotel shoots but adaptable even on a budget. Elevate listing aesthetics to entice travelers while conveying authentic personality. From four-star hotel suites to cozy garden cabins, these staging strategies apply universally across all charming spaces.
Let’s delve into the fine art and science of styling rentals, ready for their best close-up. Master fundamental techniques for preparing properties, composing artful compositions, and casting in gorgeous glows, which are guaranteed to get more bookings. Perfected photos promise to impress potential guests when they start scrolling listings for fresh accommodations rich with character and professional polish.
Prepare the Space
The first step to staging your Airbnb property for a photo shoot is to thoroughly clean and declutter the space. Remove personal items and knick-knacks to make the space look bigger. Make all beds with fresh linens and hang up fluffy white towels in the bathroom. Style throw pillows and blankets to complete the cozy vacation rental vibe.
Consider taking an online home staging course to learn pro tips on preparing rentals to sell. While home staging is primarily for houses on the market, many of the same rules apply to vacation rental properties. Part of home staging includes deep cleaning, decluttering, styling, and accenting to showcase the best features of a home. Use these techniques when staging your Airbnb property for photos.
Set the Perfect Lighting for great photo
Proper lighting can make or break Airbnb photos. Rely primarily on abundant natural light during your Airbnb photo shoot. Photograph rooms near large windows and glass doors to utilize soft, diffused daylight. Supplement additional lighting as needed with table lamps, overhead lighting, or reflectors.
Open all window coverings fully to let in sunlight. Sheer linen or lightly colored window curtains work well to diffuse direct light. Increase brightness with white furniture, bedding, towels, and decorative objects. A bright and airy aesthetic appeals greatly to prospective guests browsing listings.
Utilize Stylish Decor
Incorporating attractive styling and decor creates a welcoming environment in photography. Rent luxury bedding, throw pillows, area rugs, and artwork to elevate the look of your space temporarily. Fresh flowers, fruit bowls, books, and candles also help showcase the unit’s finest qualities.
Edit and pare down permanent decor to highlight the best features. Remove clutter, dated furniture, loud patterns, and distracting wall colors. Maintain a cohesive style and color scheme throughout.
Capture Unique Angles
When taking Airbnb photos, capture various angles and perspectives to showcase all features. Wide shots display the whole room, while closer photos highlight details like soaking tubs or ocean views. Shoot from corners to fit everything in the frame and position the camera at different levels like table height or above the bed.
Creating an intentional shot list ensures you get all the best images needed to market the property accurately online. Determine the unit’s top selling points and compose corresponding photos.
Highlight the amenities
Your listing’s amenities can often be the deciding factor for travelers choosing a vacation rental. Ensure to photograph and feature key details like hot tubs, updated appliances, fireplaces, pools, and entertainment systems.
Capture both exterior and specific interior feature shots. Photograph the building entrance, pool area, and balcony views in addition to the modern kitchen or spa bathroom. Use natural light to show amenities in the best possible way.
Show Off the Surroundings
The view and destination largely influence most travelers when booking Airbnb. It’s essential to convey a sense of place by showing off desirable surrounding features near your rental. Photograph impressive skyline views, beaches, parks, restaurants, and popular landmarks visible from the unit.
Wide landscape orientation works perfectly for scenic exterior shots. Position the camera so the view is the main focus while still showing some home features like a balcony railing in the foreground. This gives guests a clearer perspective of what to expect when staying at your listing.
Edit for Maximum Impact
Post-processing your listing photos to look bright, crisp, and visually striking keeps browsers engaged as they click through your listing. Pro editing creates a polished, high-end look and feel that aligns with the quality travelers seek from Airbnb rentals compared to hotels.
Use photo editing software like Lightroom or Snapseed to color correct, and adjust brightness, temperature, contrast, vibrance, and saturation. Sharpen details and straighten horizon lines as needed. Always edit conservatively, as overly altered images appear unrealistic. Save edited versions separate from originals to re-edit as needed.
Engage with Guests
Compelling photo captions make images more meaningful while conveying what guests can expect when staying at your rental. Feature highlight images first that immediately catch the eye and draw viewers in.
Provide further context explaining details, amenities, and views shown in corresponding photos. Share insider local tips on sites, attractions, and dining spots visible from various rooms. Ultimately captions should inspire travelers to envision an unforgettable stay in your Airbnb.
Follow these tips on professional Airbnb photography to create an exceptional listing guaranteed to convert browsers into bookings. Paying attention to property preparation, lighting, styling, photography, and editing truly optimizes listings to generate more reservations over time.
Way to make your Airbnb Stand out
Preparing your Airbnb rental for a professional photo shoot involves both cleaning and styling. Follow these home staging tips to make your space shine online to attract more guest bookings:
Clean and Declutter Thoroughly
Give your entire rental a deep clean before photographing. Scrub surfaces, mop floors, dust furniture, and clean windows throughout. Remove all clutter, especially on counters, sinks and nightstands. Pare down knick knacks and decor items to just essential accents. Aim to showcase the room itself over distracting clutter.
Style with Cohesive Decor
Create a polished look using home decor items with a unified aesthetic. Incorporate lightly patterned white bedding with matching shams and decorative pillows. Hang canvas wall art and set out ceramic vases with faux botanicals. Group items together in pleasing vignettes that enhance visual interest within scenes.
Refresh with New Linens
Add freshly laundered white or gray linens to all beds for a clean, crisp look. Hang up new plush towels in both bathrooms and kitchens as well. New bedding and towels make rooms appear bright, elegant, and inviting during shoots.
Incorporate Natural Greenery
Vibrant plants and flowers inject color and life into the frame. Style fresh floral bouquets, potted plants, small trees, and wreaths throughout various rooms. Greenery elements contrast pleasingly against neutral walls, bedding, and furniture.
Use Stylist Rentals Strategically
Consider sourcing special designer furniture, lighting, artwork, or accessories for the shoot. Many staging companies offer chic rentals to elevate home interiors without a permanent commitment. Unique items help rooms pop beautifully on camera for listing photos.
Mind Light Sources
Position lamps, sconces, and overhead lighting to cast rooms in the most ideal way. Adjust window shades to control incoming sunlight as needed. Watch for unsightly shadows and dark corners during test shots. Add reflectors when possible to bounce flattering light into the scene.
How to Get Professional Airbnb Photos
Investing in professional Airbnb photography truly maximizes your listing’s rental potential online. Here are tips for getting pro-quality images:
Hire a Professional Photographer
Research experienced photographers in your area who specialize in architectural and real estate photography. Many professional photographers will travel on location to photograph hospitality properties like hotels, resorts, and Airbnb. Expect to invest at minimum a few hundred dollars for a multi-hour shoot with a pro who will provide properly edited final high-resolution image files.
Use an Airbnb Photographer Marketplace
Specialty sites like Travelers Photography connect hosts directly to talented, vetted photographers local to their rental property. Travelers manage bookings, scheduling, and payments for professional shoots while ensuring premier quality listing photos. This streamlined process yields gorgeous photography to help your listing shine.
Take an Airbnb Photography Course
Enroll in a dedicated course teaching key skills every Airbnb host needs. Learn insider tips to effectively style and light rooms, compose artful shots, shoot on an iPhone, properly edit images, and more. Equipping yourself with photography best practices helps you create magazine-worthy listing photos yourself or at least identify quality from photographers you hire.
Use High Res Images
Airbnb requires hosts to upload at least 1280 pixels or larger images on the shortest side. Images less than 1024 pixels wide appear blurry on the site, deterring potential guests. Supply photographers with this minimum size guideline to ensure that delivered photos meet standards. Verify exact resolutions before finalizing files.
Airbnb Listing Photo Ideas
Stand out among the competition with creative, eye-catching listing photos to help your Airbnb rental shine.
Play with Color and Texture
Inject bold accent walls, bedding, accessories, and artwork to add striking pops of color. Raw wood walls, brick interiors, cozy textiles, and rattan provide interesting textures.
Show Lifestyle Moments
Feature guests enjoying amenities conveys warmth a static shot cannot capture. Display travelers cooking in the kitchen, lounging by the pool, gazing at the view, or gathering around the dining table. Ensure models sign photo releases allowing publishing.
Incorporate Local Flare
Showcase products and brands from local artisans, wineries, farms, and shops. Feature gourmet food made in the kitchen, indigenous flowers, or regionally crafted home decor items. Intrigue guests with unique hyper-local find exclusive to your area.
Try Aerial Photography
Soaring aerial photography lends immense visual impact to showcase sprawling landscapes and striking architecture. Hire a professional drone operator to capture mesmerizing overhead property views if regulations allow flying drones in your region.
Get Creative with Angles
Deviate from eye-level shots by composing unexpected views from high corners, stair landings, or even bathroom floors to stand out. Dramatic low angles aimed upwards also intensify interior spaciousness.
Airbnb Listing Description Ideas
Crafting compelling written descriptions paired with vibrant photography greatly strengthens Airbnb listings by showing and telling rental details to guests. Follow the tips to descriptively showcase your property with tantalizing ad copy:
Set the Scene
Describe the surrounding neighborhood setting by highlighting charming cafes, bustling plazas, hot nightlife, or serene natural landscapes just steps outside the guest’s door. Help travelers envision experiencing the dynamic destination through vivid sensory details. Transport readers directly into the vibrant location even before they book.
Play Up Key Amenities
Elaborate on luxe amenities and upgraded features unavailable in nearby hotel rooms. Spotlight gourmet chef’s kitchens, outdoor patios with firepits, billiard rooms, private saunas, and more. Share square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms upfront too.
Insert Local History
Weave in interesting local legends, heritage sites, and famous landmarks situated near the property to dazzle culture-focused travelers. Personalize the unit’s backstory with historical neighborhood fun facts.
Provide Convenient Details
Disclose neighborhood parking options, public transit access points, airport shuttle information, and availability of self-check-in. Offer power adaptors, phone chargers, and multi-lingual guide maps for guest convenience as well.
Include an FAQ Section
Answer frequent guest questions and concerns regarding safety, accessibility, bedding, wifi, parties, pets, and more. Transparent policies provide clarity upfront, leading to smoother bookings and stays.
Tips To Take Great Airbnb Photography
Here are some key photography best practices to employ when shooting Airbnb listings:
- Utilize natural light whenever possible for bright, even illumination free of harsh shadows. Look at the photos to ensure they appear inviting and well-lit.
- Use the space effectively by avoiding wide-angle distortion. Shoot interiors from corners and hallways using longer focal lengths.
- Photograph exteriors during golden hour light at dawn or dusk for vivid skies and softened landscape shadows. This will help your listing stand out from the crowd.
- Close curtains on windows facing direct sunlight to diffuse extreme highlights and glare. Use the space wisely to create a balanced and appealing atmosphere.
- Shoot from varied heights, such as floor level, standing on furniture, or from building landings, to provide diverse perspectives, similar to a real estate listing.
- Take vertical and horizontal framed compositions to convey space dimensions accurately. The Home Staging Institute recommends this approach for better visual representation.
- Focus mainly on one leading element per shot, keeping backgrounds clean and secondary details subtle. Include key features that highlight your property’s uniqueness.
- Use manual camera settings to properly expose and focus each unique composition. It’s important to take your time to get the best results.
- Include a decorative item like a house plant or bouquet in the foreground to add visual interest and draw viewers deeper into the shots. This technique can help create an appealing cover photo.
- Straighten vertical and horizontal lines using the rotate tool during post-processing to correct distortion from wide-angle lenses. Editing your photos is crucial for a polished final product.
Remember to capture every room in your property, as this will help potential guests get a comprehensive view of what you’re offering. With these tips, you can make your space look its absolute best and attract more bookings.
Pro Airbnb Photography Gear
Having the right photography gear ensures flawless listing of photos every time. Here is essential equipment for professional quality Airbnb images:
DSLR Camera
Invest in a higher-megapixel DSLR camera for incredibly sharp, vivid photographs. Features like flip screens help capture odd angles. Opt for a model with wide aperture capabilities to shoot efficiently in low-light rooms.
Wide Angle Lens
A wide angle lens in the 10-20 mm range covers entire rooms in frame from corners. Wider perspectives showcase true room dimensions accurately with minimal distortion.
Remote Shutter Release
Trigger the camera shutter remotely to reduce blurring from a handshake. Lock focus on tripods, then release the shutter from afar to tack sharp architectural shots.
Tripod
Sturdy tripods prevent all camera movement allowing for longer exposures and crystal-clear images even in low-light scenes. Look for lightweight carbon fiber models that pack down smaller for travel.
Light Meter
Handheld light meters calculate the exact optimal exposures in each unique lighting scenario. Eliminate guessing and achieve perfect picture lighting every time.
Photo Editing Software
Programs like Adobe Lightroom streamline importing, editing, and exporting high volumes of photos through preset batch adjustments and one-click global edits across images.
Airbnb Photo Ideas
Make your listing truly shine by taking creative Airbnb photos beyond the same stale indoor room shots. Wow, potential guests with stunning property photos capturing exterior views, local color, and lifestyle moments:
Overhead Exterior
Soaring overhead exterior shots showcase sprawling multi-acre estates. Hire a drone operator to photograph massive compounds too expansive to fit in standard frames. Highlight unique architecture and landscape designs from above.
Vista Scenes
Draw the eye deep into the frame using leading lines like shorelines, fences, or deck rails. Layer mountain ranges stretch endlessly into the horizon for majestic natural backdrops conveying utter peacefulness and visual splendor.
Lifestyle Moments
Depict hosts and visitors enjoying the vacation property and surrounding area. Photograph groups cooking together in kitchens, lounging by firepits, gathered around dining tables, or clinking wine glasses on patios.
Local Color
Get creative showcasing regional food, famous landmarks, popular hangouts, or products unique to the area. Artfully display bikes along a seaside path, intricate Spanish tiles, or a spread of gourmet Chinese dishes plated at the table.
Floor Plans
Incorporate annotated floor plans indicating bedroom counts, bathroom locations, and overall layouts into galleries. Convey how much living space and number of sleeping arrangements multi-room homes offer for larger parties.
Area Guidebooks
Locals and repeat visitors often create area guidebooks featuring insider recommendations on hidden gem boutiques, eateries, adventures, and sightseeing. Gift these handmade guides for guests to discover exciting new places during their stay.
Frequently Asked Questions How to Stage Airbnb Photos Brief
How can I make the best first impression with my Airbnb listing?
The first impression your listing makes is critical. Invest time staging your property thoroughly to welcome guests into a clean, uncluttered, stylishly decorated space. Take photos from different angles using tips professional real estate and Airbnb photographers rely on. Airbnb recommends including at least 8 quality images so guests can scroll through and fully appreciate your home. Many hosts also include a floor plan to provide better spatial awareness upfront.
What’s the best way to make an Airbnb listing?
Make your Airbnb shine by preparing each room as if expecting VIP guests. Stage your property, ensuring everything is clean, decluttered, and styled. Use small upgrades like freshly fluffed pillows, scented candles, plush towels, and baskets of local goodies. Capture photos just before sunset to utilize gorgeous soft lighting. Take wide shots alongside closeups of details. Make your photos inviting so travelers instantly feel at home.
How can I get professional-looking photos with my smartphone?
With the right techniques, smartphone cameras can capture quality listing photos. Use indirect natural lighting, clean the lens, tap to set focus and exposure, try different angles, use gridlines to straighten the shot, fill the whole frame, and avoid zooming in. Use photo editing apps to adjust brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness for polished images that attract guests. While professional DSLR photos are ideal, creatively maximizing a smartphone can work when hiring a professional photographer isn’t feasible.
What are some tips for taking great Airbnb photos?
Preparing your space well is half the battle. It’s time to stage your rental by decluttering surfaces, making neat beds with fresh linens, styling furniture attractively, and incorporating small upgrades. For photography, open all curtains and blinds fully to utilize soft natural light. Move through the house methodically, taking both vertical and horizontal shots of each room. Want your photos to look bright, crisp, and appealing to make listings stand out?
