The value of great Airbnb Listing Photography of your space cannot be overstated. The first thing prospective guests look at when deciding whether or not to book your space on Airbnb is your photos.
Take some time to make your listings shine, since listings with good photos receive more interest, more bookings, and more eyes. Set the right expectations by attracting potential guests, highlighting your best features, and highlighting what’s amazing. Guests should be able to book with confidence.
Here are some of the most important photo tips for making your space and your listing look better than ever. Duncan Avenue Studios provides professional real estate photography services in the Hudson Valley and beyond and here are a few tips to get your Airbnb listing ready for a photoshoot:
Ensure your property is bright and properly lit
It is no secret that light is one of the best friends of a photographer. Adding depth, color, and contrast to your setting will bring out its natural beauty. Having great lighting will make your photo look much more professional in general, and, as a result, you will look professional as well.
Let in all the natural light by scheduling your Airbnb listing photoshoot during the day, turning on all the lights, open all the curtains. Most cameras will darken the rest of the image if a bright spot is seen, so we use HDR post-production techniques that let us reveal the best features, details, and surfaces even if they are in the shadows.
Take the time to clean up your space
You may want to take some time to clear out your living space of clutter. It’ll be less distracting to the viewer and generally make your place seem more inviting and spacious.
Imagine that you are an interior decorator-arrange a few flowers, put a few magazines on the fan, and dust various surfaces. Make sure you are as tidy as you have ever been. It’s important to clean up space, but make sure the photo matches the actual area as much as possible. It is important to let your photos truly reflect how your guests will feel when they are visiting.
Emphasize the unique amenities you have to offer
Are you lucky enough to have a backyard patio? What about a barbeque? Do you have an awesome kitchen? Are there toys for kids in a room specifically designed for children? Is there a breathtaking view from this room? What about a washer-dryer? Do you have a fireplace? Make sure to give your photographer a list of all the features that you would want to display with photos so they know what to expect. It is these things that set your place apart from other places; you can do this both for your own home and for a hotel, so make sure to take photos of them.
The little details that give your home personality and life are also popular. Your listing should include pictures of any items you have, such as a guitar signed by Tom Petty, a collection of US Civil War-era china, or chickens in the backyard. Make your space interesting and don’t be shy.
Don’t forget outdoor features
It’s just as important what’s outside as what’s inside. Help set people’s expectations of their arrival by photographing your place from the outside. The best time to shoot outdoors is the first and last hour of sunlight of the day, known as the “Golden Hour.” This is the time of day where light is softest (most diffused) and brings out the broadest range of color. Fire pits and grill areas look best during evening hours as well, so consider upgrading your photoshoot to dusk photography that reveals the magical evening lights.
Don’t forget your neighborhood! It’s exciting for travelers to see their destination and the hotel they’re staying at, so take pictures of it. They’ll brag about what they can walk to, so if you’re close to a local attraction, a great restaurant, or stunning scenery, post some pictures. Consider drone/aerial photos upgrade in order to take a bird-eye view of the area and your street, or if you have a large property to feature.
Here is a bonus tip for you
In general, the more photos you have, the more excited people will be to view them. As a result, you give your guest the most information with which to make a decision and allows them to spend more time on your listing. Select a variety of subjects to feature rather than having your photographer shooting the same thing a million times. Describe your space in broad, detailed terms, and give people the impression of what it really is.