Creating Click-Worthy Listings: The Key Role of Professional Photography for AirBnB and Vacation Rental Properties
Photo of a living room in an AirBnB listing with a view of buildings and ocean outside in the distance.
So, you’ve decided to cash in on the short term rental business by sharing a room in your home or listing your entire vacation home on sites like AirBnB, VRBO, Booking.com, etc. You’ve done a lot of work preparing to host guests and to make sure your property is a warm and welcoming space for your guests to enjoy. You may have even gone above and beyond to offer unique experiences that set you apart from other listings in your market. You’ve spent countless hours crafting your listing description and documenting all of the amenities and local attractions. And now it’s time to add the photos…
Photos are the easy part, right? As an AirBnB host myself, I’ve seen so many other hosts talk about how easy it is to take “professional quality” photos these days with the camera quality and technology that modern smartphones offer. “Save money! There’s no need to hire a photographer when you can take great photos with an iPhone!” And yes, it is true that smartphone cameras are pretty amazing these days. I use my iPhone camera often to take photos because it’s good quality, compact, and light enough to have on me all the time. It’s great for day to day or sometimes when I’m traveling and don’t want to carry around my gear.
Side by side comparison of an AirBnB dining room photographed on a smartphone versus professional photography by Michelle Kenyon Photography
Left: Host's original photo; Right: Michelle Kenyon Photography
So why hire a professional photographer for your AirBnB listing?
The Power of First Impressions
First impressions matter. Professional photographs are going to capture your home’s best features and elevate your listing overall. There is definitely both an art and science behind capturing visually appealing photographs of homes and interiors. This is why there are photographers who specialize solely in architectural and interior photography. When you’re looking at the cover of magazines like Dwell and Architectural Digest, you’re not going to find homes featured using iPhone photography. Capturing and balancing light in indoor spaces as well as visualizing perspectives and perpendicular lines all require skill and equipment to properly document what a home truly looks and feels like. Professional photographers also have an eye for capturing the property’s best features and selling points. Whether it’s a stunning view or stylish decor, professional quality photos will best emphasize these things and make guests want to book your place.
Creating an Emotional Connection
Professional photos that capture your listing’s unique personality and amenities can help create an emotional connection. Good photos will help potential guests imagine themselves in your space. Have you ever seen a photo of a beautiful location, such as on a pristine beach with crystal clear turquoise water and could almost imagine feeling the sun on your skin? Like you were already there? Quality images with appealing compositions, light, and ambiance will help people truly understand the layout and feel of your home, and ultimately, lead to them wanting to book your property.
Photo of an infinity pool overlooking the Bay of Banderas in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
It's all about the amenities: Rooftop infinity pool in Puerto Vallarta captured by Michelle Kenyon Photography
Tapping into the Expertise of a Pro
A professional photographer who specializes in vacation rental listings is going to be an expert in showcasing the space and amenities. They know the “right angles” to use to tell the story of your home, the layout, and how the space flows from room to room. They have the right lenses and lighting equipment that ensure that they can photograph entire rooms no matter the size as well as capturing stunning outside views from inside the space, providing guests an accurate representation of what it is like to be in your home.
Conveying Professionalism and Credibility
Having professional quality photographs on your listing and booking websites also adds to the overall impression of your own professionalism and credibility. Investing in professional photography and setting aside time to schedule a session is something that guests can see and appreciate. It shows that you’ve taken care to make sure your listing shines by being well maintained and that you want potential guests to have a great experience as well. And professional photography is not just for luxury listings. Any home listing can benefit from quality photography to accurately portray the space.
Side by side comparison of iphone photo versus profession photo for an AirBnB listing
Left: iPhone photo; Right: Photo by Michelle Kenyon Photography
Maximizing Bookings and Revenue
Professional photography can also help to maximize your booking and revenue potential. Eye-catching images attract more inquiries and potentially allow hosts to charge premium pricing. According to AirBnB, hosts who use professional photography can earn up to 20% more in revenue and bookings compared to hosts that don’t. Other studies conducted by sites such as TripAdvisor and Booking.com have demonstrated that quality photographs are one of the most important factors for travelers in booking accommodations.
Instagram, Facebook, and Other Social Media
Marketing and social media play an important role in helping to drive business to your listing. Beautiful professional images taken for your listing can potentially also be used beyond AirBnB and vacation rental platforms. Many hosts have also created beautiful websites, Facebook, and Instagram accounts for their properties and using professional photographs from your session can further promote and attract a wider audience, driving more bookings.
Side by side comparison of a bedroom photographed with an iphone versus professional photography by Michelle Kenyon Photography
Left: Host's original photo ; Right: Photo by Michelle Kenyon Photography
Investing in professional photography for your Airbnb or vacation rental property can be a game-changer. By capturing the essence of your space, highlighting its unique features, and creating an emotional connection with potential guests, professional photos have the power to elevate your listing and drive more bookings. So, take the leap, hire a professional photographer, and let your property shine like never before.
How to find a professional photographer for your vacation rental property
So, now that I’ve created a compelling argument for you to hire a professional photographer, how do you find one? Well, hi! Let me introduce myself! One of my areas of specialty is in interiors and real estate photography, but I particularly love photographing vacation rental listing properties in the two places I call home: San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA and in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. If you’re interested in learning more or working with me to photograph your vacation rental listing, please contact me via my website.
I do travel as well! But if you are located far outside of these markets and are looking for someone more local, the first thing you want to do a Google search for a photographer who lists real estate or architectural photography offerings on their websites, or better yet, specifically mentions vacation rental property photography. These professionals understand the proper equipment and techniques in both photography and editing to ensure that the photographs represent your space accurately. Not all professional photographers know how to properly photograph spaces. Review their portfolio of work and get a feel for their style and how their interior photography examples make you feel. Make sure the work they showcase isn’t just high end locations, but also regular everyday homes. Do they also make these spaces look good in their photographs? Pricing will vary by photographer and by location. Some photographers may charge by number of rooms in a home, others may charge by home size, and others may charge flat fees. Most importantly, make sure you like the body of work they share on their websites and social media.
Investing in professional photography for your Airbnb or vacation rental property can be a game-changer. By capturing the essence of your space, highlighting its unique features, and creating an emotional connection with potential guests, professional photos have the power to elevate your listing and drive more bookings. So, take the leap, hire a professional photographer, and let your property shine like never before!
