10 Airbnb Photo Tips for More Bookings

By Tata Rossi 8 days ago, Photography Tips

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If you are new to Airbnb vacation rental business, hiring professional real estate photographers is probably too expensive for you. However, high-quality photos have a great impact on a guest's decision to rent a specific real estate.

According to Airbnb, pro-level shots result in 24% more bookings. Pictures of poor quality do not attract clients, causing less profit. So check out these useful Airbnb photo tips that will boost inquiries and improve your statistics.

1. Prefer Natural Light

airbnb photo natural light

When it comes to shooting high-quality pics, especially real estate photography, flattering lighting is of paramount importance. Remember that natural light is the most optimal choice for every type of image. It improves colors and brightens living spaces creating a more pleasant atmosphere.

airbnb photo natural light

So, when conducting a photoshoot, make sure to open all the curtains to let the sunbeams inside. Artificial lights can cause the contrary effect resulting in harsh shadows disguising colors. Try to conduct your photo session on a sunny day. Early morning or late afternoon provides the most flattering lighting for real estate photography.

Pro Tip:

If tiny patchy spots of sunlighting make the illumination of your space uneven, try to take pics when the sun is right above the building.

2. Highlight Unique Amenities

airbnb photo amenities

To produce stunning Airbnb photography, include some highlights like a fireplace, a smart lock for Airbnb, or a guitar a visitor can play. All these amenities can help your listing stand out among others. Do not forget to include a pleasant scene with coffee and some snacks if you are going to treat your guests.

airbnb photo amenities

Besides, it would be smart to present some accessibility features like wide doorways, step-free floors or grab rails that provide extra assistance for people with disabilities. Find out more about which features qualify and the most optimal way to capture them.

3. Shoot into a Corner

airbnb photo corner

Shooting into a corner of a room instead of taking photos directly facing a wall is one of the most effective Airbnb photo tips for producing professional-looking interior photography. By doing so, you can add more dimension to the composition. This technique also allows for creating a better perspective of the room making it look bigger and more attractive.

airbnb photo corner

No matter what type of space you are going to photograph, this technique will definitely help. When shooting bedrooms, bring the focus on a bed, while a sofa should be an accent when taking pics of a living room. The focal point of an image of a bathroom should be the shower or a bath, whereas a pic of a kitchen should concentrate on the stove or oven.

4. Enhance Photos in Mobile Apps

airbnb photo tips fixthephoto editor retouch app

The editing stage is very important, especially for Airbnb photography. By applying even some minor corrections, you can make your images stand out. Even if you do not have any experience in the editing field, do not get desperate as many apps on the market offer automated image enhancement features.

fixthephoto real estate retouching before after fixthephoto real estate retouching before after

Want to Enhance Your Airbnb Photos in 1 Click?

If you don’t have time for editing and do not know how to refine real estate photos, address this task to professionals. Our team of retouchers can enhance the look of your Airbnb rental showcasing it in the best light.

These free photo editing apps, which you can install and use on smartphones with ease, will come in handy when taking Airbnb shots.

VSCO is one of the most optimal options. This a pro-level app that has a range of filters and editing features for correcting colors and editing exposure. Snapseed is also a great tool as it allows saving style presets setting for future images. Besides, it has all the editing features of Photoshop, which are available for free.

Adobe Lightroom is probably the most popular editing tool available on the market today. The app has a built-in camera so you can take images right through your phone and then correct their exposure, aperture, and more.

5. Cater to a Certain Lifestyle

airbnb photo certain lifestyle

Many guests like more practical photos that present the lifestyle the property they are interested in offers. So, give the priority to those Airbnb images that present the overall atmosphere of the space.

For example, a pic of real estate with a rustic vibe should feature such details as a copper stovetop kettle and a cheeseboard. If the space is perfect for urban living, shoot high end real estate photography that showcases its fashionable interior with all luxury accessories.

If your guests like surroundings, take images that focus on the place where outdoor gear is kept.

6. Capture the Neighbourhood

airbnb photo neighbourhood

After taking Airbnb professional photos featuring both the interior and exterior of the space, take time to produce eye-catching images of the neighborhood. Remember that an unattractive neighborhood can make a client change his/her mind and refuse to rent the space he/she likes at first.

airbnb photo neighbourhood

So, taking several pics of nearby restaurants, beaches or some other attractions is a reasonable decision. If the property is located in the center of the city, benefit from real estate aerial photography to capture the bustle around. If a real estate is situated in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood, shoot parks, rivers, or similar attractions.

7. Set the Scene and Declutter

airbnb photo tips declutter

To make a guest set eyes on your listing, make certain that the space is neat and tidy. Excellent organization and an inviting atmosphere are what can help you to win people’s attention.

Adorn the house with flowers, put some inspiring books on the table and the vase with fruits in the kitchen, fluff the pillows, get rid of the trash, etc. But make sure that a pic displays what your listing offers in reality, and do not try to sugarcoat what the things actually are.

8. Consider Technical Requirements

airbnb photo tips dimensions

The size of your photos plays a crucial role as it influences how the pics look on the platform considerably. Too big images can become grainy, whereas too small photos won’t look distinct. Prefer a landscape format as this orientation is used by Airbnb to present the rentals.

As for resolution, Airbnb recommends a minimum of 1024x683px, as this is an ideal size for uploading to the platform. Benefit from a free photo resizing software, like Adobe Express, BeFunky to tinker with this parameter.

9. Use the Rule of Thirds

airbnb photo tips rule of thirds photography

The rule of thirds in photography is an ideal technique for shooting Airbnb pics. This compositional guideline breaks an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically).

A photographer’s task is to place a focal point on the intersection of these lines to achieve a more balanced and lifelike image. While taking real estate photos with iPhone or camera, open settings and toggle the Grid switch to on. Now you can start your photoshoot.

Pro Tip:

Make certain that both horizontal and vertical lines are straight, as symmetry is very important for such compositions. Find a reference point like a window or a wall to check if all the settings are correct. Remember that the doors or the bookshelves that are leaning in the photo do not look very realistic.

10. Switch the HDR Setting On

airbnb photo hdr

If you have ever shot in a space with a bright window, you’ve probably noticed that the rest of the room in such a pic looks dark. In this case, HDR real estate photography will come in handy.

airbnb photo hdr

Enable HDR mode and perfect exposure is guaranteed. Turn on this setting to make all the picture details distinct and bright. Open configurations of your camera for real estate photography and choose your settings or advanced settings. Activate the HDR setting to enable this mode.

Bonus Tools

free real estate lightroom presets by fixthephoto

Do you want to refine your pics to make them look more professional? Take advantage of these free tools to get quick and eye-grabbing compositions without paying much effort. Apply these filters to correct lighting, colors, WB, adjust contrast and shadows, etc.

Learn how to install Lightroom presets on Mac & Windows and make your Airbnb photos look perfect in just several clicks.

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