Photos 101
Photos say volumes about your short term rental space— they are the MOST important reason guests cite for booking a particular space.
Airbnb’s search algorithm loves light and bright photos. Edit yours to make them shine.
I do recommend that my mentees eventually get professional photos taken, unless they’re quite deft with a camera. But I don’t recommend doing that until you’ve hosted a few times— with your first few guests, you should be changing and refining your space as you learn how to be a better host.
And even after you have the basics of the space worked out, you’ll want to update your photos when you change a piece of art or furniture to keep your listing up to date.
It's worth the time to style your space and edit your photos to make them clear and bright. Don't post your photos until you edit & brighten them with your computer or phone software!
Here's my quick checklist to help you prep your space to be photographed:
~ Open curtains and blinds
~ Remove all clutter and personal photos. Minimize knick-knacks
~ Obsessively fluff pillows and fold and drape throws
~ Make the beds PERFECTLY
~ Minimize kitchen clutter, close-up of coffee set-up
~ Straighten rugs
~ Fold towels precisely
~Minimize ceilings in photos
~ take wide shots and close shots of details
~Review photos to look for bare-spots. A painting on a wall or a vase on a table can make a whole room look a lot better.
Airbnb has a great guide to help with this: https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/a/take-great-listing-photos-with-your-phone-14
And this is a new guide that really gets into the nuts and bolts of great photos:
https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/a/prepare-your-space-for-a-smartphone-photo-shoot-213
I like to think about the different ways my guests might interact with my space, and take photos to reflect that. A close-up for the table, set with nice china or cool pottery gives them a deeper sense of the care that's gone into designing the listing. A photo of the fresh flowers or cookies you leave guests lets the know this is a space where details matter! Views out windows, of the green spaces, and of the entrance help them imagine what being there will really be like. And don't forget to include informative captions under your photos!
Airbnb will even rearrange your photos for you based on how their algorithm undertands how guest respond to photos-- it's worth trying-- you can always change it if you don't like that order.
Photos are part of the listing you might update often, as you change and upgrade your space. I highlight different photos depending on the season. And changing the order every few days is another quiet trick to stay high in search results.
This guide will help you arrange them so that Airbnb can highlight your home's spaces https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/a/how-to-organize-listing-photos-into-a-home-tour-456
