10 Airbnb Photography Tips to Make Your Listing Stand Out 📷

Key Takeaways

• High-quality Airbnb photography is essential for a successful listing. Beautiful images grab attention and convey professionalism, cleanliness, and style, influencing booking decisions.
• Ensure you have at least 20 photos showcasing every room and unique amenity. Your Airbnb cover photo should highlight the most inviting aspect of your property.
• While hiring a professional photographer can yield exceptional results, DIY photography is also feasible with the right equipment and techniques. 

If you feel the competition among short-term rentals (STR) heating up, you’re not alone. In a growing vacation rental market, standing out on platforms like Airbnb is crucial to attracting guests and maximizing bookings.

One of the most effective ways to make your listing shine is with high-quality, eye-catching photography. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about Airbnb photography, including 10 practical tips to take your own photos and advice on hiring a professional.

Is Airbnb Photography Important? 

Yes, Airbnb photography is vital for a successful listing! High-quality photos are crucial in creating a strong first impression—and in the digital age, first impressions matter more than ever. 

Your Airbnb photos tell a visual story of your space. When potential guests browse listings on Airbnb, the quality of your photos can make or break their decision to book your property. Beautiful images grab their attention and convey professionalism and trustworthiness, making guests feel confident to book.

Plus, they show your Airbnb’s cleanliness, size, and style, all of which are top factors guests consider when choosing a place to rent. 

Don't just take our word for it, though. The numbers speak for themselves! AirDNA data shows that the more photos you have, the higher your occupancy rate. Listings with 40 photos or more experience a 55% occupancy rate on average, compared with listings with 11-15 photos that have a lower average occupancy rate of 49%.

Should You Get Professional Photos for Airbnb?

The age-old question for countless short-term rental hosts is whether it’s better to DIY your photos or hire a professional Airbnb photographer. The right answer depends on your availability and resources, the cost of Airbnb photography in your area, and your confidence behind the camera.

Professional photos can significantly impact your Airbnb listing’s click-through and booking rates. High-quality images enhance visibility and accurately represent your space to potential guests, preventing disappointment and poor reviews after a stay. Of course, hiring a professional will likely cost a few hundred dollars—though according to Airbnb, 75% of hosts pay off their professional photography costs within one night’s stay.

That said, it’s possible to take great photos on your own if you have the time and resources to devote to getting the job done right. If you already own a camera—or can borrow one from a friend—your expenses for the photoshoot will be next to nothing. 

Ultimately, DIYing your photos will likely be more cost-effective, but hiring a professional will usually yield better, higher-quality photos.

How Many Photos Should an Airbnb Listing Have?

Airbnb recommends listing at least 20 photos to showcase your entire space. Ensure you have shots covering every room, plus any amenities or features that set your property apart. By doing so, you’re essentially giving guests a comprehensive photo tour they’ll feel comfortable trusting.  

That transparency—that guests have seen every corner of the Airbnb they’re considering—is key to not just getting eyes on your listing but also bookings on your calendar. 

What Should Be Your First Picture in an Airbnb Listing?

The first picture in your Airbnb listing should be either the most inviting aspect of your vacation rental, a room where guests will likely spend the most time or a feature that differentiates your property from competitors, like a hot tub or a well-appointed outdoor living space. Consider using an eye-catching, wide-angle shot of the living area or a space that embodies the overall spirit of the property. 

Remember, the first photo—known as your Airbnb cover photo—acts as a thumbnail and can influence whether a guest clicks on your listing or keeps scrolling. 

10 Tips to Take the Best Airbnb Photos

Wondering how to take Airbnb photos without hiring a professional? Believe it or not, you can capture the essence of your short-term rental through photography all on your own. 

With the right tools and a few golden rules of photography, you can take your own Airbnb photos. Employ the tips below to enhance your listing's visual appeal:

1. Get the Right Equipment

For the best results, invest in a good quality camera; a smartphone camera might not offer the level of detail and control your listing deserves. A DSLR or mirrorless camera is ideal. That said, taking gorgeous photos with a modern smartphone camera can be done.

If you opt for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, consider also investing in a wide-angle lens. This will help you take photos with a wide field of view, which captures more of each scene within a single frame.  

Finally, whether you use a professional camera or your smartphone, make sure you have a tripod for steady shots, particularly in low-light conditions. 

2. Stage Your Space Before You Photograph It

Before you start snapping photos, take the time to stage your space for maximum appeal. The goal is to create a setting that looks lived-in yet pristine.

Here’s how to achieve that:

• Prepare each room as if you were hosting guests that day. Clean, declutter, and leave any personalized touches you typically would. 
• Add tasteful decor and accents, like pillows or flowers, that align with your Airbnb’s aesthetic.
• Follow interior design trends to create a welcoming atmosphere that resonates with potential guests.
• Complete pressing maintenance tasks, like touching up paint where needed or replacing broken fixtures.

3. Follow the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a photography fundamental that can help you take more compelling Airbnb photos effortlessly. 

When composing your shots, imagine your image is divided into nine equal segments by two vertical and two horizontal lines. Place crucial elements along these lines, or at the points where they intersect, to create a balanced image.

4. Highlight Amenities and Unique Features

Take clear photos of amenities—like a hot tub or a fireplace—that make your listing stand out. If your Airbnb has unique features, such as a vintage record player or a rooftop deck, make sure they're prominently featured in your photos.

5. Make Sure the Lighting Is Right

Lighting can make or break your Airbnb photos.

Natural light works best for interior shots, so photograph your space during the daytime when sunlight can fill the room. Open curtains and blinds and turn on indoor lights to eliminate shadows and create an inviting atmosphere.

If needed, supplement your shoot with artificial lighting, like ring lights. You can find decent ring lights online for as little as $100. 

6. Shoot Into a Corner

Did you know that taking photos with the camera pointed at a corner can make the space appear larger and more inviting? 

Capturing two walls in a photo makes rooms look more spacious. Position yourself at a corner or the doorway of a room and aim your camera diagonally across the space.

7. Take Photos from Different Angles

Jazz up your listing with photos that don’t all look the same. Prospective guests looking through your Airbnb photos will be more enticed to keep scrolling if each photo feels unique.

A variety of angles gives potential guests a better understanding of your space. High angles can show the layout of a room, while lower angles can make a space feel more expansive.

8. Lower Your Angle

Here’s another cool photography tip: Make your photos look more professional by shooting with your camera around your waist or hips. Photos shot lower than eye level will look polished and make your space look more expansive.

Take the photos straight on without tilting the camera to avoid any distortion in your images. Photos taken with the camera too high or too low can make the space look skewed and unnatural.

9. Retouch Your Photos

Even the best cameras won’t always capture the perfect image with the perfect lighting. Luckily, you can use photo editing programs to fix them up.

Load your photos into editing software to adjust exposure, contrast, and saturation to truly represent the ambiance of your space. Avoid over-editing, as it may set unrealistic expectations.

Consider software like:

• Adobe Lightroom
• VSCO
• Canva
• Affinity Photo

10. Caption Every Photo

Don’t overlook the impact of adding short captions to your Airbnb photos. Provide clear and concise captions for every photo, describing what’s seen and highlighting any features or amenities. Captioning photos helps your guests better understand your space and often clarifies questions they have about the floorplan.

Elevate Your Airbnb Listing with Stunning Photography

By following these tips and strategies, you’ll elevate your Airbnb listings with gorgeous photography, attracting more guests and maximizing bookings in the competitive vacation rental market.

FAQ

Does Airbnb Offer Photography?

Yes, Airbnb offers professional photography services through the Airbnb Pro Photo Program. Through this program, hosts can request a professional photographer directly through Airbnb. 

Availability and eligibility requirements for this service vary by region and are subject to change. You can inquire about availability and request a photoshoot via the Airbnb website.

How Much Does Airbnb Photography Cost?

The cost of Airbnb photography services varies depending on several factors, like the location of your property, the size of the space, and the number of photos you want. 

If you opt for the Airbnb Pro Photo Program, prices have historically ranged from free (offered as a promotion) to several hundred dollars, taken as a deduction from future bookings. For the most accurate and recent pricing, you'll need to contact Airbnb directly.

Alternatively, if you choose to hire an independent professional Airbnb photographer, expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,000+. Generally, you’ll pay less in rural areas compared to cities like New York or Los Angeles where prices might average closer to $800 or more for a session. To get the best price, obtain multiple quotes from several photographers—but don’t compromise on quality.