Photos

Great photos can showcase all your property has to offer. For best results, plan your photo shoot ahead of time  and stage each space perfectly. Then follow these photography tips to capture the best shots.   

Plan and stage your photos

Photos can help create an emotional connection with travelers, which can lead to more bookings. Before you take photos, plan  how every space in your vacation rental can look inviting.  

When staging, keep these tips in mind: 

1. Adjust the lighting. Turn on all the lights in the room before you shoot, or plan your shoot for when natural light is abundant.
2. Remove clutter. Pick up miscellaneous items in the rooms and straighten any crooked pictures or wall hangings.
3. Hide any personal items. Eaten food, open board games, stray clothes, or other items can take focus off the property and might leave a bad impression on travelers.
4. Never photograph people in your living spaces. Not only can they be a distraction, it also violates our terms and conditions. This includes reflection of yourself in mirrors when taking photos.
5. Consider the weather. Avoid scheduling a photoshoot on a rainy day. You want to showcase your property in the best light.
6. Seasonal photos. Show travelers photos all the ways your rental is a seasonal paradise — from amenities and cozy blankets to the surrounding area.
7. Camera quality. We recommend you use a high-resolution digital camera that allows you to adjust the lighting and focus. Many smartphones today take high-resolution photos with similar features.
8. Angles. Ensure you're taking photos with a wide view of the room. Don’t shoot “flat” or directly onto the bed or wall. This can make the room seem smaller than it really is.

Photograph each room or area

Travelers want to see as much as they can before booking. When shooting photos of your vacation rental, remember to go room by room. Situate yourself in the corner when shooting to add depth, perspective, and a more accurate view of the space. 

Here’s what to highlight in each room:  

• Bedrooms. Most travelers want to know the sleeping situation, so make sure to get a good shot of the bed, with the covers made and pillows arranged. Include any windows with nice views or other welcoming features.
• Bathrooms. Show off clean bathrooms, including the shower and sink. If the bathroom has unique features, such as an antique tub or complimentary toiletries, always include those in your photo. Since most bathrooms are small, focus on capturing one or two shots that focus on new fixtures, comfort, and cleanliness. 
• Living spaces. Guests will want to hang out together in communal spaces, like your dining room, family room, and kitchen. Stage these spaces as if you were selling your property — after all, you’re selling the idea of what it feels like to live there. Highlight each space separately, but show connected rooms to convey the floor plan.  
• Exterior. The outside of your property is the first thing travelers see at check-in, so highlight any curb appeal, like nice landscaping. Photograph all outside communal areas, like patios or deck seating. Outdoor photos look best with few to no shadows and should be shot with your back against the sun to reduce glare. To look more realistic, shoot architecture head on — at the same level as your photo subject — rather than from the ground up. 
• Amenities. Don’t forget to feature any property upgrades or special touches guests can enjoy, such as a hot tub, outdoor bocce ball court, indoor movie theater, and more.
• Virtual tour. To feature the flow of your vacation rental, add a Virtual Tour. This gives travelers an immersive view of your home.

Adding photos to your vacation rental listing is simple and only takes a few minutes.

To add photos to your vacation rental listing, visit your Dashboard. Then click on “Edit property” then the “Photos” tab. From there you can easily add or edit photos. 

We recommend uploading a minimum of 25 photos that are landscape view and not portrait. For the best quality, your uploaded images should be 3840 x 2160 pixels or higher. The minimum size photo required for upload is 1024 x 683 pixels. 

Add or edit photos

From your dashboard, visit “Edit property”  then “Photos”.
If you're connected via property management software, please update your photos in your software. All content is usually synced from there by default.