So you’re wondering how to take Airbnb photos? it’s important to know Airbnb photos are the most essential part of your listing and you must nail this area.

You could have a vague description, an uninspiring title on your listing. However, if your Airbnb photos are appealing and done right, you’ll get loads of bookings. Selecting the right photos takes some skill, but anyone can do this with a bit of guidance.

In this article, I will give you 21 helpful examples of exactly how to take Airbnb Photos. These are all methods I have been using for years with great success!

#1 Get the styling basics down first

Ok, before you even pick up the camera you’ve got some very important work to do. I mean there’s no point taking an amazing photo if what you’re shooting looks boring and dull.

The trick to styling is to be unique, bold and to stand out, but most of all, keep it simple!

You don’t need to have super expensive furniture and top of the range appliances to get noticed. All you need to do is create an inviting space by placing objects in the right places.

When pondering the question how to take Airbnb photos, there are four rooms to focus on in particular. Those rooms are of course the bedroom, lounge, bathroom and kitchen. Let’s look at some tips to improve each room below:

In the Bedroom

• Opt for fresh white sheets, pillowcases and quilts – This is always a winner
• Add a splash of colour with cushions and throw blankets
• Put up a unique Art print behind the bed
• Try to match the Artwork with a colour from the cushions
• If your walls are painted a bright/bold colour, hang a mirror instead

In the Loungeroom

• For a feeling of warmth and comfort, use throw cushions and blankets.
• A rug on the floor will help to break up a big space
• Add a couple of books or ornaments to the coffee table. This will enhance your lounge room with a more welcoming feel

In the Bathroom

• Simplicity in the bathroom is best
• Add colour coordinated towels on the rail
• Place some handwash on the basin
• Keep it clean and clear of clutter

In the Kitchen

• Showcase your coffee machine or a fruit bowl on the counter
• If you have open shelves, use these to display plates, cups or bowls in neat stacks
• Put away any unnecessary items that will make your kitchen look too busy

It’s likely you have a few bare walls in your place, especially above a sofa or behind the bed. This is an ideal spot for a big art piece, as it will draw the eye and make the room intriguing.

Plants, be it real or fake are another great addition to a space. They look great in a bathroom to break up all the muted white colours and can fill a big area that is lacking furniture. They photograph really well and give a fresh feel to any room.

#2 Decluttering is the key

Clutter in Airbnb photos gives a feel of unorganised chaos. I mean, would you trust a host who’s kitchen has ‘stuff’ crammed on every surface?

In the real-life example below, this host has a lovely sun-filled apartment. However, you can see all sorts of clutter and “stuff” in the photo. As a result, this already small kitchen now has the impression of being smaller than what it is.

They even have family photos on the mantle. Imagine this photo with all the surfaces cleared except for the plants and the small table and chair. Now add some wall art above the fireplace and they’d be onto a winner!

Always remember, less is best.

#3 Set the Stage

Ok, so you’ve styled your place and decluttered. Now you’re ready to stage your place for your Airbnb photos! When staging your Airbnb, you have to put yourself in a potential guests shoes.

When taking photos of the dining area, set the table like you are about to have some very posh friends coming over.

For example, maybe you have a terrace or balcony at your place? You could set up a bottle of wine with two glasses overlooking your beautiful view.

Perhaps you have a swimming pool? This is the perfect opportunity to set up a lounger with a towel and a book laying open on the seat.

Ideas like this will have guests picturing themselves enjoying your place. They want an experience not just a place to sleep at night. So get creative, the small details matter!

#4 Switch the HDR setting on

HDR (High Dynamic Range) is one of the most important settings to use when taking photos for Airbnb. So what exactly is HDR and why it is so important?

Have you ever taken a photo in a room with a bright window? Have you noticed how the bright window makes the rest of the room look dark? This is exactly what HDR fixes.

By using HDR your camera will process your photo with the perfect amount of exposure. This means that all the dark places in the photos will be bright with detail as well as the windows.

Switching your HDR setting on is an easy process. Simply go into your camera and select your settings or advanced settings. Next make sure you select HDR setting is switched on.

#5 Use the grid setting

A great technique I use when taking my Airbnb photos is the rule of thirds. This is where you use a grid tool on your camera which provides a focal point in the right areas. It’s an approach used by professional photographers.

Always place your focal point where two grid lines meet, in the photo below it is the bed. This draws the eye and then encourages the person viewing the photo to look around.

If this photographer had the bed in the middle square, the photo would appear more static. Consequently, the eye would go nowhere and then move onto the next photo.

#6 Horizontal – Never Vertical

When shooting your photos, always opt for the horizontal rotation. You only have to take a look at some Airbnb listings to see the reason why.

Vertical photos when displayed make the room look smaller by showing less width. Remember, camera phones are already quite limited with their narrow range. Therefore, try to keep to a horizontal rotation to capture as much of your room as you can.

For example, take a look at how Airbnb presents horizontal photos vs vertical photos. This is how your Airbnb photos will appear for someone searching on their phone. Not good is it?

Airbnb distort the sides of vertical (or portrait) photos by rotating them. As a result the photos look blanked out and cramped, which gives a bad impression to potential guests. On the other hand, horizontal photos are bigger and wider and show more of the room.

#7 Size up your Airbnb photos

The size of your photos will have a big impact on how they will look on Airbnb. Too big and they get resized and become grainy. Too small and they won’t look clear.

Airbnb recommends a photo size of 1024 x 683px. To change the size open your photos in a program like Paint or ResizeImage.net, hit resize and then save your photo.

Now your photos will be the optimal size and will look the best when uploaded on your listing.

#8 Timing matters

The time of day when you take your Airbnb photos will have a dramatic affect how they look.

For one thing, too much light streaming through the windows will make your rooms appear dark. On the other hand, photos taken at night rely on artificial light, which often gives a ‘yellow’ hue effect.

The best time to take photos is in the morning and in the late afternoon. Another good time of day is when the sun is rising or just about to set. These times will give you enough light to shoot naturally bright photos that will pop off the page.

Quick tip – Always shoot with the sun behind your photo

#9 Don’t hide flaws

Hiding the flaws of your place is a big no-no! Now, I’m not suggesting you include a photo of a cracked wall or that stain from when you dropped your glass of wine. What I am suggesting is to show things like a small shower, a low bedroom roof or a skinny spiral staircase.

Obviously you won’t want to make these flaws stand out more than they need to. However, rather than hiding them, it’s a wise idea to show them without bringing much attention. By the same token, avoid photoshopping and flaws out.

You may be asking why I am suggesting to show flaws, would this scare off potential guests? In the long run it will help you, as guests can leave bad Airbnb reviews if they get any nasty surprises. It’s best to be transparent from the get go.

#10 Step back!

When taking photos of your rooms, try to stand as far back as you can from what you are capturing.

For instance, the photo of the kitchen below shows how a close-up photo can make a room look small and cramped. While the photo taken a few steps back looks big, spacious and inviting. They look like two totally different spaces.

Little things like this make a big difference when you are considering how to take Airbnb photos. You want to give off the impression of a large, open space.

#11 Shoot the corners

A technique I recommend when you take Airbnb photos is to shoot the corners. But what does this mean?

When taking photos of a bedroom, always point your camera into the corner of the room. As can be seen below, this makes the bed and the room look big and inviting. It also gives the perception of space and will make even the smallest of rooms look spacious.

This concept also applies to bathrooms and kitchens. Choose the corner of the room that showcases your space best. For bathrooms, this is usually the corner with the shower. Meanwhile in kitchens, this is usually the corner that will show off your view or stove top.

To illustrate this technique, take a look at the photos below to draw inspiration.

#12 Let there be light!

Earlier I said that using un-natural light can give you photos an unnatural yellow hue. But there are times when you can combine excellent natural light with the lights in your home.

For example, your photos may be well lit, but there are shadows in the corners and in places where natural light is not hitting. Hence this would be the perfect time to turn on all the lights to try to eliminate the shadows.

Another good idea is turning on bedside lamps in all of your bedroom photos. All of a sudden you’ll create an ambient feel which looks great in your Airbnb photos.

#13 Choose and eye-grabbing object

In most rooms of your nicely styled and staged Airbnb, you will have what I like to call a hero object. For example, it may be a vibrant throw cushion on the bed. Perhaps it’s a shiny coffee machine on the bench top or a beautiful candelabra on the mantelpiece.

Whatever your hero object is, make sure to have it out and on display in your photos. Remember the rule of thirds that I spoke about in #5 so you can showcase your hero object in the perfect spot.

#14 Be unique

Picture this scenario. You have an apartment in a building that has 6 other listings on Airbnb all looking quite similar. They all offer the same amount of rooms, the same views, and the same layout. However, the deciding factor for a potential guest will be the price. Guests usually will choose the cheapest option as per the Airbnb price breakdown.

Now no one wants to run an Airbnb at a bare minimum just so they can get a booking over someone else. So what can you do?

Having a unique listing what will set you apart from the rest, so here are some ideas to help your place stand out:

• Turn your place into an “Artists Studio” with artworks filling each room
• Give your room a theme such as “Forbidden Forest” or “Disney” and decorate accordingly. Check out this great Airbnb listing for ideas.
• Make your place a fun tech zone with gaming consoles, workspaces, and headsets

Just having a slightly unique place will give your Airbnb an edge over your competitors. So therefore, get creative!

#15 Make your kitchen the hero

Recent studies into short term rentals has shown a great kitchen is a key feature that guests look for in a home.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to have a huge kitchen with all the bells and whistles to be successful. It just means that you need to present your kitchen, big or small, in its best light.

In that case, clear the bench tops, give it a good scrub and fill the shelves with things that guests can use. For example, provide things like plates, mugs or pots and pans. It does not mean packing shelves with junk like cereal or boxes of tissues, and so on. Just make sure it looks neat and tidy and not cluttered.

As a result of your sparkling new kitchen Airbnb photos, you will see a boost in your booking rate. Trust me, it works!

#16 Welcome to the neighbourhood

When pondering how to take Airbnb photos, consider your neighbourhood. Having photos of popular locations in your neighbourhood is a good way to entice a guest to book your place.

Do you have a nice park nearby or a famous landmark? Do you live close to a shopping mall or a cafe? Your aim is to have guests picturing themselves exploring your town or city. For this reason, it’s a very good idea to show off your favourite places.

Consider using Google images to find locations and landmarks, if you are short on time. Using an image of Google maps to pinpoint the location of your place is another good idea too. It will show your guests the distance to tourist locations or restaurants.

Take the image below. This is a good example of how a picture says a thousand words.

#17 Use 20 to 30 images

Deciding on how many Airbnb photos to upload can be a somewhat difficult task. Do you include the photo of the pantry cupboard or inside the garden tool shed?

Airbnb gives you a total of 100 photos that a guest can see, but this doesn’t mean that you need to upload that many. The phrase ‘less is more’ springs to mind here. Check out this listing and see how far into their 99 photos you get before you glaze over…

I recommend using between 20 to 30 photos. This is enough to show your entire space and surroundings. Not to mention it helps keep your potential guest interested and satisfied.

So ditch the photo of the lamp and the bird sitting in the backyard with your dog and keep to what a guest needs to see.

#18 Use the best editing App

Using a great editing app is of great importance now in this new era of smart phones. Over 80% of Airbnb photos are now taken on mobile phone cameras, rather than actual cameras.

A professional photographer will use a multitude of settings, different lenses and pro flash setups. So you will need to get creative when shooting with your phone.

Snapseed is the best editing app out there at the moment. In short, it’s super easy to use with nearly every editing option under the sun. You can change a dark unappealing photo into something that pops off the page. It is now available on iPhone, Android and Windows phones.

Want an example of how easy this really is? Check out the Airbnb photos below.

I whipped up some real life before and after examples from different Airbnb listings. These took me under a minute for each photo using Snapseed and the differences are huge.

#19 Take your guest on a tour

Once you have picked out which photos you want to use, now you have to decide on what order to put them in.

Many hosts will put their best photo first, then randomly throw in the rest without much thought. But you are not going to do this. You are going to use a specific order to showcase your place the best way possible.

First, start with the main bedroom and then guide your guest through your space. Does the bedroom have an en suite? Show this next.

Next you will move into the kitchen and living areas. Now go to the main bathroom and the other bedrooms. In the case of similar looking bedrooms, it’s a good idea to break these photos up with a laundry or bathroom photo.

Finally, as discussed in tip #23 below, don’t forget to caption each photo!

By doing all the above, you’ll have an edge over your competitors who do not even consider this stuff. The order of your photos make a difference, trust me. In summary, the idea is to take your guests on a tour, nothing more, nothing less.

#20 Don’t double up

Photo doubles ups are something I see countless times in peoples Airbnb listings. What I am talking about here is photos taken from a slightly different angle of the same room. In other words, very similar looking photos.

Potential guests have a short attention span, so you don’t have long to hold them on your listing. Therefore why show them the bed from 5 different angles? It can be very frustrating from a guests perspective, as guests are often time sensitive.

If you feel a room really needs more than one shot, try a different vantage point. This usually applies to rooms like a kitchen or an open plan living area.

For example, stand at one end of the room and then change to a different spot. If the shots come out showing the exact same layout/furniture, it’s not necessary, choose one and move on.

The images below provide a good illustration of this in action.

Most hosts do not know how to take Airbnb photos effectively, so doing little things like this give you an edge.

#21 Make the first 6 count

Studies show that the first 6 images of your listing are the most important. A potential guest will skim through these images and either click onto the listing or move onto the next.

So when you are sorting your imagines into the tour of your space, make sure to showcase the best 6.

Be sure to include photos from the following rooms:

• Main Bedroom
• Kitchen
• Living Area
• Dining Area
• Bathroom

In addition, it’s a good idea to showcase an amazing view or spectacular feature within your space. Your aim should be to wow and capture a potential guest as best you can within the first 6 images.

#22 Pair your title to your hero photo

It is also important to pair your title to your hero photo as best you can. Your first photo and your title need to be as appealing as possible. The reason being as this is what a potential guest will either flick past or click on.

Check out my article on good examples of Airbnb titles where I cover this topic in detail.

If your title is about being a modern apartment, then show the most modern-looking room. If you have an amazing view of the beach and use this in your title, then show the view from the window. Having a photo paired with your title will back up what you are saying and intrigue a potential guest.

Case Study:

Take the photos below for example. The first first listing is offering a rural retreat and shows a beautiful country scene. In other words, the photo matches the title.

Second, the middle photo claims to be an architectural apartment. The listing is coupled with a spectacular sunset behind the house. Again, this Airbnb photo matches the title.

Finally, the photo on the right claims to be a “Sunny and warm flat with a view.” However, from what I can see it looks pretty dark with no windows or view to speak of. It is not enticing to click on at all and based on the number of reviews this property has. It’s safe to say I’m not the only one thinking this.

#23 Add Captions!

Under each photo, you have the opportunity to add a caption. Captions are a very powerful tool that is often overlooked by hosts and rarely used.

You have to remember that this is the first time a guest is looking at your space, they know nothing about it. It can also be hard to accurately show your place with photos along. Therefore you should couple a photo with a caption that best describes what the photo is. As a result, your potential guest gets a better idea of what you are offering them.

You can also use captions to set a scene. For example, if you have a photo of an outdoor area that is set up for entertaining you could say
“The outdoor area”. Or you could say “A place to meet with friends and family while cooking up a storm on the BBQ”. Now your guests can picture themselves having an amazing time in your back yard.

Instead of captioning the bedroom as “The main bedroom” you could say “Sleep soundly in the king bed with super soft sheets and fluffy pillows”.

So get creative with your captions. Use them as an additional marketing tool to boost your photos and set a scene.

How to add captions to your Airbnb photos

• Select the listing you want to edit from your profile page
• Go to the photo section and select edit
• Select edit caption under the photo
• Press the save caption button

Now you know how to take Airbnb photos!

You need no longer wonder how to take Airbnb photos. This article has given you the inside tips to make your listing stand out from the crowd.

Photos are the number one way to sell your property, so make them count. As a result you can improve your Airbnb ranking dramatically.

If you are going to take away anything from this article, make sure you do all the below:

Tips for good photos

• Declutter your rooms. Less is more
• Plenty of natural light makes your photos appear vibrant
• Use the grid setting for focal points
• Always use horizontal photos
• Take unique photos that are different from mainstream
• Show off your neighbourhood
• Use 20-30 photos total
• Make your first 6 photos count!

This will put you ahead of most of your competitors as most hosts don’t give this stuff a second thought. Don’t believe me? Take a random look at some listings in your area.

Good luck! I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Further Reading