Table of Contents
Summary
This information will teach you why having a professional photographer take pictures of your rental is so important, how they can improve your chances of increasing the number of guests you attract, and the ways in which you should prepare your property before to a photoshoot. You’ll also understand what qualities to seek in a good photographer, how photos influence a traveller’s booking decision, and how small changes to your visual presentation can have a important impact on rental income.
In core, the purpose of this guide is to provide you with simple and straightforward information to enhance the quality of your listing and produce better results.
Introduction
The first thing that people notice when they access a rental property on Airbnb or another type of online rental service are the pictures of the property. Without even reading the description or considering where the property is located, most users will immediately look at the picture(s) included with the posting. Picture quality has a great deal to do with how inviting and appealing a property seems to potential guests as they view the property online. Being able to see pictures of a property will allow potential guests to envision themselves in the property as well.
A well-taken picture clearly shows what a property has to offer, including size, available light, cleanliness, and special features, this will help potential guests feel confident about booking that property. A good quality picture can also help differentiate a property from other properties, thus leading to increased clicks on an online rental service.
Property photographers are experts in creating appealing photography that best represents a property. They know how to take photographs from various angles, use appropriate lighting, and use professional equipment to capture a property in a neat and realistic manner. Property photographers also emphasize features of a property that potential guests value such as large rooms, well-lit windows, clean restroom facilities, and contemporary furnishings. The photographs produced by property photographers appear to be credible and attractive, this increases the potential number of views and inquiries of your property on the Internet.
The chances of booking your property will be greatly increased when guests perceive it favourably based upon its online image and therefore will choose it over other properties.
What Do Real Estate Photographers Actually Do?
Real estate photography specialists are the experts in real state photos. They focus on creating clear representations of homes, rooms and vacant rental properties to show users exactly what those areas look like. This includes presenting accurate sizes and shapes of rooms, and clearly portraying how lighting and dimensions interact with one another to enhance the attractiveness of a property. Real estate photographers do more than just take pictures; they also provide honest narratives about their experiences within a property.
Photographers are highly skilled in using natural light, angle, and photographic techniques, such as adjustment to exposure, brightness, etc. They capture images of spaces at the times when natural light is at its brightest. In order to produce an aesthetically pleasing image, spotting is applied during editing, which takes out the clutter surrounding a space. When professionally edited, the finished products appear new, bright, and welcoming, which is what guests want to see when booking their vacation rental properties.
Photos taken with a mobile phone might appear to be taken in dim lighting, with uneven exposures and distortions due to the limited capabilities of the phone in terms of the size of its camera lenses and the inability to control the light source. Additionally, mobile phone photos may not capture all the important details of a room, giving the impression that the room is smaller than it is. Conversely, a professional photographer uses a high quality camera with a wide angle lens to capture an entire space (room) in its entirety.
A professional photograph will provide a more accurate perspective, provide better lighting, provide more natural colors, and will offer the viewer a greater degree of confidence in the validity of the information that they see in the photograph(s) compared to those taken with a mobile device.
Key Benefits of Hiring Real Estate Photographers for Rentals
Quickly capturing people’s attention with professional photographs leads to an increased number of clicks on your listing along with an increase in potential bookings due to the quality of your images. The quality of your images gives people an impression that the property is maintained and deserving of being booked. This increase in trust and interest also impacts your overall booking rate positively because your property receives more than one click or view.”
Professional images attract more guests and tenants
Beautiful pictures portray your property as inviting and organized and are ready for renters or guests to enjoy. The photos provide potential tenants with an accurate representation of the property, including all its main selling points, in just a few seconds. This is critical when tenants are deciding where they will be staying, as they are often influenced by the appearance of the listing as being trustworthy and desirable, which subsequently results in additional inquiries regarding availability and confirmed bookings.
Better Pricing Power
High-quality appearance of photographs can enhance the perceived value of your property. When guests see it in a professional manner, they may choose to pay more for their stay or rental, as it offers superior comfort and has been well-maintained visually. Additionally, providing strong images permits you to show your property as an exclusive or premium offering, thereby being able to charge higher rates. Therefore, instead of having to spend money improving the property, you can increase your income simply by improving how you present it.
High quality images depicting clean spaces, ample light and modern amenities convey an air of professionalism in your listing. The perception by guests is that the quality of the accommodation is equal to the quality of the photograph of said accommodation. This gives owners the confidence to charge more for reservations because the guest believes they are paying for the much superior experience associated with the property being visually represented. Improved photographs will directly increase the perceived value of the property.
Lower Guest Confusion
By being truthful and precise with photographs, visitors will know what they will be getting upon arrival. This results in a reduction of miscommunications pertaining to; size of room, inclusion of amenities, and how the property appears overall, significantly reducing the number of complaints, refunds and negative review activity. Quality photographs help establish a foundation of trust from Day 1 and facilitate an overall more pleasant experience for everyone.
Clear, honest photos reduce complaints and cancellations
When their unreal images match the physical properties, visitors are more satisfied and feel more at ease. Thus, they are less likely to be led astray and disappointed. Fewer problems regarding their stay will result in fewer cancellations occurring prior to check-in. In addition to providing guests with an understanding of the property’s actual condition, transparent visuals improve the property’s long-term reputation so that more bookings can be generated with minimal opportunity, due to less work required to market the property.
Essential Photo Shots Every Listing Should Have
Exterior Photo
The exterior photo provides a picture of the outside of the property and what to expect from its exterior. It creates an environment for guests to identify with the location and helps to ensure safety and security. The exterior photo of the property provides a starting point for guests to determine the overall condition of the property and how well it is maintained.
Living Room
The living room is where most guests spend their time at your property. It is important to display the living room clearly when taking photos of it. The living room photos should display the seating area and the two elements that make the living room feel welcoming and comfortable: the lighting, the décor, and the room’s spaciousness. A warm, and uncluttered atmosphere makes the living room of the property feel inviting and comfortable to guests.
Bedrooms
The bedroom is an important aspect of any guest’s stay; therefore, it is important to show photo images of the bedrooms in order to help the guest make his/her decision on whether or not to reserve the room. A well-organized and lovingly-decorated bedroom will create a feeling of comfort for the guest when they enter the bedroom for the first time. Good quality images of the bedrooms can also help the guest determine if the size and layout of the bedroom fit their needs.
Kitchens
When guests are considering renting a vacation home, they want to know that the kitchen is functional and user-friendly. Photos should depict all the important kitchen items (stove, refrigerator, countertop, and storage). A photo of a clean, organized kitchen helps potential renters feel confident that they can cook and use the kitchen safely.
Bathrooms
The bathroom must appear to be clean and sanitized. The presence of bright lighting, clear mirrors, and clean tiles are all visually appealing. The addition of fresh towels, a closed toilet lid, and properly arranged toiletries can give the bathroom an inviting impression of being fresh and sanitary.
Balcony/Rooftop Views
If a property has a balcony or rooftop, be sure to show those photos; these two outdoor spaces generate considerable interest for most guests. They provide guests with a comfortable place to sip coffee in the morning and get some fresh air, as well as an opportunity to enjoy the view from their vacation home. Balconies and rooftops often have furniture, plants, and/or beautiful views that are all great to photograph.
Amenities (Pool, Gym, Workspace)
Amenities are the selling points of your rental property. Guests appreciate seeing photos of any provided amenities (i.e. pool, gym, parking spot, office space). The way you showcase your amenities helps potential guests understand the additional value of your property. With good photo quality of all the amenities, guests will feel more excited to book their stay at your property!
Neighbourhoods or Other Nearby Attractions
When guests are making reservations, they will often look at their location’s neighbourhood. Your listing will be more likely to receive bookings if it is photographed to show what other attractions are available around that area, such as local cafes, parks, farmer’s markets, and public transportation. A photograph of a neighbourhood, or another nearby attraction, gives guests a greater level of confidence in your property and helps increase the bookings you receive as you will give your guests an improved overall experience.
How Real Estate Photographers Use Lighting & Angles to Improve the Look
Using natural lighting makes your home look brighter, feels larger, and seems more inviting. Sunlight filtering through windows will highlight the true colour of the walls, furniture, and decorations in your room. Photographs taken using natural lighting appear to be more “real” and produce a warmer sensation; therefore, most professional photographers would rather use this type of light than artificial light sources. Excellent sources of natural lighting will create an open, comfortable environment in your home.
Using wide-angle lenses safely and correctly
With wide-angle lenses, you can capture several different areas within a single picture which can create an illusion of more space when you take images in a small area. However, if wide-angle lenses are overused or misused, they will create a distorted view of your subject and can make objects look elongated or unnatural. A professional photographer will know how far away and at what angle to position himself for taking photos so that they appear natural and balanced when viewed by the client while still showing the entire space.
Removing clutter before shooting
Photos that contain clutter can appear cluttered, chaotic, or even confused instead of neat, clean, and simple. To achieve this effect when taking a photo, you should always remove all items that do not belong in the shot, including clothing, food wrappers, cables, personal belongings, etc., from view before snapping a photo. In addition, when there is excessive clutter, the important features of the room (i.e., furniture, light fixtures, etc.) may not be as apparent as they would be in an uncluttered environment.
Why timing of the shoot (morning/evening) matters
Photos taken at different times of day can show the property in three different ways; soft and warm morning/evening light will allow for a more natural appearance and lessen harsh shadowing to create a pleasant and inviting experience for the viewer; on the other hand, photos taken in the middle of the day can result in overexposure with sharp shadows on the ground that appear unattractive. When shooting your home, it is important to test for the best time for you to shoot for your home.
Tips for Property Owners to Prepare Before the Shoot
Declutter and clean each of the rooms prior to photographing.
Rooms that have been cleaned and decluttered appear larger and more appealing when photographed. Removing unnecessary items and wiping down surfaces will give guests a refreshed view of the room and help them visualize the room better. Clean rooms provide a clear representation of the layout of the room, allowing the camera to capture it without distractions.
Turn on all lights in the rooms.
By turning on all of the lights in each room, it creates a more lively and inviting atmosphere for the photograph. In addition to being bright and warm, turning on all of the lights will help eliminate dark corners, which makes the space feel more balanced. Extra lighting used even during the day will provide additional balance to the photograph and will make the photographs look of greater quality and professionalism.
Arrange the furniture in a uniform manner.
The way furniture is arranged in a room can significantly influence how a room feels. Uniformly arranged furniture provides a better understanding of how much usable space is in the room and creates a sense of organization within the room. When furniture is arranged in a uniform manner with equal spacing and in a straight line, it will create photographs that look clean and comfortable to the guest’s eye.
Add simple decorative touches, such as pillows, plants, and rugs.
Even the most basic decorative items can have a big impact on how warm and colorful your space appears. For example, a few pillow cushions placed on the couch or chair can create a cozy atmosphere, while an arrangement of plants will add a pop of color to the room. A simple fluffy rug on the floor can make the home feel inviting. All of these items also give rooms a home-like feel, without being overly done.
Create a hotel-like atmosphere in your bedroom and bathroom.
Creating a hotel-like environment in your bedrooms and bathrooms will instantly enhance the look and feel of these areas. Having clean sheets, fresh pillows, and neatly arranged blankets gives your bedroom a rich, premium feel. Similarly, when you walk into a bathroom that contains clean towels, tidy shelves, and polished countertops, you will feel clean and hygienic, just like you would in a five-star hotel.
Conclusion
The success of your rental property/Airbnb listing relies heavily on good real estate photographers. Guests feel more confident to book with you when they see a clear, bright and honest representation of your space. Use of professional images will draw more visitors to your property, increase the amount you can charge for your rentals and alleviate confusion/complaints about what guests will find when booking. Great visuals allow you to establish your property as an established, trustworthy asset.
If you are looking for images that enhance your property rather than detract from it and ultimately drive more bookings for you, consider working with PhotoPhactoryStudios. Their experienced photography specialists create clean, bright, and inviting images, allowing you to make your listings stand apart from all of the rest.
