How to Turn a Good Photo of Your Vacation Rental Into a Great One
Photos are arguably the single most important part of your vacation rental listings. That’s why it’s vital that your photos not just be good, but great. So what makes a photograph great? A great photo:
Dazzles with clarity, high resolution,and brilliant hues
Features something of interest in at
least 3 quadrants of the shot
Appears recent and up-to-date (no
time stamps from 1997)
Stages an inviting scene that feels
"alive"
Uses available light to brighten the
room without washing it out
Keeps the eye engaged with
purposeful framing
Is clutter-free
Showcases the feel of the home and clearly depicts the size of the space
Example #1
Here are two photos of the same room. The first is a perfectly acceptable photo: it shows the size and quality of the room well enough, but it lacks any real pizazz that might draw a traveler in. The second photo is the exact same room after an hour's worth of "staging" efforts...and look at the difference!
What Changed?
-
Lit a fire in the fireplace to make the room feel cozy and "alive." - Opened all of the blinds in the room and the blinds on the door to let in natural light.
- Angled the rug near the door to add depth.
- Moved the furniture slightly so that the entire pool table was in the frame. The table brings in some much needed color.
-
Used a better angle. The second photo was taken from a chair, so that the shot was looking down at the room, instead of straight at it. (Be sure to angle just below your ceiling fan, if you have one — they have a way of sneaking into the frame!)
- Removed the knickknacks from around the fireplace. (The bear next to the hearth looked like a mouse hole!)
- Fanned out magazines on the coffee table. Pay special attention to the items on the surfaces of tables and countertops. These tend to make a room look messy or cluttered.
Example #2
Next, examine these two photos of the exact same bedroom.
-
Orientation is horizontal rather than vertical. Horizontal shots tend to better showcase the size and contents of a room. Plus, most vacation rental websites are geared to horizontal photos, so your pictures will display the best on these sites if you follow this format. -
Natural light was used. The sunlight streaming through the window gives the room a warm glow and allows the bright colors to shine.
- The entire bed is in the frame. Bedroom photos often do not clearly convey the size of the bed or beds in the room. (For example, in the first photo, can you tell this is a king-sized bed?) Don't undersell your home by making your beds look smaller than they are.
- All four quadrants of the frame are used, and feature something of visual interest.
Example #3
Next up: the living room.
What Changed?
-
Wall color Consider painting the walls of your vacation home a bright color to make the room "pop" in photographs. - Time of day The time of day that you take a photo will directly affect the hues of the colors in your room. The first photo was taken at night with a flash, and as a result, it has cooler colors than the second photo that was taken early in the morning.
- Taken from a step back, to get more in the frame. Sometimes all you need to do is take a single step back to better capture the size of the room and its relation to the other rooms in your home.
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© Copyright HomeAway, Inc. 2006 |
Updated: September 30, 2009 |
Owners Speak
What tips or tricks have you discovered to take better photos of your vacation home?
"I live by the Disney World idea of 'Best place for photos here,' and shoot my photos where the view is perfect. The photo should have the same angle as the guest would if they were standing there. My favorite photo of mine is taken by me while sitting with my feet up on my balcony drinking coffee...you see my legs and hand holding my cup on a flawless day asking my guests to 'picture yourself here.'" Stephanie, Gulf Shores, Ala. (VRBO #114552)
"Instead of a 'run of the mill' shot, a photo of the home from a slightly different angle or tilt of the camera adds interest, character, and dimension. Lighting is one of the most important tools when taking photos. Taking a shot from the foot of the bed looking towards the head of the bed can make the bed look more inviting. If you are surrounded by neighbors on all sides try to minimize this by taking exterior shots in a way so as not to accentuate that fact. The colors in the photos should also compliment each other. For example, many shades of blue." Kelli, Davenport, Fla. (HomeAway #200763)
“I make sure as many advertised amenities as possible show up in my photos without appearing cluttered. For example, we highlight a fully stocked kitchen and one of our photos shows a long counter with toaster, toaster oven, coffee pot, electric can opener, and a blender. The under-cabinet lighting and white counter top create the impression we wanted of a well appointed, spacious kitchen to work in. The sun room photo shows the wicker furniture, porch rocker, breakfast nook and windows all around.” Tom & Kate, Wells, Maine (HomeAway #154101)
"ALWAYS take five to eight pictures of every area, from slightly different angles. Select the best later. Use a small step stool to raise the camera about seven feet off ground for a more professional look. Try to not use flash to eliminate shadows and 'flash bursts' in mirrors or shiny surfaces. Light the room with available lights, outside light etc. Look carefully at open windows in the scene. What you see outside may ruin picture." George, Outer Banks, N.C. (VacationRentals.com #1963)
"Adding fresh flowers to every room has such a welcome effect! Also an array of fresh colorful fruit on the kitchen counter says come and enjoy!" Linda, Hilo, Hawaii (HomeAway #179847, VRBO #86020)
Related Webinar
Selecting Photos of the Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Feature the size and quality of your beds as well as other compelling aspects of your bedrooms and bathrooms.Watch Now
- Rental Contract & Invoice
- Inquiry Responses
- Directions & Pre-Arrival Information for Guests
- Welcome Letter & Check-out Policy
- Security Deposit Refund/Withholding Letters
- Turning Your Second Home into a Vacation Rental
- Creating Your Vacation Rental Listing
- Vacation Home Cleaning & Maintenance
- Amenities Checklist