Want To save money by dIY-Ing photos for your airbnb listing?
From the title of this post, you may think we are going to teach you how to take your own photos for your Airbnb listing, but you thought wrong. The single biggest mistake that I see hosts make is not your listing price, the décor, or the location of your Airbnb. It is simply not having professional photos of a short-term rental.
Yes, phones have come a long way, but they will never replace the beautiful interior photography that a professional photographer can achieve. You not only want people to see your space represented faithfully but also in a great way through stunning photos. We are going to discuss of why you should delete the DIY photos of your Airbnb and hire a professional photographer ASAP!
Professional Photos Will Stop The Scrolling
When guests are looking for an Airbnb, they are just scrolling through a bunch of listings until one catches their eye. If you have good interior photos that highlight your Airbnb’s best features, it will stop them from continuing on to the next listing. You know when your house looks best – as the seasons change, you know when it’s most beautiful, but guests don’t. Hiring a professional to capture these moments of your home will help you to portray all your home has to offer to potential guests.
This is also a great marketing tool. As people are scrolling they need to find you on the platform and book, if you want to be seen past the algorithm, great photos of the exterior and interior spaces will help you to stand out from the rest of the crowd.
“Professional Photographers Are Too Expensive”
Hiring a professional photographer is a financial investment, and feels like a luxury. But, there are 6 million Airbnb’s in the world, so doing this will set you head and shoulders above hosts who don’t have professional photos. Better photos of outdoor and indoor spaces will give guests a realistic feel of what it is like to be in your Airbnb.
How Much Should You Spend On A Photographer?
From experience, my quick math is to first think about what your Airbnb is going to make you in one month. Take that number and divide it in half and consider allocating that to a professional photographer. It seems like a lot, but in the long run, this fee will pay off because it will bring in more guests when they see your listing.
Real Estate Photos vs. Architectural Photography
Some people think that going to a local real estate company and having them send out a photographer will get the job done. While it might be cheaper, real estate photography is very different from shooting interiors for a space like an Airbnb.
The guests booking your rental do not need to see every single corner of your home, they are not buying it. They need to be able to transport themselves and their imagination into your space. Architectural photography can make your space come to life. Instead of close-ups of small features, the photographer will capture the entire room and create depth that will show what it would be like to stay at your Airbnb. Guests are looking for an experience, and it’s important to show them how they can enjoy your space through stunning interior images.
When you hire a photographer, they are also going to make sure to capitalize on the absolute best time of day for a photo shoot. They will know how to use natural light as well as interior lights to get the best images of the whole room, which is hard to achieve on your own through a phone.
Big Take Away
In the long run, hiring a professional photographer is one of the best investments you can make in your short-term rental business. The photos are going to help market your business and it is going to directly translate into dollars in your bank account.
Be sure to remember to continue to invest in photography. If your space changes, like new décor or house paint, hire that photographer to come back and capture the updates.
