Real Estate Vs. AirBnB/Vacation Home Photography

The primary difference between real estate photography for a long-term rental and a vacation home or short-term rental is that in the latter your goal is to highlight the ‘experience’ guests can enjoy instead of focussing on the general layout of the home which would typically include wide-angle shots of the front and rear façade, the bedrooms living area, kitchen and bathroom/s.

Some elements of a typical real estate shoot apply to a holiday rental, however you must go deeper in regards to telling the story of the experience the guest will enjoy, such as the outdoor setting where they can enjoy a complementary morning coffee and soak up inspirational views before heading out an exploring local tourism hotspots.

People will have a different mindset when booking a holiday home than when they book a long-term rental property, as their needs and wants are very different in both scenarios. Long-term renters are typically seeking storage space, close proximity to the workplace or public transport, schools, grocery stores, etc. The layout of the home, and the size of rooms is also important as they need to make calculated decisions about how well their furniture will fit each space.

Short-term or holiday rental guests will look for certain facilities (i.e. study desk, coffee machine, free breakfast, etc.) as well as proximity to entertainment hubs, tourist attractions, bars, cafes and restaurants. Your images must satisfy the requirements of prospective guests as this will be the first part of your listing they will see when searching online and is therefore your chance for a great ‘first impression’.

When planning an Airbnb/holiday home photo-shoot, take the time to study the target market for the owner and the features their guests would be looking for when searching for the ideal ‘home away from home’. Keep in mind that the ‘story’ you develop through your photographs should be focussed on these features to capture the interest of the target market.

Steven Ungermann

Pro Real Estate Photographer

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