How To Take Great Photos of Vacation Rentals

Creating an ultimate photo guide for vacation rentals on platforms like Domits, Airbnb and Booking.com is crucial for maximizing bookings. 

Great photos are often the first and most important factor in a guest’s decision to book.

Here’s a comprehensive, step-by-step photo guide tailored for both platforms.

Table of Contents
How To Take Great Photos of Vacation Rentals
General Photography Guidelines
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Essential Photo List by Room/Area
1. Cover Photo (Hero Shot)
2. Exterior (2–4+ photos)
3. Living Room (2–4+ photos)
4. Kitchen & Dining (2–4+ photos)
5. Bedrooms (1–2+ photos per room)
6. Bathrooms (1–2+ photos per bathroom)
7. Special Features (as applicable)
8. Local Highlights (optional but effective)

How To Take Great Photos of Vacation Rentals

General Photography Guidelines

  • Camera: Use a DSLR or a high-quality smartphone (latest iPhones or flagship Androids).
  • Lighting: Natural light is best. Shoot during the day with all curtains open and lights on.
  • Orientation: Always shoot in landscape (horizontal) mode.
  • Staging: Declutter, clean, and add cozy touches (e.g., fresh towels, plants, wine glasses).
  • Editing: Use light editing for brightness, contrast, and warmth. Avoid filters that distort reality.
  • Resolution: At least 1024 x 683 px; higher is better (3:2 aspect ratio). Images smaller than this may appear pixelated or may be rejected.
  • Ideal Resolution:  3840 × 2560 pixels (4k) or 1920 x 1280 pixels
  • File Type: JPEG (.jpg)
  • Max File Size: Keep under 20–25 MB per image. Most platforms compress them for fast loading. You can also optimize file size yourself with tools like TinyJPG to maintain quality under file size limits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Vertical photos – Don’t do it.
  • Too many duplicates – Each photo should add something new.
  • Dark/blurry photos – Poor quality = fewer bookings.
  • Pets/people – Avoid unless your place is pet-friendly or the people add context.
  • Over-editing – Misleading photos = bad reviews.

Essential Photo List by Room/Area

1. Cover Photo (Hero Shot)

  • Show the best feature: pool, view, large open-plan space, or cozy bedroom.
  • Should emotionally hook the viewer.
  • Example: Sunset over balcony with wine glasses and ocean view.

2. Exterior (2–4+ photos)

  • Front of the house/building (daylight & evening if lit nicely).
  • Backyard, garden, patio, hot tub, or pool.
  • Parking area or street view for context.

3. Living Room (2–4+ photos)

  • Full wide shot to show layout and seating.
  • Cozy detail: TV, fireplace, board games, books.
  • Angle from corners to show space.

4. Kitchen & Dining (2–4+ photos)

  • Full kitchen layout.
  • Details: coffee station, microwave, wine rack, breakfast setup.
  • Dining area fully set up for a meal.

5. Bedrooms (1–2+ photos per room)

  • Wide shot of the full room.
  • Bed made neatly, matching linens.
  • Detail: soft lighting, reading nook, or decor.

6. Bathrooms (1–2+ photos per bathroom)

  • Clean, clutter-free.
  • Towels neatly hung, good lighting.
  • Detail: soap, spa products, plants.

7. Special Features (as applicable)

  • Hot tub, sauna, gym, home theater.
  • Balcony with a view, fire pit, grill, hammock.
  • Workspace or Wi-Fi setup (desk + chair).

8. Local Highlights (optional but effective)

  • Nearby beach, restaurants, attractions.
  • A local map on a wall or guidebooks provided.

Need help to start, grow and scale 1 or 1000+ vacation rentals? Contact us. 

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