5 Vacation Rental Photography Mistakes

  • 2017-05-31

Vacation rental photography can be a make or break factor for any short term rental owner. Done right, short term rental photographs are a powerful tool that provide a visual introduction to your property. They work hand in hand with your listing to entice guests into making a booking.

5 Vacation Rental Photography Mistakes

Used incorrectly however, and the opposite is true. Bad photographs don’t only put guests off – they also make you look like an unprofessional amateur. How can you ensure that your photographs are doing their job? Read on to find out what to avoid…

Avoid These Vacation Rental Photography Mistakes

Some of the biggest vacation rental photography mistakes that might be holding you back include the following:

  1. Using outdated images. If you thought you could save time and money by using the ancient, outdated images you have had on your listing since you first began to rent out your property, think again. Outdated images are a common reason for poor vacation rental reviews. Your rental is effectively a business. Outdated images send a message that your entire rental is either outdated, or you have simply not bothered to photograph it in recent years. As such, you should never risk using images that no longer reflect the property as it currently stands today.
  2. Using bad lighting. Another thing to avoid is bad lighting. Images that are far too dark look very uninviting. Images that have proper lighting showcase the property in a far more effective way, on the other hand. Choose the time of day that gives you the best natural light. Waiting until it is dark will result in gloomy photographs that will put guests off.
  3. Not editing your photographs. Even the best photographs will be even better with a bit of editing. You may have a money shot of the amazing views offered from your rental, but, if you have not bothered to touch up the photograph, it may not have as much impact as an edited, professional looking photograph might have.
  4. Taking phone photos. Your phone may have an excellent camera that is higher resolution than a SRL camera. Despite this, phone photographs lack the stability and features that most good quality cameras offer. These images will sell your rental, hopefully to improve bookings and increase your vacation rental reputation at the same time. Make sure that you give your images the investment they deserve.
  5. Not getting professional help. That brings us to our final mistake… trying to it all yourself without getting help from the experts. The simplest and most effective way to get the best quality photographs while also getting the benefit of day to day management, bookings, marketing and guest concierge is to work with an experienced short term rental manager. This will give you full peace of mind in knowing that vacation rental photography is handled professionally, so that your listings will always be polished and geared towards success.

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Ready to find out more about working with a dedicated short term rental manager? Contact the Totalstay team today to find out how we assist with everything from vacation rental photography to comprehensive management of bookings, property and guest services.