10 Photography Tips to Attract More Bookings for Your Airbnb Listing

[Oksana127]

Great photos can make all the difference in securing more bookings. But should you hire a professional photographer or take the photos yourself? I personally shoot all my listings with my phone—it’s honest, realistic, and ensures guests see exactly what they’ll get. No surprises, just happy travelers.

Here are my top 10 tips to make your listing stand out: 

1️⃣ Natural Light is Key – Always shoot during daylight hours. Open curtains and let in as much natural light as possible. Avoid artificial lighting that can create shadows or distort colors.

2️⃣ Clean and Declutter – Less is more. A tidy, well-organized space looks bigger and more inviting. Remove personal items and unnecessary clutter before snapping photos.

3️⃣ Highlight the Best Features – Have a stunning view? A cozy reading nook? A luxurious bathroom? Make sure these standout features take center stage in your listing photos.

4️⃣ Use a Wide-Angle Perspective – To capture more of the room, step back and shoot from the corners. This helps guests get a better sense of the space.

5️⃣ Shoot in Landscape Mode – Airbnb displays photos in a horizontal format, so always shoot in landscape to ensure they look their best.

6️⃣ Show Every Room – Guests like to see the full layout, so include photos of all key areas: bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and even the entrance.

7️⃣ Add Lifestyle Touches – A book on the nightstand, a cup of coffee on the table, or fresh flowers can make the space feel warm and inviting.

8️⃣ Keep it Real – Over-edited or overly staged photos can lead to disappointed guests. Make sure your listing accurately reflects your space—guests appreciate honesty!

9️⃣ Take Detail Shots – Showcase unique design elements, high-quality amenities, or anything special that sets your place apart. A well-framed close-up can add personality.

🔟 Update Your Photos Regularly – Seasons change, decor evolves, and little updates happen. Keep your listing fresh by updating photos when necessary.

📸 Pro Tip: You don’t need an expensive camera—just a good eye for angles, lighting, and composition. Authentic, well-thought-out photos will attract more guests and increase bookings!

Do you take your Airbnb photos yourself or hire a pro? Share your experience in the comments! ⬇️

[Rebecca]

I love this post so much @Oksana127 - I wondered if you'd mind if I added it to our Community Center Guide section so that it's there for easy access and sharing? 

Looking forward to hearing from you! 😍

[Oksana127]

@Rebecca Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m happy to share insights that can help fellow hosts improve their listings and attract more guests.

[Júlia-Torres0]

Thank you sharing this! Your tips are very valuable, and I can confirm that. I like to show the place through my eyes, what stand out, the details, and transmit the vibe of each room. It makes a lot of difference, and of course, make it realistic as possible! 

[Karen114]

Great advice @Oksana127 !

[Zamani-Nonduduzo0]

Great ideas!

[Alessandro2064]

We used our old cell phone for pics, occupancy rates stay around 80-90% all year.  Many of our reviews state that our pics don't do the place justice. 

Great pics are nice but we prefer to undersell.  Not knocking the original post, just another point of view.

[Oksana127]

Exactly! That’s what I’m saying — keep it real. Like I mentioned in my post, I take all my photos with my good old phone… not even an iPhone (and im not a pro)! So yes, natural and honest works best.

[Tim4531]

no one likes overly edited listings! Love the natural light and decluttering advice. Ever tried mixing phone and pro shots to compare?

[Oksana127]

Actually, when I first started hosting, I did hire a professional photographer… but honestly, I wasn’t too happy with the results. Maybe just a couple of shots turned out okay for me. The rest I ended up doing myself with my phone.

Of course, before that, I did my homework — read a lot about interior photography and browsed tons of examples online. And you know what? My photos turned out way better than I expected!

I even did a little experiment — showed both sets (mine and the pro’s) to some friends and asked them to guess which ones were professional. The funny part? 8 out of 10 thought my phone shots were the professional ones! So that’s when I thought — why pay someone when I know my apartment inside out? I know when the perfect light hits the living room, how to show its best angles, and how to make it feel right in photos.