request for airbnb professional photography

[Joumana0]

Hello,

I have added a new listing on Airbnb more than a month ago in Paris and have been requesting for an airbnb professional photography session since then. Unfortunately, every time I ask for one, I am informed that the service is not available. Please can someone let me know if they have a solution that would promote my request to airbnb?

Thank you!

Joumana

[Amaris0]

Perhaps read AIRBNB'S literature re their offer/ availability of professional photographers. Airbnb do not employ photographers so availability or lack thereof is subject to factors out of their control

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/298/what-happens-after-i-request-professional-photography

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/297/where-can-i-learn-more-about-airbnb-s-professional-photogr...

BW, Ama

[The-Queen0]

Hello. I started with airbnb in Athena in July. Asked for professional photography over and over and over again only to be denied every time. I am a super host now and they still refuse me. My guess is that they do not offer professional photography anymore but they still offer it anyway. Truly disappointed!

[Helen3]

Why not book your own photographer who specialises in interiors - in the areas you mention there are likely to be lots of freelances about.

The advantage to you is that you will get photography done quickly, you can ask for shared copyright with the photographer so you can use the photography elsewhere to promote your listing and you have it as a tax deductable expense against your listing.

Quality photography does make a big difference to your listing, so see it as a business expense that will pay for itself by increasing your bookings.

[Maria638]

One of the main reasons for having an Airbnb photographer for professional photos (besides the quality) is the Verified status of the photos, which is a cornerstone in building the trust that is so important in the Airbnb model of hospitality. Once you have the Verified stamp on your photos then potential guests can be assured that your space is really what you say it is, since an Airbnb representative has visited the listing and documented it. This is such a great idea and it has set Airbnb apart from its competitors.

However, I too am a Superhost and my requests for professional photography are repeatedly denied with no explanation (or a false explanation, rather, that there are no available photographers, as here in this small community we live in we know who the photographers are and we know they are there and that they are indeed available).

I think we deserve a better or a truthful explanation than this canned auto-response when a request for photography is denied, as the current treatment undermines the trust between hosts and Airbnb, which is the opposite result I am sure we are all hoping for!

[Helen3]

What verified stamp @Maria638

I have BNB photos on my listing and don't have any stamp on them.

If you know who the photographers are in your area I am not sure why you don't just book them?

You will then be able to use the photos as you wish outside of BNB (if you agree shared copyright with them) and you can deduct the cost as a business expense. You also get to art direct the photography and choose which images you have.

I am not really sure why people get so hung up on using a BNB photographer?

If I hadn't been able to book one within a few weeks of requesting one, I would have been happy to pay a freelance.

[Maria638]

Thank you for the advice @Helen. Actually I have already had professional photos taken and I am using them, of course, so I don't have a problem with generally getting a photographer and the quality of my photos. The main reason I would like the Airbnb professional photography feature is the Verified seal I mentioned already. If you click through your professional Airbnb photos, you may see it on the bottom left of each Airbnb professional photo: the words "Verified photo". As I mentioned before, it is very important to have this, among many other verifications, in order to encourage guests to book your home as they know that a representative of Airbnb has visited the home and verified the images representing the listing. This is a huge plus in a market that is riddled with fake listings and scams.

Further, speaking for other hosts who may be "hung up" on Airbnb professional photography, maybe they don't have the resources to pay for a professional photographer (especially if they haven't rented their home for extra income yet!).

And besides all that, even though we appreciate the free photography that is offered to some listings, if a company is going to advertise a service as what sets them apart from other companies, the least they could do when they deny you the service would be to give you an honest answer as to why. I am sure we could understand if it is not economically viable for them to shoot all listings!