Getting your rental ready for photos
On Airbnb and VRBO, your photos do most of the selling. Guests scroll fast, and a clean, bright, well-styled space is what makes them stop and book.
My style is bright, natural, and calm. Most of this list is a thorough turnover clean plus a little styling, and everything you check off shows up in the final photos.
Your host checklist
Tap each item as you go. Your progress saves on this device, so you can come back to it anytime.
Before shoot day
Outside
Clean
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Kitchen
Living areas
Lighting
I'll take care of
- Deciding which lights to use, room by room
- Angles and composition, so no need to plan shots
- Small styling and furniture tweaks, put back afterwards
Good to know
- Pets secured and no cleaners or contractors on site
- Overcast days photograph well; heavy rain, we reschedule
- The home should be fully ready when I arrive
How long the shoot takes
Anywhere from about 1 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the property. The estimator on my Airbnb photography page shows a good estimate for yours.
Smaller places can often be shot in about an hour, so the shoot can fit inside a normal turnover window and you don't need to block a night. Just make sure the clean is done and the home is fully ready when I arrive.
Light and timing
I schedule around the windows and the sun so each room gets its best light. You don't need to plan anything here: make sure every bulb works and the blinds open fully, and I'll decide which lights to use on site.
Twilight and drone photos are available as add-ons. Let me know when you book so I can plan the timing.
Questions?
If you're not sure about anything, reach out before the shoot and I'm happy to walk through it with you. You can also see my Airbnb and short-term rental packages.
