To get more bookings for your holiday rental in Asturias, your photos need to show the home as it really is: clean, well lit and with every room included. On Airbnb or Booking, people almost always decide to book by looking at the photos, before they read the description. And most guests don't visit the property before booking. That's why the pictures have to speak for themselves. And they have to be realistic.
Get the home ready before the photos
Before you take a single photo, give the place a thorough clean. Then go through each room with a critical eye. Sometimes all it takes is moving a piece of furniture, adding a mirror to make a room look bigger or clearing the surfaces. The same home looks much better on camera, without spending anything on renovations. Arrange the furniture with an eye to how it looks in the photo, not how you use it day to day. That way the photo gains depth and perspective.
Natural light and a wide-angle lens
And the light? Take your photos during the day and make the most of natural light. A wide-angle lens, which takes in more of the space in each shot, helps the room look larger and gives it depth. You don't need expensive equipment or to know how to use Photoshop. Better without filters. A natural photo avoids surprises on arrival and negative reviews afterwards.
Photo from evsimon.com · Book your wedding
Show every room
Show the whole home. With only a few photos that don't show the entire property, it's easy to end up with few guests. Kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living room and outdoor areas. If there's a pool, you could try an underwater shot with a GoPro. A 180- or 360-degree photo of the inside and outside also gives a more realistic idea.
What Airbnb says
One figure, without exaggerating. According to Airbnb, listings with professional photography get up to 40% more bookings and can charge up to 26% more per night than equivalent listings with mobile phone photos. Note the "up to": it's a maximum, not a guarantee.
Photo from evsimon.com · Book your wedding
When to redo the photos
When is it time to redo the photos? After a renovation or major changes, such as new furniture or a refurbished kitchen. Also when bookings drop or you get comments about how the listing looks.
Review your listing today
Now, one simple step. Open your listing and look at it the way someone who has never been to your home would. Is a room missing? Are there dark photos or ones with things in the way? Note down what you would change. Then pick a day with good light, clean, tidy up and retake the weaker photos. If you'd rather someone else did it, you can write to Evan & Natalia Simon, in Gijón, and tell them what your property in Asturias is like. Photography and video, with no rush and no obligation.
