15 vacation rental photography tips to boost views and bookings

A picture is worth a thousand bookings.

Well-shot photos are key to standing out (and succeeding) in a competitive vacation rental market and on popular channels, such as Airbnb and Vrbo. After all, travelers are unlikely to book a vacation home that underwhelms on-screen or doesn’t catch their eye in the first place.

Our team has shot attention-grabbing photos for thousands of homes around the country. Here’s how we create photos that make travelers click more, look more, and book more.

How professional photographers take vacation home pictures

Our photographers don’t simply take pictures. Every shot and every angle is intentional. The goal: inspiring, authentic, and accurate images that attract potential guests and compel them to book. Follow these photography guidelines when planning your own vacation home photo shoot.

1. Shoot to thrill

Start with your vacation home’s remarkable amenities. Is it an outdoor deck to barbecue and watch sunsets? A firepit for cold winter nights? A game room full of family-friendly fun? Make it a priority to shoot those areas and amenities from various angles.

Photograph community amenities, such as a shared pool or hot tub, from several angles to avoid duplicating a photo posted by a neighboring home.

2. Ditch distortion

The goal is to showcase your space as naturally as possible, so don’t use lenses or filters that will make your vacation home look bigger, brighter, or better than it actually is.

3. Balance your photo composition

Your images should show one-third floor, one-third middle, and one-third ceiling. This depicts the most realistic and natural view of a room.

4. Utilize gridlines to keep photos straight

To help create a strong composition, use the gridlines tool on your camera or phone. This will help you keep all vertical lines as straight as possible and avoid tilted or skewed images.

5. Help guests determine accessibility

Shoot the entrances to front doors, back doors, showers, and bathtubs to show accessibility.

Vacasa tip
When you manage your home with us, you can look forward to a professional photo shoot of your entire home (at no extra cost) before you even get your first booking. We'll coordinate it all for you—and make sure the photos shine everywhere your home is listed.

6. Show your home’s layout

Capture the flow of your vacation home by including adjoining rooms in some of the same shots.

7. Forget about the flash

Dark rooms are tricky to take pictures of. Turn off the flash, as this can create harsh highlights in some areas and unnatural shadows in others. Vacasa photographers only shoot with natural and ambient lighting. If needed, they can adjust lighting for darker rooms in post-production.

8. Shoot outdoors during golden hour

Every photographer knows the best time to shoot images is right after sunrise and right before sunset. These times of the day give off a soft, glowing light that emphasizes the appeal of a place.

9. Pair a view with a room

When shooting the view, our photographers capture both the home and view in the same shot—such as a portion of an outdoor deck or a bedroom overlooking the coastline.

10. Show off nearby attractions

Your destination is just as much part of the guest experience as your home is. At Vacasa, our photographers always try to capture photos of the surrounding town or attractions, like a nearby beach, lake, hiking trail, golf courses, or other landmarks. Avoid taking images of individual restaurants or stores. Plus, don’t shoot at night.

11. Stop zooming on your smartphone

Planning to take your vacation home pictures on your smartphone? Avoid using zoom. Smartphone cameras don’t have the same quality of lenses that normal cameras do and instead can make your photos pixelated and fuzzy. Our photographers aren’t only experts at shooting and editing, they come armed with the right camera equipment to create stunning images that drive bookings.

12. Take home exterior shots

Give guests a sense of setting and your environment by taking several exterior shots, including front lawns, porches, and even backyard areas.

13. Take more than you think

The more angles and images you capture, the better. Our research shows that Vacasa.com visitors scroll through an average of 18 photos when researching future getaways. Our vacation home profile usually consists of up to 25 images, taken from a variety of perspectives.

14. Select a scroll-stopping primary image

Your primary image is the first look a potential guest will have of your vacation home. In fact, we’ve found that 54% of travelers don’t scroll past the first image. So, make it a good one. And, make sure it stands out from the other vacation homes in your area. The best primary images have colors that pop and showcase something unique about your home.

Vacasa tip
For more insights like these, check out our 2021 Vacation Rental Search Report, which analyzes what millions of guests look for in a vacation rental. Find out the features, photos, and amenities that prompt them to click and book.

15. Keep your photos fresh

Your photos should always depict your vacation home’s current condition and decor. So, take new images as needed to keep them up to date. This is especially true whenever you make major improvements or changes—such as adding a hot tub, redecorating, or updating your home’s exterior.


Want help marketing your vacation home so it stands out from the crowd? Let’s chat about all the ways to get your home more visibility.