Better photos for Airbnb listing is one of the top reasons guests book you. Let’s admit it. Many travelers want that personal touch or local experience, thus Airbnb is one of the biggest companies in the so called sharing company. In many countries around the world, it’s competing with established hotels as far as accommodations are concerned. Even your friends sometimes prefer staying at an Airbnb listed site than at a swanky hotel. And of course, you have an extra space in your house that you want to offer to travelers and you want to earn at the same time.

But why should you invest in better photos for Airbnb listing? FIVE reasons why. Read on.

1 Better photos for Airbnb listing, 20% more bookings, 20% more earnings

Yup! That’s right. Airbnb even says so. The better the photos, the higher chances that your listing will get booked, as much as 20%, and earn 20% more. Think of yourself as the one searching through the site. What catches your attention? Does a badly photographed, badly exposed or dim photos attract you to click on the Airbnb listing? Or are well composed and pleasant images will pique your interest and book it instead?

2 Professionally photographed images highlight your space better

Airbnb used to have its own accredited photographers and they were trained to photograph your listing in the best light possible using gear intended for Architecture and Interior Photography in the way Airbnb wanted it. They know what to highlight in your space and what needs to be photographed so that potential guests will have a good idea of how your listing looks like.

3 It’s a competition out there

Especially in tourist areas and big cities, with the great number of hotels, inns and hostels competing with a great number of Airbnb listings, it’s a real competition out there. One thing to up your game is to have better photos. Just like in #1 above, you are competing with other properties and you need to catch your potential guests’ eye.

4 Its all about telling the story of your space thru images

Airbnb trained photographers know how to better photograph your listing. But it’s not just all about angles and stuff. Airbnb photographers know how to tell your listing’s story in photos with details that make your space unique and homey. Images are photographed in the best natural or existing light possible so what you see online is what you will actually see when you arrive at the listing.

5 Better photos mean you are serious and professional

Your Airbnb listing is a reflection of you as an owner. Remember that many travelers want that local touch, that authenticity that extends to staying at your home. Better photos establish your credibility as a serious Airbnb host and potential guests respond to that by checking your listing out compared to the other listings that are poorly photographed.

There. I just presented you with the top five reasons why you should invest in better photos for your Airbnb listing. As I’ve mentioned above, the better photos you have, the more chances that guests will book you.

Where do you go from here

If you are an Airbnb host, I encourage you to have your listing photographed professionally either by a real estate/Architecture photographer. Unfortunately, Airbnb has discontinued their photography service since the start of the pandemic.

Fortunately, I have been photographing Airbnb listings with seven years experience as an official Airbnb Photographer. I have photographed over 1,000 listings around the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan.

I’m currently based in the Philippines and I can help you get more bookings thru professional Airbnb photography. Send me a message HERE.