Great photos sell your short-term rental.
In this episode of Host Planet Bitesize – powered by Hostfully – professional property photographer Michael Fox shares his top Airbnb photography tips to help vacation rental hosts increase bookings, improve listing visibility, and stand out on Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.
Whether you manage one holiday let or multiple STR properties, strong listing photos can dramatically improve click-through rate, conversion, and nightly rates.
In this episode, we cover:
• How to prepare your rental before taking photos (clean, declutter, stage)
• The best angles and framing techniques for Airbnb listings
• How to use natural light to make rooms feel bigger and brighter
• How to “sell the experience,” not just the space
• Simple editing tips to make colours pop without overdoing it
• The most common short-term rental photography mistakes
• When it’s worth hiring a professional property photographer
If you want more direct bookings, better occupancy, and stronger listing performance, your photos are your first impression.
0:48 Tip one: make sure your rental is clean, tidy, and clutter-free
3:22 Tip two: how to get your angles and framing right
5:31 Tip three: get the lighting right – use natural light where possible
8:06 Tip four: sell the moment, sell the why, sell the experience
10:36 Tip five: lightly edit your photos if you can – make the colours pop
11:35 Bonus tip: hire a professional photographer
12:59 Common photography mistakes in Airbnb and Booking.com listings
14:50 Consistency and staging will help
16:09 Michael Fox Photography: https://www.mfoxphoto.com/
Looking for a great property management software or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!
Check out these special offers:
Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.
Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.
Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtk
Keen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-Demo
Email Frank:
[email protected] Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Michael Fox Photography: https://www.mfoxphoto.com/
Episode to check next: 5 Reasons Your STR Needs AI Right Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM-zt2OvS3k
The Host Planet Podcast is where Airbnb hosts, Booking.com hosts, Vrbo hosts, and short-term rental operators come to learn what actually works. Each episode features expert insights from people actively building, managing, and scaling short-term rentals, covering everything from Airbnb hosting fundamentals to advanced rental strategies. Whether you’re focused on guest satisfaction, rental management, or smarter automation tips, the show delivers practical advice you can apply immediately to improve performance and increase Airbnb bookings.
Across the series, we explore Airbnb host tips, listing optimization, price optimization, and Airbnb listing optimization – alongside real-world investing insights and behind-the-scenes Airbnb secrets you won’t hear elsewhere. From hosted conversations with industry leaders and Airbnb ambassadors to actionable guidance on bookings and short-term rental growth, Host Planet helps hosts navigate short term rentals with confidence and clarity.
The show is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Contact the show:
[email protected]#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #PMS #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer #DirectBookings #STRMarketing #MichaelFox
UK