26 Jul 2025 3 min read Short-Term Rental Photography

Bad photos are killing your bookings — and you don’t even know it

Your STR isn’t overpriced. It just looks like a Craigslist listing. Here’s how to fix the photo problem that’s silently draining your revenue.

You think your listing has a pricing problem. But it’s probably just ugly.

Let’s rip off the Band-Aid:
Your short-term rental might be amazing, but if your photos suck, you’re invisible.

Guests are scrolling past your listing faster than you can say “open concept layout.” And while you're blaming the algorithm, your lead photo is overexposed, crooked, and taken from the hallway like you're on a real estate tour from 2008.

You don’t have a booking problem.
You have a photo problem.

Most STRs Look… Fine. And That’s the Problem.

We’re in the golden age of visual decisions. TikTok. Instagram. Zillow addiction. People are trained to judge by cover.

And in the STR world, your photos are the cover.

Reality check:

The average guest spends under 60 seconds on a listing.
The first 3 photos determine whether they click.
Your amenities don’t matter if your photos don’t sell them.

Your hot tub, smart TV, and luxury bedding mean nothing if your photos feel like a rushed walkthrough on move-out day.

5 Photography Sins That Kill Conversion

Here’s why most listings fail before the guest even reads a word:

❌ 1. Lighting That Looks Like a Horror Film

Stop relying on overhead lights and “vibe” lamps.
→ Shoot during the day, use natural light, and turn off interior yellows.

❌ 2. Angles from Another Dimension

Your guest isn’t 4’3” and floating. Use a tripod at chest height and aim for wide, clean shots.

❌ 3. Clutter, Chaos & Crap

Visible wires. Trash bins. Laundry baskets. Random signage.
→ Clean it. Style it. Then shoot it.

❌ 4. Vertical Shots in a Horizontal World

Airbnb and most platforms prefer landscape images. Portrait mode is for your mom’s Instagram stories.

❌ 5. “One-and-Done” Syndrome

Took 20 photos before check-in once and never touched them again? That’s not content. That’s laziness. Update quarterly.

Before & After: Show, Don’t Just Shoot

Insert your real before-and-after photos here

Sample ALT TEXT for SEO:

“Before: dim, unedited photo of STR kitchen with cluttered counters”
“After: bright, wide-angle photo showcasing clean lines and open layout”

Every photo is an opportunity for visual storytelling.
And every ALT tag is free SEO juice. Use both.

The Real Role of Photos: Emotion Over Information

A photo isn’t just a “record of what’s there.”
It’s a preview of what they’ll feel when they’re there.

Your listing shouldn’t feel like a real estate ad. It should feel like:

A weekend of wine and laughter
A cozy escape after a brutal workweek
A place to reconnect, unplug, celebrate

You’re not selling square footage.
You’re selling moments.

Don’t Want to Hire a Pro? Do This Instead:

You don’t need a $5,000 photographer. You need intentionality. Here’s the play:

Shoot in daylight — preferably mid-morning
Declutter like you're selling it
Use a tripod or stable surface
Stage scenes (books on nightstands, towels draped, wine glasses on patios)
Edit lightly — don’t overdo the filters. Clean, bright, real.

Free tools? Try:

Snapseed (iPhone/Android)
Adobe Lightroom Mobile
Canva for quick crops and text overlays

One More Thing...

If you’re using AI to write your descriptions but uploading potato-quality photos, you’ve got your priorities backward.

You don’t need better words. You need better pictures.

Final Thought

You’re not overpriced. You just look overpriced — because your photos don’t justify your rate.

Guests aren’t dumb.
They’ll pay more — when the visual experience makes it feel worth it.

So before you lower your rates or blame Airbnb’s algo…
go back and fix what people actually see.