Listing CameraShort answer: A rental or Airbnb listing needs a strong lead photo, a wide shot of every bedroom, bathroom and living area, the kitchen, and the amenities guests and tenants ask about: workspace, laundry, coffee setup, outdoor space, parking and any real views. Prep like a sale listing and keep photos honest, because guests compare them with what they find at check-in.
I've spent almost 20 years photographing homes for sale, and a fair number of rentals along the way. The technique is the same. What changes is what the viewer is looking for. A guest booking a weekend wants to know where they'll sleep, whether there's coffee and Wi-Fi, and if the hot tub is real. A long-term tenant wants to see storage, laundry and the condition of the kitchen. This checklist covers both.
One rule above all: photograph the place exactly as a guest or tenant will find it. Every platform and every reviewer punishes the gap between the photos and the arrival.
Before photo day
- Deep clean, including windows, mirrors, grout and appliance fronts.
- Replace burned-out bulbs, and match bulb colors within each room.
- Fix visible small repairs: scuffs, loose handles, a torn screen.
- Set up the space the way guests or tenants will actually get it: the same furniture, linens and layout.
- Remove the owner's or last tenant's personal items, mail and photos.
- Hide cleaning supplies, spare linens, the vacuum and trash bins.
- Tidy the outside: mow, sweep the entry and deck, put away hoses and toys.
Bedrooms
- Beds made with crisp, smooth linens; pillows arranged evenly.
- Nightstands down to a lamp and maybe one small item.
- Closet doors closed, or open and neat if storage is a selling point.
- One wide shot per bedroom showing the bed and the room around it.
- For short-term rentals: know which bed is in which room, so photos and listing details match.
Bathrooms
- Toilet seat and lid down.
- Counters clear apart from anything guests are provided, neatly arranged.
- Fresh, matching towels folded on the bar.
- Shower bottles and bath mat out; glass and mirror wiped.
- Mirror shot at an angle so you're not in it. See how to photograph a small bathroom.
Kitchen
- Counters nearly clear; leave out only what guests will use, like the coffee maker.
- Sink empty, dish rack and sponges away, fridge door clear.
- A wide shot, plus the island or dining spot if there is one.
- More tips: how to photograph a kitchen.
Living and dining
- Remotes, chargers and clutter put away; TV off.
- Pillows plumped, throws folded.
- Dining table cleared, or set simply.
- A wide shot that shows how the living, dining and kitchen areas connect.
Amenity shots guests and tenants look for
- Workspace: desk, chair and good light, if you advertise it as work-friendly.
- Laundry: washer and dryer, in-unit or shared, and where they are.
- Coffee and kitchen setup, for short-term rentals.
- Outdoor space: deck, patio, balcony, yard, grill, fire pit or seating.
- Hot tub, pool or sauna: clean, covers off, nothing floating.
- Parking: driveway, garage or the assigned space.
- Storage: closets, a basement storage area or garage space, for long-term rentals.
- Views and the neighborhood, only if they're what a guest will really see from the property.
- Accessibility features, such as a step-free entry or walk-in shower, if you list them.
On photo day
- Every light on, TVs off, ceiling fans stopped.
- Blinds open evenly on each wall.
- Shoot the exterior when the sun is on the front of the building. See the best time for exteriors.
- Camera at chest height and upright; a bit higher in the kitchen, a bit lower in small bathrooms.
- Landscape orientation for the listing; save vertical shots for social posts.
- Two or three angles of the main rooms, one of the rest, plus the amenity shots above.
- Watch rooms with big windows; see photographing bright windows.
- Wipe the lens before you start.
Before you publish
- Lead with your strongest photo, often the main living area, the best bedroom or the view.
- Order the rest so a viewer can walk the space in their head.
- Make sure every room and amenity you mention in the listing is shown, and nothing is shown that guests won't get.
- Check your platform's current photo guidelines for size and count.
- Edit for light and color only. Don't remove things guests will see, like a neighboring building or a worn countertop.
- Retake photos after any change to furniture, finishes or amenities.
Why honest photos matter even more for rentals
With a sale, a buyer sees the house before they commit. With a short-term rental, a guest often sees it for the first time at check-in, and then writes a review. Photos that make a room look bigger, brighter or newer than it is get you the booking and cost you the next ten. Keep the 0.5x lens restrained, keep furniture away from the frame edges where it stretches, and show the space as it is.
Related: 15 listing photo mistakes and the free shot-list generator, which builds a printable list from your bedrooms, bathrooms and features.
Hosts and landlords are a big part of why I built Listing Camera. The iPhone app fixes light, color and exposure on every photo in the background, about 30 to 40 seconds each, so units shot on different days come out consistent. It doesn't add, remove or stage anything. Exterior photos always come back with a sunny blue sky, which you may want to mention in your listing. Free to try with 3 enhancements.