Best Airbnb Photos: How to Make Your Airbnb Listing Stand Out

Updated : Mar 13, 2025

Good photos tell a story.

High-quality Airbnb photos transform ordinary spaces into inviting retreats. They capture the essence of your space, allowing guests to envision their stay. This not only transforms your Airbnb listing but also builds trust and anticipation. 

Let’s explore actionable tips on making your listing stand out with professionally shot Airbnb photos.

What are Airbnb Photos?

Airbnb photos are the images that hosts upload to their Airbnb listings to show potential guests what their property looks like. These photos provide a visual representation of everything you’ve mentioned in your Airbnb description.

A Bamboo House in Bali utilizes stunning photos that capture the location’s natural beauty, the open-air living space, and the luxurious infinity pool. Guests constantly praise the host for exceeding the guest expectations based on Airbnb photos.

As a host, Airbnb photos should be part of your marketing strategy. When you add high-quality Airbnb photos to your listing, your guests will love your property! When they love it, they will review it. Higher reviews will lead to higher placement in the search results.

In Paris, this incredible property boasts consistent bookings and positive reviews part of which is owed to the accurate and beautiful representation of their property on Airbnb via Airbnb photos.

Why Should You Invest in Airbnb Photos?

• Increased Bookings: Airbnb claims that listings with professional photos earn 40% more, receive 24% more bookings, and have a 26% higher nightly price. 
• Creates A First Positive Impression: As an Airbnb host, photos allow you to capture attention and create a positive impression on the guests.
• Highlights the Best Features of the Property: By using Airbnb photos, you can highlight the best features of your property to your potential guests.
• Sets Clear Expectations: These can help you set clear expectations, which reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings and negative reviews.

What are the Requirements for Airbnb Listing Photos?

1. You should upload at least six high-quality photos.
2. Your photos should have a width-to-length aspect ratio of 3:2.
3. It should have a minimum resolution of at least 480 x 720px at 72 dpi.
4. If the photo features a child, they should be accompanied by an adult. 
5. Photos must follow Airbnb’s Animal Welfare Guidelines for Airbnb Experiences.
6. Photos must not feature any obscenity or illegal activities. 

How to Take Airbnb Photos?

You can take Airbnb listing photos on a digital camera or a smartphone. The equipment doesn’t matter as much as good planning and great photography skills. 

How to Take Airbnb Photos on a Smartphone?

1. Turn on Grid View (available in Settings) on your phone. Place the room’s most important aspect in the middle of the grid. 
2. Turn off your phone’s flash. Avoid artificial lighting as much as possible and showcase natural lighting. 
3. Hold your phone straight and horizontally. Try only to capture landscape photos to showcase the maximum of your room in one shot. 
4. Panoramic or wide-angle lens shots can help you showcase more in one photo. 

What to Consider When Adding Photos to Airbnb?

1. The first five photos you upload on Airbnb should be the best photos of your listing.
2. Aim for 10-20 high-quality, bright, top-notch pictures.
3. When uploading Airbnb photos, start with the exterior, then common areas, followed by bedrooms and bathrooms.
4. You need to add captions to your Airbnb listing photos wherever necessary to explain the photo to your potential guests further.

How to Manage Airbnb Listing Photos?

1. Go to ‘Listings’ in ‘Hosting Mode’ and select the property you want to update. Here, you can add new photos by clicking the plus icon or rearrange existing images simply by dragging them to your preferred order. Remember, the first photo will serve as the cover image.
2. Select any photo that best explains your property to make it your cover photo.
3. Make sure all your rooms and spaces have at least one photo. If a room or space lacks photos, you can add or delete them—you can always add them back later.

8 Things to Consider for the Best Airbnb Photos

#1 Create a shot list of your Airbnb listing photos before starting the photoshoot.

1. A shot list will help you create a list of all the photos you need to include in your Airbnb listing photos. 
2. Include all photos that answer any questions your potential guests might have about your property. 

#2 If you’re shooting it yourself, invest in a tripod to ensure your photos are clear and crisp.

#3 Before you begin shooting, ensure your property is incredibly clean. Have a cleaning checklist to ensure that your place is spotless.

#4 Ensure the room is naturally well-lit.

1. Keep all curtains and blinds open during the day for more natural light.
2. If there isn’t enough natural lighting in the room, keep all your artificial lighting on during the photoshoot.  
3. You can shoot your property during the golden hour, right when the sun is setting, to create a cozy vibe on your property. 

#5 Stage your property to showcase the experience your guests would receive once in your property.

1. If you’re looking for business travelers, showcase how and where they would work once at your property. 
2. If you are looking for family travelers, showcase the features that are specific to them. 
3. Add candles around the bathroom and folded towels for a more luxurious feel.
4. Arrange your furniture and plump up sofa cushions.
5. If you have ornaments, books, or anything else, arrange them beautifully across your property. Remember not to overdo it; sometimes, less is more!
6. Keep your kitchen countertops sparkling and your pots, pans, and other utensils neatly arranged.

#6 Shoot into a corner of your room. Rather than keeping the room in the center, take pictures from different angles to show more depth. 

#7 Focus on the important features of the room.

1. In the bedroom, make the bed the focal point of the Airbnb photo and the sofa in the living room. 
2. The shower or bath is the best focal point for the bathroom. 
3. The stove/oven is ideal for the kitchen.
4. If your property has unique features, keep them the focal point of the photos. For example, if you have an antique record player, keep that as the image’s focal point.
5. If you provide add-on services on your property, showcase them in your Airbnb photos. 
6. Add vibrant colored pillows, fresh flowers, or artwork for an authentic and aesthetic look.
7. Showcase fireplaces, hallways, entryways, or even closets with ample storage. 

#8 When uploading photos on Airbnb, go from the outdoors to the indoors.

1. Showcase the living room first, then the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. 
2. If you have a balcony, show that after the living room.
3. If you have windows in the rooms, keep the view in focus along with the room.

Conclusion

Your Airbnb listing with high-quality photos is a crucial first impression for potential guests. These are not just pretty pictures but powerful marketing strategies to transform clicks into bookings for hosts. Avoid blurry pictures – embrace natural light, shoot from wide angles, take close-up shots, highlight unique features of your property, and don’t forget to clean and stage your property for an aesthetic look. Showcase your location’s highlights and how it aligns with your guest’s interests and preferences. Thus, when it comes to Airbnb photography, you can invest in it without thinking twice and watch your listing climb to the top of search results.