STOP the scroll
If you’re looking to maximise your Airbnb bookings, great photos are essential! Your property’s visual appeal directly impacts potential guests’ decisions. Your images need to make them stop scrolling and dream of being in your space. Nobody’s booking a weekend getaway based on a blurry iPhone snap of a dimly lit room that looks like a crime scene from a budget detective show!
Why Photos Matter
The way your property presents in photos directly correlates with bookings. Guests don’t just want to see a space—they want to feel something. That’s where Kristen Shaw Photography comes in. Unlike standard real estate photography, which can feel sterile and lifeless, Kristen creates images with emotion. Imagine guests seeing a photo of a steaming cup of cocoa by a crackling fire—they’re already picturing themselves curled up with a book, enjoying a cozy escape. Now, imagine instead a cold, empty room with harsh lighting. Next listing, please!
I dont know about you but I'm keen for a vino with a view like this!
Elevate Your Listing with Emotion-Driven Photography
Unlike standard real estate photography, which often feels impersonal, Kristen Shaw Photography creates images that immerse guests in the experience before they even book. Here’s how:
- Atmosphere Matters – A roaring fire, a glass of wine on a deck overlooking a stunning view—these details make a space feel alive.
- Lived-in Comfort – Beds don’t need to have stiff hospital corners that bring back traumatic memories of a hospital visit; instead, soft throws on beds with a book and a cuppa invites guests to imagine themselves there unwinding.
- Sensory Triggers – Photos of meals being cooked over open flames, warm lighting at dusk, morning light streaming in or soft blankets draped over a couch create an emotional pull. If your photos don’t make someone want to sink into a couch and cancel their plans, they’re not doing their job.
Sign me up to a seat next to this fire!
Airbnb Reviews: What Guests Score You On
To maintain high ratings and increase your bookings, you need to excel in key Airbnb review categories. Every guest review contributes to an overall star rating (from 1 to 5), and your listing is also scored in the following subcategories:
- Accuracy – Do the photos truly represent your current space? Kristen Shaw Photography ensures your listing looks as good in person as it does online. Kris despises bathrooms or any room for that matter that looks like a fishbowl with curved walls. Old school property photography tricks making rooms appear much larger disappoint guests on arrival. Outdated photos can also bring you unstuck here. Your photos online need to match guest expectations to score well in this area.
- Cleanliness – Kristen Shaw Photography ensures the images of your property look spotless. Kris is a self-confessed perfectionist when it comes to photography and notices the small details and removes unwanted items from images. No beer bottle tops or stray bits of foil around the fire in images here!
- Location – Does the property highlight its best features and surroundings? Kristen captures not just your property but also stunning location shots to showcase nearby attractions, scenic views, and the unique charm of your area.
- Value – Does the experience match or exceed guest expectations? If your photos scream "luxury retreat," but guests arrive to find mismatched furniture from the '90s, expect them to be highly vocal in the reviews.
- Check-in – Is the process smooth and easy? You’re on your own here.
- Communication – Do guests feel well-informed and supported?
When guests see inviting, well-composed images, they feel reassured that the property will meet their expectations, leading to better ratings and more bookings. I’ve only ever had 5 star reviews in my photography business (I think I’d cry if I got 4 stars) and I want the same for you!
Its the little details like some fresh foliage and a book by the bedside.
Images to set the scene this property involved a beautiful drive through the countryside. I look at this and instantly feel calm, a space to slow down in.
Book More Stays with Images That Tell a Story
Your Airbnb listing is more than just a place to stay—it’s an experience waiting to be booked. Standard real estate photographers capture spaces; Kristen Shaw Photography captures feelings. If you want images that make potential guests stop scrolling and start booking, it’s time to invest in photos that do more than show a room—they tell a story.
To see more images of the beautiful property featured in this post click here.
Ready to make your Airbnb stand out? Let’s work together. Get in touch with Kristen Shaw Photography today!
Images should pull you in and make you want to be in the space.