What great holiday let photos really show (and it’s not just the rooms)
If you’re thinking about updating your listing photos (or wondering why your current ones aren’t pulling in bookings), here’s my biggest tip:
Great photos don’t just show your space. They show the experience.
It’s easy to think our job is to show the rooms. And yes, a clear, well-lit image of each space is essential. But if all you show is four white walls and a bed, you’re missing the real magic.
Because people don’t book a property. They book a feeling. They book a sense of what it might be like to spend time there. To eat breakfast at that table. To read a book in that garden chair. To come back from a walk and hang their coat by the door.
That’s where staging comes in.
When you prepare your space thoughtfully, with your ideal guest in mind, your photos go from functional to irresistible. You help people picture themselves in your place. And that’s what sells.
Here are three things great holiday let photos should show:
1. The space – but at its very best This means clean, clear images that make sense. A wide shot of every room (often one really is enough). A photo of the outside. Images that show how spaces connect, where the light comes in, and what the layout feels like. No clutter. No confusion. Yep, sometimes that means moving furniture to get the best angle.
2. The experience This is where a fair few listings fall short. Your dining table shouldn’t just be empty. Lay it for breakfast. Pop a croissant and some orange juice on the counter (all the better if it’s local! Read about my welcome hamper here). Add wine glasses to the garden table. If you welcome kids, put out a few books or toys. If you’re dog friendly, show the bowls and the basket.
Think of your ideal guest and help them imagine a weekend away, rather than thinking of this as a property brochure. You’re staging the story.
3. The practicalities that matter to your guests Does your ideal guest care about a washer-dryer? A high chair? An EV charger? Then show it. People are far more likely to absorb what your place offers if they can see it. Don’t just list features in text and hope they notice.
One more tip? Your bathroom photos matter more than you think. Make sure the toilet lid is down, the towels are fluffed and the cleaning products are hidden. It’s a great place to demonstrate your attention to detail and to showcase the experience too (luxury bathroom products included).
Want to know exactly what to shoot and how to prep your space for a photography day that gets optimal results?
My Photography & Staging guide is packed with the same tools I use with the properties I manage – and it’s available now for £27.
It covers:
The key shots every listing needs
How to stage with your ideal guest in mind
A checklist to prep your whole space
Whether you’re using a professional or taking photos yourself
Get it right once, and those images will work hard for you for years.
Kay x