Top tips for winning photos

A great photo really is worth a thousand words and good photos are invaluable when it comes to advertising your holiday home. Whether you are setting up your online advert, planning a poster to display at work or printing a leaflet about your property, photos are a must. It is best to have a wide selection of interior and exterior shots, as well as some that show off the local area. Digital photos generally give the best quality and the most flexibility as you can easily resize them and can also email them out to interested parties. Every time you visit the place take a few new photos as this will give you a range of shots in different seasons. Most importantly, err on the critical side when choosing your photos, as pictures can have as much of a negative impact as a positive one. Bad photos of a dingy bathroom will put people off and could lose you bookings, but bright sunny photos can have a winning impact and attract more bookings and more profit than anything else.

Here are our top tips for taking photos that will show off your holiday home:

Sunny photos sell and sunny days offer the best light for indoor pictures too so wait for good weather. If you’re taking photos outside make sure it’s not too cloudy and you’ve got blue skies. Take photos of your pool, gardens and beach in the early morning or early evening when the light is most flattering. Between 4 and 6 pm is the photographer’s best time of day for good natural light.
Ideally use a good quality digital camera with a high pixel count. Digital cameras allow you to check what you’re doing as you go along and get a choice of shots. Your digital photos will also be easy to transfer onto the web.
Lighting is everything – even the most gorgeous room will look bad if you take a photo when it’s dark or overcast. Take photos with natural light behind you to create a brighter shot. Use lamps or wall lights if you want to soften the lighting.
Get focussed. Make sure your shots are clear as blurry shots make a bad impression. If you are using a digital camera, check them as you go along.
Clear away clutter. Make sure your property is clean and tidy, keep clutter out of view of the camera. Present the property as people would want to find it when they arrive.
Get the right perspective. Get as much of each room in the shot as you can. This is best done by standing right in the corner of the room or looking down from a chair or steps if need be.
Stage your shots; dressing up each room up to look its best. Make the beds, add cushions or throws and a vase of flowers on the bedside table. Light the fire if you have one and lay the dining table. Put a bottle of wine and glasses on the outdoor dining table to make your photos more inviting. Always turn any TV’s off when you take photographs – the glaring colours won’t add anything to your final pictures.
Play to your strengths. Take photos of your Unique Selling Points such as pools, sun-terraces, four-poster beds etc. Remember that you don’t need to photograph every single room so don’t bother taking a photo of a tiny bathroom, the downstairs cloakroom or the hallway. Do include photos of the exterior of the property, master bedroom, lounge and kitchen.
Make sure you have photos of the local area. Tourist attractions, scenic areas and activities nearby like golf courses are all worth photographing. Include any great views from your property, consider taking pictures at different times of year and varying them in your advertising.
Avoid people shots. Generally having people in your photos doesn’t work well, and shooting just the room itself will help potential guests to imagine themselves there. If you do have shots with people in, make sure they’re facing the camera and smiling!
If you are not confident in your own abilities you might consider the services of a professional photographer. This might seem expensive, but if you can use those images for the next few years and they can help to bring in bookings, it will be worth it. Ask around for recommendations or get online to find a photographer. They will generally charge between £40 and £60 per hour and they will do all image processing for you, just make sure your property is finished and looking good when they arrive!