5 Vacation Rental Companies Setting the Gold Standard for Excellence in Property Photography

It’s no secret that great photos catch attention and keep viewers interested in booking a property for their vacation. Even last year’s keynote speaker at the Vacation Rental Association International Conference encouraged attendees to invest in professional photography. I think he even used the word “please.” 

What does excellent property photography look like when it comes to vacation rentals? 

Whether it’s beachfront or slope side, top performing photography have these traits in common:

• They are staged.
• The lighting matches the setting. 
• They are HDR photos. 
• They have appropriate composition. 
• Verticals - because some photos are so good they need to be on social media. 

Here are five companies demonstrating excellence in professional photography: 

1. Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals

The photography on their properties in The 100 Collection™ are cozy, classic and magazine worthy. As a former photographer, I can attest to how difficult monochromatic shoots in low lighting can be. More light equals more information for the camera’s sensor, but too much light inside a cabin or lodge and the details that convey texture and comfort are lost. 

The photos of these properties convey a sense of place. Doors are propped slightly open offering a welcome view into and sometimes through the interior spaces. The camera’s point of view is lowered to capture an object of focus in the foreground with a thick cream throw blanket draped over it. And warm orange tones from interior lighting (all the same color bulbs) cast an inviting glow on surrounding white comforters and Euro pillow shams. 

Exterior shots, even deep into the forest’s pine trees, still capture enough sunlight to showcase the real reason the guest is drawn to the destination - the Blue Ridge Mountains. The landscape views in some of these photos could be used by local tourism boards because they sell you on the location and how that property fits into it.     

2. Paradise in Hawaii Luxury Vacation Rentals 

Before you dismiss these photos as “easier because they are in Hawaii,” realize that all of our expectations are much higher “because they are in Hawaii.” Excellence here means every palm frond is in place. Every glimmer of sunshine looks like it came straight from heaven. Well-lit interior shots with picture windows to paradise outside usually require a bit more post-production, but it’s well worth it. They not only showcase the space you’re renting but the mesmerizing views you’ll enjoy while visiting. 

Their 100 Collection™ photos have a well balanced lighting style and a focus on ambiance, which offers a light, bright, consistency to the entire photo. The exterior shots are sunlit instead of sun-drenched, keeping much of the pristine decor’s detail intact – this also adds a nice saturation of color to the photo. It’s smart to not ignore the artist’s array of breathtaking colors offered by Mother Nature in this destination. Working them into these photos brilliantly captures dawn, daylight and dusk from your vacation rental in paradise.   

3. Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals 

Not only do these photos demonstrate excellence in photo quality, but the staging is perfection. Couches have just the right amount of throw pillows, hand chosen to emit that uniquely polished-western Austin vibe. Dining room shots looking down a long, hefty dark wood table seem even more inviting when place settings are layered in with textured placemats and water goblets made of thick glass. 

Close up photos are either really good or really bad. What makes these so good is that they tell the viewer that every last detail of this place has been paid attention to - because every detail in this one shot is clean, intentional and supports the overall feel of the entire rental. There are just the right amount of details in these photos - enough so the feeling isn’t clinically stark, but not too many so it looks cluttered. 

The furniture selection and placement in the photos, especially on decks and patios, is measured and appears effortless, which we know it was not. The photographer captured sprinkles of daylight bouncing off the bottom of the outdoor pools, giving them a warm and inviting feel. But what these photos inside The 100 Collection™ do really well is composition and creative angles. The assignment here seemed to be “bring every viewer into the space so they can picture themselves there, experiencing it with friends and family.” That mission was accomplished! 

4. Holiday Isle Properties 

This company provides quality photos of the condo building exteriors for every property located inside. Getting these shots without cars in the parking lots or people walking around is an added challenge, but Holiday Isle raises the bar here, providing clean, clear photography of exteriors that show guests exactly where they will be staying. They even provide HDR photos of amenities available to renters. These types of photos can be time consuming and logistically challenging, but they help to sell the property by providing visual information that build guest confidence. 

The interiors of The 100 Collection™ properties are well lit and the perspectives show where living spaces are located in relation to other things inside the property. This can be tricky to pull off in tight corners, but provides helpful information to the potential guest – which in turn reduces calls to reservation agents about the rental. Informative photography alone is not enough. There have to be photos that “sell” you on the space, such as close ups and editorial style shots. Photos  where the bed or kitchen is photographed from a “straight on” or full frame shot almost make you want to buy the place, not just rent it. 

5. Bluewater Vacation Homes 

While the standard height for shooting a property photo is about four feet off the ground, photographers should know when to break from that rule and aim a little higher or a little lower. This is another reason why choosing a photographer trained on vacation rentals, not just real estate photography, can be clutch. These photos do a stellar job of showing the entire space in one shot. Of course, it helps when you start with just the right amount of furnishings in each space - pieces that consistently add to the overall feel of the property. 

Exterior and aerial photography within their selection of The 100 Collection™ show true artistry. They didn’t just go for the typical San Diego landscape photos. They played with interior lighting during dusk to evoke an almost voyeuristic sense of wanting to see more of the inside! What I love most about these photos is that they all seem to stick with the same brand theme around sexy but livable vacation rentals. Inside and out. 

The money shots are definitely around the cabanas. With resorts charging exorbitant fees to access this type of poolside experience, plus the beverages and tipping, these private options look dramatically more appealing and no less relaxing. I also love that someone cared to match the lounge throw pillows with the exact color of the water. Nothing could be more Instagram friendly. 

In summary….#WorthIt

Orchestrating a photo shoot of a vacation rental property is not easy, but these inspiring examples show it can be achieved and it is worth it. At the very least, let’s not post photos with a reflection of a camera on a tripod. A few other things these photos avoid include vignettes and over-processing, which can make the photo look grainy or almost like a painting. 

While the three most important elements of good photography are lighting, subject matter and composition, vacation rental photography layers in additional qualifications such as views and practicality. Since these photos will be used for about three to five years to market the property, the ROI is a given - because it’s not just about reflecting this one listing in a good light, these photos are ambassadors of your brand. 

In an upcoming article from The 100 Collection, we’ll be sharing results from a guest survey where respondents shockingly ranked photography as the top thing that could spoil their entire vacation rental experience - “Property not representing in real life as it appeared online.” Sign up here to receive a copy of these survey results: https://theonehundredcollection.com/subscribe