Airbnb photography: a shot list for Melbourne hosts
Guests choose a stay from the first few photos in a search grid, then scroll the rest to check the details. Good Airbnb photos answer their questions before they have to ask.
Updated 29 October 2026 · 2 min read
Key takeaways
- Lead with the strongest wide shot: the living area or the view, not the bathroom or the front door.
- Guests check the bed, bathroom, kitchen, workspace and outdoor area. Photograph each one clearly.
- Shoot in daylight with every light on, and keep it honest. Photos that oversell lead to bad reviews.
- Refresh photos when you restyle or the season changes the view.
What guests look for
Sale buyers look at the home as a whole. Short-stay guests look at how a night there will feel, and they check specific things:
- The bed: size, linen and how many people it really sleeps.
- The bathroom: clean, bright and with enough towels.
- The kitchen: what they can actually cook with.
- A place to work: a desk or table with a chair, if you market to business travellers.
- Outside: the balcony, courtyard or view, and parking if you have it.
The shot list
- Hero wide shot of the living area or the best view.
- Each bedroom, wide, from the doorway corner.
- The bed made up, closer, showing linen and pillows.
- Bathroom, wide, plus a detail of towels and toiletries.
- Kitchen, wide, plus the coffee setup and key appliances.
- Dining or work area.
- Balcony, courtyard or garden, and the view from it.
- Entry and building access, so guests know what to expect.
- Two or three details: a reading nook, local guidebooks, the welcome basket.
Getting the place ready
- Make every bed with fresh, ironed linen and the same pillow setup guests will get.
- Clear benches, then set out what guests actually receive: coffee, a fruit bowl, toiletries.
- Hide cleaning gear, chargers, bins and anything personal.
- Open every blind and turn on every light, including lamps.
- Check the view: clean the windows and the balcony glass.
Our home prep checklist covers each room in more detail.
Keep it honest
Wide lenses make small rooms look bigger, and that's normal. Stretching it is what leads to disappointed guests and one-star reviews. We shoot rooms at a natural width, don't remove anything permanent, and label any virtually styled photo.
Booking a shoot
A one-bedroom apartment usually takes under an hour to photograph, a larger house a little longer. Photos come back the next business day, sized for Airbnb and the rental portals. See rental and Airbnb photography or get a quote.