Professional Photography for Your Tourist Rental: How Much Does It Cost, What to Ask For, and How It Can Increase Your Bookings

Photos are the first thing a guest sees before booking. Before the price, before reviews, before the description. If the photos don't catch attention, no one reaches the rest. I tell you how much a professional photographer costs, what you should ask for, and how good photos can increase your bookings by up to 40%.

Why Photos Matter More Than You Think

Think about how you search for accommodation. Filter by dates, price, location. You see 50 listings. You decide which to click based on the main photo. Three seconds per listing, at most.

If your main photo is dark, crooked, or shows a strange corner of the living room, you've already lost. It doesn't matter that inside you have the best apartment in the neighborhood.

Airbnb knows this. In fact, its own growth took off when the founders started taking free professional photos of hosts in New York in 2009. Bookings doubled in a week.

Real Data on Impact

According to internal studies by platforms and companies like AirDNA:

• Listings with professional photos generate between 20% and 40% more bookings.
• The average price per night can increase by 8 to 25 euros without losing occupancy.
• The click-through rate (CTR) on the cover photo can increase by up to 30%.

For an apartment that earns 18,000 euros a year, a 25% increase is 4,500 euros. Photos cost between 200-400 euros. Do the math.

How Much Does a Professional Photographer Cost in Spain

Prices vary by city and service, but here are real ranges from 2025:

Service Type	Average Price	What's Included
Basic Photographer	150-250 EUR	20-30 edited photos, no drone
Mid-level Photographer	250-450 EUR	30-50 photos, twilight (sunset), premium editing
Full Package	450-800 EUR	Photos + short video + drone + 2D floor plan
Virtual 360 Tour	200-400 EUR	Matterport or similar

In cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Palma, prices are higher. In rural areas or small towns, you can find photographers for 120-180 euros, but watch out for quality.

A mediocre cover photo costs you more money per year than hiring the best photographer in your city. It's not an expense. It's an investment with measurable ROI.

Free Option: Airbnb's Photographer Service

Airbnb offers a professional photography service in some areas. It's not entirely free: they charge a percentage of the initial bookings until the cost is covered. The quality is usually decent, but it's not always available, and the turnaround is slow.

What to Ask the Photographer: The Checklist

It's not enough to say "take photos of the apartment." You need to direct. Here's what you should ask:

Quantity and Format

• Minimum 25-30 final edited photos.
• Horizontal format (16:9 or 4:3). Airbnb and Booking penalize vertical ones.
• High resolution: at least 2048px wide.
• Delivery in optimized JPG for web + RAW in case you need re-editing.

Essential Shot Types

1. Cover Photo: the widest and brightest space, usually the living room or terrace.
2. Each room from two angles: a panoramic and a detail.
3. Kitchen with natural light (not with yellow light turned on).
4. Open bathrooms with clean towels.
5. Exteriors: terrace, views, pool if you have.
6. Selling details: coffee maker, bedding, amenities, books.
7. Twilight shot: a sunset photo with interior lights on. It significantly increases CTR.

What the Photographer Should NOT Do

• Use extreme wide-angle lens that distorts reality (bad reviews will follow).
• Photos with your reflection in mirrors.
• Shots with the toilet lid up (a classic mistake).
• Over-edit so that the apartment doesn't look like the real thing.

How to Prepare the Apartment Before the Session

A good photographer will tell you this, but save time (and money) if you arrive ready. They charge by the hour.

The Day Before

• Deep cleaning, not just "check-in cleaning." Deep.
• Change all bedding to the newest, white linens.
• Buy fresh flowers (a small bouquet works wonders).
• Hide cables, remotes, cleaning products, trash cans.
• Remove fridge magnets, postcards, personal photos.
• Check light bulbs. All on and the same tone (warm, 2700K).

The Same Day

• Open blinds and curtains fully.
• Turn off air conditioning and fans (blades appear blurry).
• Place folded towels like in a hotel.
• Set the table for 2 or 4 with nice dishes.
• Make the bed like a hotel, with decorative cushions.

If you're unsure how your apartment should look to sell more, I recommend reading how to decorate and furnish your tourist accommodation and the guide on amenities that increase the price.

The Order of Photos Matters

70% of guests only view the first 5 photos. So the order isn't decorative; it's strategic.

Recommended Order

1. Cover photo (most impactful, usually living room or exterior).
2. Full living room from another angle.
3. Kitchen.
4. Main bedroom.
5. Main bathroom.
6. Other bedrooms.
7. Exteriors and views.
8. Details and amenities.
9. Twilight shot (at the end, as a cherry on top).

Don't put the bathroom second. Don't put the washing machine. Don't leave the wardrobe open. The first 5 photos should sell an experience, not inventory the apartment.

How Often to Refresh Photos

Photos aren't forever. I recommend:

• Every 2-3 years: a new full session.
• Every season: add 3-4 seasonal photos (terrace in summer, fireplace in winter).
• After renovations: always, even if you only change the sofa.
• If you change platforms or raise prices: refresh at least the cover photo.

Is Video and Drone Worth It?

Video

A short video (30-60 seconds) on Airbnb increases engagement. Booking.com hasn't fully leveraged this yet. If you pay an extra 100-150 euros for a decent video, it's worth it to stand out in saturated markets.

Drone

Only if you have something to showcase from above: pool, nearby beach, large estate, spectacular views. For an interior apartment in Seville city center, it adds no value. For a rural house with a 2,000-meter garden, it boosts bookings.

Note: You need a license from AESA if the photographer flies the drone commercially. Otherwise, you might face fines.

Common Mistakes That Cost You Bookings

• Photos taken with a mobile phone, even a "good phone." The sensor isn't suitable for interiors.
• Unedited photos. Cameras never capture what the eye sees; adjustments are needed.
• Over HDR editing that looks like painting. Tiring and unrealistic.
• Photos on cloudy days. Wait for a sunny day.
• Not showing the building exterior or entrance (guests feel insecure).
• Using outdated photos with furniture no longer there.

How Autoregistro Fits In

Photos bring in bookings. But when guests arrive, the boring part begins: asking for their details, filling out forms, uploading to SES Hospedajes one by one.

Autoregistro handles that part for you. The guest receives a link, fills out their details from their phone, and the data is sent automatically to SES Hospedajes. You do nothing.

It costs 1 euro per month per property. Less than a coffee. While you focus on what matters (making your photos sell, getting guests to return), we handle the paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the photos myself with a good mobile?

Technically, yes. But unless you know about lighting, composition, and editing, you'll lose money. A professional photographer pays for itself with just 2-3 extra bookings per year.

How many photos should I upload to the listing?

Between 20 and 35. Fewer than 15 gives the impression you're hiding something. More than 40 overwhelms and people stop looking.

Is it mandatory that the photos exactly match the actual apartment?

Yes. If the guest arrives and the apartment doesn't look like the photos, you'll get bad reviews, refunds, and platform issues. Edit but don't deceive.

What if the photographer delivers photos I don't like?

Negotiate retouches before paying the full amount. That's why it's advisable to sign a quote with clear deliverables and at least one review round included.

Are professional photos deductible expenses?

Yes, they are a necessary expense for the activity. You can deduct them on your tax return. I explain more in what expenses I can deduct for tourist rentals.