Guests book what they can picture themselves using. So the goal on shoot day is simple: make the home look exactly the way a guest finds it at check-in, with every amenity set out as if someone were about to use it. Here is the list I send every host, room by room. Most of it takes about an hour after a normal turnover.
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No newsletter. I may email once about new work or a seasonal offer, and you can reply “stop” any time.
Before the day
- Book the shoot for a vacant day right after a turnover, so the home is already guest-ready.
- Fresh linens on every bed, fresh towels in every bath.
- Every amenity in the listing present and working.Coffee maker, Wi-Fi, smart TV, grill, hot tub, games. If it is in the listing, it should be in a photo.
- Seasonal and holiday decorations down, unless the listing is seasonal.
- Host supplies out of sight: cleaning caddies, spare linens, the vacuum, the lockbox code.
- Tell me about the view, the hot tub or the fire feature when you book, so we plan a twilight frame for it.
Everywhere
- Every light on, including lamps, under-cabinet lights and string lights.Bulbs working and matched. Mixed bulb colors show in photos.
- Blinds and curtains fully open. Windows and mirrors clean.
- Ceiling fans and TVs off.
- Flat surfaces down to two or three objects.
- Cords, remotes, chargers, trash cans and cleaning supplies hidden.
- No personal items: family photos, mail, medication, clothes.The home should feel like the guest’s for the week, not yours.
- Closet, cabinet and toilet lids closed. Doors between rooms open, so the house reads as one space.
- Pets, pet beds, bowls and litter boxes out of sight.
Living room
- Pillows fluffed, a throw folded over the arm of the sofa, rugs straight.
- Board games and books stacked neatly. Remotes in a tray.
- A plant or flowers on the coffee table, and nothing else on it.
- Fireplace swept. If it is gas, we light it for the photo.
Kitchen and dining
- Counters clear except the coffee station and a bowl of fruit.
- Coffee station staged: mugs, beans or pods, the kettle.
- Fridge front bare. Sponges, soap and the drying rack away. Sink empty and dry.
- Nothing on the stove. Range hood and stainless steel wiped.
- Table set for the number of guests the listing sleeps, or one centerpiece.
- Chairs and stools straight and evenly spaced.
Bedrooms
- Beds made hotel-style: duvet pulled tight, pillows matched and squared, a throw at the foot.
- A folded towel set on each bed, if that is how you welcome guests.
- Nightstands down to a lamp and one object. Nothing under the bed.
- Closets with matching hangers, and a luggage rack if you have one.
- Crib or pack-and-play made up if the listing offers one. It is a filter guests use.
Bathrooms
- Two sets of folded towels per bath, matching.
- Toiletries in a tray or basket. Hair dryer visible.
- Toilet lid down. Plunger and brush out of sight. Bath mat straight, or up off the floor.
- Shower glass clean, bottles out of the shower.
Outside
- Patio furniture arranged, cushions out, umbrella open.
- Hot tub or Softub: lid off, cover out of frame, water clear, jets off.
- Fire table or fire pit ready to light. Grill clean with the lid down.
- String lights and path lights on for the twilight frames.
- Lawn mowed, hose coiled, bins hidden, cars out of the driveway.
- Beach gear, bikes, kayaks or the pet wash station set out as a guest would use them.
Amenities guests filter for
Each of these gets its own photo, so set each one up: hot tub, fire pit, grill, dedicated workspace, EV charger, washer and dryer, crib and high chair, coffee maker, smart TV and games, parking, balcony or deck, outdoor dining, and the view. One clear frame per amenity beats a wide shot where it is somewhere in the background.
Day of the shoot
- Prep finished before I arrive. I photograph each room once it is ready.
- People and cars out of the rooms and the driveway being photographed.
- Photos arrive numbered in Airbnb listing order, by noon the next business day. You upload them as they come.
Where I shoot: Greater Seattle, from Tacoma north through Everett, and farther on request. Travel is free within 20 miles; beyond that I add mileage only.
