You want to book a trip but have a few other people joining you. A hotel room would be too small, so you choose an Airbnb! The first thing you do while searching for an Airbnb is to look through the pictures to check out the place. The nicer the photos, the more likely you are to stay there, right?
Airbnb photography is one of the most important aspects of a listing. This is why it’s such a great side hustle to break into! You will need to be skilled in interior photography before beginning this hustle, though, as you need to know how to make a room look bright and appealing. You will need a camera, lens, and tripod. The equipment will need to be professional-grade so that the pictures come out clear and crisp.
The average pay for an Airbnb photographer in the United States is approximately $41,000 a year. You can expect to work between 20 and 60 hours a week to set up your rooms, take the photos, and edit. This can vary depending on your experience and project.
Not sure how to become an Airbnb photographer? Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to begin snapping those iconic listing photos.
Step one: Gain experience with interior photography. Unlike taking pictures of people, interior photography requires you to know more about lighting, staging sets, light from windows, and how to edit these interior shots. Typically, the owners of the Airbnb will stage their own rooms, but you may need to slightly rearrange to get the perfect shot.
Step two: Build your portfolio. To help secure jobs, you need to have something to back up your work! Having a portfolio allows potential clients to check out your previous work and showcases your skills. Be sure you have enough examples that demonstrate your interior, architectural, and editing skills so you have a better chance of being awarded a job. Another important note to mention is that you will need a professional portfolio as Airbnb will not accept your social media as a reputable portfolio.
Step three: Buy your equipment. As mentioned, you will need high-quality equipment to ensure you are taking great photos for your clients. You will need specifically:
- Professional-grade DSLR/Mirrorless camera with Full-frame or APS-C sensor and a resolution of 16+mp
- Ultra-wide lens with a focal lens range that includes 16mm-20mm and 10-12mm
- Professional-grade tripod
As long as your equipment is up to these standards, your brand of camera is completely up to you!
Step four: Have reliable internet access. Once the photos are taken and edited, you need to download them to Airbnb. To do this, you will need to have access to the internet! You will need to upload them with a high-resolution as your photos will be reviewed before upload. In addition to uploading these photos in good quality, you may also have to maintain correspondence with Airbnb employees through chat or email.
Step five: Have reliable transportation. You need to get to and from your listings with all of your equipment so having reliable transportation is crucial for you to get your job done. You can rely on public transportation, but this can be hard to do when carrying around your heavy equipment.
Step six: Apply! To become an Airbnb photographer, you need to apply. You will fill out a form that asks your name, email, and for your portfolio for them to review. It could be weeks before you hear back from them, so don’t feel discouraged if you don’t hear back right away.
Tips
Making money as a photographer with Airbnb is pretty straight forward. You apply to jobs and if you are selected, you complete the project. With the experience you have from Airbnb and your portfolio, you can showcase your work to other people looking for photography services. You can list your services on job boards and social media to find additional gigs!