Lay My Hat

Hello everyone,
This is the end of our 6th rental season, have sold our first 2 rentals and are on our 3rd, just purchased in January, I also manage for 3 other owners. I've been on this forum and another US based, and have read as much as I could over the years on how to improve, etc... the number one thing mentioned is to get professional photos.

We are finally scheduled to do so this coming Friday. I'm very curious to see if this will translate to more bookings for us, especially in the slower seasons. If you have had professional photos done have you seen an actual measurable difference in your bookings? Just curious and thought it would be a good point of discussion.
I look forward to hearing everyone's experiences.
Wendy
p.s. the rental that will be getting the photos taken is called DayStar Lodge and is on our website, the current photos were taken by me...

Something I have considered for years but never got around to it. I would imagine it could increase bookings.

You would need to improve the photo albums on your website for better photos to have any impact though. The website seems to offer the choice of a tiny photo album on some pages to "I want full screen" on others. Some of the thumbnails were only half visible.

I have always taken my own photos but would love to have a pro do it for a change. I tend to take the same pictures from the same perspective every time. Plus, I am a terrible photographer. Thank goodness for digital cameras.

Wendy@NorthIdaho wrote: I'm very curious to see if this will translate to more bookings for us, especially in the slower seasons.

Great property for a pro photographer to shoot with the watery location offering many possibilities. And a good set of high quality photographs will much enhance your property's attractiveness to potential guests - the current set (sorry!) aren't really up to the job.

But much will depend on the suitability of the pro that you've chosen for your project. Most (good) pros specialise in certain subject matter and don't/can't shoot everything to the highest and most creative standards. Excellent photography - like excellent rentals - doesn't come cheap.

I have had a few guests turn up and say that the pictures do not do the property justice. Which translates to I'm selling it short. To my mind it goes without saying that good photos will sell... it has taken me a few months to get around to it though

We now have pro pictures on HL and ABB and are having a pro photographer around next week to do some for our website. I was surprised how reasonable the prices are and I'm sure it will pay for itself 100 times over.

If you are not sure then get HL or ABB to do some free shots and then compare them to yours.

Hi I'm a newby. In out first season wih our first property. However, I booked a professional photographer before wed even had the offer accepted as the photos don't do the cottages justice at all. I would have thought that excellent photos was a number one priority? How else do potential guests know what they're getting? As with anything one is trying to sell, surely you want to out it in it's best, most glossy, light ? Estate agents don't put mundane photos up on rightmove after all.

Hello everyone, thank you for your comments.
Here is a link to the virtual tour
http://www.spokanevirtualtours.com/206711

Here is a link to my VRBO ad, I've not updated my website yet.
http://www.vrbo.com/280213
(a couple of the photos on there are still mine, the fish cleaning station and photo of dock and boats)
If you want to compare what was there before here is the link to my vacationrentals ad that I've not updated yet.
http://www.vacationrentals.com/listing/p3961786

Would love to hear your thoughts on the differences and if you think it will help with bookings.

Wendy

p.s. the poll is turning out interesting, anyone else care to chime in?

Hi Wendy

I like your place very much and think that the professional photos are better - they make your house look glossier and emphasise the size of the rooms.

You have cut-down the outside photos a lot though and don't show many of your outside spaces on in the new batch which I think is a shame. I think it would have also been good to show the fish-gutting station loaded with fish and maybe the dining table set up for a meal.

Still, these are small issues and wouldn't put me off staying.

Wendy,
I haven't done your poll because I just don't know!
I've tried to keep one of my vrbo ads with my own pictures to compare to the other unit with professional pictures, but I have a hard time decide if it's done any difference or not.

Maybe that the unit with the new pics has picked up a bit in bookings but my condo with the old pictures are still rented a bit more (possibly because it has more reviews)?

I like your new pictures, and the one with the feet in the sand is a gem! Some of your old are still good (especially the outdoor ones), but it has made a huge difference for the indoor appearance to get new photos.

Have you noticed the difference yourself?

Glad you like them, just had them taken a week ago, so just put them on vrbo yesterday, no chance to see if they will have an effect or not. Hopefully!
Will be working on getting them up and captioned on my website and the other ad sites in the next few days.
Wendy

some were taked by a pro other was me...
i cant recognize any increase in bookins

the only positive is that i love to look at the photos made by the pro eheheheh

Here is one way of interpreting the data so far:

75% of those who have used a pro got an increase in bookings
Yet more than half of LMH owners choose not to use a pro, and thus could well be losing bookings.

Don't you just love the way we can present statistics to suit all occasions.

Very good with the stats! I'll go with those
Wendy

e-richard wrote:Here is one way of interpreting the data so far:

75% of those who have used a pro got an increase in bookings
Yet more than half of LMH owners choose not to use a pro, and thus could well be losing bookings.

Don't you just love the way we can present statistics to suit all occasions.

it almost feels the politicians talking

I would love to take pics of people's property because so many are SO bad.

What are people prepared to pay for a package of pics for their site?