An Airbnb listing in Nice needs at least 25 photos, and the cover photo has to show the best room in the property, bright and in landscape format. Airbnb shows only the cover in search results, then five photos on the listing page before the guest opens the gallery, so the order matters as much as the quality. Here is the order in which we build a listing, and what to leave out.
Why the photos have to be ready all year
An Airbnb guest does not book in the week they travel. Some book a few days ahead, many book months ahead, and summer guests browse listings in winter. On the Riviera, where the high season is booked early, this is even more true. Photos are therefore not a start-of-season project but a permanent part of the listing. If the photos change in April, the summer bookings have already been made on the old ones.
The second thing is the length of stay. A guest staying a few nights looks at different things than a one-week tenant: the bed, the shower, the coffee machine, and what you see from the window. These are the photos not to skimp on.
Which photos an Airbnb listing needs
- The cover: the best room, in full light. Living room or open kitchen, with space and natural light. Landscape format, never portrait. On the Riviera, a terrace with a sea view can be the cover, but only if it really is the strongest feature of the property.
- The bedroom. Bed made, cushions aligned, shutters and curtains open. The guest wants to see where they sleep.
- The kitchen and its equipment. Coffee machine, kettle and dishwasher visible. Without these photos, the same questions arrive by message before booking.
- The bathroom. Shower, washing machine if there is one, and if the property has air conditioning, show the unit: it saves one more question.
- Balcony, terrace or view. One photo looking out, one photo from the terrace looking in.
- The remaining rooms and details. Second bedroom, sofa bed unfolded, desk corner, entrance, building seen from the street, pool or garden of the residence if the guest really has access.
- The practical photos. Beds separated or joined, travel cot, parking space. They prevent questions before booking.
An ordinary one-bedroom apartment ends up at 25 to 35 photos this way, a large property at 40 or more. Airbnb does not limit the number of photos, but each photo has to show something the previous one did not. Ten photos of the same living room from different angles help nobody.
What to leave out of the listing
Photos that do not match reality. The guest judges the property on the photos, and if reality falls short, it shows in the review. Many listings say in the text that the furniture may have changed because the photos are old. That is honest, but the right solution is to reshoot. Also out: portrait photos, rooms distorted by a wide-angle lens, and images where the furniture is no longer where it was.
Photographer or home-made photos
A phone photo shows a room, a professional photo shows a space. The difference comes down to three things: camera height, the balance of light between the window and the room, and straight lines. A photographer pays off especially when the property has just been refurnished, when competition is strong in the same building or neighbourhood, and when you want to raise the nightly rate.
An Airbnb shoot costs the same at Nordblikk as a shoot for a sale: 180 € for a studio, 240 € for an apartment of 51 to 100 m², 340 € for a house, with 20 to 40 photos delivered within 24 hours and unrestricted usage rights on Airbnb, Booking and your own website. See the Airbnb photographer French Riviera page, the price list, or book a shoot online directly.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos does an Airbnb listing need? At least 25: every room, the kitchen equipment, the bathroom, the outdoor space and the building. In a large property, 40 or more.
Which photo first? A bright living room or open-plan space, in landscape format. The view only if it is the strongest feature of the property.
When should an Airbnb in Nice be photographed? As soon as the property is furnished and clean. Summer guests look at the photos in winter.