First impressions matter, and often its good quality photography that will inspire guests to book your property over another. Standing out in the crowd is crucial in a competitive market, that’s why property photo shoots at Bolthole Retreats are not only carefully planned beforehand but executed professionally and diligently on the day to showcase your home at its absolute best. From staging rooms to capturing 3D virtual tours, here’s a quick look behind the scenes of a Bolthole Retreats’ property shoot.
Before the Big Day: Preparing Your Property for Its Close-Up
Before the cameras even arrive, a lot of preparation takes place to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. We’ll take care of everything including scheduling your shoot with one of our professional photographers and advising you on how to prepare your property for the day. From making up beds so that they look ‘guest ready’ to tidying up the garden and putting any outdoor furniture out ready, we can give guidance on how to get your property ready for its close up. Our team will liaise closely with you in the run up to the day so that you feel prepared and supported.
Setting the Scene: Selling the Experience of a Stay at Your Property
You’ll probably already have your property looking its best, but our job on the day of your photo shoot is to help with any final adjustments before the photographer arrives. We know the little details that can sell the experience of staying at your property and will come armed with some props to set the scene, from fresh flowers and wine to scones and jam. Whether laying a table for an indulgent dinner or setting down a cup of coffee beside a crackling fire in the log burner; staging the scene can help guests imagine themselves staying at your property and inspire them to take the next step and book. As the owner, you may wish to be involved in purchasing props, so here is our list of top 5 props that translate into great bookings.
Top 5 High-Impact Props:
- Fresh, quality flowers like peonies or tulips.
- Fresh pastries, scones or cake with nice pots of jam or honey.
- Good quality wine or non-alcoholic sparkling pressé.
- Cheese and grapes for a cheeseboard.
- Stacked logs by the fire.
Top 5 High-Impact Scenes:
- Kitchen set up for breakfast with pastries and a cafetière of coffee.
- Coffee or tea by a crackling fire with a book or magazine.
- Afternoon tea with scones and jam in the garden.
- Dining table set up for dinner or desert cheeseboard.
- Outdoor dining table laid for a summer evening dinner.
The Photographer: Why Professional Photography Is One of the Most Valuable Investments You Can Make for Your Holiday Home
Great photography not only captures the attention of potential bookers but also builds trust. High quality images help guests feel confident that they are booking with a professional and therefore reliable company and that the property they are booking will live up to their expectations.
Our professional photographers have years of experience photographing holiday properties. They understand how natural light transforms a property, capturing different rooms at different times of day to make the most of bright, airy interiors as well carefully choosing angles that accentuate the space and create a natural sense of flow. They work closely with our team on the day to ensure every property is shot in a way that will maximise its potential and showcase its unique features.
Drones and 3D Tours: Approaching Holiday Let Success from a Different Angle
Any successful website listing for a holiday let today has a multifaceted approach to its visuals. In addition to traditional 2D images, a Bolthole Retreats’ property shoot also includes a 3D virtual tour created using a series of individual 360-degree scans captured with a specialist camera. The tour can be added to a website listing, enabling guests to explore each floor and room, giving them a more complete picture of the property before they book it. If a property has extensive grounds or is situated in a rural location, the photographer may also use a drone to capture aerial shots, allowing guests to really appreciate the property’s setting. Using every avenue of media available maximises a property’s chances of receiving bookings while also bringing clarity and peace of mind for the guest.
Beyond the Listing: Creating Content for Social Media
Our job on the day of a Bolthole Retreats’ photo shoot doesn’t end at capturing the images for your property’s website listing. To promote your property to potential guests through Bolthole’s social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram, we’ll capture additional content that reflects its character and unique selling points. From lifestyle shots to reels and videos of beautiful views, this additional content gives us a bank of engaging material to use throughout the year and on seasonal campaigns. It allows us to present your property to our social media audience in different ways, helping to inspire future guests and keep it front of mind when they’re planning their next escape.
Summary:
A great property photo shoot is about much more than simply taking beautiful pictures. From carefully staging your home and capturing its unique character and selling points to creating engaging content for social media, every element is considered with your future guests in mind. By bringing your property to life through professional photography, we can help potential guests picture themselves enjoying a stay, while ensuring your holiday home makes the strongest possible first impression.
If you have a property in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, Forest of Dean, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire or beyond and would like to rent it as a holiday let, please contact Bolthole Retreats on (+44) 1242 851208 or [email protected]