If you haven't already prepared the property itself, start with Part 2: How to Prepare Your Property for a Professional Photoshoot.
And if you want to understand how professional photography can help your property attract more bookings, read Part 1: How to Increase Your Bookings with Professional Photography.
Once your property is clean and ready for a photography session, there is another important question to consider:
How do you want it to feel in the photographs?
Staging isn't about making your holiday let look artificial, filling every surface with decorations or trying to copy another property. It is about making thoughtful choices that help potential guests imagine what it would feel like to stay there.
Before you start arranging cushions, setting the table or gathering things for the shoot, think about two things first.
What do you want people to feel?
When someone looks at the photographs, what emotion do you want them to experience?
Do you want the property to feel:
- cosy and comfortable?
- warm and welcoming?
- luxurious and indulgent?
- romantic?
- peaceful and relaxing?
- adventurous and outdoorsy?
- family-friendly?
- fresh and contemporary?
- natural and rural?
There isn't one correct way to stage a property because different details create different feelings.
A soft blanket, a book and a cup of tea can make a room feel cosy. Elegant glassware and carefully chosen details can suggest luxury. Fresh flowers, a prepared breakfast table and a welcoming seating area can make a property feel warm and inviting.
The important thing is to decide what you want to communicate before the photography session.
Tell your photographer what feeling you want the photographs to communicate. This is important because it gives them a clear idea of the experience you want potential guests to see.
Who are you trying to attract?
Think about your ideal guest.
Are you hoping to attract:
- couples looking for a romantic escape?
- families?
- solo travellers?
- digital nomads?
- walkers and hikers?
- cyclists?
- outdoor and adventure enthusiasts?
- guests looking for a luxury getaway?
- people wanting peace and quiet?
- visitors who want to explore the local area?
Your answer should influence how you prepare the property.
If your ideal guests are walkers, a map, walking
boots, a backpack or muddy wellies can immediately suggest the kind of experience they can have.
If you're trying to attract families, a board game, children's books, outdoor games or a family breakfast setting can help parents imagine staying there.
For a couple's retreat, two wine glasses, a bottle of champagne, flowers or breakfast for two might communicate something completely different.
Don't just show people where they will sleep. Show them what they could experience.
Work with the character of your property
Before choosing any styling, take an honest look at what your property already is.
If it is a cosy country cottage with original features, warm colours and a relaxed atmosphere, don't try to make it look like a sleek, ultra-modern luxury apartment just because you think that style photographs well.
Equally, if your property has a high-end, contemporary interior with carefully chosen furniture, beautiful materials and sophisticated design, don't fill it with rustic baskets, walking boots and artificial countryside props just to make it look more “natural”.
The styling should enhance the character of your property, not disguise it.
A traditional cottage can be made to feel even more welcoming with soft textiles, books, flowers, tea and other simple, homely details. A contemporary property may work better with restrained styling, elegant tableware and carefully selected details that complement its design.
Think about what is already special about your property and build on that.
The photographs should give potential guests a genuine idea of what they will find when they arrive — only presented at its best.
Don't try to make your property look like something else. Show people what makes this property itself worth staying in.
Match the styling to the feeling
Once you know who you're trying to attract, what you want people to feel, and what makes your property special, you can start thinking about what you could prepare for the shoot.
You don't need to buy lots of props. Start with things you already have, things guests might reasonably bring with them, and details that genuinely fit the experience your property offers.
For a cosy, comfortable feeling
Think about what makes you want to curl up and stay somewhere on a rainy afternoon.
You could prepare:
- a soft blanket or throw
- cushions
- a cup of tea or coffee
- a book
- slippers or warm socks
- a comfortable chair or sofa
- a mug beside a book
- a small vase of flowers
The aim is to help someone imagine being comfortable there.
For a warm and welcoming feeling
Warmth can come from simple signs of hospitality.
Consider preparing:
- a fresh pot or cup of tea
- freshly baked bread or pastries
- flowers
- a breakfast table
- a blanket
- a welcoming seating area
- a fireplace or wood burner, if the property has one
- a few natural, homely details
These little touches can make a property feel cared for rather than simply clean and empty.
For a luxurious feeling
Luxury doesn't necessarily mean putting expensive-looking objects everywhere. In many cases, less is more.
Depending on your property, you might prepare:
- elegant wine glasses
- a bottle of wine or champagne
- high-quality towels
- a neatly folded robe
- attractive glassware
- fresh flowers
- beautiful bedding
- a carefully arranged breakfast
- a beautifully set dining table
The aim is to suggest comfort, quality and indulgence, without making the room look overloaded.
Only show features and amenities that actually belong to the property. If you don't have wine glasses available to guests, don't create a scene around them.
For a romantic feeling
If you're trying to attract couples, think about what would make the property feel like somewhere to escape together.
You could prepare:
- two wine glasses
- a bottle of wine or champagne
- flowers
- beautifully made bedding
- breakfast for two
- two cups of coffee or tea
- a cosy blanket
- a small dining or seating area for two
These details don't have to be permanent features of the property. They simply help potential guests imagine sharing the experience together.
For a peaceful and relaxing feeling
If your property is somewhere people come to escape everyday life, keep the styling simple.
You might prepare:
- a comfortable chair
- a book
- a cup of tea
- a blanket
- a simple breakfast
- fresh flowers or greenery
- a yoga mat, if relevant to your guests
- an uncluttered outdoor seating area
If you have a beautiful view, don't hide it behind unnecessary decorations. Sometimes the best thing you can prepare is simply space, simplicity and a clear view.
For an adventurous and outdoorsy feeling
If you're hoping to attract walkers, hikers, cyclists or outdoor enthusiasts, give them clues about what they can actually do during their stay.
You could have ready:
- a walking map
- hiking boots
- a backpack
- a camera
- binoculars
- a bicycle
- walking poles
- a waterproof jacket
- a thermos or reusable water bottle
- a picnic basket
- a fire pit or outdoor seating
These items don't have to be permanent fixtures or things you provide to every guest. A bicycle, backpack or camera can simply help tell the story of the experience.
A pair of wellies by the door, for example, can suggest countryside walks and muddy adventures much more effectively than a generic decorative object.
For a family-friendly feeling
If families are your ideal guests, show the things that make the property enjoyable and practical for them.
You could prepare:
- board games
- children's books
- outdoor games
- a family dining setting
- comfortable seating
- picnic equipment
- beach equipment, if relevant
- anything else that is genuinely available or appropriate for families
A board game on the table or outdoor games in the garden can help parents imagine what their children might actually do during the stay.
For a natural and rural feeling
For countryside cottages, glamping sites and rural accommodation, the setting itself can be part of the story.
You could prepare:
- a picnic basket
- walking boots
- a map
- binoculars
- local produce
- a blanket for outdoor seating
- outdoor chairs
- a fire pit
- a camera
If there is woodland, a river, beach, footpath, viewpoint or beautiful countryside nearby, tell your photographer about it.
Ask your photographer to go for a short walk around the property and photograph what guests can actually expect to see and experience during their stay, if the surroundings are an important part of what you offer.
Those surroundings may be one of the reasons people choose your property in the first place.
You don't need to buy everything
One of the easiest mistakes is thinking you need to go shopping for a whole collection of props before the photoshoot.
You probably don't.
Look around your property first. What do you already have that could help tell the story?
Think about what your guests might bring with them, too.
A guest might arrive with a bottle of champagne, a bicycle, a backpack, a camera, muddy walking boots or a board game. These things can be perfectly appropriate in the photographs even if they aren't permanent features of the accommodation.
The important thing is that they make sense for the experience you're offering.
You don't need to pretend your property has something it doesn't.
If there is no fireplace, don't create a photograph that suggests there is one. If guests don't have access to wine glasses, don't build the styling around them. But if guests can bring their own bottle of champagne, using it to create a romantic or luxurious scene can be perfectly natural.
Ask your photographer what they can bring
You also don't have to provide every styling item yourself.
Before the shoot, ask your photographer whether they have any simple props or styling items they can bring.
Some photographers may have things such as blankets, books, flowers, cups, maps or other small items that can help create a particular atmosphere.
Most importantly, tell your photographer what feeling you want the photographs to communicate and what type of guest you are trying to attract.
This information is essential. It gives your photographer a better understanding of the story the photographs need to tell.
Stage the bedroom
The bedroom is one of the most important spaces in holiday let photography because guests are imagining what it will be like to sleep and wake up there.
Start with the bed.
Use clean, smooth bedding and arrange cushions and throws carefully. Fluff the pillows and make sure everything looks comfortable rather than rushed.
Then look at the bedside tables.
Remove chargers, paperwork, bottles, personal belongings and anything that creates unnecessary clutter. Keep a few relevant details if they help create the feeling you want — perhaps a book, flowers or a cup of tea.
Look at the curtains and blinds too. If there is a beautiful view, make sure it can be seen.
And don't forget the tiny details. A lampshade facing the wrong way, a badly positioned cushion or a messy cable might seem insignificant when you're standing in the room, but can become surprisingly obvious in a photograph.
Stage the living areas
A living room should help potential guests imagine spending time there.
Straighten cushions, fold a throw and clear unnecessary objects from coffee tables and shelves.
Then consider whether one or two details could help tell the story.
Perhaps:
- a book
- a cup of coffee
- a board game
- a blanket
- flowers
- a small tray
You don't need all of them.
Choose the details that fit your property and the feeling you're trying to create.
A cosy cottage might benefit from a blanket and book. A family property might suit a board game. A luxury retreat might need almost nothing beyond beautiful furniture and carefully prepared surfaces.
These small choices can make a real difference to how the property looks in interior photography, because everything within the frame contributes to the overall impression.
Set the table
A dining table can tell potential guests a lot about the experience they might have.
A simple breakfast setting can suggest a slow morning. A dinner setting can suggest an evening together. Flowers can add colour and softness.
You don't need to make it look like a restaurant.
Think about what would actually make sense for your guests and your property.
A countryside cottage might suit a simple breakfast with coffee and fresh bread. A romantic retreat might work with a table set for two. A luxury property might benefit from more refined glassware and tableware.
The goal is to make people think:
“I can imagine sitting there.”
Stage the bathroom — including the bath
Bathrooms are often photographed as clean, functional spaces, but if you have a beautiful bath, don't miss the opportunity to show the experience of using it.
Make sure the room is spotless first, then think about how you want guests to imagine spending time there.
Depending on the property, you could prepare:
- a neatly folded towel
- a bathrobe
- a book
- a cup of tea
- a few flowers
- bath salts
- bubbles in the bath
- a glass of wine or champagne, if appropriate
- candles, if they genuinely suit the property
You don't need to use everything.
A beautifully prepared bath with a few thoughtful details can communicate relaxation and indulgence much more effectively than an empty bathtub.
Prepare the kitchen
The kitchen should look clean and usable.
Put away washing-up, food packaging, cleaning products and appliances that don't need to be visible.
Then think about whether a few details could suggest how guests might enjoy the space.
You could prepare:
- fresh bread
- fruit
- coffee
- tea
- flowers
- a breakfast setting
- a few attractive pieces of crockery
Again, think about your ideal guest.
A family might want to see a practical, generous kitchen. A couple might respond to a quiet morning coffee. A luxury property might benefit from more elegant tableware.
Don't over-style
It can be tempting to keep adding things once you start staging.
But more isn't necessarily better.
If every surface is covered with flowers, books, blankets, candles, breakfast trays and decorative objects, the property can quickly start to feel artificial.
Sometimes the best styling decision is to remove something.
Ask yourself:
Does this detail help tell the story, or is it simply taking up space?
If it doesn't add anything, leave it out.
Don't forget outside
The garden, terrace, balcony or surrounding landscape may be one of the biggest reasons someone chooses your property.
Before the shoot:
- clean outdoor furniture
- tidy patios and terraces
- remove unnecessary clutter
- prepare outdoor seating
- make sure the hot tub, fire pit or barbecue is ready if you want it photographed
- clear paths and entrances
- make the garden look cared for
Then think about the experience.
Could you prepare a picnic basket? A blanket? Outdoor dining? A fire pit ready for an evening? Walking boots by the door?
Tell your photographer about the surrounding area.
Ask them to go beyond the immediate property if the surroundings are part of the experience.
A nearby woodland, beach, river, walking route, village or countryside view can help potential guests understand not just where they will sleep, but what they can do while they are there.
Give your photographer a list
Before the shoot, make a simple list of the things you would like photographed.
This might include:
- a particular view
- a fireplace
- a hot tub
- a garden
- a favourite room
- outdoor dining
- a special architectural feature
- local scenery
- activities nearby
- anything unique about the guest experience
Also have your styling items ready in one place.
Make sure you tell your photographer about any particular experiences, amenities or details you want the photographs to communicate.
You don't have to get everything perfect
Your job is to prepare the property and have the things you want to use available.
Your photographer can then help with the final small adjustments once they see the space through the camera.
A cushion may need moving. A blanket might look better somewhere else. A table may need a small adjustment. A lampshade may need turning.
These are normal parts of the photography process.
You prepare the ingredients. Your photographer helps turn them into the final image.
The goal isn't perfection
The goal is to make the right person want to be there.
When someone looks at the photographs, you want them to be able to imagine waking up in the bedroom, making coffee in the kitchen, reading on the sofa, relaxing in the bath, having breakfast outside, sharing a bottle of champagne, playing a board game with their family or heading out for a walk.
That's what good staging can do.
You aren't simply making the property look pretty for a camera.
You're showing potential guests what staying there could feel like.
Professional Holiday Let Photography
I create natural, atmospheric photography for holiday lets, cottages, glamping sites and hospitality businesses across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and the UK.
Hospitality & Interior Photography · Get in touch
Part of the four-part series
Part 1: How to Increase Your Bookings with Professional Photography
Part 2: How to Prepare Your Property for a Professional Photoshoot
Part 3: How to Stage Your Property for a Professional Photoshoot
Part 4: Why Invest in Professional Photography for Your Holiday Let?