How to Hire a Vacation Rental Photographer: 8 Questions

If you manage vacation rentals on the Gulf Coast, you will eventually hire a photographer for a batch of properties, and the cheapest quote is rarely the one that matches your needs. These are the eight questions we would ask any photographer, with the answers we give. Our Airbnb and VRBO photography starts at $250 with a 24-hour turnaround.

1. What license do I get for short-term-rental platforms?

This is the question that gets skipped, and it matters the most for property managers. Many photographers license images for a single sale listing. Ask whether the license covers Airbnb, VRBO, your own booking site and your management company pages. Our standalone Airbnb and VRBO photography includes an extended usage license for short-term-rental platforms.

2. How fast will I get the photos?

If a unit is empty between guests, delay costs you nights. We deliver with a 24-hour turnaround. Ask any photographer for a concrete number rather than “soon.”

3. Is your drone pilot licensed?

Aerials explain location. Ask whether the pilot holds an FAA Part 107 certificate. Ours do. Drone photos are an add-on at $125 for 10 photos.

4. Can you handle several units on a schedule?

Management companies rarely have one property. We have shot for vacation rental management companies on Anna Maria Island, including FIBI Vacation Rentals, named on the project page. We do not have a published multi-unit discount, so tell us how many properties you have and where, and we will plan the schedule when you contact us.

5. What is the price, and what changes it?

Look for pricing by square footage that you can read before you call. Ours: $250 for 0-1,000 sq ft, $300 for 1,001-2,000, $400 for 2,001-3,000 and $500 for 3,001-4,000. Add-ons are itemized, such as real twilight (five photos for $200) and a 2D floor plan for $75. Compare the whole quote with add-ons rather than the headline number. Our Airbnb photography cost breakdown has the details.

6. Is there a travel fee?

Ask for the formula. Ours: first 30 miles free, then $15 per 10 miles, rounded down to the nearest 10, calculated from South Tampa using round-trip distance. We confirm the fee when you book.

7. Have you photographed properties like mine?

Ask for rentals with your kind of property: beachfront condo, pool home, large group house. Look at their galleries and judge whether the rooms feel true to size. You can see ours in the projects section, including the Anna Maria Island short-term rental and the Indian Shores Airbnb home.

8. What do you need me to do before the shoot?

A photographer with a clear prep list usually shoots faster and delivers better images. We give hosts and managers a home prep guide and a room-by-room checklist in our post on prepping a rental for the shoot. If your cleaner can follow it, the property is ready.

What we do not promise

We will not tell you a number of extra bookings your photos will produce, because we cannot know it. We do not publish a reshoot policy on this page, so if that matters for your contract, ask us directly and we will answer in writing when you book.

How to compare quotes

Put the answers in a simple table for each photographer: license, turnaround, drone, price for your size, travel and what is included. If two photographers are close on price, license terms and turnaround usually decide it. Also read the reviews and see if the photographer works in your area. Our Airbnb and VRBO photography page lists what the service covers.

Questions we get from property managers

How much does a vacation rental photographer cost in Tampa Bay?

Our standalone Airbnb and VRBO photography is $250 for up to 1,000 sq ft, $300 for 1,001-2,000, $400 for 2,001-3,000 and $500 for 3,001-4,000. Add-ons and travel are separate.

Do your photos include a license for Airbnb and VRBO?

Yes, an extended usage license for short-term-rental platforms is included.

Are your drone pilots certified?

Our drone work is done by FAA Part 107 certified pilots.

Can you photograph several properties for my management company?

Yes, we have worked with vacation rental management companies. Send your list of properties and addresses through the contact form and we will plan the schedule.

How quickly can I use the photos?

Photos are delivered with a 24-hour turnaround.