Photographing Beach Rentals: St. Pete Beach to Madeira Beach

We shoot Gulf-front and walk-to-beach rentals in St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach from our base in South Tampa, and the work follows the same pattern in all three towns: the sand and water are the selling point, and the house has to hold its own next to them. Standalone Airbnb photo packages run $250 to $600 by square footage (see pricing).

Three towns, one strip of sand

These are neighbouring barrier-island towns on Pinellas County’s Gulf coast, strung along Gulf Boulevard. North to south you get Madeira Beach, then Treasure Island, then St. Pete Beach, with Pass-a-Grille at the far southern end. John’s Pass separates Madeira Beach from Treasure Island, and Blind Pass separates Treasure Island from St. Pete Beach. The Gulf sits to the west, so the sun sets over the water. On the east side of the islands you have Boca Ciega Bay and a lot of canal-front lots with docks.

That geography decides your whole shoot. Gulf-front houses face west, which means the beach side of the building is lit from behind for most of the afternoon, and the street side is in shade by evening. Bay-side and canal homes flip it. We plan the order of the day around where the sun is, not around which room is closest to the door.

Gulf-front: the view photo has to be real

Guests pay extra for water views, so they check them. A window shot that blows the sky to pure white and hides the water is a shot that makes people suspicious. For Gulf-front units we bracket every view frame and blend them so you can see the horizon line, the beach and the room in the same picture, without turning the room into a cartoon.

Pick balcony furniture with the camera in mind. Two chairs and a small table photograph better than six crammed together. Open umbrellas fully or take them down. Wipe sliders and railings the morning of the shoot, inside and out; salt air leaves a film.

Walk-to-beach: prove the walk

A lot of rentals in these towns are a few blocks from the sand, not on it, and the listing copy usually says “steps to the beach.” Photos should back that up. A drone frame that shows the house, the street and the beach in one image does more than any caption. Every package we sell includes aerial drone photos, so the framing is planned before we land. Our pilots hold FAA Part 107 certification. If you want the longer version of what that frame should show, read our guide to aerial photos and video.

On the ground, add the practical details that answer questions before they are asked: outdoor shower, rinse station, bike storage, a place for wet towels, the beach gear closet. These are small photos, but they sell a walk-to-beach stay better than another living room angle.

A prep list that is specific to the beach

• Sand on floors and entry mats shows up in wide-angle shots. Sweep or vacuum the entry the same morning.

• Remove beach towels from railings and chairs. Fold a stack inside instead.

• Hide trash cans, hoses and pool equipment from the exterior frames.

• Turn on every light, including the ones over the dining table and under cabinets.

• Make beds with the top layer smooth. Rental linens wrinkle in storage, so steam or press them.

Town by town, what we look for

St. Pete Beach

Mix of low-rise condos, older cottages and rebuilt homes, plus a bay side with docks. Condo units often come down to one balcony view, so we spend time on that frame and on the building amenities guests will actually use, like the pool and the walkway to the beach. If your place sits near Pass-a-Grille, the quieter, older-cottage feel is the thing to protect in the edit.

Treasure Island

A three-mile island with a wide beach. For smaller multi-unit buildings, the cover photo is often the best exterior or the beach view, and the interior sequence has to make clear which unit is for rent and what is shared. Our Treasure Island page has more on how we handle that.

Madeira Beach

Close to John’s Pass Village and its boardwalk, which many guests search for by name. We do not photograph the village for you, but a drone shot that places your house relative to the pass helps guests picture the stay. Details are on our Madeira Beach page.

Light timing along the Gulf

For a west-facing Gulf-front home, mid-morning usually suits the street side and late afternoon suits the water side. Interiors go in the middle of the day, and exterior and drone frames get the hours that suit the orientation. An optional real twilight set (5 photos, $200) can give you a hero image from the deck or balcony after sunset, and virtual twilight is $15 per image.

Questions we get about photographing beach rentals in these towns

Do you photograph Airbnbs in St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach?

Yes. We cover all three from South Tampa, and we also work in Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores and Clearwater Beach. Travel is free for the first 30 miles, then $15 for every 10 miles, calculated from South Tampa on a round-trip basis. We confirm the figure when you book.

How much does Airbnb photography cost for a beach condo?

Standalone Airbnb/VRBO photos are $250 for 0 to 1,000 sq ft, $300 for 1,001 to 2,000 sq ft, and $400 for 2,001 to 3,000 sq ft. Larger homes step up from there. Most condos fall in the first two tiers.

What time of day is best for a Gulf-front rental?

Gulf-front homes face west, so the beach side is backlit in the afternoon. We usually do interiors midday and schedule the water-facing exterior and aerials around the sun, then decide on twilight with you.

How fast will I get the photos?

We have a 24-hour turnaround, and exteriors come with our Blue Sky Guarantee.

Do I need to check local rules before listing?

Yes. Short-term rental rules differ by city and county, so check yours before you publish a listing.

If you would like a quote for a beach rental in any of these towns, start at our contact page or read about our Airbnb and VRBO photography first. The area page for St. Pete Beach is a good place to begin.