Podcast Getting great photos of your property is undeniably the best start to a successful vacation rental listing. You can have all the bells and whistles in terms of amenities, but if the photos don’t inspire your guests to book, you’ve lost their interest before they even get to the bit about all the flat screen TVs and stainless steel appliances. My guest on Episode 171 knows more than most how important that is. Amy Greener is an owner of five properties, and manages another six on behalf of other owners, in the Smoky Mountains area around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. She is also a professional vacation rental photographer. It’s a highly competitive market so I wanted to find out how Amy differentiates her small company and attracts guests to book her properties, while managing her successful photographic business as well. I had an ulterior motive in my questions to Amy as I’m nearing the end of the refurbishment of Kingfisher Cottage and, as soon as the furniture is in place, will be doing a photo shoot of my own. Although I’m getting better at taking pictures….here’s a couple I really like from a recent shoot….I know I can do so much better at staging, setting up the shot, and editing. Amy talked me through a range of tips and ideas to improve my skills and explained a few ways of making this whole process more systemized and effective. We talked about: Her journey from a single property to being a property manager How learning from mistakes along the way has generated a more streamlined company The approach she takes to competition and being different & running lean The best time of day to take photographs How it’s OK to use your iPhone Why you should overshoot and get at least 3 angles of each room The importance of removing distractions before taking the photo How best to take a bathroom picture When to do close-ups Why less is more in most photo staging Taking time for attention to detail and the little things that can get missed Shooting from the belt and not looking down Amy’s tips for anyone wanting to start up a vacation rental business Links: Blue Mist Cabins Amy Greener Photography
