On Airbnb, guests scroll through dozens of thumbnails before they open a single listing. Your cover photo has about half a second to win that click. In a city as competitive as Prague, where thousands of apartments compete in Vinohrady, Old Town and Karlín alone, professional photos are the cheapest marketing you can buy. This guide explains what makes a cover photo work, which other photos your listing needs and how to prepare.
What makes a winning cover photo
- The best room, not the entrance. Usually the living room with a window and daylight, or the bedroom if it has a view or a special feature.
- Wide but honest. A wide-angle lens shows the space, but extreme distortion leads to disappointed guests and bad reviews.
- Warm, bright, tidy. Lights on, curtains open, no clutter, one or two accents such as a plant, a throw or a tray with coffee cups.
- A hint of Prague. If the window shows rooftops, a church tower or the river, frame it. Location sells.
- Landscape orientation and the highest resolution you have; Airbnb crops thumbnails, so keep the subject centred.
The 12 photos every Prague listing needs
- Cover: living room or hero bedroom in daylight.
- Living room from a second angle.
- Each bedroom, bed made hotel-style.
- Kitchen with clear counters and the coffee machine visible.
- Bathroom with folded towels and no bottles.
- Workspace, if you have one; business travellers search for it.
- Balcony, terrace or the view.
- Details: welcome basket, keys and a city map, a stocked fridge.
- Building entrance and street, so guests recognise it on arrival.
- Floor plan or a wide shot showing the layout.
- A twilight exterior if the building is attractive.
- Neighbourhood: the nearest tram stop, a café, a park.
Styling tips before the photographer arrives
Use our 25-point preparation checklist. For short-term rentals, add a set table for two, fresh flowers, a throw on the sofa and neutral bedding. Hide the lock box, the fire extinguisher and the house rules sign. If the flat is empty, ask about virtual staging.
What an Airbnb shoot costs in Prague
A standard apartment shoot with 15 to 25 edited photos starts at 3 600 CZK and takes about an hour on site. Compared with a single extra booking per month, the shoot pays for itself within weeks. Airbnb also offers its own photography programme in some cities, but you do not own those images and cannot use them on Booking.com or your own website. With PragueB2B you receive the full-resolution files and a licence for every platform.
Časté dotazy
How often should I update my Airbnb photos?
After every renovation or furniture change, and at least every two to three years. A seasonal cover photo, for example with Christmas lights in December, can also lift bookings.
Should the photos show people?
Rarely. Airbnb guests want to imagine themselves in the space. A detail with hands pouring coffee can work; full portraits do not.
Can you photograph several apartments in one day?
Yes. Property managers with multiple units get a reduced per-unit price when we shoot them back to back.