May 8, 2025 | By: Kirstie-Lee's Photography
When it comes to accommodation photography, timing is everything. The way natural light interacts with a space can make or break the final images.
Whether you’re capturing a boutique hotel, a luxury retreat, or a stylish Airbnb, selecting the right time of day for your photoshoot is essential for showcasing your property in its best light.
Here’s why it matters and how to choose the perfect time for your shoot.
One of the best times to shoot accommodation photography is during the golden hour—either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, just before sunset. The soft, warm glow of golden hour lighting creates a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. This natural light is flattering and can make interiors feel more expansive and exteriors look stunning.
For outdoor shots of the property or scenic views, golden hour provides the best natural backdrop, with warm hues and long shadows that add depth and dimension.
While midday sunlight can be bright and clear, it often results in harsh shadows and overexposed highlights, which can make it challenging to capture the full beauty of the space. For both interior and exterior shots, midday sun tends to be the least flattering for accommodation photography. If you have to shoot during this time, consider using diffusers or shooting in areas with shade.
Choosing between morning or afternoon light often depends on the type of property and the mood you want to create.
Morning light tends to be cooler and softer, perfect for capturing a calm, serene feel in a bedroom or spa-like bathroom. If your accommodation is located near the coast or has ocean views, the morning light can offer crisp, refreshing tones.
Afternoon light, on the other hand, tends to be warmer and richer, giving a more intimate and inviting vibe to living areas or outdoor spaces. If your property boasts a lovely garden or a sun-drenched patio, afternoon light can bring out the warmth of the materials and colours.
When shooting indoors, lighting is everything. In general, the best light for interiors is indirect natural light, which is often found during early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn’t directly streaming through windows. If your accommodation has large windows with scenic views, consider how the sunlight may either compliment or detract from the space.
In some cases, you might need to supplement natural light with artificial lighting, such as lamps to add mood and light in corners.
(Read the blog on mood lighting here)
it’s essential to consider the weather. While you can control the timing of your shoot, you can’t control the weather! Cloudy or overcast days often provide the most even lighting, which is ideal for both interior and exterior shots. Clear skies can add a dramatic effect to outdoor shots, but heavy clouds or rain can disrupt the shoot.
If you’re needing the property’s exterior photographed too, cloudy skies can provide a nice even light, avoiding harsh shadows and hotspots.
However, if you’re showcasing a sun-filled outdoor area or pool, you might want to aim for a sunny day to capture that vibrant, bright look.
Understanding the right time of day for your short term rental photography can dramatically affect the final result. By learning how different lighting conditions impact your shots, you can make more informed decisions about when to schedule your photoshoot.
Whether you're opting for the soft glow of golden hour or the vibrant warmth of afternoon light, proper timing ensures that your accommodation looks its best and makes a memorable impression on potential guests.
If you're new to the journey of advertising your property- you may not know that there is a very big difference between a REAL ESTATE photographer and an ACCOMMODATION photographer.
One is for photographing the space for its size and fixtures for a home fore sale- where the styling isn't the main focus and one is for photographing the furnishings and capturing the feeling of the space the guest will experience while staying in the short term rental.
Naturally these styles cross over, but selecting a photographer that knows the difference and one that can use each style to enhance your property- then you're onto a winner.
MONTHS BEFORE:
If you would like help with colours, linens, wall papers, there are packages I provide to get a stylist in to help with all of that- so that would be months before!
Enquire here about styling packages
WEEKS BEFORE:
If you would like help and guidance with the food styling, props, sorting out your target market for the property- then get in touch with enough time to make these touches prior to the photos- which is usually a few weeks before.
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:
If you have everything sorted and you just need photos- get in touch right away, because during peak times (spring & summer) you could be waiting over 2 weeks for a booking.
Photography packages are available via my website.
I cater to all styles, budgets and locations, so get in touch and we can work together to get make fun and interesting images of your property.
Lastly, the time of the day to photograph your property is individual- so please keep a close eye on the shadows and light moving through your property. Make a note of the main rooms and living areas in particular.
If you have a north facing property, you have a wider window of opportunity or good lighting in the house.
South facing have a narrower window of light.
Note: South and North facing refers to the front of the home and it's main living areas are towards that direction)
It is far more important to capture the time of day when there is the most light in the main living rooms.
If you have any doubt, take photos on your phone, so I can see the light and make an informed decision on the time of the day best suited for photo shoot.
Very frequently, people don't know the direction their property faces, so again, don't panic, leave that to me and I will be able to find that out for you.
Happy Hosting!
Until next time, Kirstie-Lee
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