What photos should a rental listing include?

A listing with three photos looks like it is hiding something. Give renters a full walkthrough so they can picture living there and arrive at a showing already sold.

• Lead with a clean exterior or the strongest interior shot.
• Photograph every bedroom, the living room, the kitchen, and each bathroom.
• Include outdoor space, parking, laundry, storage, and any shared amenities.

Skipping a room makes renters assume the worst about it. Show it anyway, even if it is small.

Lighting separates a listing that gets saved from one that gets scrolled past. Shoot during the day, open every blind, and turn on interior lights to kill shadows in the corners.

Avoid the harsh midday sun blowing out the windows. Softer morning or late-afternoon light tends to render rooms more accurately. Hold the camera at chest height and keep the verticals straight so walls do not appear to lean.

Clean and declutter before you shoot, because the camera notices everything you have stopped seeing. Clear the countertops, stow trash cans, put toilet seats down, and remove personal items and stray cords.

Stage lightly if the unit is empty. A made bed or a small plant gives scale and warmth. Keep it honest, though. Photos that oversell lead to no-shows and wasted turnaround when renters feel misled at the door.

Order your photos the way a person would tour the place: exterior, main living space, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, then outdoor and extras. A logical sequence keeps renters scrolling to the end.

Shoot horizontally for most platforms, use the highest resolution your phone allows, and skip the filters. A floor plan, even a rough one, helps renters judge fit and cuts down on questions before a showing.