When it comes to filling your gîte weeks there’s lots you can do to help yourself…
Tips on photographing your gîte
How your gîte looks on the internet to potential clients is one of the top things you must get right. Photography is vitally important for a successful holiday let. It’s the owner’s best chance to create a good first impression. It helps the guest to begin building a picture of the surrounding area as well as the property they’re looking at. It’s good to include a choice of external shots from all angles (to include swimming pools and gardens). Also include descriptive internal shots to highlight sleeping arrangements and bathroom facilities. Plus a collection of shots from the surrounding area which include local attractions, restaurants, countryside etc.
A lot of attractive holiday homes just don’t achieve their full potential because they aren’t shown in their best light.
Use these top tips to make your photos better:
Always take photos on a sunny day and usually early in the morning is best, or early evening. But not in the full light of mid-day.
Include photos of the outside, interior and locality.
In the kitchen have a bowl of fruit on the table, maybe lay out some bread, wine (local of course) so that your guests can see it how it will look when they are there.
Make sure the garden looks as it will when guests stay. Sun beds round the pool, parasols up over tables etc. If you’ve got a lovely terrace or barbecue area, set it up to look as it does when people are enjoying it.
On a sunny day if you sprinkle the lawn and flowers beds with water. It can really make your photos zing.
When taking photos of the bathroom, include towels etc, as it would be when guests arrive. And, honestly I don’t think anyone wants to see a loo up close so leave that out!
Put vases of flowers in the rooms. If you do have a beautiful fireplace, light it so guests can see how it looks.
Don’t have people in your photos – guests want to imagine themselves there, not other people.
Guests can fall in love with a holiday property before they even get there. It enhances the enjoyment greatly. There’s nothing better than daydreaming about an upcoming holiday in the days and weeks leading up to the departure date. And, photography helps to make this happen…
