Airbnb photography usually costs $150 to $400 for a standard home in the US and £120 to £350 in the UK, depending on size, city and how many edited photos you get. Adding a walkthrough video often brings the total to $400 to $1,000. A cheaper route is to shoot on a recent phone in good light and use an AI editor and video maker from about $29 a month, which also covers every refresh after that.
What does a typical Airbnb photo shoot cost?
| Property | Photos only | Photos + video |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1-bed | $150–$250 | $350–$600 |
| 2–3 bed home | $200–$350 | $450–$800 |
| Large home or villa | $300–$600 | $700–$1,500+ |
| Twilight or drone add-on | +$100–$300 each |
These are typical market ranges from photographer price lists. Prices are higher in big cities and resort areas, and travel fees are common outside town.
What is included in the price?
Usually:
- 1 to 3 hours on site
- 20 to 40 edited photos
- Basic editing: brightness, colour, straight lines
- Delivery in 2 to 5 days
Often extra:
- Twilight or dusk shots
- Drone photos
- Video walkthrough
- Virtual staging
- Removing objects
- Reshoots when you redecorate or change season
Is a professional photographer worth it?
For a high-value villa or a new listing in a competitive area, often yes. A pro knows light, angles and staging, and the first photos decide your ranking.
The catch is what happens next. You will want new photos after a refurb, seasonal shots for winter and summer, and a steady stream of videos for social media. Each of those is another booking and another invoice.
What is the cheaper route?
- Shoot on a recent phone in daylight, with every light on. Follow our iPhone guide.
- Upload to Splatr and fix light, sky and clutter in a click.
- Make a dusk cover photo from a daytime shot.
- Turn the best photos into a video tour for Instagram and your booking site.
Can you combine the two?
Yes, and many hosts do. Book a photographer once for the hero shots, then use AI for everything after: video tours, seasonal versions, dusk covers, reels and new rooms. Upload the photographer's images and you get far more content from one shoot.
Does Airbnb still offer free photography?
Airbnb has offered photography programmes in some markets over the years, and availability changes. Check the host dashboard in your area. Where it is not offered, hosts book local photographers or do it themselves.
How much does Airbnb video cost on its own?
A simple walkthrough video from a videographer usually costs $250 to $600. A cinematic edit with drone, people and voiceover can pass $1,500. Making a video tour from your photos with AI costs a fraction of that and takes minutes. See how to make an Airbnb video tour.
Related: agency, DIY or AI compared and how to get more Airbnb bookings.
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