How Professional Property Photography Elevated this St Andrews AirBnB Listing
The Property and the Challenge
This summer I had the pleasure of visiting and photographing Tor Fala Gate House, a luxury AirBnB in Glenrothes converted from a former car fanatic’s garage at the foot of their main house. The owners and hosts were looking for images that conveyed the warmth and elegance of the property, highlighting the level of comfort and luxury that it provides potential guests, to stand out in a competitive and demanding market. This is where diligent interior styling goes hand in hand with professional interior photography.
Behind the Lens: Planning a Property Shoot in St Andrews
Scheduling demands on both my end and the client’s meant that time might be tight, but we picked a bright day with consistent weather and some cloud cover, which provided the perfect lighting, combined with my HDR techniques to ensure the property looked its best.Situated conveniently between Edinburgh and St Andrews, the Gate House offers guests an ideal home away from home between both key hotspots – to enjoy both the world class golf on offer in St Andrews and the East Neuk, as well as the benefit of easy access to the spectacular city of Edinburgh – without compromising on the tranquility that a trip to Scotland demands.
The hosts had truly thought of everything – and it was evident in our discussions whilst photographing the property that this has been a curation that has truly considered all needs of the traveler, which makes it a true home from home, right down to the phone chargers in the bedroom (as a photographer I am constantly buying more chargers when I find that I have once again left without mine: to be greeted by one in a property is a genuine treat). The hosts had also gone as far as to have set up a hamper, including freshly baked bread, biscuits, bubbly – these are all things that I recommend to ‘dress’ the properties being photographed, but they had done this of their own accord! Planning property photography isn’t just a technical ask – it requires real human thinking, for things that will delight a guest upon their arrival. And these hosts totally hit the nail on the head.
Capturing Key Selling Features
The Gate House is particularly geared to cater for the discerning traveler, offering free EV charging on your doorstep, blazingly fast WiFi for streaming on the impressive 55″ TV, and a fully equipped kitchen. The property also has totally level access, so access for all levels of mobility is catered for. So this was a big focus in the photography: making sure that the TV and EV charger were featured in the setups. Moving through the property, you’ll be delighted to find there is in fact underfloor heating throughout, a huge treat in the cold Scottish winters (and autumn, and spring, and sometimes summer…). And should we have a heatwave once in a blue moon, there are fans too!
The property features a fully fitted kitchen equipped with the necessities and far, far more: microwave, fridge and freezer, induction cooker and oven, toaster, kettle, Nespresso coffee machine, French Press, and Air Fryer. There’s really not much more you could ask for. Dishes and cutlery are of course included, with a range of cooking utensils, glasses. And for longer trips, there’s the convenience of a washer and dryer in the utility room, as well as an iron and ironing board.
The convenience doesn’t stop at the living and bedrooms, of course, this property boasts a bathroom for each bedroom. Shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash is complimentary and there are shaving sockets and a hair dryer provided. These all therefore had to feature in the images to ensure potential guests could see the amenities available.
Needless to say with such a thoughtful development, there are of course intruder, smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as a first aid box, fire extinguisher and fire blanket, should they be needed.
Why Professional Property Photography in Scotland Makes a Difference
High quality images help AirBnB listings stand out – as someone who has travelled extensively, almost exclusively using AirBnB for my accommodation – I know this from firsthand experience. Scotland is beautiful – everyone knows this – so it’s so important that your property advert or listing reflects the natural beauty in your area, not just the interior. Photographing the details that make the property unique, or the special touches that the Hosts have put in place – it creates an emotional connection to prospective guests, and leads to faster bookings as people are encouraged they’re making the right choice. All in all, the Gate House property – and the fantastic level of consideration behind it – were a pleasure to photograph.
Results and Client Feedback
With these professional photographs, after uploading the new images, the Gate House was given the best start possible on AirBnB. The hosts have seen a 40% uptick in clicks on their listing versus similar listings in the area. Coupled with its incredible curation as a home, thanks to its hosts diligence, and impeccable location, I am confident the Gate House will be a very popular property on AirBnB for years to come.
Work with Me on your Next Property Shoot in Scotland
If you’re looking for professional property photography services in Scotland, I offer high-quality shoots for estate agents, Airbnb hosts, and homeowners – learn more here. You can also view the photos of the Gate House in-situ of their listing: View the Airbnb listing here.