Creative brief

Compose exteriors wide enough to allow for breathing room around the home in the landscape. We need ample negative space so that we can be flexible when cropping, especially for the 1:1 cover photo (as seen above).

Optimize the timing for the best ambient light, where the structure appears most clear in its environment, rather than obstructed by shadows. The light on the structure should be diffused rather than harsh. If you arrive at high noon, start with interiors first.

Pay attention to lighting conditions, both natural and artificial, and adjust your camera settings accordingly. Be mindful of shadows and highlights that can impact the visibility of details. Bracket images with high contrast lighting (such as with windows or direct light). This provides editors with a wider range of information to work with in difficult lighting situations.

Capturing a diverse selection of angles can help to highlight the space in a way that’s easy to understand.

Use a vertical frame when height or a single feature tells the story—tall windows, layered textures, or a cozy corner. Portrait orientation highlights scale, isolates key details, and gives a warm, editorial feel.

Certain assignments require drone photography to achieve wider and higher vantage points—this will be clearly indicated in your assignment details. Your primary focus should be on showcasing the property’s exterior, followed by the surrounding area to provide valuable context and visual appeal. Always leave negative space for the square crop. Make sure you check with local authorities and research local drone related laws and obtain all necessary license/permits before accepting an assignment.

Highlight amenities only if offered as part of the listing. Tip: A mid focal length vertical is good for capturing amenities in smaller spaces (such as bathrooms), while a wide focal length horizontal can be better in large spaces (such as sports courts).

Our goal is to provide all potential guests, including disabled travelers, with images that help provide detailed and reliable information about the space. This means, including steps, stairs, entrances, and unobstructed views of the floor so it’s easy for Guests to decide if the space is right for them.

Images should be bracketed when an interior has a considerable difference between inside and outside exposures. Please merge your bracketed images before uploading. Keep in mind that we only need the final merged images in your submission, not single bracketed assets.

We encourage using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software for merging HDR images and converting files to DNG format to prevent compatibility issues in post-production. Adobe’s features help maintain colour profiles, metadata, and visual quality, providing more flexibility for achieving professional results, regardless of the camera model used.

We recommend Camera RAW version 12 or above while exporting DNGs in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Software. For file conversion and bracket merging, we kindly ask that you refrain from using Photometrix Software.