How we capture stunning Airbnb photos with bracketed exposures
- Robyn Grayless
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 4
Great photos are one of the most powerful tools for attracting guests to short-term rentals especially in crowded marketplaces like Airbnb or Vrbo.
High-quality images are often the first (and sometimes only) thing potential guests use to judge a space. Well-lit, professionally composed photos can showcase a property’s best features, create emotional appeal, and build trust, all of which lead to more clicks, higher booking rates, and better nightly rates. Simply put, great photos don’t just make a listing look good — they directly impact our bottom line.
This is how we do it.
1. Set our camera for bracketing.
We use Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) on our Sony A7 series to capture three exposures in quick succession.
How we Set Up AEB on our Sony A7:
Switch to Manual Mode (M) or Aperture Priority (A).
Set ISO to 100–400 and aperture around f/8 for sharpness.
Go to Menu > Camera Settings > Drive Mode > Bracket: Cont. Shooting.
Choose three exposures (e.g., -2 EV / 0 EV / +2 EV).
Mount on a tripod to keep the framing identical.
AEB captures dark, mid, and bright tones, allowing for a balanced, detailed final image once they're all merged.
2. Shoot at the right height.
Shooting at a consistent, natural eye level avoids distortion and keeps lines straight — crucial for real estate appeal.
How we do it:
Set our camera at chest height or slightly lower, +/- four feet high.
Take extra care to ensure the camera is level.
3. Capture our staged properties.
Staging a shot is crucial because it helps highlight your property’s best features, creating a welcoming, organized, and inviting atmosphere that makes guests envision themselves staying there.
A few basics we adhere to:
Ensure each space is perfectly staged as a guest would see it walking in.
Turn on all of the lights.
Shoot at a time of day when the sun glare and shadows are minimal.
Use a tripod and shoot three bracketed shots per angle.
Avoid changing the camera’s position between shots.
Capture every major room corner, wide angles preferred.
Guests like to see how the space can be used, so we take time to set the table, stage some cooking, or place steaming mugs of coffee around a fire pit — in addition to our regular photos.
4. Merge images in Luminar Neo.
After researching various tools for merging photos, I settled on Luminar Neo, and I'm glad I did. It's simple to use, fast, and uses AI for quick fixes like switching out skies, adding fire to fire pits, etc. This is important because HDR Merge creates one balanced photo by blending all exposures.
Here's a bit about our process.
Import our bracketed shots into Luminar Neo.
Drag the shots into the Merge panel.
Select the settings and check boxes for Auto Alignment and Distortion Correction.
Click Merge.
Preview the images the software intends to merge and proceed.
5. Do basic editing in Luminar Neo.
We do some basic editing on every merged photo before we export it for use. This helps ensure the colors and exposures are consistent across all the images we've imported.
Here are a few standard steps we follow:
Open the merged HDR image.
In Edit Mode, adjust:
Light: Exposure, contrast, shadows/highlights
Color: White balance, saturation
Structure AI: Enhance detail subtly
Erase Tool: Remove minor distractions
Use Lens Correction and Perspective Tools for straightening lines
Recommended gear & software
You don't have to use the Sony A7 or Luminar Neo to achieve the same effect. There are a lot of other options available.
Top three cameras for real estate photography:
Sony A7 IV – Excellent dynamic range, bracketing, full-frame.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II – Great autofocus, high-quality bracketing.
Nikon Z6 II – Clean high-ISO, ideal for low-light interiors.
Top three software alternatives to Luminar Neo:
Adobe Lightroom + Photoshop – Industry-standard, powerful HDR merge.
Photomatix Pro – Dedicated HDR blending tool with real estate presets.
Aurora HDR (also by Skylum) – Intuitive HDR with real estate presets.
Final tips for great Airbnb or Vrbo photos
While there's a lot to consider, here are some of our top tips for professional photos:
Use a wide-angle lens (16–35mm) for capturing full spaces.
Keep vertical lines straight by aligning the sensor plane parallel to the wall.
Avoid shooting with mixed lighting (e.g., daylight + warm bulbs) or correct it during edit.
Take your time on composition — frame doorways and windows thoughtfully.
If you don't have time or the desire to take the right photos in the right way, hire a professional.
