Photographing your expertise

Great photos are one of the most important parts of your listing. This guide covers how to choose images that showcase your expertise and help guests book with confidence.
A close up of a hosts hand applying white eye shadow makeup to a guests face.

Getting started

Here are the top three things that make the biggest difference.

Show your expertise in action

Candid, in-progress shots build more trust than posed portraits.

Keep it authentic

Real tools, real settings, real offerings — guests can tell when something is staged.

Cover the full experience

Include your offerings, your workspace, and yourself, so guests know exactly what to expect.

What we look for

  • Natural light — the more available light, the better; shoot near windows when possible
  • Clean, uncluttered backgrounds — simple settings keep the focus on your offering
  • Centered composition — place the subject in the middle of the frame for a clear, easy read
  • Variety of angles — straight-on, side, and overhead shots give guests a fuller picture
  • Color, true-to-life images — no filters or heavy edits
Fitness trainer guiding a guest using suspension straps in a bright studio with natural light and plants

Before the photoshoot

To ensure a successful shoot, plan the key elements in advance. Outline all the offerings you want to feature, and if a friend is photographing for you, walk them through the moments and details that matter most.
Close-up of a barber using clippers and a comb to trim a man's short hair.

Get help

ask 1-2 friends to act as your guests in a pretend session, and have someone else photograph so you can capture real interaction and action shots.
Chef in a white uniform slicing a piece of raw meat on a cutting board in a professional kitchen.

Wardrobe

wear something authentic to your offering, and steer clear of heavy patterns or visible logos.
Close-up of a person tying the laces on their black running shoes while sitting on concrete steps.

Lighting

choose a time of day with strong, even natural light for the clearest results, but keep it relevant to the time the experience takes place.
Interior of a cozy, rustic room with wooden furniture, shelves, and a kitchen area, emphasizing a welcoming and serene atmosphere.

Location

capture where the activity actually happens, and keep the background free of clutter.

Minimum requirements

  • Minimum resolution: 1024×683px or larger
  • Color photos only: no black & white or heavy filters
  • No stretched, tilted, or distorted images
  • Sharp and well-lit — no blurry or dark photos
  • No collages — submit individual images
  • No text or logos overlaid on photos

Minimum requirements

  • Minimum resolution: 1024×683px or larger
  • Color photos only: no black & white or heavy filters
  • No stretched, tilted, or distorted images
  • Sharp and well-lit — no blurry or dark photos
  • No collages — submit individual images
  • No text or logos overlaid on photos

Selecting the best photos

Your photos appear in four places on your listing page. Here’s what each one does, so you know what you’re shooting for.
Four smartphone screens displaying an Airbnb service listing for a hairstylist, featuring options like professional hair styling, haircut with styling, and a gallery showcasing the stylist's work.

Cover photo

2-3 imagesThe first image guests see, cropped into a long horizontal strip at the top of your page.

Offerings

3-7 imagesIndividual images showing each service a guest can book, listed with prices.

Profile photo

1-2 imagesA clear, friendly portrait of you, cropped into a tight circle.

Gallery

5-10 imagesA collection of additional images that tell the full story of your service, equipment, and how you work.

Cover photo

Your cover photo is the first thing guests see, so it’s worth choosing one that entices them and clearly shows what you’re offering. Choose a beautiful, wide horizontal shot that captures the essence of your service. Note that the final crop is a long, narrow strip with navigation icons overlaid near the edges, so keep the most important subject matter centered and readable from a distance — avoid placing key details near the top, bottom, or sides of the frame. Tip: After you select your cover, look at your live listing on your phone.
An Airbnb app interface showcasing a service listing for hairstyling on a phone screen, alongside an image of a woman helping another person with a yoga pose on a purple mat in a spacious, wooden-floored room with greenery in the background.
An overhead view of a wooden table with various colorful plated dishes, including a central plate featuring roasted meat garnished with edible flowers and a balsamic glaze.
Food
A group of people practicing yoga outdoors in a sunny park, standing on yoga mats and doing side stretches under the shade of green trees.
Fitness
A close-up of a makeup artist's hand applying powder to the side of a woman's face using a brush, with the woman's blonde hair held back by a clip.
Beauty

Offering & gallery photos

Show guests exactly what they can book, and how you deliver it. Offering photos are your finished result, styled and photo-ready — this is a main selling point on your page. Gallery photos show your process, tools, and the experience of working with you, so guests know what to expect.

Food

No guests neededPlan how your dishes will look both on their own and together as a spread. Set up near a window for natural light, and choose a surface that contrasts with your plates. Keep the table authentic to how you actually serve guests — skip props or extras that wouldn’t normally be there. Tip: browse food delivery apps for plating inspiration.

Offering photos

Chef-prepared grilled artichokes with charred lemon, sauce, and fresh basil plated on a wooden board
Plated chef-prepared dish with layered vegetables and sauce in a minimalist white bowl
Chef-prepared plates of roasted fish and vegetables arranged on a table, showcasing an elegant meal service.
Colorful chef-prepared dinner spread with salmon, grilled vegetables, pasta, salads, and dessert on a wooden table.

Gallery photos

A wooden cutting board on a table holding a bowl of pasta topped with crispy bacon pieces, next to a plate with additional bacon slices. A kitchen countertop and stovetop are visible in the background.
Host in action
Close-up of a person using tongs and a ladle to serve creamy spaghetti from a metal mixing bowl, highlighting the rich, freshly prepared pasta.
Process details
Close-up of a person using a pasta maker to roll out fresh sheets of dough in a kitchen setting.
Tools & equipment
A close-up of a plated dish featuring grilled asparagus, golden potatoes, zucchini ribbons, and a piece of seared meat topped with a basil leaf, as a hand drizzles sauce over the meat.
Final product

Beauty

Guests recommendedPrepare each offering so it’s 95% complete before your photoshoot starts, ensuring the finished result is ready to capture. Choose a simple backdrop, like a blank wall, so the focus stays on the finished look rather than the surroundings. Examples: glam makeup, pin-up curls, wedding updo, etc.

Offering photos

Person with long, wavy blonde hair in a robe, showcasing a fresh professional hairstyle service.
Young woman with long dark hair sits indoors with her eyes closed and a relaxed, content expression
Stylist showcases a guest’s long, wavy ponytail hairstyle inside a bright home near a window.
Close-up of a woman with long, wavy blonde hair, representing an Airbnb Service provider.

Gallery photos

Hairstylist carefully trims a guest’s curly hair in a bright, modern beauty studio
Host in action
Stylist carefully trims a guest’s curly hair, highlighting a hands-on beauty service experience
Process details
Professional hairstyling tools laid out, with scissors in a leather belt surrounded by brushes, combs, and clips.
Tools & equipment
Person with voluminous curly auburn hair, styled naturally, highlighting a beauty service offering
Final product

Fitness

Guests recommendedInvite the same number of guests your service is designed for — if it’s a group workout, bring a full group to the photoshoot so the energy and scale feel accurate. Be sure to bring all necessary equipment to the location, and choose a setting that matches where you’d actually host the session, whether that’s a studio, gym, or outdoor space.

Offering photos

Two women exercising outdoors in a park, one stepping onto an orange and black platform while holding dumbbells, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
A group of people participating in an outdoor yoga session in a sunny park, with trees and grass in the background. A yoga instructor stands at the front, guiding participants as they stretch with their arms raised above their heads.
Two people practicing yoga in an outdoor park setting, performing the upward-facing dog pose on pink yoga mats, surrounded by green trees and grass on a sunny day.
Two people practicing a yoga stretch on purple and pink mats outdoors on a sunny day, with a pair of purple dumbbells on the asphalt nearby.

Gallery photos

A fitness instructor in a red hoodie assists a man in a seated yoga pose on a mat in a grassy park surrounded by trees.
Host in action
A person practicing a yoga stretch on a mat in an outdoor grassy area, guided by an instructor who assists with posture adjustment.
Process details
A cork yoga block placed on a black yoga mat laid out on a grassy lawn, evoking a serene outdoor workout environment.
Tools & equipment
Two people doing yoga stretches on a grassy field near the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by trees, with yoga mats and a foam block visible.
Final product

Wellness & spa

Guests recommendedKeep your guest covered with a towel, robe, or sheet throughout the shoot, with minimal skin visible. Any contact shown should reflect the service itself — professional and therapeutic in tone. Choose a clean, simple background that keeps the focus on the treatment rather than the surroundings.

Offering photos

Hands gently performing a massage on a person laying under a white sheet, showcasing a relaxing wellness service experience.
A services host is providing a massage for a guest.
A professional massage session featuring a therapist stretching a client's leg, with warm lighting and relaxing elements in the background.
A person receiving a massage on their upper back, showcasing a detailed tattoo of an eye surrounded by crescent moons and intricate designs.

Wellness & spa

An indoor spa setting featuring a massage therapist performing a back massage on a client, surrounded by calming candles and minimalistic furniture.
Host in action
A person receiving a relaxing facial massage with a warm amber massage tool near the ear, emphasizing wellness and spa care.
Process details
Relaxing spa setup featuring a lit candle, bottles of massage oil, a wooden bowl, a hand towel, a pink massage tool, and white stones on a gold table.
Tools & equipment
A tranquil wellness space featuring a massage table with fresh linens and a folded towel, complemented by soft, neutral tones in the decor.
Location

Profile photo

The profile photo informs potential guests of who you are, and signals warmth, professionalism, and reliability. The final photo may be cropped into a tight circle, and feature only your head, face, and neck. For this reason, a strong portrait will feature you facing the camera, making eye contact, with a warm and friendly expression. Ideal locations include spots near windows or shaded outdoor areas, where the background remains simple and uncluttered, allowing the viewer to focus on you.
A person in a white shirt photographed indoors with a simple background.
A professional profile photo showing a person with long blonde hair, wearing a white top with floral patterns, standing in front of a wooden and glass door background.
Profile photo of a person with short black hair, wearing a red shirt, with a neutral background, cropped into a circular frame.
Close-up profile picture of a person with long dark hair, set against a blue tiled wall background.

What to avoid