Photography for STR's - AI Prompts

Photography makes a massive difference when it comes to Airbnb bookings.

We recently got photos back for a new STR we manage called Zen Oasis, and they just didn’t feel right. They were oversaturated, whitewashed, and felt more like generic real estate photos than Airbnb photos.

That’s the thing with short-term rentals, you’re not just showing rooms. You’re selling a feeling. People need to see themselves having coffee there, hanging out on the patio, relaxing after the beach, or spending the weekend with friends.

So I started playing with the edits. I didn’t want anything to look fake or overly AI-generated. I just wanted the photos to feel more editorial, more natural, and more like the actual vibe of the property. I tested different lighting, from clean 3pm sun to warmer golden-hour tones, and it made a huge difference.

Here are the exact prompts I used. Steal them, tweak them, and use them on your own Airbnb photos. To get a more moody tone change up the time of the day. 6pm you'll get more of a glow which sometimes looks too AI. Also note where the sun would be at that time of the day. For example, “sun is coming from left to right.”

1. Interior, editorial, 3pm sun
   “Edit this photo into a polished editorial real estate image. Keep the architecture, furniture, layout, and styling exactly the same. Make the lighting feel like clean 3pm afternoon sun, bright, natural, and flattering, with soft directional sunlight and gentle realistic shadows. Keep white walls crisp and neutral, preserve detail in highlights, and make wood, textiles, and greenery feel rich but true to color. The result should feel airy, upscale, natural, and professionally photographed. Avoid sunset tones, avoid orange cast, avoid deep shadows, avoid fake lens flare, and do not change any objects or composition.”

2. Interior, slightly moodier but still daytime
   “Transform this room into a high-end editorial real estate photo with warm 3 to 3:30pm sunlight. Keep everything exactly as is, including furniture, decor, and composition. Add soft directional sun with a little more mood and light shadowing, while keeping the room bright and appealing. Whites should stay clean, not yellow, and the image should feel refined, luxurious, and natural. Avoid harsh contrast, avoid heavy dramatic shadow patterns, avoid golden-hour orange, and do not alter the styling.”

3. Interior, brighter listing style with minimal shadows
   “Edit this interior photo into a bright luxury real estate image with soft 2 to 3pm sunlight. Keep the room exactly the same. Use clean, natural daylight with very minimal soft shadows, bright even exposure, crisp whites, and subtle warmth. Preserve realistic texture and true color while making the image feel polished, airy, expensive, and editorial. No sunset glow, no dark corners, no heavy contrast, and no object changes.”

4. Bathroom, editorial, bright and clean
   “Edit this bathroom into a polished editorial real estate image. Keep the layout, fixtures, tile, and styling exactly the same. Make the lighting feel like clean 3pm sun, with bright natural directional light, soft controlled shadows, and crisp neutral whites. Preserve detail in tile, countertops, mirrors, glass, and fixtures, and keep blacks rich and clean. The result should feel bright, airy, luxurious, and professionally photographed. Avoid dramatic orange warmth, avoid harsh shadows, avoid glare blowout, and do not alter the composition.”

5. Bathroom, very clean editorial, almost shadowless
   “Transform this bathroom photo into a refined editorial real estate image with bright natural daytime light. Keep everything exactly the same. Use soft even daylight, very light shadowing only, crisp whites, and controlled highlights so the bathroom feels clean, upscale, and magazine-ready. Preserve realistic material texture and keep the space neutral, airy, and elegant. Do not add dramatic sunlight streaks, do not add tree shadows, and do not change any objects.”

6. Shower detail, editorial
   “Edit this shower photo into a bright editorial real estate detail shot. Keep the tile, glass, fixtures, and framing exactly the same. Use clean natural daylight with soft even exposure, crisp whites, subtle contrast, and a premium architectural photography look. Make the surfaces feel refined and realistic, with controlled reflections and no heavy shadows. Keep the image minimal, elegant, and true to color. Do not add objects, do not warm it too much, and do not change the composition.”

7. Exterior, daytime, editorial 3pm
   “Edit this exterior photo into a polished editorial real estate image with realistic 3pm sunlight. Keep the house, landscaping, deck, and architecture exactly the same. Add bright flattering natural sunlight with soft directional shadows, accurate siding color, rich but realistic wood tones, and fresh natural greenery. Make the scene feel upscale, airy, and professionally photographed. Avoid sunset orange, avoid fake flares, avoid dramatic dark shadows, and do not change any objects or structure.”

8. Exterior, slightly warmer late afternoon
   “Transform this exterior into a luxury editorial real estate image with soft 3 to 4pm sunlight. Keep everything exactly as is, including structure, plants, and composition. Add natural warm sunlight from one side with soft realistic shadows, but keep it subtle and believable. Preserve clean whites, accurate siding color, detailed wood texture, and healthy natural greenery. Make the image feel bright, inviting, premium, and natural. Avoid over-orange tones, visible fake sun, dramatic flares, and any layout changes.”

9. Exterior sunset, subtle, sun off frame
   “Edit this exterior photo into a refined editorial sunset real estate image. Keep the composition and architecture exactly the same. Add soft warm sunset light coming from off-frame in the correct direction, with a subtle golden glow across the siding, deck, and plants, and gentle longer shadows. The sun should not be visible unless it is already in the original frame. Keep the effect elegant and restrained, not dramatic or over the top. Preserve realistic sky detail, natural colors, and a high-end professional photography feel.”

10. Exterior sunset, directional
    “Transform this image into a premium real estate sunset photo with the sunlight coming from [left/right] off frame. Keep the house, deck, plants, and composition exactly the same. Add soft warm directional light moving across the scene in the correct direction, with realistic glow and gentle shadowing. Do not place the sun in frame. Keep the sky believable, the warmth subtle, and the overall look elegant, editorial, and natural.”

11. Outdoor deck or patio, daytime editorial
    “Edit this deck or patio photo into a polished editorial real estate image with clean 3pm sun. Keep all furniture, plants, deck materials, and structure exactly the same. Add bright natural directional light with gentle soft shadows, preserve realistic wood tones and greenery, and make the scene feel inviting, upscale, and professionally photographed. Avoid over-warming, avoid deep shadows, avoid fake sun flare, and do not alter any objects.”

12. Outdoor deck or patio, sunset
    “Transform this patio or deck photo into a sophisticated sunset real estate image. Keep the composition and all objects exactly the same. Add soft warm sunset light coming from the correct off-frame direction, with subtle glow on wood, plants, and furniture, and realistic longer shadows. Keep the look elegant and understated, not overly orange or dramatic. The result should feel luxurious, calm, and editorial.”

13. Object removal plus lighting
    “Edit this photo into a polished editorial real estate image. Keep the architecture and composition exactly the same, remove [object], and fill the area naturally so it looks original to the scene. Then apply clean natural 3pm sunlight with soft realistic shadows, crisp true-to-color whites, and a bright luxury real estate photography look. Avoid dramatic contrast, over-stylization, or changing any other furniture or decor.”