Homestays are an increasingly popular way for language learners to enjoy great value, quality accommodation, and true language immersion. They’re being chosen over hotels more and more as travellers look to experience real and authentic travel experiences.
For hosts looking to establish their homestay business or attract more guests, building a profile on Lingoo can provide a direct route to connecting with people who are interested in staying in your area. In addition to describing your homestay program in as much detail as possible, the pictures you include are worth a thousand words.
Your photographs will be the first thing prospective guests see when they look at your profile page. Taking the time to capture some great images of you and your home is the key to attracting guests.
You don’t need to hire a professional photographer or purchase an expensive camera to do your home justice. Here’s how you can capture your home’s best angle and showcase your homestay business in all its glory.
Keep it clean
Your home may be a hive of activity when you host guests but photographing the space at its most tranquil will ensure you advertise your homestay well. Make sure your home is as presentable as it would be when you first greet a new guest. As well as ensuing the rooms are sparkling clean, make sure every room is free from clutter and well-organised.
Light the way
Good lighting is essential for capturing the bright and airy spaces that every homestay guest wants to be greeted by. With this in mind, it’s worth waiting for a bright day to start your photography session. Your home can then be flooded with lots of natural light.
You can always turn on light fittings and lamps to brighten the space further, but do check how the artificial light affects the end result and never photograph your home at night.
Go low
The best angle for photographing any room is taking the shot from a lower height. By going low you can make a room feel more spacious. The low shot, taken at approximately 4 metres, gives the photo a better floor to ceiling ratio to create a balanced photograph.
Beware of going too low though. Avoid artistic and quirky shots, such as photos taken at ground level, at an angle or with a wide angle lens. These types of shots only distract from what’s on offer within the photo. Shooting straight on is also recommended as Houzz details:
“Try to set your camera straight and not tilt it up or down. When you tilt the camera, the vertical lines in the photo get distorted, which won’t look professional. For a strong composition, shoot straight onto an elevation of a room or building. To do this, you want the camera sensor to be parallel to your subject. The result is often a more pleasing photo that has a nice, graphic feeling.”
Focus on the features
Highlighting your home’s character or the special features of your homestay can ensure a real selling point for guests. If you’re known for cooking up a veritable feast for your guests, take a picture of your latest culinary creation. If you provide a personalised welcome basket, include an image of this too.
Variety is the spice of life
The pictures on your Lingoo profile should help guests visualise every aspect of their stay. Include a selection of images for their perusal, such as pictures of the guest room, communal areas (living room, kitchen, bathroom, and garden), your home’s exterior, the nearby town or city, and the surrounding area.
Become a tourist in your own town for the day and photograph the attractions and highlights that make your area an exciting place to call home.
Don’t forget to include you!
Your guests will want to know who they’re staying with. Make sure they’re greeted by a friendly face when viewing your profile.
Your main profile photo should ideally be an image of yourself, so rope in a friend or family member to shoot you. Images of the family members who live with you should also be included, and so too should snaps of any furry friends you have. Again, lighting is important. Keep it bright, provide a clear view of your face, and don’t forget to smile!
Get started on creating your standout homestay hosting profile here now.
