By Athina · October 2026
Most guests decide on the first image. What works, what doesn't, and a cheap way to test it.
In the search results, guests see one photo, a price and a rating. That first photo decides whether they click, and most of the other photos are only seen by people who already clicked.
What often goes wrong
- The front of the building as the first photo.
- The bathroom or a narrow hallway first.
- A dark evening shot of the sofa.
- Portrait photos, which get cropped in the search results.
What usually works
- Daylight, with the lamps off and the curtains open.
- Landscape format.
- The room where guests will spend the most time, not the prettiest corner.
- Something that makes people want to be there: an open window, a set table, a view of the garden.
Test it
Swap your first photo and compare your views and bookings over the following weeks. It costs nothing and tells you more than any opinion.
