Photos, Video and Virtual Tours for an Orlando Vacation Rental Listing

Guests decide in the first few photos – make them the best rooms, in the best light

By David Myers, Broker Associate · MyOrlandoVacationHome.com · Last updated October 2026

Guests choosing an Orlando vacation home compare listings by their photos first, so the images do much of the selling for a short-term rental (STR). Professional photos of the pool, game room, themed bedrooms and resort amenities usually earn their cost quickly. Short video walkthroughs and virtual tours help families picture the home and can cut down on questions before booking. Drone photos used for business require an FAA-certified remote pilot under Part 107. Photos must show the home as it is today, so update them after every refresh.

Two homes in the same resort can have the same layout and the same pool and still book very differently. Often the difference is the listing photos.

Here is how to make the photos, video and tours of an Orlando vacation home work harder, and what to ask your manager for.

Why Do Listing Photos Matter So Much?

Guests scroll through many similar homes and choose from the photos before they read a word.

Booking sites show photos first, and families planning a theme-park trip compare dozens of homes in the same resorts. The cover photo and the first few images decide whether a guest clicks. Lead with what makes the home different – the pool and lanai, the game room, a themed kids' room or a view – not the hallway or a bathroom.

What Makes a Good Vacation Rental Photo Set?

Bright, wide, accurate shots of every room, plus the pool, outdoor space and resort amenities.

• Hire a photographer who shoots vacation rentals, not just homes for sale.
• Shoot the pool and lanai at their best light, and add a twilight shot if the pool is lit.
• Show every bedroom with its bed setup, and every bathroom.
• Include the resort's clubhouse, water park or other amenities guests can use.
• Stage simply: made beds, clear counters, no personal items.
• Use natural light and a wide-angle lens, and keep editing light so colors stay true.

Do Video and Virtual Tours Help?

Yes – they help families understand the layout and trust what they are booking.

A short walkthrough video or a 3D virtual tour shows how rooms connect, where the bedrooms are and how far the pool is from the kitchen. That answers questions families would otherwise ask by message, and it can reassure guests booking from overseas. Keep videos short, steady and current, and use them on your own direct-booking site and social media as well as the booking platforms. A short clip of nearby attractions or the resort amenities can help too.

Can You Use Drone Photos?

Yes, but a drone flown for business must be operated under the FAA's Part 107 rules.

The FAA says small drones flown for work or business must follow Part 107, which requires a remote pilot certificate earned by passing a knowledge test. Hire a certified drone pilot rather than flying yourself, and check the resort's rules too. Aerial shots work best for showing a home's position near the pool, lake, golf course or clubhouse.

Why Must Photos Stay Accurate?

Guests who arrive to a home that does not match the photos leave bad reviews – and may qualify for refunds under platform policies.

Retake photos after you replace furniture, repaint or change a theme, and remove photos of amenities that are closed or gone. Accurate photos protect your reviews, which matter as much as the photos for future bookings. If you upgrade the home, budget new photos as part of the project.

What Should You Ask Your Manager About Marketing?

Who owns the photos, how often they are updated and where the listing appears.

• Is professional photography included, and who owns the photos if you change managers?
• How often are photos and descriptions refreshed?
• Which platforms and direct-booking sites list the home?
• Does the company produce video or virtual tours?

See our guide to management fees for the other questions to ask before you sign.

Pros, Cons and Our Take

Pros

• Professional photos and video can raise clicks and bookings.
• Virtual tours answer layout questions before guests book.
• Good media works on every platform and on direct-booking sites.

Cons

• Photography, video and drone work add cost.
• Photos must be retaken after every refresh.
• Photo ownership can become an issue when you change managers.

Our Take

Professional photos are one of the cheapest ways to improve a vacation rental's bookings. Lead with the pool, the game room and the themed rooms, add a short walkthrough video, and make sure you own the photos. When you buy a home, look at its listing photos as a guest would – weak photos can be an easy fix that raises bookings quickly.

What Owners Should Know

• Keep your own copies of all photos, videos and tours.
• Check your listings as a guest would every few months.
• Plan new photos into every upgrade or refresh.

See our buyers guide for the rest of the process.

Official Sources

• FAA: flying a drone for work or business (Part 107)