How Many Photos Do You Need to Sell a Property?

If you are about to sell your apartment, you may be wondering: how many photographs do I need to sell an apartment? It is a fair question. A listing needs enough images to engage buyers without overwhelming them. Here is a practical answer based on my experience as a property photographer in Marbella and the Costa del Sol.

1. How many photographs do you need for each property size?

The answer to how many photographs you need to sell an apartment depends on its size and layout. Use this as a guide:

• Studio or small one-bedroom apartment, up to 80 m²: 15 to 20 photographs to cover the living area, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and terrace, if there is one.
• Two- or three-bedroom apartment, 80–150 m²: 20 to 25 photographs, covering the living area, kitchen, each bedroom, bathrooms, terrace and communal spaces.
• Large apartment or duplex, over 150 m²: 25 to 35 photographs to cover every room, stairs, unusual layouts and outdoor areas.
• Penthouse with a roof terrace: 25 to 30 photographs, with emphasis on the views, terrace and natural light.

As you can see, how many photographs you need to sell an apartment is not one fixed number. For many apartments, 20 to 25 images tell the story without exhausting the viewer.

2. Which photographs should you include?

Knowing how many photographs you need to sell an apartmentis only half the job. These are the essential views:

• Main living room: at least two photographs, including a wide view and another angle.
• Kitchen: one or two photographs, showing the whole room and a useful detail.
• Bedrooms: one photograph per room, or two for a large main bedroom.
• Bathrooms: one photograph per bathroom.
• Terrace or balcony: one or two photographs, especially when there are views.
• Facade and entrance: one or two photographs showing the building and access.
• Communal areas, such as pool, garden or gym: one or two photographs if they add value.
• Parking and storage, if included: one photograph of each.

Together, these views add up to roughly 20 images. That is why the answer to how many photographs you need to sell an apartment often lands near that number.

3. Quality or quantity?

More photographs do not automatically make a better listing. Forty dark, crooked or cluttered images can be less persuasive than 20 well-made ones. When deciding how many photographs you need to sell an apartment, prioritise quality. Good light, straight perspectives and clear compositions help your home stand out.

4. What about a holiday rental on Airbnb?

If your apartment is on Airbnb, the answer to how many photographs you need to sell an apartment changes slightly. Show the guest experience as well as the rooms: terrace, views, pool, surroundings and inviting details. Fifteen to 25 carefully selected images are often enough. One strong sunset view from the terrace may work harder than ten similar interior shots.

5. Common mistakes when choosing your images

• Uploading repetitive photographs: you do not need five nearly identical views of the living room.
• Forgetting outdoor and communal areas: buyers want to understand the building and setting.
• Including weak images: a blurred or poorly lit photograph weakens the listing.
• Leaving out parking or storage: if they are part of the sale, show them.

Avoid these mistakes and the answer to how many photographs you need to sell an apartment becomes easier to apply: select the strongest images.

6. What works on property portals?

In my guide to photography for Idealista and Fotocasa I explain formats, resolution and image order. As a practical rule, 20 to 30 photographs usually cover a standard apartment. According to portal studies, listings with fewer than ten images receive 50% fewer visits; above 30, the extra visits are marginal. So for most homes, how many photographs you need to sell an apartment comes down to a useful target of 20 to 25.

7. Final ways to improve your photographs

• Prepare the property: clean, tidy and remove personal items.
• Use natural light by opening curtains and blinds.
• If you can, hire a photographer who specialises in property.
• Choose your best images for the first three to five positions.
• Add useful alt text to images on your website.

8. Need a tailored quote?

If you are still wondering how many photographs you need to sell an apartment and would like help planning the shoot, get in touch. I will send a no-obligation quote based on the size and features of your home. Your photographs will be ready to upload to Idealista, Fotocasa or Airbnb within 48 hours.

Want to sell your apartment faster and at the best possible price?
Start with a professional photo shoot.