Holiday gift guide for the interiors lover
After my recent trip to southern Queensland and Byron Bay, I was inspired by to create a gift guide for the interiors lover…with a beachy vibe!
I spotted quite a few versions of the waterproof beach bag included below and thought it was a such a great practical and cool option, big enough to hold everything you need for a day by the sea.
I came across the Bask towels in Tulum Home in Cabarita, and can confirm they are as buttery soft as they look!
Clockwise from left: Dino waterproof bag in Dusk: $129 via Dinobag; BASK beach towel: $89 via Tulum Home; Kinfolk Islands book: $49 via Booktopia; Coconut & lime candle, Palm Beach: $45 via Palm Beach; Low Tide Beach Chair - Sunday Supply: $169 via Sunday Supply; We Are Feel Good Coconut Sunscreen (400ml) $47.95 via We Are Feel Good.
Make Your Short-Term Rental Shine this Summer:
5 Content Ideas for Owners
As the temperatures rise, it's time to prepare for the summer season. In this blog, we'll explore some summer-themed content ideas that will keep your audience engaged and excited about your home.
1. Local Attractions: Your Area's Hidden Gems
I say this a lot, but YOU are the expert on your area- and one of the best ways to captivate potential guests is by showcasing the local attractions and hidden gems.
Summer is a season of adventure and exploration, and you can be the guide to all the best spots nearby. Create a "Local Attractions" highlight on your Instagram, share photos, videos, and information about nearby parks, beaches, hiking trails, or any other points of interest. Give your audience a sneak peek into how they could spend their time when they visit your home in the summer.
2. Summer Refresh: Setting the Mood
A summer refresh for your short-term rental can make a world of difference in attracting guests. Share the process of transforming your space for the warmer months. This could include changing over the linen to lighter, more summery options, adding some colour, or simply rearranging furniture to create a breezy atmosphere.
Document this transformation through photos and short videos and share the "before and after" with your audience.
3. Introduce New Features
Consider adding new features or amenities to your rental property specifically for the summer season. Maybe it's a barbecue, a hammock for lazy afternoons, or even a beach umbrella and chairs for guests to use. Share these additions with your audience and highlight how they can enhance the overall guest experience during the summer. Don't forget to mention any safety measures you've put in place to ensure your guests have a worry-free stay.
4. Best Outdoor Dining Spots
Guide your guests to the best outdoor dining spots in your area. Share recommendations for restaurants, cafes, or food trucks where they can enjoy delicious meals while enjoying the warm weather. Include photos of local dishes and describe the unique dining experiences they can expect. You can also suggest nearby markets or shops where guests can pick up fresh, seasonal ingredients for a homemade meal at your rental.
5. Where to Sip
If your area is known for its craft breweries, wineries, or cocktail bars, be sure to share the best with your audience. Share photos and videos of the drinks and the charming settings where they can be enjoyed. Encourage your guests to unwind and experience the local beverage scene during their stay.
By offering valuable insights into your local area, showing off your property's seasonal charm, and highlighting nearby dining and drinking options, you’ll show potential guests why your home is THE place to stay this summer.
How To Prepare Your Holiday Social Media Marketing
Bank St Apartment, Port Fairy - by Olivia Barua
Spring is suddenly here and while it might feel a little early to plan your social media for the holiday season, it’s a wise move to get ahead so that you can stay on top of your strategy and most importantly - don’t miss any key dates to promote your property!
Here are some major dates to highlight in your calendar:
Important dates:
September school holidays - 16 September – 1 October (VIC)
Friday before AFL Grand Final public holiday - 29 September (VIC only)
Melbourne Cup public holiday - 7 November
Summer holidays - 21 December – 29 January 2024 (VIC)
Christmas Eve - 24 December
Christmas Day - 25 December
Boxing Day - 26 December
How to prepare:
Now you have the key dates in your calendar, here are some ways you can prepare for the holiday season:
1. Schedule your social media
This is likely to be the busiest time of the year, and no one wants to be stuck on their phone trying to come up with post ideas. Using a social media planning tool like Later or Planoly can take the stress out of posting as you can plan and schedule them in advance.
2. Consider something special for your followers
The holiday season is a great time to treat your loyal audience - you could consider a discount, a giveaway or a bonus such as a gift on arrival to make their stay extra special.
3. Optimise your website, listing and social media
Now is the time to audit your website, listings and social media to see how you can improve performance, copy, hyperlinks and bio. Put the work in now and you’ll be so glad you did!
Need more help creating and curating content for the holiday season and beyond? Book a free, no-strings attached consultation call with me today here.
How to prepare for a photoshoot
Congratulations, you’ve booked the shoot and now you’re going to have proof of your beautiful work that you can show off and attract your dream jobs!
If you’ve never arranged a photoshoot before or you’re wondering how you can best prepare and get the most out of the day - I have you covered.
Communicating with your client
If we’re shooting at a house where the client currently lives, it’s likely you’ve been liaising with them to find a date to shoot your project.
First things first, you cannot over communicate.
Being super clear about what will happen on the day, letting them know how many hours the photographer will be there and which spaces will be captured will help put your client at ease and set the day up to run smoothly.
Your client will spend time cleaning and preparing the house for the shoot, so if you’re up front about the rooms that will be captured - they won’t spend unnecessary time preparing spaces that won’t be featured in any photos.
If you’ve had a call over the phone with them, also recap what was discussed in an email so they have something to refer back to. We’re all busy, and these details can easily be forgotten or misunderstood if they’re not in writing.
In almost all cases, it’s more comfortable for everyone if the client is not at the house while the shoot takes place. While the photographer will always be respectful of their home, it can still feel uncomfortable to have people moving around their space. It’s a good opportunity for the client to book an appointment and get out of the house for the day!
Prepare the space
While your client will usually prepare their home for the shoot, I would always recommend arranging to be there well ahead of the photographer to do any additional cleaning and/or styling. If it’s possible to do this the day or night before, that would be best.
The shoot officially commences when the photographer arrives, so any time spent cleaning and preparing the space will eat into shooting time.
Prioritise
When you book a shoot with me, we’ll discuss what the most important rooms are in order to map out a timeline of how much time should be spent on each space.
If there are any ‘must-have’ shots you would like captured, share these with your photographer ahead of the shoot so they can ensure they’re covered.
PHOTOSHOOT PREP LIST:
If your client is currently living in the space that will be photographed, let them know what will happen on the day, the duration of the shoot and which spaces will be captured.
Discuss how the house will be cleaned and styled.
Arrange for the client to be out of the house on the day of the shoot if possible.
Recap what was discussed with your client in an email.
Arrive well in advance of the photographer to do any additional cleaning or styling. If this can be done the day before that is ideal.
Map out a priority list so your photographer can plan how much time should be spent on capturing each space.
If there are any ‘must' have’ shots, share these with your photographer ahead of time so they can ensure they’re covered.
Best iPhone video settings for interior videos
Have you ever uploaded a video to Instagram only to find it is pixelated or grainy and just not what you expected?
Your videos should and can be crystal clear, especially when you’re showing off your projects.
Here’s how you can make sure your settings are optimised to get those crystal clear videos on social media.
Before you hit record
Switch to 4K resolution.
This is a must-do and I guarantee you’ll notice a huge difference in the quality of your videos once you start filming in 4K.
Open the Camera app, switch the camera mode to Video, and look to the corner of your screen. If you're shooting in the standard 1080p, you'll see an HD label. Just tap HD to switch to 4K video.
Use the ‘grid’ function
When you're filming videos of interiors, one feature that you might not have explored yet is the "Grid" function. This tool displays a grid overlay on your screen while shooting videos when activated.
The grid will help you to keep your frame straight and enable good composition. To access grid lines in the iPhone’s native camera app, open Settings, then Camera. Then, just “Grid” on or off as you like.
Film in vertical
If you’re filming for social media, always film in vertical format.
Filming in this orientation caters to the way users naturally interact with their phones, so they don’t need to rotate the screen for a full-screen view. You’re also making the most of the screen ‘real-estate’.
Tap to focus
Most phones allow you to tap on the screen where you want the camera to focus. When you tap on a specific subject or area, the camera will adjust the focus and exposure settings to prioritise that point. This will help your content to remain super sharp!
Before you upload:
1. First, go to your Instagram profile. You can access it by tapping your profile icon in the bottom right.
2. Next, tap the three-dash menu in the top-right
3. Go into Settings > Account
4. Next, tap ‘media quality’
5. Toggle on “Upload at highest quality”
Be aware that if you’re trying to upload your video when you’re out and about without a strong wi-fi connection, it will take longer to upload.
Video export settings
Instagram will compress 4K, so if you don’t export the video correctly it will look grainy. So, when you’re exporting from your video editing software (e.g Capcut) - make sure you export it at 1080p at 60fps.
Try these tips and settings out on your next video, and let me know if you notice a difference in the quality!