How to make money by renting out your home for photoshoots

When thumbing through magazines or watching TV, we are bombarded by images of beautiful homes, manicured gardens, and enviable lifestyles.

These pictures or videos have been carefully produced to reflect the brand and perfectly align with its reputation, promise and image.

But where are all these bespoke homes and locations and how are they discovered?

Location agencies connect businesses that are looking for a setting with home owners who have properties available for rent by the day.

One such agency, Limitless Locations, has provided the settings for TV commercials, reality shows, magazine and fashion photoshoots, as well as product launches and media events.

Managing director Jason Cornford says a diverse array of properties is available to suit almost any brief, whether it’s a high-end luxury brand or an everyday household product.

“The most desired locations are mainly presentable, fairly new houses that are aspirational but identifiable to the target audience,” Cornford said.

“That said, we have had some supermarket brands that like to use grand mansions for their photo shoots!”

Director of Pure Locations Michelle McCormac agrees that homes don’t need to be multimillion-dollar mansions to qualify.

“We have everything from ordinary suburban homes to $20 million Point Piper harbourfront houses,” she said. “Some TV advertisements require an average suburban setting, but some of our premium clients are looking for prestigious locations.”

The concept allows home owners to make extra money from their homes by renting the property to vetted clients, easing some home owners’ concerns about the uncertainty and risk of short-stay platforms such as Airbnb.

In fact, Cornford says houses need to be readily available, which means properties on these platforms aren’t accepted.

So what do home owners need to do to qualify, and how does the process work?

“All properties need to have spacious rooms so the product or service can be placed in position with ample room for the camera crew as well,” said Cornford.

Properties are advertised by region and owners’ privacy is protected, Cornford says, with addresses only revealed to clients if the owner is interested in accommodating the photo shoot and is willing for the client to have an inspection.

“This is the time for the owner to express any concerns such as, ‘Will my floor be cared for or covered? Do we need to vacate the house for the whole day?’ ” Cornford said.

“We then negotiate the best deal for both the client and the property owner.”

Fees can range from $1000 to $3000 per day depending on how long the shoot will take, the number of people on site, whether it is a still photography or video shoot or an event, and the areas of the property to be used.

“Once the shoot is completed, the owner will inspect the property with a member of the production team to ensure they are happy with the condition in which the property has been left,” Cornford said.

Unusual requests from clients are common. “We had a client who was shooting an ad for insect spray and we had to ask the home owner if it was OK that they brought cockroaches onto the shoot, as they were the lead actors,” he said. “They also had their own personal trainer!”

McCormac says one of her most memorable clients was a men’s underwear ad. “[The clients] were asked if it would be OK to shoot at the converted warehouse location with a donkey,” she said. “In the end, the model ended up riding the donkey in his Y-fronts!”

Another location was photographed for an ad promoting Mardi Gras. “Cockatoos [were] flying around inside the house around a drag queen!”

Sometimes, the client’s concepts are just impossible to realise. “We’ve been asked if we have a French chateau available in NSW, and another client asked if we have a field close to the CBD.”

While it is flattering to have your home selected for such a production, it does come with the inconvenience of having your home turned into a film set for a day.

But at the end of the day, home owners can feel rewarded when they are presented with professional images starring their very own property, and some extra cash for their efforts.