Where Interior Design Meets Lifestyle Photography: Shooting Somerled Designs' Driftwood Properties

Some shoots just hit different. The Somerled Designs project out in Driftwood was one of those days — a full production at three properties on a single location, eight models, two families, three outfit changes, and every amenity on the shot list. It was equal parts real estate photography, commercial lifestyle directing, and flat-out fun.

The shoot

Somerled Designs hired me to capture their Driftwood short term rental properties from every angle — interior and exterior photography to showcase the spaces themselves, plus full lifestyle photography to bring them to life. That meant coordinating eight models and two families across three properties, rotating through three outfit sets to give the final gallery range and versatility. Every amenity needed coverage. Every space needed to feel lived-in, aspirational, and bookable.

This is exactly the kind of shoot I love because it blends two worlds I've built a career in — Airbnb and real estate photography on one side, commercial lifestyle directing on the other. When those two things come together on a well-designed property, the results are something special.

Why lifestyle photography is changing the STR market

The short term rental market is shifting. Standard real estate photography — clean, empty rooms, wide angles — is no longer enough to stand out on Airbnb, VRBO, or a direct booking site. Guests are making emotional decisions. They're not just looking at a space, they're picturing themselves in it. Lifestyle photography gives them that picture. Properties with lifestyle imagery consistently see higher engagement, more saves, and more bookings than those with traditional listing photos alone.

Austin property managers and interior design firms building STR portfolios are starting to take this seriously, and the ones investing in it early are pulling ahead.

On model sourcing

For this shoot, Somerled handled model casting on their end — and it was a great group to work with. That said, I've done plenty of these productions where I take that on entirely. I have a roster of models I regularly work with for exactly these types of lifestyle shoots, so if you're a property manager or design firm who doesn't want to deal with casting logistics, that's something I can handle for you.

Who this is for

If you're an Austin property manager, an interior design firm working in the short term rental space, or an Airbnb host with a property worth showing off properly — this is the kind of production that pays for itself. One full shoot day produces a complete library of interior, exterior, and lifestyle images that works across your listing, your website, your social channels, and your marketing materials.

Reach out if you want to talk through what a shoot like this would look like for your property. Contact me!