High-quality photos and video are essential for attracting guests to your property. This guide explains how to add and manage photos and a cover video in Haven.
Cover Video
You can upload a video to use as the hero background on your property page. When a cover video is set, it replaces the cover photo in the hero section and plays automatically (muted, looping) for a cinematic first impression.
Uploading a Cover Video
- Navigate to the Photos section - In your property edit page, scroll to the Photos section
- Find the "Cover video" card - This appears above the photo gallery
- Click to upload or drag and drop - Select a video file from your device
- Wait for upload - The video uploads directly and a preview appears when complete
Video Requirements
- Format: MP4, WebM, or QuickTime (.mov)
- Size: Up to 200 MB
- Recommended: Short clips (15-60 seconds), landscape orientation, 1080p or higher
- Tips: Use a cinematic, slow-panning shot of your property. Videos autoplay muted, so audio is not important.
Managing Your Cover Video
- Preview: After upload, a video player shows a preview of your cover video
- Remove: Click the "Remove video" button to delete the cover video and revert to showing your cover photo
- Replace: Upload a new video to replace the existing one
When to Use a Cover Video
- Luxury properties: Video conveys ambiance that photos cannot
- Scenic locations: Showcase ocean views, mountain panoramas, or sunsets
- Unique features: Highlight pools, outdoor spaces, or architectural details in motion
Uploading Photos
- Navigate to the Photos section - In your property edit page, scroll to the Photos section
- Click "Add Photos" - This opens the file upload dialog
- Select your images - Choose one or multiple photos from your device
- Wait for upload - Photos will upload automatically
Photo Requirements
- Format: JPG, PNG, or WebP
- Size: Recommended at least 1200px wide
- Minimum: At least one photo is required (even if you have a cover video, photos are still used in the gallery)
- Recommended: 10-20 photos showing different areas
Organizing Photos
Reordering Photos
- Drag and drop - Click and drag photos to reorder them
- First photo is primary - The first photo appears as the main image on your property page
- Choose your best photo first - Make sure your most impressive photo is first
Tagging Photos and Grouping by Room
Tagging your photos helps organize them by room or area, making it easier for guests to explore your property. Tagged images are automatically grouped and displayed under the "About the property" section on your property page.
How to Tag Photos
- Open the photo manager - Navigate to the Photos section in your property edit page
- Click on a photo - Select the image you want to tag
- Click the tag icon - Look for the tag button on the selected photo
- Choose a tag - Select from predefined tags or create a custom one
- Save - Click "Save Tag" to apply the tag to the photo
You can tag photos with these predefined room categories:
- Master Bedroom - For the primary bedroom
- Guest Bedroom - For additional bedrooms
- Living Room - For common living spaces
- Kitchen - For kitchen areas
- Dining Room - For dining spaces
- Bathroom - For standard bathrooms
- Master Bath - For the primary bathroom
- Outside - For exterior shots
- Pool - For pool areas
- Patio - For outdoor patios and decks
- View - For scenic views from the property
- Entrance - For entryways and foyers
If your property has unique spaces not covered by the predefined tags:
- Open the tag modal - Click on a photo and select the tag option
- Enter custom tag name - Type your custom room or area name in the "Or create a custom tag" field
- Click "Add" - This adds your custom tag to the available tags list
- Select the tag - Your custom tag will now be available for selection
- Save - Apply the tag to your photo
Tip: Once you create a custom tag, it becomes available for all photos in that property, making it easy to tag similar spaces consistently.
Benefits of Tagging
- Better organization - Group photos by room type for easier management
- Improved guest experience - Guests can easily find photos of specific areas
- Professional presentation - Tagged images are automatically organized on your property page
- Consistent labeling - Use the same tags across multiple photos for the same room type
Best Practices
- Start with exterior - Show the outside of your property first
- Show key spaces - Include living room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms
- Tag consistently - Use the same tag names for similar rooms (e.g., always use "Master Bedroom" not "Master Bedroom" and "Main Bedroom")
- Tag all photos - Tag every photo to maximize organization benefits
- Highlight unique features - Show what makes your property special
- Use natural light - Photos taken in good lighting look better
- Keep it clean - Make sure spaces are tidy before photographing
Photo Tips
- Take multiple angles - Show rooms from different perspectives
- Include amenities - Show special features like pools, views, or unique spaces
- Show scale - Include objects that help guests understand size
- Update seasonally - Refresh photos to show current conditions
Cover Video vs. Cover Photo
| Feature | Cover Photo | Cover Video |
|---|
| Display | Static image in hero section | Autoplaying looped video in hero section |
| Source | First photo in your gallery (sortIndex 0) | Separately uploaded via "Cover video" card |
| Required | Yes (at least one photo required) | No (optional) |
| Priority | Shows when no cover video is set | Replaces cover photo when set |
When you upload a cover video, it takes over the hero section. Your first photo still remains in the gallery and is used as a fallback if the video is removed.
Photos and Videos with PMS Integrations
If your property is connected to a PMS like Hospitable, photos are synced automatically from your PMS. You will see a count like "56 photos synced from Hospitable" in the Photos section.
You can still:
- Upload additional photos directly in Haven alongside the synced ones
- Upload property videos — this is a Haven exclusive. PMS platforms and Airbnb do not support property videos, but Haven lets you upload walkthrough tours, drone footage, and neighborhood videos that play in your property page's hero section
See PMS Integrations Overview for more details.
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