Photos & Channel Certification
High-quality photos are the single biggest factor in booking conversion. This guide covers how to upload and organize your property photos, what each OTA channel requires, and how to check your certification status before going live.
Overview
Every property in Argonautas has a Photos tab where you upload images, set a cover photo, and reorder the gallery. When you connect a property to distribution channels like Airbnb, Booking.com, or Vrbo, those channels enforce specific requirements around photo count, resolution, and content. The certification checklist helps you verify that your property meets these requirements before syncing.
Uploading Photos
How to Upload
- Navigate to Properties and open the property you want to edit.
- Switch to the Photos tab (available after the property has been saved at least once).
- Click the upload area or drag and drop image files directly onto it.
- The system accepts JPEG, PNG, and WebP formats. You can upload multiple files at once.
[Screenshot: Photos tab with the drag-and-drop upload area and existing photo grid]
Photo Requirements
For best results across all distribution channels, follow these guidelines:
| Requirement | Recommended | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2048 x 1536 px or higher | 1024 x 683 px |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2 (landscape) | No strict minimum, but landscape strongly preferred |
| File Size | Under 20 MB per image | -- |
| Format | JPEG or WebP | JPEG, PNG, or WebP |
| Count | 20--30 photos | 10 photos for channel distribution |
Avoid photos with watermarks, text overlays, heavy filters, or collages -- most OTA channels will reject these during their review process.
Reordering Photos
Photos display in the order you set. To reorder:
- Click and hold any photo thumbnail in the grid.
- Drag it to the desired position.
- Release to drop it in place.
- The new order saves automatically.
The first photo in the sequence is used as the default listing image on most channels. Set your strongest exterior or hero shot first.
[Screenshot: Dragging a photo to reorder within the grid]
Setting the Cover Photo
The cover photo is the primary image that appears on property cards throughout Argonautas -- on the properties list, booking summaries, and calendar views.
To set a cover photo, hover over any photo thumbnail and click the star icon. The selected photo is highlighted with a star badge. Only one photo can be the cover photo at a time.
The cover photo does not have to be the first photo in the gallery order. OTA channels use the gallery order for their listing; the cover photo is used only within Argonautas.
[Screenshot: Photo grid with the cover photo star icon highlighted]
Deleting Photos
Hover over a photo and click the trash icon to remove it. Deleted photos are removed permanently and cannot be recovered. If the property is connected to distribution channels, the photo will be removed from those listings on the next sync.
Channel Certification
When you connect a property to an OTA channel, that channel enforces a set of requirements your listing must meet before it can go live. In Argonautas, this is called certification.
Requirements by Channel
Each channel has its own standards. Here is a summary of the most common requirements:
| Requirement | Airbnb | Booking.com | Vrbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Photos | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Recommended Photos | 20+ | 15+ | 20+ |
| Photo Resolution | 1024 x 683 px | 840 x 460 px | 1024 x 683 px |
| Description Length | 500+ characters | 300+ characters | 400+ characters |
| Amenities Mapped | Required | Required | Required |
| Property Type | Required | Required | Required |
| Address | Full address | Full address | Full address |
| Rates Configured | Required | Required | Required |
| Cancellation Policy | Required | Required | Required |
These thresholds represent the minimum to pass channel validation. Exceeding them -- especially for photos and description length -- improves listing performance.
Checking Certification Status
To check whether your property is ready for a specific channel:
- Open the property and navigate to the Channels tab.
- Look for the certification status indicator next to each connected (or available) channel.
- A green checkmark means the property meets all requirements. A warning icon means one or more items need attention.
- Click the warning icon to see a detailed list of what is missing or needs improvement.
[Screenshot: Channel certification checklist showing passed and failed items]
Resolving Certification Issues
Common issues and how to fix them:
| Issue | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Not enough photos | Upload more photos on the Photos tab. Aim for at least 20. |
| Description too short | Edit the property description on the Property tab. Write at least 500 characters for best coverage across all channels. |
| Missing amenities | Add amenities on the Property tab. Focus on high-impact items like WiFi, parking, pool, and air conditioning. |
| No cancellation policy | Set a cancellation policy on the Policies tab. |
| Rates not configured | Set a base nightly rate on the Pricing tab and ensure at least one rate period covers upcoming dates. |
After making changes, the certification status updates automatically. You do not need to manually re-check -- revisit the Channels tab to confirm the warnings have cleared.
Key Concepts
Gallery order vs. cover photo. The gallery order controls how photos appear on OTA listings (first photo = hero image on the channel). The cover photo controls the thumbnail within Argonautas. These can be different photos.
Sync timing. When you upload, reorder, or delete photos, the changes sync to connected channels within a few minutes. Large batches of new uploads may take slightly longer.
Resolution matters. OTA channels downscale photos as needed, but they cannot upscale. Starting with a high-resolution original ensures sharp images across all devices and platforms.
Common Questions
Can I upload the same photo to multiple properties? Yes. Each property maintains its own photo gallery, so uploading the same image to two properties creates independent copies.
What happens if I fall below the minimum photo count after deleting? The certification status for affected channels will show a warning. The existing listing is not immediately removed, but you should restore the photo count promptly to avoid any channel-side issues.
Do photos sync to channels automatically? Yes. Any changes to photos (uploads, deletions, reordering) sync to all connected channels automatically.
Is there a limit on how many photos I can upload? There is no hard limit in Argonautas. Upload as many as you need. Individual channels may have their own upper limits (typically 50--100 photos).