Meet the homeowner behind Vanillin, a distinctive Mediterranean-inspired photoshoot location in Caringbah South, Sydney, and discover what it’s really like to open your home to creative teams.
For homeowners who list their properties as photoshoot locations, a much-loved space can become a backdrop for fashion campaigns, lifestyle shoots, furniture photography and creative productions. And while the beautiful images are one part of the story, there’s another side that happens behind the scenes: the experience of welcoming creative teams into your home.
We spoke to the homeowner behind Vanillin in Caringbah South, Sydney, to find out what it’s really like to rent your home for photoshoots.
With its natural stone, earthy tones, beautiful natural light, lush surroundings and distinctive Mediterranean aesthetic, Vanillin offers the kind of setting that immediately captures the imagination. But for its homeowner, the experience has become about much more than simply having a beautiful photoshoot location.
From their very first shoot with Peta + Jane to welcoming fashion, furniture and lifestyle productions — and even Chris Brown and his pets — here’s their experience in their own words.
“I love the textures, natural stone, earthy tones and resort-style living. Being west-facing, the home gets beautiful natural light, and the surrounding natural landscape adds to its feel. It has a unique Mediterranean aesthetic that makes it feel like a little escape.”
It’s easy to see why Vanillin has become such a sought-after setting for photoshoots. The combination of natural textures, warm earthy tones and Mediterranean-inspired design gives the home a distinctive visual identity, while the surrounding landscape brings another layer of natural beauty to the setting.
For photographers and creative teams, these details can offer a variety of moods and backdrops within one home — from relaxed lifestyle imagery to elevated fashion and interiors.
“I felt the home had such a unique look, with so many different backdrops and a beautiful Mediterranean feel. I wanted to share the space with others and give creative teams the opportunity to bring their ideas to life in a setting that feels a little different.”
For many homeowners, the decision to list their property starts with recognising what makes their home different. It might be the architecture, the interiors, a beautiful garden, an abundance of natural light or simply a feeling that’s difficult to recreate in a traditional studio.
For Vanillin, it was the opportunity to share a home with a strong sense of place — and to see how creative teams could interpret it in their own way.
“Naturally, opening your home to people you don’t know can feel a little daunting. However, the Pure Locations team made everything so clear from the beginning. Everyone has been respectful, professional and reassuring, and I always feel like my home is in safe hands.”
It’s a natural consideration for any homeowner thinking about registering their property as a photoshoot location.
Your home is personal. It’s where you live, relax and spend time with family, so inviting a production team through the doors can initially feel like a big step.
For the Vanillin homeowner, having the support of the Pure Locations team helped make that transition comfortable and reassuring.
“My first shoot was with Peta + Jane, and it was such an amazing experience! They brought in an influencer, and the whole team was incredibly professional. It was so exciting to see our home transformed into a creative setting and to see how beautifully the space could be captured.”
There’s something fascinating about watching a familiar space become part of a production.
The rooms and details that are part of everyday life can suddenly take on a completely different character when viewed through a photographer’s lens. Furniture is moved, styling is introduced and different corners of the home become carefully considered compositions.
For a homeowner, it can be a wonderful opportunity to see their own space in a new light.
“We’ve welcomed a wonderful variety of shoots, mostly fashion, along with some furniture and lifestyle shoots. One of the highlights was having Chris Brown here with his pets, which was such a fun experience!”
The variety of productions is part of what makes being a photoshoot location homeowner so interesting.
One day, a room might be styled for a fashion campaign; another booking could bring a furniture brand or lifestyle team into the space. Each production sees the home in a slightly different way.
And sometimes, the bookings bring some unexpected and memorable moments — like welcoming Chris Brown and his pets to Vanillin.
“The process has been so easy and enjoyable, but what I love most is the people behind it. The Pure Locations team have become a little bit like family and friends to me. Everyone is so warm, respectful and lovely to deal with, and I genuinely miss them when time passes and I haven’t heard from them!
“It’s become so much more than simply hiring out our home. I feel supported, connected and grateful to be part of the Pure Locations family.”
For Pure Locations, relationships with homeowners are at the heart of what we do.
The homeowner’s experience at Vanillin is a lovely example of how that relationship can grow beyond individual bookings and become an ongoing creative partnership.
“We’ve been able to put the earnings towards holidays, which is such a lovely bonus. It’s wonderful to have something you already love create opportunities for new experiences and memories with family.”
This is one of the lovely unexpected benefits of becoming a location homeowner.
Rather than requiring homeowners to make a major investment or change the way they use their property, photoshoot bookings can allow an existing asset — a home they already love — to contribute towards something meaningful.
For this family, the earnings have helped create holidays and new memories together.
“If you love your home and enjoy sharing it with others, I think it’s a beautiful thing to do. You get to see your space through other people’s eyes, meet creative teams and be part of something exciting, all while earning from a home you already love. Pure Locations makes the experience feel safe, supported and worthwhile.”
Renting your home for photoshoots isn’t simply about having a beautiful house. It’s about sharing the character, atmosphere and details that make it yours — and watching creative people interpret those things in completely new ways. For Vanillin’s homeowner, what began with the decision to share a distinctive Mediterranean-inspired home has grown into something much more personal: a connection with creative teams, memorable shoots, a relationship with the Pure Locations team and the opportunity to turn photoshoot earnings into holidays with family.
If you have a home with character, beautiful natural light, distinctive interiors or unique outdoor spaces, it could be the setting a creative team is looking for. Your home could become the backdrop for the next fashion campaign, editorial, furniture shoot or lifestyle story — while continuing to be the place you love coming home to.
For more campaign inspiration and location updates, check out our Instagram and TikTok.
To get an exclusive look at our latest listings, sign up to our newsletter.
Pure Locations specialises in finding the perfect locations to hire for photo shoots, TV productions, filming, digital content, corporate events and brand activations. Whatever your requirements, we will help you find just what you’re looking for.
Simply complete an enquiry form via the button below, email your brief to enquiry@purelocations.com.au or call us today on 1300 010 544.
Stay up to date with featured locations, latest news and tips.
