I am looking for side work (photography is a hobby of mine and I can do handyman work as well).

You mention the photos.....absolutely make sure they are professional photography.

I would think you would need a lot of onsite infrastructure in place to handle catering photography, parking, etc. to meet the demanding needs of those that would be booking (strangers not friends). 

You need to have the home staged and get the photography re-shot.

Currently, I work for the city of Santa Monica and do some freelance Photography/Videography on the side. 

Remove everything that's not necessary and use Airbnb's free photography to get some nicely lit photos.

Professional photography can truly make your property stand out from the very begining and showcase your property in its fullest potential.

While the pictures are not awful...they are clearly not professional photography.

I belong to a few other communities for my hobbies (cars, photography), but this one by far is the most responsive.

You're going to run into this in most of the major STR markets because within the last 2 years we have seen a massive spike in available inventory.In order to compete with the competition now, hosts/owners/operators need to step up their game and be willing to invest in good quality furniture, memory foam mattresses, high quality linens, professional seasonal photography, etc.In the high desert, most visitors are looking for peace, quiet, privacy, and amazing scenery so this means stay away from purchasing homes in residential neighborhoods with neighbors on all sides.