Preparing Your Home For Professional Real Estate Photography
To make sure your property shines in the photos, we’d like to share some tips on how to prepare for your professional real estate photo shoot. Following these guidelines will help us showcase the home in the best possible light!
First, let's talk about preparing the interior of the home. A little effort here can make a big difference. You will want to:
Turn on all interior lights, including recessed lights, lamps, and string lights. Good lighting is essential for great photos.
Open all the blinds to let in natural light and turn off all ceiling fans.
Hide all garbage cans, whether in the kitchen or bathrooms. We want to keep things looking clean and clutter-free.
Remove any unnecessary items from the kitchen, like sponges, racks, scrubbers, and towels. Also, clear off any magnets and photos from the fridge.
Consider hiding personal photos. This helps maintain your privacy and keeps the focus on the home's features.
For pet owners, please hide pet bowls, beds, toys, litter boxes, and crates. It's best if pets are taken for a walk, crated, or kept in a separate room during the shoot.
In the bathrooms, put toilet lids down and hide toothbrushes, razors, soaps, and shampoo. Only decorative towels should be on display. And hide tissue boxes unless they're in decorative containers.
Tidy up any children’s toys to create a clean and spacious look. A clutter-free space really helps highlight the home's best features.
Keep nightstands tidy by removing non-essential items to create a simple and organized look.
Typically we don’t shoot inside closets unless they're large walk-ins, so no need to worry about those.
Let’s now turn our attention to the outside, as it’s the first thing buyers will see:
Make sure there are no cars in the driveway, parked directly in front of the home, or on the front lawn. If the driveway has any stains, please have it pressure washed prior to the shoot so that it has time to dry.
We usually don't shoot inside the garage, unless specifically requested, so feel free to use it to store any items you want to keep out of sight. Hide garbage cans or recycling bins in the garage as well.
If possible, remove any security yard signs.
When necessary, remove skimmers, vacuums, and chlorinators from swimming pools at least an hour prior to the shoot, as removing this equipment during the shoot can cause water spots to show on the pool deck.
Take down any seasonal or holiday decorations, as we want the photos to be timeless.
Remember, less is more, not just for reducing clutter, but also for making the home more appealing to potential buyers. If possible treat this photo session like a showing—it's often best if those living in the home can step out for an hour, maybe grab a coffee or visit a neighbor. This will help the process run smoothly so that you can get back to business as usual quickly. Our goal is to make your home look stunning online and to help it sell quickly. We appreciate your business and look forward to a successful photo shoot!
