Real Property Photographer

Instagram Facebook

Home Photo Shoot Preparation Checklist

 

Please tidy and clean the property thoroughly. We do not help people clean the home. Even more – we ask our photographers not to touch the owner’s belongings. So, advance preparation is essential.

If the home is prepared as though it were being photographed for a glossy magazine, it will greatly enhance the marketing of the property.
Outside:
  • Remove any cars, garbage bins, spades, wooden boards, garden hoses etc.
 
Kitchen:
  • Clear and clean countertops; remove cleaning supplies, drying racks, cleaning cloths, and small appliances that are not visually appealing.
  • Hang towels beautifully (or remove them al all).
  • Remove refrigerator magnets, notes, and photos.
 
Living Room / Family Room:
  • Declutter surfaces; keep only a few tasteful decorative items (e.g., a vase or figurine).
  • Arrange sofa pillows neatly; smooth throws.
  • Place all chairs in an orderly, aligned position.
 
Bedrooms:
  • Make all beds hotel-neat; smooth linens and arrange pillows.
  • Put away all clothing and personal items.
  • Clear bedside tables except for lamps and decor.
 
Bathrooms:
  • Remove everything not attached: toothpaste cups, soaps and shampoos (except attractive designer bottles), razors, sponges, scrubbers, cleaning cloths, toilet paper, toilet-cleaning tools, rugs.
  • Leave only elegant decorative items (e.g., plants or statuettes).
  • Hang towels beautifully (or remove them al all).
  • Close the toilet lids.
 
General (whole home):
  • Hide any cleaning supplies like the broom, bucket, mop, cloth, detergent, rubber gloves, etc.
  • Open curtains if there is a nice window view.
  • Put blinds perfectly flat if there is a nice window view, otherwise tilt them to an angle that lets in ample daylight. If the blinds don’t look good (have damaged parts), open them at all.
  • If someone is at home when (or leaves just before) the photographer arrives, turn on ALL lights, including any lamps, under-cabinet lights, and microwave/hood lights. No worries – if the lights are off, the photographer will turn them on.
Thank you for preparing — these steps help present the property at its very best.
 
REMARK:
If the building is single-story, please have the residents vacate the building for the duration of the photo shoot — only one person (the realtor or a resident) may be present. Experience shows that otherwise, the visit turns into a struggle between the photographer and the people trying to get them to leave the frame. If the home has multiple floors, residents may remain in the building, but the photographer will ask them not to be on the floor being photographed at the moment.
Book a Shoot