Modern living room with large windows, grey sofa with beige pillows, a wooden coffee table, leather stools, potted plants, and decorative items on a rug.

Photo Prep Checklist

Are you getting ready to sell your home and want to make a strong first impression? Proper preparation for professional real estate photography is crucial for attracting potential buyers and enhancing your home's visibility online.

Key steps like decluttering and maximizing natural light can significantly boost your home's appeal. Remember, it’s not just about tidying up—it's about staging your space to resonate with buyers.

By following our expert tips, you'll enhance your home’s online attractiveness and increase the chances of a quicker, more profitable sale.

Living room with cream sofa, colorful decorative pillows, round coffee table with vases, plant, and bowl, patterned rug, wall art, large window with blinds, plants, bookshelves, and chair.

Interior

LIVING AREAS

  • Vacuum/sweep/mop.

  • Tidy couches and fluff pillows.

  • Minimize clutter (hide remotes, magazines, pet beds, kids toys, etc).

  • Hide visible cords.

    KITCHEN

  • Clear counters - remove appliances, paper towels, knives, etc.

  • Remove soaps, sponges, drain stoppers, and hand towels.

  • Hide pet bowls and garbage cans.

  • Remove magnets, pictures, etc from the refrigerator.

Bathroom with a glass shower enclosure, white toilet, wooden vanity with black countertop, large mirror, and framed artwork on the wall.

BATHROOMS

  • Remove all items from the countertop (soap, personal items, hairdryer, etc)

  • Wipe down the counter, sink, shower, and glass doors if needed

  • Hide all trash cans, plungers, toilet brush

  • Keep the toilet seat lid down

  • Remove all floor/bath mats

  • Remove all items from the shower/bathtub (soap, shampoo bottles, razors, loofahs, etc)

  • Remove dirty towels

Bright, minimalist kitchen and dining area with white walls, large windows, wooden dining table with six chairs, and decorative plants and artwork.

DINING ROOM

  • Straighten chairs

  • Properly set the dining room or clear the table of everything except maybe one centerpiece

  • Remove children's chairs, like booster seats (hide in closet or garage)

    BEDROOMS

  • Make all beds and decorate if possible

  • Minimize all clutter including nightstands, dressers, end tables, etc (remove TV remotes, books, alarm clocks, etc)

  • Hide visible chords (phone chargers, TV chords)

  • Ensure any items under the bed are not visible

A two-story house with white brick walls, brown shutters on the windows, a brick pathway, a well-maintained lawn, and a garden with bushes and pink flowers, under a partly cloudy sky.

Exterior

  • Tidy up landscaping 

  • Put away water hoses, toys, cleaning supplies, garbage cans, and other miscellaneous items that are not directly part of the exterior area

  • Arrange outdoor furniture as you would like it photographed.

  • Remove covers from grill, TV, and hot tub

  • Remove pet waste

  • Clean pool and remove any toys, leaves, equipment, etc.

  • Remove yard signs (for sale, home security, school, etc.)

  • Remove cars from the driveway and front of the house - Park it in the garage or down the street

  • Hide garbage cans

A woman on stairs holding a white container with cleaning supplies, wearing a brown long-sleeve shirt, gray jeans, and black slippers. She has her hair up in a messy bun, and a black jacket tied around her waist. The stairs are tiled in beige. To her right, a broom leans against the wall. The wall has a framed mirror and a painting of an elderly man praying, and a wooden coat rack with some hanging items.

Additional Tips

  • Use the garage to store items you would like to hide unless requested otherwise by the real estate agent.

  • We usually do not photograph garages or closets unless they’re special.

  • Remove family photos/names if you wish. Do not depersonalize completely. Rather, choose to simplify.

  • Hide holiday decor if possible. This prevents photos from being dated.

  • Clean windows for a crystal-clear view

Person holding a Canon EOS 5D camera with a lens attached, adjusting the settings.

Shoot Day

  • Turn ON all lights including lamps

  • Turn OFF all fans

  • Open blinds/curtains

  • Keep all pets restrained on a leash, in a crate (not visible in photos), or off-site.

  • Stay off-site or on a different level than the photographer during the appointment to avoid shadows, reflections, and accidentally appearing in photos.

  • You do not have to be present for the shoot, we will leave the house as we found it and turn off the lights before we leave

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The first thing that potential buyers will notice when they visit your home is its curb appeal. The exterior of your home should be well-maintained, with clean landscaping, a well-manicured lawn, and an attractive front door. Make sure that any visible repairs or touch-ups have been made to the outside of your home, including the roof, gutters, and windows.

CLEANLINESS

A clean home is a must when preparing your home for sale. Potential buyers will be looking at every detail of your home, so it's important to make sure that it is spotless. This includes everything from the floors to the ceiling, and everything in between. Pay attention to details like wiping down baseboards, cleaning out closets, and dusting light fixtures. Also, make sure that your home smells fresh and inviting.