Real Estate Photography: Listing Preparation and Photo Shoot Guidelines

Photo provided by Remark Visions.

You’ve scheduled an appointment for a Service Provider to create content for your new listing, but first you have to bring in the glam squad. Identify the listing’s best features, the details you want to highlight, and the necessary steps to show it off. It is the responsibility of the agent (or home owner, if it’s FSBO) to prepare and clean the home prior to a Service Provider coming in for photography, video, 3D walk throughs, and more.

Having a clean, presentable home is the first step in making your marketing collateral look amazing, and as we all know, imagery is the basis of a great marketing campaign.

1. Make it Sparkle: Clean the home from top to bottom, or hire a cleaning service to get down and dirty — no pun intended.
2. Declutter & Simplify: Packed shelves, counter tops, and paper-filled desks need a new home. This includes small kitchen appliances, toys, pet items, and paper materials. Even when organized, too much “stuff” can look messy.
3. Bye Bye Trash Cans: Indoor and outdoor trashcans must remain hidden!
4. Toilet Seats Down: We hope this would be a given, but just in case, lids down!
5. Window Shades Up: Show us the light! The more natural lighting the better. Unless you don’t want to show a specific view, then try opening the slats on the blinds to let light in but not the view.
6. Feng Shui: Ensure that the furniture maximizes space and is placed naturally to create an easy flow through the room.
7. It’s Not Personal: Remaining objective means it’s time to hide personal objects like family photos. Photographers want to show off the best rooms and features — typically, garages, laundry rooms, and closets don’t need to be photographed.
8. Don’t Forget the Details: Check for any cracks, holes in the wall, dust bunnies, or tile grime.
9. Be Welcoming: If the exterior is part of the appeal, tend to the lawn and garden, clean the pool, create a seasonal arrangement at the front door. Add fresh flowers to the kitchen, family room, and other key areas.
10. Show off the Best Features: Highlight the selling points by making it the focus of a room, or taking extra care to clean the space.

It’s Go Time: Now that your home is ready for it’s glamour shot, turn on all the lights to assist with proper brightness, and spray down the driveway right before exterior photos!

Now, the Service Provider can focus on creating the perfect content through a trained eye, thoughtful angles, and the right lighting.

Congratulations, you’ve avoided living up to the meme below!