Photography Tip Sheet
Photography is one of the most important parts of listing a house, and in most cases it will be the determining factor as to whether or not a buyer will decide to visit the home in person. So it is critical to make the proper preparations before the photo shoot. When it comes to photography, less is more. While it may seem a bit silly, the best mantra to repeat as you’re making preparations is “pretend nobody in particular lives here”.
The best advice is to gather some large boxes or plastic containers and go to each room and de-clutter. Put non-essential items in separate boxes and keep out of sight as long as your house is on the market. Boxes with essential items can be set just outside of the room where I will slide them out of the way during the photography session.
Exteriors:
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Move cars out of sight
Move cars out of sight•Close garage doors
Close garage doors•Remove trash cans, gardening tools, etc. from sight
Remove trash cans, gardening tools, etc. from sight•Stow childrens’ and pets’ toys
Stow childrens’ and pets’ toys•Coil hoses
Coil hoses•Open patio umbrellas and set out cushions
Open patio umbrellas and set out cushions•Uncover bbqs, pools, spas
Uncover bbqs, pools, spasInteriors:
•Replace all burned out bulbs (we will take pictures with every light on)
Replace all burned out bulbs (we will take pictures with every light on)•Turn ceiling fans off
Turn ceiling fans off•Clean well and de-clutter
Clean well and de-clutter•Valuables and medications out of sight or locked up
Valuables and medications out of sight or locked up•Open window coverings (unless they are concealing a less than desirable view)
Open window coverings (unless they are concealing a less than desirable view) •Remove most, if not all personal photographs
Remove most, if not all personal photographs•Clear kitchen countertops of almost everything, with the exception of one or two decorative items
Clear kitchen countertops of almost everything, with the exception of one or two decorative items•Conceal garbage containers
Conceal garbage containers•Remove everything from the top and sides of fridge (pictures, kids’ art, magnets, etc.)
Remove everything from the top and sides of fridge (pictures, kids’ art, magnets, etc.)•Remove non-essential throw rugs (foyer, baths, kitchen, hallways)
Remove non-essential throw rugs (foyer, baths, kitchen, hallways)•Clear the bathroom countertops of ALL toiletries. Leave only a few decorative items or a floral or plant arrangement. Put out best towels
Clear the bathroom countertops of ALL toiletries. Leave only a few decorative items or a floral or plant arrangement. Put out best towels•Empty the shower of shampoos, etc
Empty the shower of shampoos, etc•Remove all signs of pets (bowls, rugs, pillows, etc)
Remove all signs of pets (bowls, rugs, pillows, etc)•Remove any table coverings
Remove any table coverings •Declutter fireplace mantel
Declutter fireplace mantelGeneral Requests
•Please note that it is extremely important that the home be in “photograph-ready” condition prior to our arrival. The sessions usually take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours and we have multiple shoots each day so we need to stay as close to schedule as possible. In the event a home is not ready for photographs, we will either shoot “as is” or charge a $75 fee and return at a later date and time.
Please note that it is extremely important that the home be in “photograph-ready” condition prior to our arrival. The sessions usually take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours and we have multiple shoots each day so we need to stay as close to schedule as possible. In the event a home is not ready for photographs, we will either shoot “as is” or charge a $75 fee and return at a later date and time. 