How To Prepare Your Home For Photoshoot

One of the most important steps is the preparation of your space.

On the day of the photoshoot, everything must be ready with the guidance you have previously received from the professional who will take over the photography of your space. Owners need to understand the role of the photographer and how valuable they are to the success of the sale or renting.

The professional photographer when will arrive will spend some time going over the most important details to come up with the best shots. You will certainly get significantly better results from the photographer’s services if your home is ready and you have followed the instructions below, it will also help the photographer considerably in the process.
This will bring more profit when you sell or rent your space.

1st Step

WHO’S YOUR AUDIENCE? 

The most important thing you need to know before you begin preparing your property for a photo shoot, are your clients.

Who are you aiming at? Romantic couples? Families with kids? Business travelers? Your target audience will determine the mood you’ll want to achieve with your property’s photographs.

Knowing your audience will help you decide whether you should style your interiors with props, such as wine bottles for a more romantic setup, or kids’ toys in the pool area for families. Or maybe you’ll want to keep it clean and modern? It all depends on who you see as your preferred guest. Tourists traveling to islands and beachside locations tend to expect something extra, such as flowers on the bed or a decorated breakfast – think Instagram perfection! On the other hand, most city hotels will have a hard time getting away with overdone bedrooms, vases of roses, bowls of fruits, and other clichés as part of their interiors, but they might be exactly what visitors to remote destinations will be looking for.

Checklist Guide - How to prepare your home for the photoshoot

2nd Step

• Kitchen preparation

If the kitchen counters are cluttered, it is good to remove everything, it makes the kitchen look bigger.
Remove everything, maybe leave some decorative items on the countertops, and clean all surfaces.
Clean out the kitchen sink and remove any clutter, dishes, etc.

• Preparing the Bathrooms and showers

Remove all shampoo bottles, soaps, razors, and other items.

You want the bathrooms to look empty and shiny.

Don’t forget to clean mirrors and remove towels and toilet paper.
Clean the toilet and close the lid.

• Dining Room

Create an idyllic environment that invites guests.
Stack the chairs, and add a central decorative element or candleholder.
Set the dinner table, add a vase of white flowers, a bottle of wine and glasses

• Check for non-functional lamps and outdoor lighting

Particularly useful at night and evening shots

• Open Windows and French doors

The more light, the better. (with exceptions in some cases)

Natural light is the best thing in Real Estate photography.

• Arrangement of furniture and decorative elements

Perhaps the most difficult request, but it is one of the most important items on the list.

Removing and storing excess or large furniture can be a challenge,
but it opens up floor space and makes the home look much larger, especially in small spaces.

• Carpets and Mats

Carpets are great for protecting your floors, but they can make the overall space look smaller, which in turn makes the room look smaller if it’s easy to remove them.
But make sure you remove all floor mats in bathrooms, kitchen, and entry areas.

• Check for clean surfaces and clutter

Remove all magnets from the refrigerator, calendars, and keys.
Obvious cords and personal items and any other place you put notes.
Not only does it make your home appear cleaner and neater, but it also keeps your personal information safe from the general public.

• Bedrooms

Use monochrome and light-colored sheets that cover the whole bed and match the mattress well.
If the bedroom is clean, and the bed is not made correctly, it makes the whole bedroom look ugly.
Straighten the sheets and make the beds
Place decorative pillows
Clean under the bed and remove obvious clutter
Clean cluttered surfaces
Check for personal photos and valuables

• Personal Photos

You must remove all personal photos from the entire house.

• Remove shoes and jackets

When buyers /tenters see shoes and jackets in photos, they assume the home lacks storage space.
Removing all jackets and shoes from anywhere they can be viewed throughout the home is best.

• Pets Notice

Some people are severely allergic to animals.
It is extremely important to make sure that your home shows no signs of pets.
Spend some time on this part, as it is one of the factors for a price reduction.

• Cleaning and tidying up a Terrace/Patio/Yard

The first image people will see of your home will be the outside front yard, so it needs to be presented in very good condition.
Decorate these areas with flowers and decorative items to create a relaxing inviting space.

• Removal of waste bins and garden equipment

Large trash cans and lawn equipment will detract from the photos of the properties.
Put all trash cans in the garage, along with watering hoses, lawnmowers, and other maintenance tools.
Keep the lawn free and clear of any toys and pets as well.

• Arrangement and layout of outdoor elements such as barbeque, umbrellas, chairs, patios, pools

If you have an outdoor barbeque the grill covers must be removed so that the grills are exposed and ready for use. If it is an old grill that needs to be covered because it is rusted and unsightly, it is best to remove it completely. Clean and remove toys from the pool as well as all pool cleaning equipment if there is any. If there is not much wind during the photo shoot, make sure to open umbrellas and arrange the area as if you are expecting guests.
Place cushions and fresh flowers to create an inviting space for your photographer to show off your space how it deserves it.

• The time of photography will depend on the size of the property

Usually, garage and staff rooms are not photographed unless they are unique or as requested. If you have special features that are not obvious, please let me know so that I can include them in the photography. 

Also, let me know if your property contains valuable artwork so that I can edit the photos and make them incomprehensible or make sure they are not in the shots.