How To House Prep for a Photoshoot
Everyday clean is not always clean enough for a photoshoot. The idea is to make the house like you would for an open house.
Here are some tips you may not always think of that must be done PRIOR to the photographer’s arrival, not on the photographer’s time. It is an appointment for photography and cleaning does not begin when the photographer arrives.
OUTSIDE
no cars in the driveway (park them away from the front of the house, not in front of the house.)
no visible garbage cans or garden hoses
patio furniture neat & pool toys/ all toys put away
front door closed
nothing that can date your photos (holiday decorations e.t.c.)
no political signs or realtor signage
INSIDE
all lights on, including lamps. (if the light bulbs are different colors, leave them OFF)
all fans completely OFF!
take up small area rugs that are hiding nice floors
all window treatments open, unless you can see the neighbors house too close
de-clutter (papers off counters, things off the fridge, things off the tables, all items away in general. the less, the better including large items in the kitchen like toasters or airfryers.)
take down restraining gates if possible
nothing that can put a date on your photos (holiday decorations e.t.c.)
replace dead light bulbs or miscolored light bulbs
Personal Preference: picture frames removed from the counters and walls if you don’t want your personal images being on the internet. Or we can blur them if requested.
KITCHEN
minimize the number of small appliances on the countertops
no dish drying rack on the countertop
no dish towels hanging on the handles
no garbage cans
no dish soaps or sponges on the sink
no clutter on top of the refrigerator (magnets pictures or anything on top also)
no pet food dishes or pet beds
BATHROOMS
toilet seats down
shampoo bottles put away (we can see them through the glass doors)
no robes hanging on hooks (or anything on the back of the door)
de-clutter countertops (no toothbrushes, razors, e.t.c.)
no bath mats on the floor
no plungers, toilet brushes, or garbage cans
We do not photograph (on average) closets, laundry rooms, or garages unless explicitly requested. These are great places to put your excess belongings prior to the photoshoot, so they are not in the way.
If there are a lot of items that need to be put away but do not have a place to go, I understand you can’t move everything at once. Please be advised we do NOT allow the moving of items from room to room, as this doubles to triples the time slot and invoice for the agent. If you have excess, this is what we ask you to do: put everything into one single room before we get there, not visible from other rooms. When the photographer arrives, they will photograph one empty room, and for the entirety of the photoshoot, you will move those items to another room utilizing the time properly while the photographer finishes the rest of the house and will come back for the full room.
CHECKLIST - PRIOR TO PHOTOGRAPHER'S ARRIVAL
ARE ALL THE CARS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY?
ARE ALL THE LIGHTS AND LAMPS TURNED ON?
ARE ALL THE FANS TURNED OFF?
IS THE HOUSE DECLUTTERED AND READY TO GO?
Remember, this is our one shot to make an “open house: that hundreds of people are going to see and look at every day online. Let’s make yours the best-looking home on the internet!
*All occupants are asked to wait outside the home or on an opposite floor during the photoshoot. This ensures an efficient photoshoot where no one is in the way of the photographer or getting into the photos, and ensures that the home is ready upon photographer arrival.
Have a question? Ask in advance, not once the photographer arrives. Text Jackii at 732-407-7151 with any questions.