Most of the things that hurt a real estate photo shoot are not expensive problems. They are small things that were simply left for photo day.
I see the same issues over and over when I arrive at homes around Orlando.
One blind is halfway down while the others are open. One lamp has a warm orange bulb and the next one is bright white. There are magnets on the refrigerator, a charging cable across a nightstand, trash bins beside the garage and a pool robot sitting in the water.
None of these things sounds important by itself.
Put enough of them together, though, and the house starts looking less prepared than it really is.
The goal of this checklist is simple:
Do the Cleaning and Staging Before Photo Day
This sounds obvious, but it is the most important part of the entire checklist.
A photographer can adjust a chair slightly or open a blind while working.
That is very different from arriving at a property where beds still need to be made, countertops need to be cleared, boxes are sitting in rooms and the seller is trying to hide things while I am already photographing.
When preparation happens before I arrive, I can spend my time doing what I was hired to do: finding angles, controlling light, checking vertical lines and creating the strongest possible visual coverage of the property.
Start With These Whole-House Details
- Vacuum or mop visible flooring
- Clean obvious marks from mirrors and glass
- Make every bed completely
- Hide shoes and loose clothing
- Remove charging cables and visible cords when possible
- Straighten chairs and pillows
- Remove excess personal photographs and highly personal items
- Open interior doors that help the home feel connected
Lighting: One Small Detail I Notice Immediately
Mixed light bulbs are one of those things most people do not notice until they see the photograph.
One lamp may be warm yellow while a ceiling fixture beside it is almost blue.
The camera notices.
I can correct a lot in editing, but I would rather start with a room that already has consistent lighting.
Before the shoot:
Exterior: Clear the Property Before I Arrive
The front of the home usually needs less stuff, not more.
- Move cars out of the driveway
- If possible, avoid parking directly in front of the house
- Close garage doors
- Move trash and recycling bins out of sight
- Remove garden hoses
- Pick up toys, sports equipment and loose objects
- Mow and edge the lawn if needed
- Trim obviously overgrown landscaping
- Sweep the entry and remove cobwebs near the door
- Remove empty or damaged planters
Cars are especially important.
If the best exterior angle is blocked by two vehicles, I cannot create the same photograph by simply “shooting around them.”
What About the Garage?
This depends on whether the garage is part of the marketing story.
If it is a clean three-car garage, an upgraded garage, a workshop or an important feature of the property, prepare it like any other room.
If it is being used for moving boxes and storage and the Realtor does not need it photographed, keep the garage door closed and focus on clearing the driveway.
Ask the Realtor first.
Backyard and Pool
This is one area where small distractions become very obvious.
- Clean the pool
- Remove the pool robot, cleaner and hose
- Hide pool chemicals and cleaning equipment
- Remove trash cans and garden hoses
- Arrange outdoor chairs neatly
- Straighten cushions and pillows
- Remove faded or damaged cushions if they hurt the presentation
- Pick up toys, floats and sports equipment
- Turn on water features if they are part of the property presentation
- Clean the patio and outdoor kitchen counters
The pool robot is a perfect example.
It may be completely normal in everyday life. In a photograph, though, the hose running through the pool becomes one of the first things the eye notices.
Kitchen: Clear More Than You Think
The kitchen is where I usually prefer the most aggressive decluttering.
Let the cabinets, counters and layout be the subject.
- Clear countertops
- Leave only one or two intentional decorative items if they improve the room
- Remove dish soap, sponges and cleaning products
- Put dishes away
- Empty the sink
- Remove paper towels if they create clutter
- Remove magnets, photographs and papers from the refrigerator
- Hide trash cans
- Remove pet bowls
- Straighten bar stools
A coffee machine may be perfectly fine.
A coffee machine, blender, air fryer, knife block, toaster, mail, vitamins and three water bottles on the same counter is a different story.
Dining Room
Keep it simple.
- Clear the table
- Center one decorative piece if appropriate
- Straighten every chair
- Space chairs evenly
- Remove booster seats and high chairs
- Remove paperwork, laptops and daily-use items
You do not need to turn the table into a wedding reception.
Usually a clean table with one simple centerpiece photographs better than an elaborate place setting that does not match the rest of the home.
Living Room and Family Room
Give the room space to breathe.
- Remove remote controls
- Clear mail, paperwork and magazines
- Put children's toys away
- Straighten pillows
- Fold or remove excess blankets
- Declutter the fireplace mantel
- Turn the television off
- Hide visible charging cables
- Remove oversized pet beds if they dominate the room
Primary Bedroom
I see a surprising number of bedrooms that are almost ready.
The bed is made, but one pillow is turned sideways. A charging cable hangs from the nightstand. A laundry basket is visible in the corner.
Those are easy things to fix the night before.
- Make the bed completely
- Straighten pillows and bedding
- Clear nightstands
- Hide phone chargers and cables
- Remove laundry baskets
- Clear dresser tops
- Remove personal medications and valuables
- Check under the bed for items visible from low angles
Guest Rooms and Children's Bedrooms
Children's rooms do not need to lose all personality.
But highly personal names, school information, family photographs and piles of toys can distract from the room itself—and some sellers may prefer not to publish those details online anyway.
- Make beds neatly
- Put loose toys away
- Remove laundry
- Clear clutter from desks and dressers
- Hide diaper supplies if visible
- Remove highly personal information
- Keep closet doors closed unless the closet is being photographed
Bathrooms: Remove Everyday Life
Bathrooms are usually easy to prepare, but they are also easy to overlook.
- Clear the countertops completely
- Remove toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Remove medication and personal products
- Remove shampoo bottles and razors from showers
- Put toilet lids down
- Remove floor mats
- Hang clean towels neatly or remove them
- Clean mirrors and glass shower doors
- Hide toilet brushes and plungers
- Close closet and cabinet doors
Pets: Make a Plan Before the Photographer Arrives
I have no problem with pets.
The problem is trying to photograph a room while a dog is following me through every frame—or having food bowls, toys, crates and litter boxes appear throughout the house.
- Put food and water bowls away
- Remove pet toys and beds when practical
- Clean visible pet hair from furniture
- Clean the yard
- Move litter boxes out of photographed spaces
- Keep pets safely in an area we are not photographing
Safety matters more than getting one extra photograph.
Things I Would Not Leave for Photoshop
Sometimes I hear:
Sometimes I can.
But editing should not become the cleaning crew.
Removing one small cord is very different from rebuilding half a kitchen counter, deleting three cars, removing a pool cleaner from twenty photographs or reconstructing a wall hidden behind clutter.
move it before the shoot.
What Needs to Be Done Before I Arrive
I want to be clear about this because it helps everyone.
I may make small visual adjustments while photographing—a chair angle, a pillow, a blind.
But a professional real estate photography appointment is not a cleaning or staging appointment.
I am not planning the session time around:
- Making beds
- Cleaning countertops
- Vacuuming
- Moving boxes
- Organizing closets
- Picking up toys
- Moving heavy furniture
- Cleaning bathrooms
- Preparing the landscaping
If I spend the photography appointment doing those things, something else has to give.
Usually that means less time available to actually photograph the property.
The Night Before: My Short Version
Do This Before Going to Bed
- Finish cleaning
- Make every bed
- Clear kitchen and bathroom counters
- Put personal items away
- Check all light bulbs
- Remove refrigerator magnets and papers
- Hide cords and chargers
- Remove pool equipment
- Move trash bins out of sight
- Prepare a place for pets
- Confirm whether the garage will be photographed
Ten Minutes Before the Photographer Arrives
- Move vehicles away from the front of the home
- Turn televisions and computer screens off
- Turn ceiling fans off
- Check blinds one last time
- Check that toilet lids are down
- Put away pet bowls
- Look for laundry baskets and trash cans
- Check that exterior hoses are hidden
- Make sure the pool cleaner is out
- Walk through each room once without stopping to clean—just look for anything that does not belong
For Realtors: Send This Before Photo Day
The best time to send a preparation checklist is not when the photographer is already in the driveway.
Send it when the appointment is booked.
That gives the seller time to do the things that actually take time: cleaning, moving vehicles, organizing bedrooms, preparing the yard and deciding where pets will stay.
A well-prepared home also makes the photography appointment more predictable—which matters when the photographer has several properties scheduled that day.
The Point Is Not to Make the House Look Fake
I do not want every home to look empty.
I do not want every kitchen to look like nobody has ever cooked there.
And I do not want sellers removing every piece of personality from a home.
The goal is simpler:
That balance usually photographs much better than either extreme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the home be completely ready before the photographer arrives?
Yes. Cleaning, decluttering, bed making, yard preparation and staging should ideally be completed before the photography appointment begins.
Should all the lights be turned on?
The photographer may decide how to use natural and artificial light during the session, but every fixture should be working and bulbs within the same room should be reasonably consistent in color.
Should I remove family photographs?
You do not necessarily need to remove every photograph, but reducing highly personal items can make the space feel less distracting and protects information sellers may not want displayed online.
Should cars be removed from the driveway?
Whenever possible, yes. A clear driveway gives the photographer more flexibility for clean exterior compositions.
Can the photographer Photoshop clutter out later?
Small corrections may be possible, but moving removable clutter before the shoot is almost always the better approach. Extensive object removal can require additional editing and may not be practical.
Should the pool cleaner be removed?
Yes. Pool robots, cleaner hoses, chemical containers and maintenance equipment are much easier to remove physically before photography than to retouch from every image afterward.
What should I do with pets during the session?
Keep pets safely in an area that is not being photographed or arrange for them to be away from the property during the appointment. Remove visible bowls, beds and toys when practical.
The House Is Ready. Now Let’s Photograph It.
When the property is prepared before I arrive, I can focus the session on composition, lighting and presenting the home at its best.
Magic Lens provides professional real estate photography, video, drone media, Zillow 3D tours and floor plans throughout Orlando and Central Florida.
Gustavo Sousa
Gustavo Sousa is a professional real estate photographer, videographer and FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot based in Winter Garden, Florida.
A professional photographer since 2012, he photographs residential listings, vacation homes, builders and real estate projects throughout Orlando and Central Florida.
