Prepare Your Home for Stunning Real Estate Photos

September 22, 2025

From Lived-In to Listing-Ready

High-quality real estate photos are one of your biggest assets when selling, but they require more than just a great camera. They require a prepared home.

Think of your photoshoot day as your home’s grand debut. Your goal is to let potential buyers visualize their life in the home. Based on advice from top real estate photographers, here some tips to help you prepare your home to shine.

Clean & Declutter (The Day Before)

This is the most critical step. Less is truly more.

General De-Personalization & De-Clutter

Remove Personal Items: Take down all family photos, awards, diplomas, and highly personal memorabilia.
Declutter All Surfaces: Clear off all countertops, nightstands, dressers, and tables. Keep only minimal, attractive decor (like a single vase or a stack of neutral-colored books).
Hide the “Evidence”: Put away all bills, mail, keys, cell phone chargers, remotes, magazines, and newspapers.
Pets: Completely remove all pet bowls, toys, beds, crates, and litter boxes. Plan to secure or remove pets from the property during the shoot.
Trash Cans: Hide all indoor and outdoor trash, recycling, and laundry bins in a closet or garage.

Kitchen

Clear the Counters: Remove all small appliances (toasters, coffee makers, knife blocks), cleaning products, and dish racks.
Clean the Sink: Ensure the sink is empty and spotless—no dirty dishes, sponges, or dish soap.
Wipe Down the Fridge: Remove all magnets, pictures, and notes from the refrigerator door.

Bathrooms

Clear the Counters: Remove all personal items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair products, medicines, and makeup. Leave only a decorative hand soap or a nice candle.
Showers & Tubs: Remove all shampoos, soaps, razors, and washcloths from the shower/tub.
Toilet Lids DOWN: This is non-negotiable for every bathroom shot.
Towels: Hang clean, matching, and neatly folded towels. Remove all bath mats and floor rugs.

Curb Appeal & Final Touches (Morning of the Shoot)

First impressions start outside!

Exterior

Move Your Vehicles: Clear all cars, trucks, trailers, and bikes from the driveway and the street directly in front of the house. Close the garage door.
Manicure the Lawn: The lawn should be freshly mowed, leaves raked, and shrubs trimmed.
Tidy Up: Put away all hoses, gardening tools, children’s toys, and sports equipment.
Patios & Decks: Wipe down and arrange outdoor furniture neatly. If you have a pool, remove the cleaning equipment and toys.

Lighting & Ambiance

Test the Lights: Turn on every single light in the house—ceiling lights, lamps, under-cabinet lighting, and exterior lights, and make sure they work. Replace any burnt-out bulbs beforehand. The Photographer will turn on all lights when they come.
Open the Windows: Open all blinds (Do not pull them up), curtains, and drapes to let in maximum natural light.
Screens OFF: Turn off all TVs and computer monitors.

Interior Details

Make the Beds: Neatly make all beds with smooth linens and decorative pillows.
Straighten Furniture: Fluff all cushions and straighten chairs.
Final Walk-Through: Look through the camera’s eye—walk from room to room and check for anything you missed: a stray charging cord, a dirty dish, or an open cabinet door.

On The Day Your Photographer Arrives

Your photographer is a professional artist, and their focus should be on composition and light, not on tidying. If the house is completely ready when they arrive, the shoot will be faster, and the results will be better.

Plan to be out of the way: The photographer will move efficiently from room to room. Plan to secure pets and stay out of the shot path.
Communicate: Let your agent or photographer know about any unique features you want to highlight (e.g., a custom pantry, a fireplace).

Following this checklist will transform your home into a bright, spacious, and aspirational canvas that will attract the maximum number of buyers online, leading to a faster and more successful sale!