HOW TO PREPARE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Prepare your home exactly like you would for an open house. If your open house started at 1pm, you would get there early and make sure everything looks good, have all the lights on and ready to show at 1pm, right? You should follow the exact same process if you schedule photography at 1pm.

When the property is 100% ready for photography, you will be more than 100% satisfied in both quality and quantity of photos; I guarantee it! The best way to ensure you receive the best quality and quantity of photos is to arrive before our appointment for photography. What we are really after is a home being in marketable condition, meaning minimal furniture, minimal lamps, minimal items on counters, etc. Closets, pantries, and garages are great storage spaces because I normally don't photograph those areas.

To ensure the creative process is not disturbed and for best photographic results, have this list completed prior to our scheduled time and if the homeowners need to be there, please plan in advance a room for them (and children/pets) to hang out in during the shoot. Ideally, it's best to minimize the number of people in the home because people tend to want to move around.

Sometimes people assume a real estate photographer's role is to move furniture, or decorate the scene before doing photography. For real estate photography, this role is actual done by the realteor, stager, or homeowner. For commercial photography, I do hire and work with those people, but the hourly rate for that type of photography is usually higher than the budget for real estate photography. I may move something if it is detrimental to the photography, but I assume the decorating is exactly the way the stager, realtor, or homeowner wants it.  

When there are a lot of people or pets moving around or there are a lot of things that need to be moved, I will do the best I can with our time available but I can't guarantee your satisfaction when this happens. For the best in quality and quantity of photos, photographers need to be able to work without distractions or interruptions. When the client prepares the house and provides a good environment, they are always thrilled with the results!

Checklist

Turn ON all of the lights and lamps and check for burnt out bulbs Blinds and shutters adjusted open to let light in. 

Turn OFF all ceiling fan blades as they will show blurred in the picture.

Open all doors to rooms to be photographed.

Hide stacks of papers/bills/magazines.

Kids toys in storage containers.

Clean all windows of streaks and dirt.

Remove pet carriers, crates, pet dishes and visible litter boxes.

Garages, pantries, and closets are the best places to hide things as I do not photograph those.

Bathrooms:

Remove ALL items from bathroom counter tops – exceptions can be decorative items.

Towels hung straight and remove towels/bathrobes on hooks.

Put the Toilet Seats Down.

Remove Bath rugs Empty the Shower of Shampoos, Soaps, etc.

Kitchens:

Remove ALL items from kitchen countertops / islands – exceptions are decorative items

Remove EVERYTHING from the outside of the Refrigerator

Dishtowels/Sponges put away

Hide trashcan and remove rugs

Bedrooms:

Remove ALL items from table/countertops – exceptions are lamps/decorative items

Make Beds and straighten pillows

Hide trashcans and diaper genies!

Living and Dining Areas:

Remove all personal items/remotes from table tops and open shelving – exceptions are decorative items

Straighten pillows, chairs, blankets/throws

Outside:

Remove your car(s) from the driveway

Mow the lawn and mulch if necessary

Remove ALL lawn equipment, debris, recycle and trashcans from sight - roll up your hoses and hide sprinkler attachments

Open patio umbrellas

Remove pool cleaner