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Preparing your home for property photography

We’ve spent years honing our craft of taking photographs and video of the nation’s best homes, and there’s a lot that happens before we even get the camera out. While we can help in post-production – for example, making dull, cloudy skies sunny, greening up lawns or removing cars from driveways – there’s a lot that homeowners can do to make the most of their photography appointment. We don’t just mean running the vacuum cleaner around (though that’s of course a big help) but taking the time to lay the foundations for a successful photo shoot. We’ve put our top tips together in this handy blog, so you can get your home photo-ready with just a few insider tweaks.

Think of quick wins

While it can be tempting to go overboard to get your house ready to market, we promise that small changes can have just as big of an impact. We’ll use the phrase ‘out of sight, out of mind’ here, for it’s true: clutter makes spaces look uninviting and detracts from the proportions of a home. If you can’t keep counters clear or don’t have enough space in cupboards, consider whether you can use a room (or better still, a secure garage or garden shed – we almost never shoot inside storage areas) to store items for the duration of your appointment. Here’s what you can do – quickly – to make a difference:

Clear off kitchen counters, messy desks and washing lines and box items up and store away until the photos have been completed. The kitchen is where this matters most: appliances are fine, but clear smaller items like washing up liquid, tea towels, anything on the draining board and any items of recycling out for the appointment.
Make sure washing machines are empty and doors closed – you’d be surprised how easily they show up in the photos.
The same is true for bath and shower rooms: shampoo bottles, hairbrushes, flannels and old bathmats should be cleared out until the photographer has finished, and shower curtains pulled back. Less is most definitely more.
We’re able to tidy up small marks in post-production but we’d recommend repainting any big scuffs, water damage or mould before the appointment as the high definition of the camera can make these stand out.

Dress the space

While you’re taking away clutter, don’t forget that your home should still look ‘lived in’. There’s no need to remove art from the walls (we’ll blur faces), or books from shelves, but you can get creative with what you do have to make it more pleasing to the eye. Here are a few of our top tips to give your home that ‘hotel quality’ that really stands out in professional images:

Freshly washed, double-folded coordinated towels in bathrooms make a space look welcoming and fresh.
If you’re keen on lifestyle shots – not everyone is – you can set the table with a dinner service or put a bottle of wine and two glasses out on a bistro table in the garden. Even a vase of fresh flowers, a large candle or a bowl of fresh apples or oranges on the dining table goes a long way to adding a homely feel.
Good photos usually have elements of symmetry; you can achieve this by making small changes like turning all taps to face the same way, so they match.
If the house is empty of furniture there’s no need to dress for the occasion, however you might consider virtual staging – an easier and more cost-effective option of making a house appear lived in.

Don't forget the outside

First off: can you move your cars? Leaving your driveway as clear as possible makes it look bigger and less cluttered and provides an unobstructed view of the house – this also means moving bins, floor mats and doormats out of sight. For a few of our insider secrets on making gardens of all shapes and sizes look their best, read on:

If you have a garage, put anything in there that looks messy; this also includes hose pipes and any garden equipment.
Spend a few days tidying up the garden if it needs it. We’d suggest, as a minimum, mowing the lawn, weeding flower beds and trimming back hedges. In the autumn, remove deadfall and sweep up leaves. Hide washing lines if you can and pick up after children and pets – consider putting toys away.
When taking photos of the house from outside, it’s important to see a uniform look across all the windows, so make sure curtains and blinds are drawn, with windows and doors closed.
Although you’ll be taking garden furniture with you when you sell, make sure it is fit for purpose and tidy: tuck chairs under, open parasols if needed, perhaps add cushions to the chairs. You might even like to dress the table with drinks and snacks.
If you’re lucky enough to have a swimming pool, make sure the cover is removed or rolled back, and the water is clean and clear.

Consider the time of day

You may be offered a number of different times for your appointment, so consider the time of day and how the light affects the rooms inside your house. These are our recommendations for getting the timing just right:

South-facing gardens are generally fine to be shot all day, whereas east-facing gardens are best shot in the morning when the light is optimal.
Inside, make sure all lightbulbs are working and turn on all ceiling and wall lights, and lamps too if you have them.
Consider the type of light your bulbs emit: warm white looks more inviting that cool white, so you might want to change bulbs if you’re a cool white household. Plus – make sure they match! Don’t have a cool white lamp in one corner and warm white in another.
If your house gets amazing sunsets, or if you have outdoor lighting you want to highlight, consider a dusk shot: it’s a wonderfully atmospheric way to capture a home and make it stand out from other property listings.

Take a step back

Don’t miss the hidden spaces such as under beds or sofas: if you use these areas for storage, can you remove the items for the duration of the appointment? If not, check out these tips:

Consider using a valance down to the floor, or a big throw to hide the clutter under the bed.
Most rooms are shot from the door, so what can you see when you stand in the doorway? Are the windows clean, inside and out? Do TV monitors have dust or fingerprints?
Can you see a fireplace – if so, light the fire if it’s a cooler time of year, or sweep out any ash and give the grate a good vacuum.
Plump up sofa cushions and make beds, fold back the curtains and use tie backs (if you have them) and give everything a good dust.
Can you see any wires, from televisions or extension cables? If so, remove them for the appointment or tidy them up so they’re not so conspicuous.

Prepare a list of angles

You know your house best, so you’ll know how the light catches a room just so, or where the best views of the garden can be enjoyed. If you have any particular shots in mind, please compile a list and give it to your photographer in advance. This reduces the chances of us having to come back, and also ensures that your home is shown off to its very best.

A beautifully curated collection of photos and video is arguably the best-selling tool to help hook potential buyers in – you can get a good feel for a place before you even set foot inside. While we can use creative angles to hide clutter or make edits after the appointment, setting yourself up for success with these tips is the best way to ensure your appointment goes as smoothly as possible. A little bit of preparation goes a long way!