How to Prepare for a Smooth Real Estate Photography Shoot: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want your real estate photos to look top-tier and attract serious buyers?
A great shoot doesn’t just depend on the photographer—it depends on how well the space is prepped.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to prepare any home or apartment for a real estate shoot so your listing stands out, looks professional, and gets more attention from buyers.

Let’s get into it.

1. Declutter & Clean: Make the Space Look Like a Model Home

Before the shoot, call the homeowner and tell them this:

✅ Clean & declutter every room – Less is more. Remove unnecessary furniture, papers, and small decorations. Buyers want to envision their own life in the home.
✅ Hide personal items – No family photos, business documents, or visible valuables. Keep things neutral and impersonal.
✅ Make a “junk room” – If there’s too much clutter, designate one room for storage (a closet or small guest room). Keep everything else spotless.
✅ Hire a professional cleaning service – A deep clean before the shoot is worth it. Dirty floors, smudged windows, and messy countertops kill the appeal of a listing.

Why this matters:
Buyers make snap judgments based on first impressions. If the home looks chaotic in photos, they’ll move on to the next listing.

2. Stage the Home for Maximum Appeal

Want to take your listing to the next level? Consider hiring a staging professional.

🔹 Why?

• They’ll bring in modern, stylish furniture that fits the home.
• Professionally staged homes sell faster and for more money.
• The right decor makes a space feel bigger, warmer, and more inviting.

Even if you don’t hire a stager, at least arrange the existing furniture in a way that maximizes space and light.

Quick DIY Staging Tips:
✔️ Use neutral-colored decor to appeal to more buyers.
✔️ Add a few plants for a natural, inviting feel.
✔️ Make sure beds are properly made and furniture is positioned symmetrically.
✔️ Remove bulky or unnecessary furniture that makes rooms look smaller.

3. Schedule & Arrive on Time for the Shoot

📌 Be on time. Better yet, arrive early.
📌 Why? 99% of homes need last-minute touch-ups before shooting.
📌 Plan for a 15-20 minute buffer to make final adjustments and reposition anything out of place.

Also, make sure:
✔️ The home is vacant during the shoot. The fewer people around, the smoother the process.
✔️ All lights work & are turned on. Lighting makes or breaks real estate photos.
✔️ Curtains & blinds are adjusted for optimal natural light.
✔️ Pets are secured – Dogs and cats wandering into the frame can be a distraction.

Final Thoughts: The 90% Rule for a Successful Shoot

Getting stunning real estate photos doesn’t require magic—just proper preparation.

✔️ Clean & declutter the space (hide personal items).
✔️ Stage the home (even basic staging helps).
✔️ Arrive on time & give yourself time for last-minute fixes.

Do these three things and you’ve already won 90% of the battle.

🎯 Want high-quality real estate photos that sell homes faster? Follow these steps and watch the difference in your listings.

📩 Have questions or need more tips? Drop a comment! More real estate photography insights coming soon.