How to Prepare for a Real Estate Photoshoot — Free Checklist

The single biggest determinant of how good your listing photos will be isn't the camera or the photographer — it's the 1–2 hours of prep you do before I arrive. Properly prepped properties shoot in half the time, cost less, and look noticeably better.

This is the exact checklist I send every Patorama client. Use the downloadable PDF version below if you'd rather print it and walk through with the vendor.

Download the free pre-shoot PDF guide →

The 24 hours before

Declutter every surface. Counters, side tables, bedside tables, the top of the fridge, the bathroom vanity. If something has been sitting on the same spot for six months, it doesn't need to be in the photo. Boxes or storage tubs work fine — the goal is empty surfaces, not perfect placement.

Wash windows and mirrors. Streaks and dust catch the light in ways the eye misses but the camera doesn't. Inside and outside if you can manage both.

Mow the lawn. Front and back. Edge if you have the equipment. A freshly mowed lawn changes the look of an exterior shot more than any post-production trick.

Move cars off the driveway and out of view from the street. Park around the corner or in the garage. The driveway is part of the kerb appeal.

Hide the bins. Roll them around the back, into the garage, or out of any sightline. Council bins on the kerb instantly date a photograph.

Room by room

Kitchen

Clear every benchtop except 1–2 considered items (a bowl of fresh fruit, a single chopping board, a coffee machine if it's part of the design)
Hide tea towels, sponges, dish soap, hand soap
Remove all magnets, photos, school notices, calendars from the fridge
Push the kettle and toaster out of frame or away in a cupboard
If bin lids are visible, swap to a discreet pull-out or move it temporarily

Bathrooms

Remove every personal item from the vanity — toothbrushes, deodorants, hairbrushes, shampoo bottles
Put the toilet lid down (always)
Hang clean, matching towels — not the ones you actually use
Remove bath mats unless they're in really good condition
A single styled plant or a folded hand towel is enough — restraint reads as luxury

Bedrooms

Make every bed — properly, hospital corners if you have it in you
Clear bedside tables completely or down to 1–2 items (a single book, a small lamp)
Open curtains and blinds fully unless there's a specific reason not to
Remove laundry, baskets, pet beds, kids' toys (we shoot kids' rooms more leniently — a tidy not perfect)
Master walk-in robes: photos may include a partial view, so close the doors or tidy the entrance

Living areas

Plump cushions, fold throws neatly across an arm of the sofa
Remove remotes from view (lined up in a drawer is fine)
Hide power cables and chargers wherever possible
Open blinds for natural light, but turn off ceiling fans (the blades blur)
Hide pet bowls, beds, leads

Exterior

Sweep the front porch, entry, and back patio
Roll up the garden hose, put gardening tools away
Tidy outdoor furniture — close umbrellas, square up chairs
If the pool is on view: clear the pool, vacuum if you can, put the cleaning robot away
BBQ covers on, gas bottles tucked behind
Replace dying potted plants — they don't photograph well

The morning of

One hour before I arrive:

Open every blind and curtain. Natural light is the foundation of every shot.
Turn on every interior light — including lamps, pendant lights, under-cabinet lighting. Mismatched warm/cool bulbs are fine; I'll balance in post.
Turn off ceiling fans and TVs. Blank screens photograph worse than off ones.
Take the dog for a walk. Or arrange for them to be elsewhere. Pets in the photo are a 50/50 — usually I prefer to clear them out.
Last sweep: any final stray items, dishes in the sink, anything you'd rather not see captured.

Things photographers can't fix in post

Worth knowing what's actually impossible after the shoot:

Cars on the driveway. Removing them looks fake. Just move them.
Dirty or streaky windows. The streaks are in the reflection — they can't be selectively removed.
A mowed lawn vs a long lawn. Long grass photographs as unkempt no matter what we do.
Open vs closed toilet lids. Always closed.
Light fittings that don't work. Replace the bulb before I get there.
Disrepair. Cracked tiles, peeling paint, broken fittings — photoshop can hide some of it but it usually shows.

Things we will fix in post

So you don't need to worry about:

Sky replacement. Grey overcast day? We can replace the sky on exterior shots.
Lawn enhancement. Slightly patchy lawn gets a green-up in post.
Dust removal. Spots on surfaces, small dust marks, minor cable clutter — all editable.
Lens corrections. Wide-angle distortion, perspective straightening, all standard.
Minor object removal. A power point, an air vent, a small wall blemish — usually fixable.

If you're short on time — priority order

Two hours total? Do these in order:

Mow the lawn (30 min)
Move cars off driveway and hide bins (5 min)
Make all beds + clear bedside tables (15 min)
Clear all kitchen benchtops (15 min)
Clear all bathroom vanities + toilet lids down (10 min)
Open every blind, turn on every light (5 min)
Anything else: living areas, exterior, declutter surfaces

Frequently asked questions

How long does prep typically take?

1–2 hours for a well-presented home, 3–4 hours if the property is being lived in actively and hasn't been tidied for a shoot before. The PDF version above breaks it down into time blocks if that helps.

Should I bring in a professional stylist?

For prestige listings above $1.2M, often yes. The stylist does what this checklist does, but also brings furniture, art, and accessories that elevate the property's perceived value. For most family homes the checklist plus 1–2 hours of your time is enough.

What if I can't get the lawn done in time?

Let me know — we can either reschedule or shoot tighter compositions that avoid the worst of it. Wide exterior shots are where lawn quality shows; close-up entrance shots are more forgiving.

Do you provide the checklist as a PDF?

Yes — link is at the top of this article. Print it, share it with the vendor, work through it together if helpful.

What about virtual staging for empty properties?

If a property is empty or sparsely furnished, virtual staging is an option that adds furniture and styling in post-production. It costs roughly $40–$80 per image and works best on neutral, well-lit empty rooms.

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