Extremely important – Please be completely ready to shoot 30 minutes PRIOR the arrival of the photographer. The photographer is almost always early.
- Move all vehicles from the driveway and in front of the house.
- Make sure the property is clean and clear of all papers and trash.
- Lighting – Good rule of thumb for best results is Daylight bulbs in all overhead fixtures and tungsten or soft white in Lamps.
- Remove any papers and magnets from the refrigerator and everything from the countertops.
- Make sure bathrooms and showers are clean and clear of all toiletries and toilet seats are down.
- Remove all shampoo items from bath areas and ALL items from counters.
- Remove all paper products from tables and countertops.
- Turn on all lights and lamps 30 minutes prior to appointment and replace any that may be burned out.
- Turn off all TVs AND computer monitors.
- Clean all windows INSIDE AND OUT.
- Blinds in all main living areas that have a view should be Horizontal (wide open) for a full view.
- Blinds in secondary bedrooms and baths should be completely closed pointing up (unless there is an exceptional view.)
- Make sure all furniture is clean and clear of clutter.
- Turn off ALL fans.
- Remove ALL trash cans completely.
- No Paper items should be visible anywhere.
- No visible items from under bed or furniture.
- Remove any medical or exercise equipment.
- Store all toys.
- Open doors of all rooms to be photographed, excluding closets.
- Secondary closets are not typically photographed. Master closets are photographed if they are properly prepared and not cluttered.
- Remove all pets or confine them to a kennel out of sight.
- Remove all pet bedding and bowls.
- Make sure the yard and all landscaping is manicured and neat.
- Trim trees if possible and blow away all leaves.
- Remove any vehicles from view prior to the appointment time.
- No trash cans or water hoses visible in the yard.
- If there is a pool, make sure it is clean and all waterworks are on.
- Remove any pool cleaner and all pool equipment (prior to arrival so there are no wet spots on the sidewalk).
- If there is lawn equipment, make sure it is clean and staged properly.
- Remove all hoses etc.
- If the homeowner does not want any photos of their children or their names shown, make sure they are removed.
- Remove any seasonal items to prevent dating the photos.
For Twilights shots:
We are so excited to capture your beautiful property during the magical twilight hour. Twilight photography creates a stunning, upscale look by balancing the warm glow of your home against the deep blue evening sky.
Because the perfect twilight sky lasts for only about 15 to 20 minutes, our photographer will need to hit the ground running. Having the property completely staged and lit before we arrive ensures we capture every single money shot!
Please use this checklist to help prepare your home for its close-up:
💡 1. Lighting (The Most Important Step!)
- Turn ON every light: Turn on all interior lights, overhead fixtures, lamps, and under-cabinet lighting.
- Match your bulbs: Ensure lightbulbs in the same room are a uniform color (all warm or all daylight) to prevent odd color mixing.
- Turn ON exterior lights: Activate all porch lights, landscape lighting, pathway lights, and uplighting.
- Turn OFF distractions: Turn off all ceiling fans (moving blades blur in photos), television screens, and harsh exterior security floodlights.
✨ 2. Luxury & Architectural Features
- Fire features: Light all outdoor fire pits, fireplaces, or modern fire bowls right before we arrive.
- Water features: Turn on all waterfalls, fountains, sheer descents, and deck jets.
- Outdoor kitchens: Uncover the grill, turn on any built-in island lighting, and ensure stainless steel surfaces are wiped clean.
- Smart home automation: If your home uses automated lighting scenes (like Control4, Lutron, or Savant), preset the system to its “Evening” or “Entertainment” mode.
🪟 3. Windows & Blinds
- Open up: Open all window blinds, shades, and curtains completely to let the interior light shine through.
- Keep it uniform: If blinds must remain down for privacy, ensure they are all adjusted to the exact same uniform height and angle.
- Check for smudges: Quickly wipe down highly visible front windows to prevent glare or streaks.
🚗 4. Driveway & Exterior
- Clear the driveway: Park all vehicles inside the garage (with the garage door closed) or down the street completely out of view.
- Hide yard tools: Put away garden hoses, trash cans, recycling bins, and pet toys.
- Dry the pavement: Turn off automatic sprinklers at least 2 hours before the shoot so the driveway, sidewalks, and patios are completely dry.
- Clear debris: Do a quick sweep or use a leaf blower to clear leaves and grass clippings off walkways and patios.
🏊 5. Backyard & Pool Staging
- Prep outdoor furniture: Remove all plastic weather covers, wipe down tables, and neatly arrange patio cushions.
- Clear the pool: Remove automatic pool cleaners, vacuums, skimmers, and floating toys from the water.
Thank you so much for your help in preparing the property. We can’t wait to deliver some spectacular images for your listing! See you soon!
Please make sure all of the above is complete in advance of the appointment to eliminate additional charges for having to return and reshoot the property.
If you can’t be there during the photoshoot, please prepare the home before you leave. Photographer will turn off all lights and lock up when finished.
Remember, if it is visible it will be photographed. Most clients and realtors have such a varied taste of what makes a home attractive and what should or should not be in the photo, so the photographer assumes that if it is in view, you want it photographed.
Please do not plan to move or rearrange items from room to room during the shooting process. The home must ready to shoot prior to the scheduled time. It only takes about 15 – 20 minutes to photograph your home unless it is a very large luxury home. There is only enough time is allowed for this. We shoot the front exterior first, then the entry, then all living, dining, and study areas. then on to the Master Bedroom and any additional media or game rooms followed by the secondary bedrooms and baths. The backyard is shot last. This keeps everything in order for your realtor to readily display your home most effectively.
Please allow a 30-minute window on each side of the appointment time. The photographer is almost always early.
Also, please be considerate of your Realtor and the Realtors and their clients who are scheduled immediately following your home. If the property is not adequately prepared according to the above list, it will mean having to reschedule your photo session causing a delay in getting your home on the market as well as an unnecessary expense to schedule a return trip.
If you determine that the property is not going to be ready by the appointment time, please notify your realtor more than 24 hours in advance to prevent additional expenses.
Our job is to get more potential buyers into your house. However, it cannot be done without your help!
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.