Real Estate Photography Prep: The Ultimate Guide For Realtors and Homeowners
Have you ever scrolled through a real estate listing only to be met with low-quality, cluttered, or poorly framed photos? Bad real estate photos can make even the most beautiful property look uninviting and unappealing. In today’s real estate market, first impressions matter more than ever. High-quality photos and videos can make all the difference in attracting potential buyers and generating interest in a listing.
As a real estate marketing company based in Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan, we’ve seen firsthand how proper preparation can elevate a property’s visual appeal. In this guide, we’re sharing our top tips to help Realtors and homeowners prepare their properties for stunning real estate photography and videography.
1. Declutter and Depersonalize
A clean, clutter-free space allows buyers to envision themselves in the home. Put away items such as personal photos, paperwork, and excess decor. Keep surfaces clear and ensure furniture is arranged neatly to create an inviting, spacious look.
2. Deep Clean Every Room
Prospective buyers are looking for homes that look like they have been loved and well-maintained. A spotless home allows viewers to feel a sense of comfort when looking at your photos and videos. Pay special attention to floors, windows, mirrors, and kitchen appliances. Clean countertops, dust shelves, and wipe down reflective surfaces to enhance lighting and clarity in images.
3. Maximize Lighting
Bright, well-lit spaces appear larger and more inviting. Open all curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. As well, ensure all light fixtures have matching, bright bulbs to create a warm and even glow. This includes replacing burnt bulbs in lighting fixtures and lamps in the home.
4. Enhance Curb Appeal
The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior. We always recommend tucking away any distracting objects such as garbage bins, scrap materials, and other items that you may store outside the home. Fresh doormats and potted plants always make a home feel more inviting. Moving vehicles off the driveway allows for clean, open shots of the property.
5. Stage Each Room with Purpose
Highlight key features of each room by arranging furniture to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing layout. In most cases, less is more as you want to make your space look as large and spacious as possible. Add neutral-colored throws, cushions, or fresh flowers to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere without overwhelming the space.
6. Minimize Distracting Elements
Small details can make a big difference in photos and videos. We suggest hiding visible wires and cords, removing magnets and notes from the fridge, and putting away items such as garbage cans, litter boxes, towels, and countertop objects that don’t add to the interior decor of the home. Also, ensure toilet seats are down and beds are neatly made!
7. Adjust for Seasonal Considerations
If listing a home in the winter, clear driveways and pathways of snow. In the summer, mowing the lawn, trimming overgrown bushes, and creating attractive patio spaces can make a huge difference. Seasonal decor should be tasteful and not overpowering, or removed entirely if it distracts from the home itself.
8. Consider Professional Touches
Simple upgrades like fresh coats of paint, polished floors, and updated light fixtures can go a long way in enhancing the appeal of a property. Additionally, ensuring all bulbs are the same color temperature can create a cohesive lighting effect.
For homes that are vacant, investing in professional staging services can also help buyers visualize rooms much better than seeing images and videos of empty spaces. Alternatively, you can also consider virtual staging for a cost-effective option to showcase the potential in your home.
9. Inform Everyone Involved
Ensure that all occupants, including pets, are prepared for the photography session. If possible, pets should be out of sight, and homeowners should leave during the filming process to allow for an efficient and distraction-free session.
10. Work with a Professional Real Estate Media Team
Partnering with a professional real estate marketing company such as Urban Measure ensures you get high-quality images and videos that showcase your property in the best possible light. Our experienced team uses top-tier equipment and professional editing techniques to enhance each listing’s visual appeal. Our goal is to make your property stand out in the market and drive engagement to your listing.
Home Preparation Tips for Every Room
When people prepare their home for professional real estate photography, it's easy to get caught up in the little details.
Should the towels match? Do I need more pillows? Is the artwork in the right place?
After photographing thousands of homes across Alberta, we've found that the biggest improvements usually come from a handful of simple changes—not from making your home look like a magazine.
If we could give you just one piece of advice for each room before your next appointment, here's what it would be.
Kitchen: Keep the Island Clear
If there's one room that sells a home, it's usually the kitchen.
One of the biggest mistakes we see is placing large décor items in the middle of the island. Tall flower arrangements, oversized vases, or decorative pieces may look beautiful in person, but they often block important sightlines in photos.
Real estate photography is about showcasing the entire space. A clean island allows buyers to appreciate the cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and layout without unnecessary distractions.
While you're at it, tuck away small appliances, remove towels hanging from the oven, and if you've just cleaned your stainless steel appliances, give them a few minutes to dry before we arrive. Freshly wiped stainless steel can leave streaks or moisture that shows up surprisingly well on camera.
One small detail we also appreciate? Straightening the kitchen faucet. It only takes a second, but it's one of those little finishing touches that helps everything feel polished.
Living Room: Less Is More
The living room should feel comfortable, not crowded.
One thing we've noticed over the years is that it's easy to over-stage a space. Extra pillows, oversized plants in the corners, and too much décor can actually make a room feel smaller—especially when photographed with wide-angle lenses.
Large plants tucked into corners are one of the biggest culprits. They often block some of the best camera angles and can hide sightlines into adjoining rooms.
Rather than adding more, consider simplifying the space. A tidy, inviting living room almost always photographs better than one filled with accessories.
Bathroom: Hide the Evidence of Everyday Life
If there's one room homeowners tend to overlook, it's the bathroom.
And honestly, it's understandable. There are simply a lot of little items that live there.
Toothbrushes, soap bottles, shampoos, razors, loofahs, scales, garbage cans, cleaning products—none of them are particularly noticeable when you're living in the home, but together they can make the room feel busy in photos.
The good news is that bathrooms are also one of the easiest rooms to prepare. Most of these items can simply be tucked into the vanity for the duration of the appointment.
Sometimes we even move hand towels if they're blocking an angle. Small adjustments like these help the room feel clean, bright, and spacious.
Bedroom: Aim for Comfortable, Not Perfect
Bedrooms don't need to feel overly staged.
A neatly made bed is usually enough, and if you'd like to add a little warmth, a folded throw blanket across the foot of the bed can make the room feel more inviting.
What we don't recommend is going overboard with decorative pillows. While they may look great from the doorway, they can overwhelm the bed and even make the room feel more crowded when photographed from other angles.
Like many things in real estate photography, simplicity usually wins.
Home Office: Hide the Wires
Home offices have become an important selling feature, especially over the past few years.
Our biggest recommendation is to tidy up the technology. If possible:
- Turn monitors off.
- Close laptops.
- Remove chargers and loose cables.
- Hide paperwork with personal information.
Even if a monitor isn't plugged in for the duration of the shoot, no one viewing the photos is going to question it. A clean workspace simply photographs better and helps buyers imagine using the room themselves.
Laundry Room: Don't Forget the Machines
Laundry rooms don't usually require much preparation, but there's one thing that's easy to overlook.
Try not to leave clothing inside the washer or dryer during the appointment.
It's a surprisingly small detail that can become quite noticeable in photos, especially if the machine doors have glass fronts.
If possible, avoid running a load of laundry while we're photographing the home as well.
Backyard: Show That It's Cared For
Your backyard doesn't need to look like a professionally landscaped show home.
What buyers notice most is whether the space feels maintained.
If it's patio season:
- Arrange outdoor furniture.
- Roll up hoses.
- Put away lawn tools.
- Remove BBQ covers if you're showcasing the outdoor living space.
And yes… if you have a dog, doing one last walk around the yard before the appointment is always appreciated.
If it's winter, don't worry about trying to make it feel like summer. A tidy, well-maintained property always photographs better than one that's trying to fight the season.
Focus on the Spaces That Matter Most
Every room contributes to the story of a home, but if you're short on time, focus your energy on the areas buyers notice first.
The front exterior, kitchen, dining area, and living room create the first impression of your listing. They're also the most difficult spaces to tidy quickly because they're larger and more connected than the rest of the home.
Bedrooms and bathrooms are often much easier to prepare with a few simple adjustments.
Final Thoughts
Proper preparation and presentation of a home can be the difference between leaving an immediate, lasting impact on buyers or creating a negative impression. By following these simple steps, you can significantly improve the quality of your listing and attract more interest in your property.
If you’re looking for professional real estate photography and videography services in Western Canada, we offer free consultations, easy scheduling, and next-day turnaround times for our media services. Contact us today and let’s showcase your property at its best!
