How to prepare your home for photography

PREPARATION CHECKLIST:

General

  • Remove all usual clutter
  • Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
  • Replace all burned out light bulbs
  • Use bulbs of the same color temperature
  • Turn all ceiling fans OFF
  • Turn all TVs and screens OFF
  • Open blinds to let in outside light
  • Make all beds in bedrooms
  • Place all shoes/jackets in closets
  • Remove all clothes from the door hangers
  • Remove seasonal or holiday decorations

Exterior

  • Remove usual clutter, toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.
  • Remove cars from driveway and front of home
  • Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
  • Remove empty planters, trash cans, water hoses
  • Tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
  • Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
  • Hide pool cleaning supplies
  • Turn on pool fountains/water features
  • Remove grill cover

Kitchen

  • Clear countertops (supplies, mail, large kitchen applieances)
  • Clear refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
  • Remove dishes from sink
  • Straighten all chairs in dining room and space them evenly
  • Remove child seats/booster chairs
  • Extra: Display bowl with fruit on counter
  • Extra: Set the dinner table for dinner
  • Extra: Add vase of flowers

Bathroom

  • Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
  • Put toilet seats down
  • Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
  • Remove dirty towels - leave only few new, unused towels
  • Remove toilet paper or add fresh roll
  • Remove floor mats, toilet brush, trashcans
  • Replace all blown out bulbs
  • Clean mirrors
  • Extra: Add little decorations like vase with flowers

Bedroom

  • Make all beds
  • Ensure lamps are working / replace bulbs
  • Arrange pillows
  • Remove things like magazines, TV remotes, tissue boxes etc
  • Remove things that are under the bed, they can be visible in photos
  • Remove cables, phone chargers

Pets

  • Remove or hide bowls, beds, toys, litter boxes
  • Clear back yard of pet waste/toys

For best results, you can also:

  • Replace all yellow bulbs with white ones
  • Use landscape / nature screen saver on TVs
  • Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
  • Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring (kitchen, bathroom)
  • Clean windows (especialy important for houses where the views have to be emphasised)

Right before the shoot

  • Open blinds
  • Turn ON all the lights
  • Turn OFF all the fans
  • Move vehicles from driveway and the visible sight
  • Put pets away from the living areas