Getting your home ready to photograph for a listing takes more than just tidying up. It’s about creating a space that looks spacious, bright, and appealing through the camera lens. The right tweaks can make your rooms look magazine-worthy and attract more potential buyers or renters.
Small changes make a huge difference when it comes to real estate photography. From adjusting lighting to repositioning furniture, these simple modifications can transform an ordinary room into one that stands out in online listings and makes viewers want to see more.
1. Clear Surfaces for Visual Breathing Room
Kitchen counters, bathroom vanities, and tables need to be almost completely clear for listing photos. Remove appliances, toiletries, and personal items that create visual clutter. A minimalist approach makes spaces appear larger and more inviting.
Keep only one or two decorative items per surface; perhaps a small vase or a stylish cookbook in the kitchen. This strategic simplicity creates a sense of spaciousness that photographs exceptionally well, allowing potential buyers to envision their own belongings in the space.
2. Hide Personal Photographs
Family photos and personal mementos make it harder for potential buyers to picture themselves in your home. Remove these items before photography sessions to create a more neutral canvas.
This simple change helps viewers mentally move into the space rather than feeling like they’re intruding on someone else’s home. Blank walls or generic artwork photograph better and create a more universal appeal in listing photos.
3. Reposition Furniture Away From Walls
Pushing furniture against walls might seem like it creates more space, but it actually makes rooms look smaller in photographs. Pull sofas and chairs a few inches away from walls to create visual breathing room.
This slight adjustment creates depth and dimension in photos. It also helps establish a more intentional, designed look that appeals to buyers scrolling through online listings, making your space appear more thoughtfully arranged.
4. Create Conversation Areas
Arrange seating to face each other rather than positioning everything toward the TV. This creates inviting conversation areas that photograph much better than entertainment-focused layouts.
Buyers respond positively to spaces that suggest connection and communication. A simple rearrangement of existing furniture can transform how welcoming a room appears in photos, highlighting the social potential of the space.
5. Replace Burned-Out Light Bulbs
Nothing says neglect like burned-out bulbs in listing photos. Check every fixture and replace any non-functioning bulbs before the photographer arrives.
Consistent lighting creates a well-maintained impression. This small detail signals to potential buyers that the property has been cared for, and prevents distracting dark spots in what should be well-lit areas.
6. Match Light Bulb Types
Mixed lighting temperatures create an unpleasant, uneven appearance in photos. Use bulbs with the same color temperature throughout each room for consistent, flattering light.
Warm white bulbs (2700-3000K) work well in living spaces and bedrooms, creating a cozy atmosphere. Brighter, cooler bulbs work better in kitchens and bathrooms. This consistency helps rooms photograph more professionally.
7. Add Supplemental Lighting
Most homes lack sufficient lighting for great photography. Add floor lamps or table lamps to dark corners before the photo session to eliminate shadows and create a brighter appearance.
Strategic lighting draws attention to architectural features and makes spaces feel larger. The extra illumination helps cameras capture details that might otherwise be lost in dimly lit areas, showing off your home’s best features.
8. Open All Window Coverings
Natural light dramatically improves real estate photography. Open all blinds, curtains, and shades completely to flood rooms with daylight during photo sessions.
The natural illumination makes spaces feel more open and appealing. It also creates a connection to outdoor views, which adds value perception in listing photos and helps rooms feel less confined.
9. Remove Heavy Window Treatments
Bulky curtains and valances can make windows look smaller and rooms darker in photographs. Consider temporarily removing heavy window treatments for a cleaner, more modern look.
Simple, minimal window coverings photograph better and create an impression of openness. This quick change instantly updates the appearance of a room and allows maximum natural light to enter the space.
10. Clear Floor Space
Visible floor space creates the perception of larger rooms in photographs. Remove small items like trash cans, floor fans, and pet supplies that interrupt the clean lines of flooring.
This visual continuity makes spaces appear more expansive and uncluttered. Photographers can capture more impressive wide-angle shots when floors aren’t broken up by small obstacles and everyday items.
11. Hide Cords and Cables
Visible wires create visual chaos in listing photos. Tuck away charging cables, TV wires, and computer cords before photography to create a cleaner appearance.
Simple cord management solutions like zip ties or temporary adhesive clips can quickly organize electronics connections. This attention to detail elevates the perceived quality of the space and eliminates distracting elements from photos.
12. Remove Refrigerator Magnets
Refrigerator doors covered with magnets, photos, and papers look cluttered and personalized in listing photos. Clear these surfaces completely for a cleaner, more appealing kitchen appearance.
A bare refrigerator photographs much better and helps maintain the neutral, spacious feeling buyers prefer. This small change takes just minutes but significantly improves kitchen images.
13. Hide Kitchen Towels and Pot Holders
Hanging kitchen towels and pot holders add unnecessary visual elements to photos. Remove these items temporarily for cleaner-looking images.
Even decorative kitchen textiles can be distracting in listing photos. Clearing these small items creates more visually streamlined counters and appliances, allowing the kitchen’s features to take center stage.
14. Remove Bathroom Items
Toothbrushes, soap dispensers, and shower products create visual clutter in bathroom photos. Clear all personal care items from counters, shower areas, and tub surrounds.
Empty bathroom surfaces photograph significantly better, making spaces appear larger and more spa-like. This creates an aspirational quality that appeals strongly to potential buyers viewing listings online.
15. Close Toilet Lids
An open toilet lid is visually unappealing in listing photos. Always close toilet lids before photography sessions for a more polished bathroom appearance.
This simple habit creates a cleaner, more sophisticated impression in bathroom images. It’s a small detail that real estate photographers appreciate and that noticeably improves the quality of listing photos.
16. Add Fresh Towels
New or pristine towels elevate bathroom photos considerably. Replace worn towels with fresh, neatly folded ones in colors that complement the bathroom design.
Crisp white towels often photograph best, creating a hotel-like appearance that appeals to buyers. This inexpensive upgrade adds a touch of luxury that stands out in listing photos.
17. Make Beds With Simple Linens
Bedrooms photograph best with simple, neat bedding. Replace busy patterns or themed comforters with solid-colored or subtly patterned options in neutral tones.
Freshly made beds with minimal pillows create a clean, inviting appearance. This understated approach helps bedrooms appear more spacious and allows architectural features to stand out in photos.
18. Remove Floor Mats
Bath mats and small kitchen rugs often look untidy in photographs and interrupt the visual flow of flooring. Remove these items temporarily for cleaner-looking images.
Continuous flooring creates the impression of larger spaces. This simple change takes seconds but significantly improves the appearance of bathrooms and kitchens in listing photos.
19. Hide Pet Items
Pet beds, toys, and feeding stations should be completely removed for listing photos. These items are distracting and can trigger concerns about pet odors or damage.
Temporarily storing pet supplies creates more neutral spaces that appeal to all buyers, not just pet owners. This helps maintain focus on the home’s features rather than its current occupants.
20. Declutter Closets
If closets will be photographed, remove at least half the contents to create a spacious, organized appearance. Overstuffed closets suggest inadequate storage and photograph poorly.
Neatly arranged, sparse closets imply abundant storage space. This strategic editing helps potential buyers envision their own belongings fitting comfortably within the available storage areas.
21. Add Fresh Flowers or Plants
A simple vase of flowers or a healthy green plant adds life to listing photos. Place these natural elements strategically to add color and interest without creating clutter.
Living elements create warmth and welcome in photographs. They draw the eye and add a touch of color that can brighten neutral spaces without overwhelming them.
22. Make Strategic Seasonal Updates
Small seasonal touches can make listing photos feel current and relevant. A light throw blanket in winter or fresh fruit in summer creates subtle context without overwhelming the space.
Avoid obvious holiday decorations, which can make listings feel outdated if they don’t sell quickly. Subtle seasonal elements create a timely feel without dating the photographs too specifically.
Small Changes, Dramatic Results
The difference between average and exceptional listing photos often comes down to these simple adjustments. Taking time to implement these 22 changes before your photography session will result in images that attract more potential buyers and showcase your home’s true potential.
Remember that listing photos are usually the first impression buyers have of your property. These small efforts translate directly into more interest, more showings, and potentially better offers. The camera notices details that might be overlooked in person, making these seemingly minor improvements a valuable investment in your selling success.
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