How Do You Prepare for a Photoshoot?

How do you prepare for a photoshoot? When listing your home in the Desert, you want to show off its best features, especially when a photographer has been scheduled to take pictures. How should you go about preparing for the big day?

I’m here to help and here are a few to dos and tips to help you be ready:

• Have your home professionally deep cleaned.
• Clear counter space and tables leaving the staged items.
• Remove floor mats and runners.
• Turn off all TV’s, computer screens, and ceiling fans.
• Remove any and all refrigerator magnets and pictures/papers.
• Hide any extension cords or surge protectors.
• Hide your garbage cans unless they’re within your cabinets.
• Keep your vertical blinds open at 45^o angle unless they open directly to your neighbor’s house or AC unit.
• If you have any open cabinets or glass doors, make sure they are cleaned and “staged”.
• Make sure all lights are on in the kitchen, especially over the range and under the counter.
• Depending on the day, the photographer may or may not have the lights on in the rest of the house; however, you will want to make sure all the light fixtures are functioning.
• Set the dining room table, but not too extreme.
• Clear all the items off the bathroom counters unless they are staging items.
• Remove the bathroom rugs.
• Make sure the toilet lid is closed and the toilet brush (and any plungers) is hidden.
• Soap and candles should be out of sight.
• Go through the house and depersonalize it removing all photos and personal items. You want to do this anyway when listing your home.
• Put away your remote controls and chargers – again hide any cords or cables.
• If there are any toys around (children or pets) hide them.
• Hide any hint of a pet.
• If you have a bookshelf, tidy the books, and arrange the nick knacks. (However, removing the nick knacks is preferred.)
• Make all the beds and arrange the decorative pillows.
• Clear the tops of nightstand and dressers, unless they are staged.
• There should not be any hampers or clothing showing anywhere; in fact, tidy up the closets.
• Put away all shoes and jackets in closets.
• If there is anything under the bed, remove or make sure it’s not caught by the camera.
• Unless the outside grill is built-in, hide it with its accessories.
• Have the outdoor furniture cleaned.
• Hide your outside trash and recycling cans.
• If you have a pool, hide the hose and pool toys. Pools look so much better without the screener in the pool.
• Park your cars in the garage.

Of course, when you’re working with me, I will certainly help you prepare to list, photoshoots and the entire listing/closing process. Give me a call and let’s discuss how I can help.