how-to-prepare-your-home-for-real-estate-photography

You’ve hired a real estate photographer. Your listing goes live in days. Now what?

Most sellers underestimate how much their preparation affects the final photos — and how little a skilled photographer can do to compensate for clutter, poor lighting, or a bed made in a hurry. The camera doesn’t lie, and it doesn’t clean either.

This guide walks you through exactly how to prepare your home for real estate photography, room by room, before the photographer even pulls up to your address. Whether your session includes still photos, listing video, drone footage, or a Matterport 3D virtual tour, the same principles apply.

Why Preparation Matters More Than You Think

Professional real estate photography can increase your listing’s click-through rate significantly — studies consistently show professionally photographed homes sell faster and for more money than those with phone photos. But even the best camera and the best photographer can’t fix a kitchen counter buried under mail and coffee makers.

The goal of a professional shoot is to capture your home at its highest potential. Before the shoot, your job is to remove every distraction that pulls a buyer’s attention away from the space itself. Buyers shopping online are scanning hundreds of photos. The ones that stop them cold are the ones where the room feels open, clean, and aspirational — not lived-in.

Before You Do Anything: The Mindset Shift

Walk through your home the way a buyer would — as if you’ve never been inside before. Stand at the doorway of each room and ask: What’s the first thing my eye lands on? If the answer is anything other than the room’s best feature (the fireplace, the windows, the hardwood floors), that’s what needs to go.

Think of this process as temporarily de-personalizing your home. It’s not about hiding who you are — it’s about letting buyers imagine themselves living there.

The Day Before the Shoot: Big-Picture Tasks

Give yourself the day before the shoot to handle these foundational items. Trying to do everything the morning of guarantees you’ll miss something.

Deep clean every room. Smudges on stainless steel, dust on ceiling fan blades, and fingerprints on glass doors show up in high-resolution photos. Wipe down all appliances, clean mirrors and windows from the inside, and mop or vacuum all floors. Pay special attention to bathrooms — grout lines, faucet fixtures, and toilet lids will all be captured.

Declutter all flat surfaces. Countertops, end tables, coffee tables, nightstands, and bathroom vanities should hold only intentional, decorative items. A countertop with one clean bowl of fruit reads as spacious. A countertop buried in everyday items reads as cramped — even if the kitchen itself is large.

Remove personal photographs and overly personal artwork. Framed family photos on the mantle or nightstand pull buyers out of the imagination exercise. This is a standard staging recommendation, not a permanent change.

Deal with cords and cables. Charging cables, TV cords, router wires — anything visible gets photographed. Tuck them behind furniture or temporarily use cable management strips.

Clear off the refrigerator. Magnets, notes, drawings, school schedules — all of it should come down. A bare refrigerator reads as part of the kitchen, not a bulletin board.

Empty visible trash cans. Every trash can that appears in any photo should be empty or removed from the room.

Room-by-Room Checklist

Living Room

The living room is typically the lead photo for a listing. It sets the first impression.

Remove extra throw blankets, pillows, and remotes from all seating
Fluff and arrange couch cushions symmetrically
Pull furniture slightly away from the walls — it creates a sense of space
Clear the coffee table to one or two intentional items (a small plant, a book)
Turn on all lights, including lamps — warm light layers beautifully in photos
Clean the fireplace glass and remove any ash if it’s a wood-burning unit
Vacuum rugs and hardwood in the direction the camera will face

Kitchen

Kitchens are the most examined photos in any listing. Buyers scrutinize every detail.

Clear counters completely — even items you use every day should be stored temporarily.
Remove the dish rack, sponge, dish soap, and hand towels from the sink area.
Clean the sink until it shines
Wipe all appliance surfaces: oven, refrigerator, dishwasher
Remove everything from the refrigerator door
Stage with one or two simple, photogenic items: a bowl of lemons, a small plant, a clean cookbook
Open blinds or curtains to let in natural light
Make sure all cabinet and drawer hardware is aligned

Primary Bedroom

Buyers want to see a bedroom that feels like a retreat.

Make the bed with crisp, clean linens — neutral colors photograph best
Use at least three pillows (two standard + one decorative) for a styled look
Remove all items from nightstands except one lamp and one small decorative item
Clear the top of the dresser completely
Close all closet doors
Remove anything stored under the bed that might be visible
Turn on bedside lamps

Other Bedrooms

Apply the same logic as the primary bedroom. If a room doubles as a home office or storage, spend extra time making it look intentional.

If it’s a child’s room, reduce toys to one or two prominent, tidy items
Make every bed
Remove personal photos where possible
Keep it simple — buyers are mentally measuring the room, and clutter shrinks it visually.y

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are small, which means every detail is magnified in photos.

Remove all toiletries from the shower and tub — shampoo bottles, soap, razors, loofahs.
Put a fresh bar of soap or a clean soap dispenser by the sink
Remove all items from the vanity top except the soap dispenser and maybe a candle or small plant
Close the toilet lid — always
Hang fresh, matching towels (white or neutral) neatly
Clean the mirror until there’s no streak
Replace any burnt-out lightbulbs

Home Office

Given current buyer demand for remote-work space, home offices are frequently photographed and toured. Make it look functional but uncluttered.

Clear the desk of all papers.
Organize visible cables or remove them entirely.
A clean monitor, a keyboard, and a small plant are all you need on the desk.
Bookshelves should be organized, not overflowing

Garage

Not always photographed, but increasingly included — especially for Matterport 3D tours where the garage is part of the walkthrough.

Move all cars out before the photographer arrives
Sweep the floor
Move bins and bags to one wall
Organize visible shelving

Exterior Prep: Curb Appeal Is the Cover Photo

For most listings, the exterior front shot is the first or second photo buyers see. It’s your listing’s cover image in MLS and Zillow displays.

The day before:

Mow the lawn and edge along sidewalks and driveway
Sweep or blow off all leaves and debris from all hard surfaces
Pull weeds from landscape beds and along fence lines
Water and fluff mulch in landscape beds

The morning of:

Move all vehicles out of the driveway and off the front curb
Roll up garden hoses and store them out of sight
Put away any toys, bicycles, tools, or recreational equipment
Wipe down the front door and ensure address numbers are clean and visible
Sweep the porch or stoop and remove worn doormats
Deck or patio: remove everything except one clean seating arrangement

If your session includes drone photography: The FAA Part 107 licensed pilot operating your drone will capture your property and surrounding context from above. Move vehicles as far from the front of the property as possible — neighboring cars parked at the curb will appear in aerial shots. Also communicate any HOA restrictions or local airspace concerns ahead of the shoot.

Lighting: The One Thing Most Sellers Overlook

Real estate photographers bring professional lighting equipment, but natural and ambient light from your home still plays a major role — especially in rooms where flash isn’t the primary source.

Before the photographer arrives:

Replace any burnt-out bulbs in the home
Use the same color temperature bulbs throughout each room — mixing warm and cool tones creates color casts in photos.
Open all blinds and curtains fully to maximize natural light
Turn ON all interior lights before the photographer walks in — including kitchen under-cabinet lights, bathroom vanity lights, and accent lighting
Turn OFF all ceiling fans — fan blades appear blurred in still photos

If Your Session Includes Matterport 3D or Listing Video

Matterport 3D Virtual Tours

A Matterport scan captures your entire home as a navigable 3D model. Unlike photos, buyers can virtually walk through every room at their own pace, so they’ll see every corner, every doorway, and the inside of any open area.

Every room included in the scan needs to meet the same standard as your still photo prep.
Close interior doors to rooms not being scanned (laundry room, mechanical room, storage closets)
Remove items from the tops of toilets — they’re visible from the front scan angle.
The Matterport camera sits at room level on a tripod, so pay extra attention to floor-level clutter.r
Clear hallways completely — the camera travels through them and captures both directions.

Listing Video Walkthroughs

Video reveals motion, and motion reveals imperfection. If your session includes a walkthrough video:

All of the photo prep above applies equally to video
Silence any appliances that make noise (running dishwasher, loud HVAC)
Secure pets in a crate, outside, or with a neighbor during the video portion
Turn off all smart speakers and TVs
Remove your car from the driveway before video begins — most videographers open with an exterior shot.

The Morning of the Shoot: Final Walkthrough

By the morning of your shoot, the heavy lifting should already be done. Use the morning for final passes only.

Walk every room with fresh eyes — check flat surfaces, floors, and windows.
Turn on all lights throughout the entire home, inside and out.
Open all blinds and curtains to maximize natural light.
Move all vehicles from the driveway and immediate curb.
Secure pets — pets should not be present during the shoot.
Leave the home during the session if possible. Sellers present in the home slow the shoot and limit the photographer’s flexibility.

What Your Photographer Handles

A full-service real estate media session from G Nelson Media includes professional lighting setup, camera settings calibrated for each space, HDR processing, FAA-compliant drone operation, and full post-production editing. We handle the technical side entirely.

What we can’t do is remove clutter after the fact without significant retouching time and cost. Our editors handle basic fixes — green lawn in winter, sky replacement, removing a single forgotten item — but whole-room declutter is outside the scope of standard post-processing.

The homes that photograph best are the ones where the seller showed up prepared.

Quick Reference: Day-Before Checklist

Kitchen: Counters cleared, appliances wiped, sink clean, fridge door bare
Living room: Cushions fluffed, surfaces cleared, TV off, lamps on
Primary bedroom: Bed made, nightstands staged, closets closed
All bedrooms: Beds made, floors clear, personal items put away
Bathrooms: Toiletries removed, toilet lid down, fresh towels hung, mirror clean
Exterior: Lawn mowed, driveway clear, front door clean, hoses stored
All rooms: Bulbs replaced, fans off, all lights on before photographer arrives

Book Your Baltimore Real Estate Photography Session

G Nelson Media serves Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and surrounding Maryland counties with professional real estate photography, aerial drone video, listing video walkthroughs, and certified Matterport 3D virtual tours. A licensed FAA Part 107 pilot performs all drone work.

Ready to book? Contact us here or call to schedule your session. Most appointments are available within 24–48 hours.