General Prep
•Cleaning and staging should be done before the shoot
•Plan not to be seen. Rooms overlap in photos and people can cause shadows, reflections and safety issues. All occupants should be off property or in areas where they aren’t visible
•Remove pets. I’m a huge animal person but for the safety of me, my gear and the pet, they need to be secured or off property
•Use garage for storage. I usually don’t shoot the garage so items can be tucked away here
Outside Prep
•The for sale sign should be put up after the photoshoot, or removed if needed. MLS sites don’t allow signs in photos and they can’t always be edited out
•Remove cars from driveways. If possible also remove from street in front of the home for the clearest view possible
•Clean up yard: Mow and trim yard at least 24 hours before shoot. Remove clutter and waste
•Remove hoses, as they leave puddles in the driveway
•Do not water the day of the shoot to prevent puddles
•Sweep entry
•Remove garbage bins
•Clean pool
•Clean patio furniture
Interior Prep
•Turn on all lights/lamps. Replace any burnt out bulbs
•Close all windows and open blinds
•Turn off ceiling fans
•Remove personal items (photos, posters etc) if possible
•Turn off all screens
•Hide cords and remotes
•Clean up closets & entryways: Remove shoes and clothes
•Declutter Kitchen: Clear off countertops, hide appliances, remove fridge magnets & photos, hide cleaning supplies, remove garbage bins
•Declutter Bathrooms: Remove personal items (toothbrush, razor etc), clean mirrors, clean toilet & close lid, hide plungers, remove rugs
•Prepare Bedrooms: Make beds and remove personal items, remove clothes, clean under bed
Twilight Prep
If you have scheduled a twilight shoot the following is additional preparations. Note that twilights have a tight schedule to ensure optimal lighting, so please make sure all is ready before I arrive.
•Turn on all interior and exterior lights, open blinds
•Turn on pool lights
•Turn on water features (fountains etc)
