Property photography: How should you prepare each room of your property for the photo shoot?

One of the best ways to sell or let your property quickly is to create a compelling listing! This involves two elements: a well-written description and professional photographs. In this article, we will look at how you can prepare each room of your property for the photo shoot. Indeed, whether you choose to entrust the task to a professional or handle it yourself, preparing each room before the photo shoot is essential to showcase the key features of your property. 

“But that’s obvious… Why write an article about it?” you may ask.  When looking at photographs published on various property platforms (such as Immoweb or Immovlan), it is clear that even some property professionals often forget certain basic rules when preparing a property properly for a photo shoot. This article therefore aims to provide you with a comprehensive room-by-room list of rules to follow, so that you can prepare your property’s photo shoot as effectively as possible. 

General property preparation 

We feel it is important to go over a few general rules before outlining the specific details for each room. To ensure that your photographs create the “wow” effect, helping you sell or let more quickly and at the best price, it is important to pay attention to the following points:

• Natural light: Light is essential for a high-quality photograph. It therefore makes sense to take full advantage of the light available “naturally”. Open your curtains (if the view allows) to let in as much light as possible. For exterior shots, we recommend planning the day and time of your photo shoot using specialist apps such as “Sun Surveyor” or “The Sun’s Path”. These tools allow you to select the best time for your shoot based on the season (and therefore the amount of light) and the property’s orientation. For better photographs, it is preferable to schedule your shoot during the ‘golden hours’ or when it is cloudy.
  
• Artificial light: To give your photographs a warm, lived-in feel, it is often advisable to switch on your lights. This naturally depends on the quality and type of lighting available, but in most cases, switching on the lights helps showcase your property more effectively. 
• Cleaning and tidying: This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised by the number of listings in which this step has been overlooked. A clean and tidy house or flat will produce high-quality photographs that highlight your property’s best features. 
• The arrangement of furniture and décor: This can often be a sensitive subject for us to discuss with vendors who have strong or… unusual tastes in interior design. Without going into too much detail or asking you to redecorate your entire home, we recommend aiming for an overall look that is uncluttered, neutral and stylish. The idea is to declutter and depersonalise your property so that prospective buyers can imagine themselves living there. Think of this step as preparing to move. 

To discover everything you need to know about property photography (equipment, practical advice, composition, etc.), we invite you to consult our free guide : « The Ultimate Guide to Selling Without an Estate Agent”. An entire chapter is devoted to the subject and will help you take stunning photographs for your listing. 

 

Room-by-room preparation guide 

Exterior

If your property has outdoor space, it is very important to pay particular attention to photographs of the façade and your garden (or terrace). 

To showcase your façade and/or garden, make sure you: 

• Mow the lawn and clear away any leaves and branches from the ground
• Remove any weeds 
• Have trees and shrubs pruned where necessary 
• Put away any unnecessary garden furniture or decorations 
• Clean the swimming pool, hot tub or fountain, where applicable.
• Remove all vehicles from the driveway, garage or the front of the property. 

 

Entrance hall 

The entrance is the first area visitors will see. Wherever possible, the entrance hall should appear both welcoming and practical. 

To achieve this, make sure you: 

• Remove any outdoor clothing from the coat hooks.
• Put away shoes, boots, umbrellas and other accessories.
• Remove doormats (unless the weather requires them to remain in place).

 

Kitchen and dining room 

A practical kitchen and ample storage space are among the most important considerations for prospective buyers. Make sure you showcase the work surfaces and storage areas by: 

• Removing magnets, photographs and your children’s artwork from the fridge door. 
• Cleaning the worktops and clearing the surfaces of small appliances, crockery, etc. However, if it complements the décor, you may leave a plant or bowl of fruit on display.
• Tidying and organising all open storage areas. Do not hesitate to remove items and put them away in cupboards. 
• Putting away sponges, kitchen roll, the bin, etc. 
• by setting the table to create a more welcoming atmosphere (optional)

 

Living room 

This is a living space where a great deal of time is spent, whether with family, alone or with friends. It is therefore essential to emphasise comfort, conviviality and space. 

Make sure you: 

• Remove unnecessary or overly personal items 
• Keep only carefully selected decorative items to add warmth to the space (plants, books, etc.) 
• Minimise the number of cushions on the sofa and make sure they are neatly arranged
• Clear the coffee table 
• Switch on the accent lighting

 

Bedroom

The ‘peaceful haven’: the aim here is, as far as possible, to showcase the bedroom with a clean, uncluttered style, rather like a hotel room.
To achieve this, make sure you: 

• Declutter the room by removing all unnecessary or overly personal items
• Make the bed(s)
• Switch on the bedside lamps
• Close the wardrobe doors. If it is a separate room, it will need to be cleaned and tidied. 

 

Bathroom 

Viewers often form an opinion of the property's overall condition by assessing the state of the bathroom. This room must be spotlessly clean. To avoid making a good impression, you should:

• Put away or remove unnecessary toiletries 
• Hang clean, neatly folded towels 
• Check that the shower curtain/glass is clean 
• Remove bath mats 
• Lower the toilet seat
• Clean the mirrors and all other glass surfaces

 

Basement / Loft / Garage 

We agree that these are not the most ‘glamorous’ rooms, but these storage areas can nonetheless be decisive in a prospective buyer's decision. It is therefore important to highlight the additional space they provide. Wherever possible, we therefore recommend:

• Clearing these spaces as much as possible
• Keeping only the key items that demonstrate the purpose of the space (gardening equipment, tools, etc.)

Conclusion 

In conclusion, preparing a compelling and effective property listing involves showcasing your property through professional photographs. This article has therefore sought to provide a detailed room-by-room list of rules to follow in order to prepare your property for the photo shoot as effectively as possible.

By focusing on elements such as natural and artificial light, tidiness, furniture layout and décor, every aspect of your property can be presented to its best advantage. From the exterior façade to the basement, every area deserves special attention to create photographs that will inspire enthusiasm among prospective buyers or tenants.

By following these tips, you increase your chances of selling or letting your property more quickly and at a better price, while giving prospective viewers a memorable and positive first impression.

Would you like to discover more advice on preparing your property and writing a professional, compelling listing? Read our ultimate guide to selling without an estate agent, covering the 8 steps to selling your property quickly and at the best price yourself!