How to Prepare Your Home for Real Estate Photography (The Complete Checklist)

I've photographed hundreds of properties across Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. In that time, I've walked into homes that photographed beautifully with almost no prep — and homes that could have sold faster if the owner had spent 20 minutes clearing their countertops.

The difference between good listing photos and great listing photos is often preparation, not photography.

Here's the exact checklist I send to every client before we shoot.

The day before

Declutter every room

This is the most important step and the one most people underestimate. Buyers scan photos in seconds. Anything that draws the eye away from the space itself — stacks of mail, personal photos, collections, kids' toys — becomes a distraction.

Go room by room and remove:

• Everything from kitchen countertops except one or two intentional items (a fruit bowl, a coffee maker if it's beautiful)
• All personal photos, refrigerator magnets, and sticky notes
• Excess furniture that makes rooms feel cramped
• Laundry, dishes, and anything left out habitually

Clean everything you'd expect a buyer to look at closely

Mirrors, windows, appliances, and bathroom surfaces all reflect light and catch the camera's attention. Clean them properly — a smudged mirror shows in photos.

The morning of the shoot

Turn on every light in the house

Every overhead light, every lamp, every under-cabinet light in the kitchen. This has a larger impact on interior photo quality than almost anything else. Consistent, warm light throughout a space makes it feel welcoming and well-maintained.

Make all beds to hotel standard

Fluffed pillows, tight corners, no wrinkles. Bedrooms are among the most important rooms in a listing — buyers imagine themselves sleeping there. A disheveled bed creates immediate doubt.

Clear the driveway and surrounding curb

Move all cars off the driveway and away from the front of the home. Garbage bins should be out of sight. Trim any obvious overgrowth. For exterior shots, I'll position to minimize any unflattering angles — but I can't shoot around a truck blocking the front door.

Things people often forget

• Pet items — food bowls, beds, kennels, and (especially) litter boxes should be out of sight or removed from the home
• Toilet lids — always down in every bathroom
• Ceiling fans — turn them off so blades are still in the photos
• Alarm clocks and charging cables — remove from bedside tables
• Closets — I won't shoot inside closets unless they're a feature, but leave them closed and neat in case we want the option

What to leave out

Some things make a home feel lived-in in the right way:

• A bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter
• A vase of fresh flowers (simple, not elaborate)
• A book or reading glasses on a side table
• A neatly folded throw on the couch

These create warmth without clutter.

The bottom line

You don't need to stage your home like a model home. You need to remove anything that would stop a buyer from seeing the space itself. Most of the prep is subtraction, not addition.

If you're unsure where to start, focus your energy in this order: kitchen, master bedroom, living room, exterior. If those four rooms are clean and clear, the rest of the home will follow.

I always do a quick walkthrough with you before I start shooting. If something catches my eye, I'll point it out before we lose time. My goal is the same as yours: listing photos that make your home look its best and move it fast.