How to Prepare Your Home for a Real Estate Photo Shoot in Austin
Updated: Oct 11
Buyers usually meet a home on a phone screen long before they walk through the front door. The listing photos decide whether that first look turns into a showing.
When I photograph homes in Austin, the shoots that turn out best almost always have one thing in common. The house was ready before I arrived. Here is the checklist I share with the agents and sellers I work with. Work through it during the week before the shoot and save the last section for that morning.
A week out: plan the shoot
Plan around the light. Tell me which way the home faces when you book. A living room that gets strong afternoon sun can look harsh in photos, while the same room looks soft and open in morning light, so we can pick a time of day that suits the rooms that matter most.
List the selling points. The updated kitchen, the vaulted ceiling, the shaded patio, the home office a remote worker will care about. Send the list ahead so nothing gets missed on the day.
Handle small repairs now. A bulb that's burned out, a cracked outlet cover, a bent blind. Each one seems minor, but a sharp camera finds all of them.
Three days out: declutter
A simple rule: if it doesn't help a buyer picture their own life in the room, put it away for the day.
Kitchen: clear the counters except one or two nice pieces. Take magnets and papers off the fridge. Hide dish soap, sponges, towels and the trash can.
Bathrooms: clear the vanity and shower, put toilet lids down and hang matching towels.
Bedrooms: make the beds neatly, clear nightstands and keep anything under the bed out of view.
Living areas: cut back on pillows and throws, and hide cords, remotes, gaming gear and toys.
Personal items: put away family photos, diplomas, mail and anything with a name or address on it. Listing photos stay online long after the sale, so this protects your privacy too.
The day before: clean for the camera
Photos show what our eyes skip in person. Wipe streaks off windows, mirrors and glass shower doors. Dust ceiling fan blades and light fixtures. Polish faucets and stainless appliances, and wipe fingerprints off cabinet hardware.
Outside, mow and edge the lawn, sweep the driveway and walkways, hose off the porch and roll trash and recycling bins out of sight. If your watering schedule allows, give the lawn some attention a few days ahead so it photographs green instead of tired.
The morning of: final walkthrough
Open every blind and curtain.
Turn on every light, including lamps and the lights under the cabinets. Matching bulbs help, because a mix of warm and cool bulbs shows up as uneven color in photos.
Turn off ceiling fans and TVs.
Move cars out of the driveway and away from the front of the house.
Put pet beds, bowls and litter boxes out of view, and if you can, let pets spend the morning with a friend.
Clear the last bits of the morning: coffee mugs, shoes by the door and bath towels on hooks.
During the shoot
Have one person on site who can answer questions and unlock rooms, then let me move through the house. Rearranging furniture between shots slows the day down, so do any staging beforehand.
After the shoot: choosing the listing photos
Lead with your strongest image, usually the front exterior or the main living space. Then follow the path a buyer would walk through the house. Mix wide room shots with a few details, like the kitchen hardware or the fireplace. Agents, keep the full set handy for social posts, email campaigns and your website.
For agents and teams with steady listings
If your team lists homes every month, booking one shoot at a time can get hard to manage. A monthly retainer gives you an agreed scope of photography each month, with a consistent look across your listings, team headshots and marketing. You can see how it works on my Monthly Retainers page.
Getting a home ready to list in Austin? Request a date through my contact page and tell me a little about the property.
