Prep List

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Preparing Your Home
for a Photo Shoot

COVID-19 Work Flow Policy
No one may be present during photo session, including realtors. Property must be photo ready. Please make sure to bring your pets along with you when leaving the house. If you must stay, you need to sign COVID-19 liability waver.

NOTHING WILL BE MOVED DURING THE PHOTO SHOOT

Please ask for liability waver to be e-mailed to you if you wish to stay during photo session

30 minutes prior to photographer's arrival please do the following:

Turn on all lights and lamps in the entire house, please do not miss any lamps, make sure lamps have working lightbulbs and are plugged into the wall, unplug timers

Open all light blocking curtains, turn blinds to open, we will close them if needed, or please open/close them the way you like. Keep the windows open if you have very strong sunlight coming into the room, we do know how to handle bright light, we do not cut corners

Turn off TVs, music and ceiling fans, I work with assistant and we need to be able to hear each other

Unplug all wall air fresheners, they clutter spaces, for safety of your property please do not light any candles

All pets must be crated, leashed or removed from the property, we will not start photo session with pets walking about the property. Hide all pets related items, bowls, toys, beds, leashes

Hide all trashcans (into closets or garage, we normally do not photograph these areas). Bring outside trashcans into the garage, remove all vehicles from the driveway prior to our arrival

Put toilets lids down in each bathroom, hide all toiletries (esspecially toothbrushes), hide plungers and toilet bowl brushes, please check that you have fresh towels on towel racks, no any personal items hanging on doors, remove scales, sponges, remove everything that does not relate to decor, leave decorative items only

If there is a special circumstance, let's discuss ahead of time so we can plan accordingly

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Overview for Homeowners & Realtors

Unless otherwise requested, these areas are NOT typically photographed. Instead, use these areas for storage during the photo shoot. Occasionally, laundry rooms include features that are compelling enough for photography. The realtor will typically decide if any of these areas should be photographed.

Areas Not Photographed

Garage

Toilet Rooms (In Master Bathrooms)

Closets

Kitchen Pantry

Storage Sheds

Laundry Room

Realtors

Remove the lock box during the exterior photo shoot

Install signage AFTER the photo shoot

General Prep

General Prep

Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)

Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON

Make sure all LAMPS have light bulbs and all lamps are plugged in

Replace all burned out light bulbs

Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)

Turn all ceiling lights ON but DO NOT turn on any ceiling fans. Make sure all ceiling fans are OFF and do not spin as they blur in the photos

Turn all TVs OFF

Turn all computer screens OFF

Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light

If a window has a view, raise the blinds completely for a completely unobstructed view

Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)

Make all beds

Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring

Place all shoes/jackets in closets

Hide all Fans and Space Heaters

Hide all Trash Cans and close all Toilet Lids

Remove exterior flags that may blow in the wind

Exterior

Front Exterior
The front of the home is usually the first picture buyers will see, and this picture will determine if they will look at additional property details.

Close garage doors

Remove cars from driveway and front of home

Remove trash cans from front of house

Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)

Remove empty planters

Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames

Remove visible water hoses

Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.

Back Yard / Decks / Docks

Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions

Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded

Clear out kid?s toys, balls, frisbees, etc.

Clean pool

Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose if possible

Hide pool cleaning supplies

Turn on pool fountains/water features

Remove visible water hoses

Remove trash cans

Docked boats and/or jet ski?s should be clean

Fishing gear should be neatly organized

Fire pits should be lit if evening photography is being provided

Kitchen

Kitchen

Clear countertops completely. No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.

Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)

Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.

Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet

Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher

Clean stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops to ensure there are no fingerprints or smudges

Living Room & Family Room

Living Room & Family Room

Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.

De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)

Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed

Do not block fireplace with furniture

Fluff and arrange furniture pillows

Remove kid?s toys

Bedrooms

Master Bedroom

Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available

Press bed linens and bed skirts

Clear nightstands of all personal items

Store away phone/tablet charging cables

Remove all clutter from top of dressers

Remove family photos from walls

Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Kid Rooms & Guest Rooms

Remove personalized names from walls

Remove wall stickers/posters

Remove diaper genies

Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Bathrooms

Bathrooms

Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.

Put toilet seats down

Close closet doors

Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs

Remove dirty towels, leave out only new, unused towels

Remove floor mats

Pets

Pets

Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet

Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet

Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair

Contain pets in hidden crate or outside

Clear back yard of pet waste/toys

Holidays

Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations are not recommended for real estate photos. If a property listing has holiday decorations it can date the media, resulting in problems if the listing is active outside of the holidays. We strongly discourage our clients from displaying holiday decorations. Of course, we also understand the reality of decorating for the holidays. We will do our best to shoot around decorations, but we can?t guarantee that we can avoid decorations in the finished photos.

Remove yard decorations and visible lighting

Remove interior decorations including Christmas trees

Any decorations that are up should be kept to a minimum

Remove window decorations

Twilight Photography

Twilight Prep
Twilight photography is impressive and creates a dramatic presentation. Here are some tips to help achieve the best results. These tips are in addition to the Front Exterior tips previously covered.

Turn on all exterior AND interior lights that are exposed to the shoot area

Open blinds and/or window treatments that are exposed to shoot area

Keep windows clean

Visible outdoor fire pits or fireplaces should be lit

Turn on landscape lights

Make sure pool lighting is operational

Ensure timers are working and operation prior to the shoot

Replace burned out bulbs or broken fixtures

Turn on pool lights and patio lights for pool/patio shoots

Test lights prior to arrival and reschedule if needed

Virtual Zone Media

443-614-5957

svetlanaleahy@gmail.com