Agents: Top 3 things to prepare for a photo shoot

When you purchase photography for your listing, there are many things that you should do to make the process go as smooth as possible and to ensure that the final product looks fantastic. Here are 3 of the most important.

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1. Know what you want photographed AHEAD OF TIME

Know exactly what you want AND don’t want photographed, making sure to communicate this as clearly as possible to the photographer. This is especially the case if you are picky about your photographs. The photographer usually ends up picking 95% of the shots you want; however they can’t read minds. To make sure that you’re not missing that 1 perfect shot you have in mind (and to avoid the cost of a re-shoot), planning and communication are absolutely necessary!

2. Prepare the property BEFORE THE PHOTOGRAPHER SHOWS UP

Take the time to prepare the property for the way you want it photographed. Whether this is done by you, the owner, or a combination of the two, getting the property in its most attractive light can make or break the shoot. It may look like photographers just show up, snap a few shots, and then leave. But it’s way more than that. They don’t have the time required to prep things for you, especially when they’re not sure how you want it prepared. And since they’re on a time crunch most of the time, making them wait while you clean up stuff is the surest way to guarantee a quick (but not very thorough) shoot. Make sure things are cleaned off. You may not think that that counter over in the corner needs to be dusted, but trust me – you can see EVERYTHING with a professional photographer and his/her pro gear. Golden rule: Assume everything will be captured, so if you don’t want it to be photographed, make sure it’s out of site.

3. Make sure the power to the property is turned on

This may be a no-brainer for most, but it’s often overlooked when you have many things going on. A professional photographer (even using flash photography and the best equipment) will not be able to give you the best results if they cannot turn on any lights. Trust me, it makes a huge difference, and even getting half-way decent shots will require WAY more time on-site. That means they are in a foul mood, and you or the owner will not be thrilled with the extra waiting either.

View our complete checklist for preparing a property

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