Property Photography Checklist: How to Prepare Your Home
Good property photography starts before the photographer arrives.
Whether you are selling a house, preparing a rental property or getting a property ready for an estate agent, preparing each room properly can help create clearer, more attractive property photos.
Use this property photography checklist before your photography appointment to make your home ready for marketing.
Why Should You Prepare Your Property for Photography?
Professional property photos are designed to show your property at its best.
A clean, tidy and well-organised home can make it easier for potential buyers and tenants to understand the size, layout and features of the property.
Small changes such as removing clutter, cleaning surfaces and opening curtains can make a big difference to how a room appears in photographs.
If you are preparing a property for sale, you may also need an EPC and floor plan as part of your property marketing materials.
For a complete overview, read our guide on preparing your property for sale with an EPC, photos and floor plan.
Property Photography Checklist
Before your photographer arrives, work through the following checklist.
1. Clean Every Room
Give the property a thorough clean before the photography session.
Pay particular attention to:
Windows and glass
Mirrors
Kitchen surfaces
Bathroom surfaces
Floors and carpets
Kitchen appliances
Doors and handles
Outdoor areas
Clean windows can also help natural light enter the property.
The goal is not necessarily to make the property look empty. Instead, aim for a clean, comfortable and well-maintained appearance.
2. Remove Unnecessary Clutter
Too much clutter can make rooms appear smaller and distract attention from the property’s features.
Consider putting away:
Excess furniture
Children’s toys
Laundry
Shoes and coats
Cleaning products
Bins
Excess kitchen appliances
Personal paperwork
Large collections of decorative items
Keep useful furniture and simple decorations where they help show how the room can be used.
3. Prepare the Living Room
The living room is often an important photograph in a property listing.
Before the photography appointment:
Arrange sofas and chairs neatly
Straighten cushions
Clear unnecessary items from tables
Hide loose cables where practical
Remove visible rubbish
Open curtains or blinds
Arrange decorative items neatly
Try to make the room feel spacious while still showing its purpose.
4. Make the Kitchen Photo-Ready
Kitchen worktops can quickly become crowded with everyday items.
Before photography, clear unnecessary items from:
Worktops
Dining tables
Sinks
Cooker surfaces
Fridge doors
Clean appliances and surfaces and put away items that do not need to appear in the photographs.
A simple kitchen setup can help potential buyers or tenants focus on the available space.
5. Prepare the Bedrooms
Bedrooms should look clean, comfortable and organised.
Before the photographer arrives:
Make the beds
Straighten pillows
Remove clothes from chairs
Clear bedside tables
Hide laundry
Open curtains or blinds
Tidy visible storage areas
If a bedroom is small, removing unnecessary furniture can help show the available floor space.
6. Tidy the Bathroom
Bathrooms should be particularly clean and uncluttered.
Put away everyday personal items such as:
Toiletries
Toothbrushes
Cleaning products
Laundry
Bins
Excess towels
Clean mirrors, shower screens and other visible surfaces.
A tidy bathroom gives the photographer a cleaner space to work with.
7. Organise the Entrance and Hallway
The entrance is one of the first areas visitors may see.
Before photography:
Store shoes neatly
Organise coats
Remove unnecessary objects
Clean the floor
Clean visible doors and handles
Keep hallways clear
A clear hallway can also make it easier to show the connection between different rooms.
8. Prepare the Garden and Outdoor Areas
Do not forget the exterior of the property.
If you have a garden, balcony, terrace or patio:
Remove rubbish
Store garden tools
Tidy plants
Cut the grass where necessary
Remove unnecessary children’s toys
Arrange outdoor furniture
Clear balconies and patios
Outdoor space can be an important feature of a property listing, so make sure it is ready to photograph.
9. Open Curtains and Blinds
Natural light can help make property photographs feel brighter and more welcoming.
Where appropriate, open:
Curtains
Blinds
Shutters
Clean windows can also help improve the appearance of exterior views and natural light.
Your photographer can then decide which lighting and angles work best for each room.
10. Check Your Lights
Check that the property’s light bulbs are working before the photography appointment.
This is particularly useful in:
Hallways
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Darker rooms
Rooms with limited natural light
The photographer can decide which lights should be switched on during the session.
11. Hide Personal Information
Remember to remove documents and objects that contain personal information.
For example:
Letters
Bills
Passports
Financial documents
Personal photographs
Children’s names or school information
This can help keep unnecessary personal information out of property marketing photographs.
12. Make Sure Every Room Is Accessible
Before the photographer arrives, make sure all areas that need photographing can be accessed.
Check:
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Storage areas
Gardens
Balconies
Garages
Other important spaces
If the property is occupied, let everyone know about the photography appointment beforehand.
13. Prepare the Property for the Listing
Professional photography is only one part of preparing a property for the market.
A strong property listing can also include a floor plan and an up-to-date EPC where required.
A floor plan helps buyers and tenants understand the property’s layout, while photographs show its appearance.
You can read more about this in how property photos and a floor plan can boost your listing.
14. Don’t Forget Your EPC
If you are selling or renting a property, check your EPC before the property goes to market.
An EPC is generally valid for 10 years, although specific circumstances can affect whether a new certificate is needed.
Landlords should also make sure they understand the relevant EPC and energy-efficiency requirements before renting out a property.
Our EPC checklist for landlords provides a useful guide for landlords preparing a property for rent.
For official information about EPC requirements, always check the latest guidance on Energy Performance Certificates on GOV.UK.
15. Consider a Professional Floor Plan
Photos show how a property looks, but a floor plan provides another important piece of information: the layout.
A professional floor plan can help potential buyers or tenants understand:
Room arrangement
Property flow
Relative room sizes
Position of rooms
Overall layout
Using photographs and a floor plan together can give property viewers a clearer understanding of the property.
16. Consider Combining Your Property Marketing Services
If you are preparing a property for sale or rent, you may need several services at the same time.
These can include:
EPC
Professional property photography
Property floor plan
Arranging these services through one provider can make the preparation process simpler.
You can explore the combined EPC, photography and floor plan services if you are preparing your property for the market.
Quick Property Photography Checklist
Before your photographer arrives, check the following:
Inside
Clean every room
Clean windows and mirrors
Remove unnecessary clutter
Make the beds
Tidy kitchens
Clean bathrooms
Organise hallways
Hide personal documents
Check light bulbs
Open curtains and blinds
Outside
Tidy the garden
Remove rubbish
Store garden equipment
Arrange outdoor furniture
Clear balconies and patios
Make the entrance presentable
Before the appointment
Make every room accessible
Inform occupants or tenants
Prepare keys
Move vehicles if necessary
Complete last-minute cleaning
Make sure important features are visible
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I prepare my property for professional photography?
Clean and declutter each room, arrange furniture neatly, make the beds, tidy the kitchen and bathroom, and prepare outdoor areas.
Should I remove all furniture?
No. Furniture can help show the size and purpose of a room. Remove unnecessary furniture while keeping useful pieces that help demonstrate the space.
Should I clean my windows before property photography?
Yes. Clean windows can help improve the appearance of photographs and allow more natural light into the property.
Should I open curtains and blinds?
Generally, opening curtains and blinds can help bring natural light into a room. Your photographer can decide what works best for each photograph.
Do I need professional photographs when selling my property?
Professional photographs can provide high-quality images for property marketing and help present the property clearly to potential buyers or tenants.
Should I have a floor plan as well?
A floor plan can complement property photographs by showing the property’s layout and how the rooms connect.
Do landlords need to prepare an EPC?
Landlords should check the EPC requirements that apply to their property before marketing it for rent. You can read our EPC checklist for landlords for practical preparation guidance.
Get Your Property Ready for the Market
Preparing your property before photography can help create cleaner and more useful marketing images.
If you are preparing a property for sale or rent, consider the complete picture: EPC + professional property photography + floor plan.
You can also read our guide on preparing your property for sale with an EPC, photos and floor plan for more preparation tips.
When you are ready, book your EPC, property photography or floor plan services and get your property ready for marketing.
For official EPC information, see GOV.UK Energy Performance Certificates.