I get the same call every week. An agent has a listing going up in 48 hours, the seller is panicking about what to clean, and nobody has a clear list. This is that list. Send it to your sellers three days before the shoot and you’ll get back photos that need no reshoots.
This is specifically for South Florida homes — the pool, the lanai, the constant humidity that fogs windows — but most of it applies anywhere.
Three days before
These are the slow-burn tasks that fall through the cracks because nobody plans for them.
1. Wash the windows. All of them.
The single biggest thing that separates a great real estate photo from a mediocre one is window clarity. Dirty windows look like fog in the photo. Florida humidity + salt air makes them worse than anywhere else. If the home is on the coast or near the beach, this is non-negotiable.
Inside and outside — both sides. A streak-free finish on both sides means the view through the window is sharp. Hire a window cleaner if there are more than 10 windows. It’s $80–$150 and it’s the highest-ROI prep task by a wide margin.
2. Mow the lawn and edge the beds.
Especially the front yard. Drone shots and exterior shots show every uneven blade. Edges of garden beds should be cleanly defined. If there’s a sprinkler system, run it the morning of the shoot so grass looks green, not yellow.
3. Pool: brush, vacuum, and clear.
Pool water should be a clean blue. Leaves on the bottom, algae streaks on the tile, debris in the skimmer — all show clearly in photos and drone shots. Run the pump for 4–6 hours before the shoot. Remove pool toys, floats, and the cleaning hose.
The day before
4. Replace burned-out lightbulbs.
Every fixture. Walk every room with a notepad. Real estate photographers use HDR to balance windows with interior light — if a fixture is dark or has a different color temperature, it looks wrong in the photo. Buy matching warm-white bulbs (2700K–3000K) for consistency.
5. Deep clean kitchens and bathrooms.
These two rooms make or break the listing. Counters cleared. Cabinet fronts wiped. Sinks shining. Faucets dried (water spots show in photos). Mirrors streak-free. Soap scum off shower doors.
6. Stage the kitchen counters.
Counter clutter is the #1 thing I retouch out. Remove: appliances you don’t use daily, paper towel rolls, dish soap, sponges, cookbooks. Keep: one decorative bowl with fruit, a stand mixer if the kitchen is otherwise empty, fresh flowers. Less is more.
The morning of the shoot
This is the 60-minute checklist for the seller right before I arrive.
7. Open every blind and curtain.
Every single one. Natural light is what makes interior real estate photos look good. Even rooms without a view should have their blinds open. The exception: if a blind is broken or oddly angled, close it cleanly — partial-open looks worse than fully closed.
8. Turn on every light.
All overhead lights, all lamps, all under-cabinet lights, all pendants. Modern HDR photography looks best when interior lights are on — it adds warmth and depth. The exception: bathroom vanity lights pointing directly at the mirror can cause glare. I’ll handle those.
9. Hide what you don’t want in the photos.
Things that need to disappear:
- Trash cans (inside and the curb pickup ones)
- Pet bowls, pet beds, litter boxes
- Personal photos and kid art (privacy + buyer projection)
- Charging cables, remotes, magazines
- Bath products in showers/tubs (move to a closet for the day)
- Cleaning supplies
- Bicycles, strollers, sports equipment
- Cars in the driveway (move to street or garage)
10. Make every bed.
Tightly. Smooth duvets, plumped pillows, throw pillows arranged. Hotel-style. If the bed has weird sheets, throw a clean blanket over it.
The "secret" details that separate good from great
These are the ones nobody tells you about. They’re the difference between a $400K-looking listing and a $500K-looking listing.
The photographer doesn’t create the magic. The photographer captures whatever you put in front of the camera.
11. Toilet seats: down. Always.
Always. Always always always. There is no exception. Open toilet seats kill bathroom photos faster than anything else.
12. Fresh flowers on the dining table.
$15 from Trader Joe’s. White or yellow tulips, eucalyptus stems, or fresh roses. It’s the single cheapest staging element with the highest impact. Place on the dining table and the kitchen island.
13. Open closet doors closed. Garage door closed.
Closets photographed open look chaotic. Closed they look intentional. Garage doors closed unless we’re explicitly shooting the garage interior.
14. Air freshener: yes, in mild scent.
I’ve walked into homes where the previous tenant smoked. The photos look great but if I’m sneezing, the home doesn’t feel right. Light a clean-scented candle 30 minutes before. Blow it out before I arrive (no flame in photos).
What I’ll handle on shoot day
You don’t need to do these — they’re my job:
- Camera angles, composition, framing
- HDR exposure bracketing for windows
- Color correction in editing
- Verticals straightening (no leaning walls)
- Light blowouts and reflections
- Small object removal in post (within reason — not a full declutter)
The "I can’t prep that" cases
Sometimes the home isn’t ready. The seller has 3 dogs and a chaotic schedule. The kitchen is mid-renovation. There’s no time to deep clean.
Two options:
- Virtual staging. If the home is empty or partially furnished, I can virtually stage the rooms for $50–$75 per image.
- Reshoot. If we shoot and the prep was inadequate, I’ll come back — one free reshoot per listing within 30 days. Just call me.
The goal is photos that book showings. Everything in this list serves that one goal.
Ready to shoot?
If you’ve worked through this list and your listing is photo-ready, call me at (956) 596-2545 and we’ll book the shoot for the next morning. Pricing is here — the same price every time, no square-footage charges.