Cleaning & organising

It might not come as a surprise that a clean home is one of the most important steps when preparing for a photoshoot. And believe me when I say that this is not always the case, I’ve seen some pretty disgusting places over the years.

A regular cleaning routine usually does the trick. On a sunny day, dust becomes more noticeable. Make sure your windows are clean when the sun shines in. Don’t forget the dining table chair legs either. Dust often sticks there, and while it might not matter for overview photos, these are also great to play with for detailed photos of the floor.

To make organising easier, I start by taking photos of the bathroom. After capturing these shots, we can hide unnecessary items inside. This way, it’s more efficient than constantly moving things around. Prepare in advance by collecting smaller items in bags or boxes so we can easily place them inside the bathroom.

Most photos are taken from door handle height, which is lower than what you usually see. Other things therefore become visible, like items under the bed, cables under cabinets, or things under the sofa. Cables are my least favourite, and since I use natural light for all photos (except in bathrooms and toilets), lights don’t need to be on, so we can hide cables as much as possible. Don’t forget other often-overlooked spots, such as behind doors and clothes racks on doors.

I always remove (birthday) calendars and keys. No one needs to know when you might be away for a party or where you keep your keys. It’s a simple way to prevent break-ins and other unpleasant situations.

Kitchen

The cleaner, the better. Remove all stains and dirt from countertops and cabinets. Smaller items like handles also need to be cleaned. If they are unique, I sometimes take an extra close-up photo. As a final step, dry your sink and make sure there are no water stains left.

Check for small fixes, like making sure cabinet doors close properly.

The kitchen is an excellent place to decorate. Consider using herbs, a set of olive oils, a mortar and pestle, trays, and pretty machines. I often remove knives, as they are not the most welcoming objects. Make sure nothing sticks out behind glass cabinet doors due to its colour or size. Also, remove items that don’t belong in the oven, as they can be visible even behind the glass.

bedroom

This is where I get enthusiastic, decorating the bed. Again, you can refer to a hotel for inspiration. Use fresh sheets, a mix of pillows, and a bedspread to complete the look. On the nightstand, decorations like a lamp or a small vase with a flower work well. As long as it looks calm and clean, it will be good. Also, remove all visible cables and chargers.

If you have a built-in closet, it’s up to you whether I take a photo. Usually, if it looks nice and organised, I take a photo. If it’s packed with stuff for storage, we can skip it, and it will still be visible on the floorplan.

Remove all visible items from under the bed, as they often show from a distance. Also, clear away anything behind the door, like ironing boards or clothes racks. When I take a photo of the bedroom facing the door, even if it’s open, these items become visible.

office & other rooms

The usual advice is to give each room a specific function, whether it’s a kids’ room, guest room, library, or office.

In a kids’ room, a teddy bear and some organised toys and books can stay. However, baskets bulging with toys or items in bright primary colours are better put aside for the photo. The same goes for very personal items with names, birth dates, or photos. Remember, most of the time these photos end up on the internet, so consider what you want to show about your children.

For the guest room, refer to the same information as about the bedroom. Decorate the bed and make sure everything looks clean and welcoming.

The library and office should also look organised and free of personal belongings. Often, I remove the trash can under the desk and ideally, there are no large computer screens left visible.

bathroom

In the bathroom, I start again by questioning what you would like to see from your previous guests. Fresh towels and a nice bottle of shower gel work perfectly. However, avoid showing razors, laundry (even if it’s in the washing machine), or used toilet brushes or toothbrushes.

If you have nice bottles of shower gel, hand soap, or shampoo, check if they match in colour or brand. Make sure the bottles are new or not see-through and not visibly (half) empty. As with the kitchen, cleanliness is key in the bathroom. Pay extra attention to mirrors and glass shower doors, as they often look dirtier through the camera than in real life. Make everything as shiny and polished as possible, especially the faucet at the sink. Remove all watermarks using dry toilet paper or a special cleaning spray.

Balcony & garden

The more greens and flowers, the better. I suggest always preparing your balcony for photos, no matter the time of year. If it’s raining or snowing, keep all textiles inside and we’ll decorate it when it’s time to photograph outside. Many times, residents forget about the outside during winter and store all the furniture in the basement.

For decoration, you can use a variety of items, from cushions and blankets to candles, coffee cups, and even a fika setup. Personally, I’m not a big fan of champagne bottles and glasses unless they fit the rest of the apartment’s style. This luxury item suits an extremely fancy setting, and otherwise, there are more suitable ways to decorate the balcony.

If there’s a nice courtyard, prepare it by arranging the chairs and cleaning it up. Sometimes, it’s nice to take a photo from the balcony towards the courtyard. I will always take a separate photo of the courtyard as well.

hallway

The hallway is often long and narrow, so keeping it clean is essential.

Depending on the size of the hallway, I usually suggest creating one or two sets for the wardrobe. If it’s larger, you can use more items. By sets, I mean a coat with matching accessories like a bag, shoes, or a scarf, but only items that one person can wear at once. For example, avoid pairing summer shoes with a winter coat or a woman’s coat with a man’s shoes.

seasons

From Easter branches and pumpkins to Christmas wreaths, I’ve had to ask many residents to remove all seasonal-related items over the years. Complete Christmas trees, decorations and all, have been taken down. While I always hope for a smooth and quick selling process, this is not always possible. Elements that refer to a specific time of year make it difficult to reuse the photos in another season. Viewers might wonder why the property hasn’t sold yet.

If you want to light your fireplace, you’re always welcome to do so. Usually, I don’t take all the photos with a fire, but just one or two upon request. This is more common in winter than in summer. It’s also possible to edit a fire into a fireplace, although I would suggest a real fire for a more realistic look.

I always aim to work with natural light, even on the darkest day of the year. Spaces without a window, like a bathroom or toilet, will be photographed with the lights on. I personally prefer the feeling that natural light gives to photos, and this style is often preferred by my clients (brokers) as well. Candles can be nice during winter photoshoots or evening shoots, but their glow can sometimes draw too much focus, so I often prefer using them outside rather than inside.

Questions?

Although I hope most of your questions are answered and you feel fully inspired to prepare your home in the best possible way, I understand that you may have a unique situation where you need additional help. You’re always welcome to reach out with any questions. All my contact information can be found here.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at my past photoshoots to see how others have styled their spaces.