Getting ready for pictures

House Photo Checklist: Get Ready for Pictures

Updated October 20, 2026 by FSBO Studio

Most of what makes a house photo look good happens before you pick up the camera. Getting ready for pictures is about cleaning and clearing what you already have, not remodeling. Use this checklist room by room.

The five step routine for every room

Do these in order. Each step makes the next one easier.

1. Declutter. Clear surfaces, floors, and visible storage. Remove about a third of what is in the room.
2. Depersonalize. Put away family photos, personal collections, and anything that reflects strong personal taste.
3. Deep clean. Floors, glass, grout, baseboards, light fixtures, and any lingering odors.
4. Light. Open every curtain and blind, turn on every lamp, and replace dim or mismatched bulbs.
5. Arrange. Pull furniture slightly off the walls and square rugs to the furniture grouping. Leave one or two deliberate decorative touches.

Living room checklist

• Remove excess furniture and float the sofa and chairs into a conversation grouping.
• Keep the coffee table down to one or two items and clear shelves.
• Remove about a third of the throw pillows and keep the rest fresh and coordinated.
• Keep wall art to about one neutral piece per wall.
• Hide wires and cords.
• Open the drapes fully and add a floor lamp to any dim corner.

Kitchen checklist

• Clear the countertops almost completely: one or two deliberate items at most, such as a bowl of fruit or a plant.
• Remove magnets, papers, and clutter from the fridge front.
• Clean the appliances inside and out, including the microwave interior.
• Degrease the stovetop and backsplash, and polish the sink and faucet.
• Hide the dish rack, sponges, and soap bottles during the shoot.
• Take trash cans out of view and turn on any under cabinet lighting.

Bathroom checklist

• Use fresh, neutral towels.
• Clear the counters completely.
• Clean mirrors and fixtures, and descale the faucet and showerhead.
• Hide trash cans and personal products such as toothbrushes, razors, and medicine.
• Close the toilet seat.
• Replace burned out bulbs so the vanity lighting matches and works.

Bedroom checklist

• Use clean, neutral bedding and make the bed tightly with a few pillows and a folded throw.
• Keep each nightstand down to a lamp and one small object.
• Clear out anything visible under the bed.
• Organize closets. A half full closet reads larger than a packed one.
• Center the bed on its main wall so the room feels balanced.

Dining room checklist

• Clear the table completely of mail, projects, and daily clutter.
• Dust the light fixture and polish the table.
• Center the table under the light fixture.
• Set it simply for two to four with plain place settings and a low centerpiece.

Entry and outside checklist

• Clear any shoe pile, coat heap, or catch all table by the door, and use a clean mat.
• Sweep the porch and walkways, mow the lawn, and trim bushes.
• Move cars out of the driveway and away from the front of the house.
• Hide trash and recycling bins, coil up any hose, and remove grill covers before shooting.

Photo day reminders

• Pick a block of time when the home is empty of people and pets.
• Turn on every light, open all blinds, and turn off ceiling fans.
• Put away pets, litter boxes, toys, and food or water bowls.
• Make every bed you plan to photograph and smooth the pillows.
• Walk through each room with your phone camera open. Clutter is easier to spot on a screen.

Borrow lamps, art, or bedding from another room to freshen a space that feels bare. Mirrors help rooms look bigger and bounce light around. Less is more: the fewer items in a room, the larger and calmer it looks on camera. Next, read how to take pictures of a house.

Questions and answers

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