***How to stage a home so it gets 3x more clicks and more importantly, gets the sale!***

SHOCKING STATISTIC: Only 35% of real estate professionals use professional photography. This means more than half of your competitors are still listing homes using mediocre smartphone photos!

What does this mean for you? An immediate competitive advantage.

In today's digital-first real estate market, professional photography isn't just about selling the current property—it's about selling YOU and securing your future business. When potential clients compare agents, the quality of your listing photos directly reflects your professionalism, attention to detail, and willingness to invest in marketing their property.

Think about it from a seller's perspective: When choosing between two agents—one with a history of cell phone snapshots and another with consistently stunning professional imagery—who appears more committed to excellence? Which agent will they trust to represent their home?

Professional photography is both a marketing expense for the current property AND an investment in your personal brand. Our data shows that properties with professional photography sell 32% faster and receive up to 118% more online views than listings with standard photos. But the long-term benefit to your reputation might be even more valuable than these immediate results.

As seasoned real estate photographers who've shot thousands of properties across New England, we've compiled this comprehensive guide to help you maximize your photography investment and create compelling visual narratives that connect with potential buyers.

The Digital First Impression: Staging for Online Success

Before a potential buyer ever steps foot in a property, they're scrutinizing it online. Here's how to prepare a home that photographs beautifully for that crucial digital first impression:

1. Declutter With Digital Viewers in Mind

Remove personal items: Family photos, refrigerator magnets, and bathroom toiletries create visual noise in photos and make it harder for buyers to envision themselves in the space.

Clear counter spaces: Kitchen and bathroom counters should be nearly empty—perhaps just a stylish coffee maker or a simple plant to add life without distraction.

Organize open spaces: Buyers looking at photos scan quickly—cluttered rooms appear smaller and less appealing in digital format.

2. Strategic Furniture Arrangement

Create clear pathways: In photos, furniture should frame spaces rather than fill them. Consider removing some pieces to create a sense of spaciousness that photographs well.

Define room functions: Each room should have a clear purpose that's immediately obvious from a photograph—home office, dining area, reading nook.

Float furniture away from walls: This counterintuitive technique actually makes rooms appear larger in photographs.

3. Consider the Camera's Perspective

View each room from doorways: Stand where the photographer's camera will likely be positioned and identify distracting elements.

Check corners and edges: Photos emphasize the geometry of rooms—symmetrical arrangements typically photograph better than asymmetrical ones.

Stage for wide-angle lenses: Professional photographers use wide-angle lenses, which capture more of each room but can exaggerate spatial relationships. Leave more empty space than seems necessary.

***High quality listing photos reflects your professionalism, attention to detail, and willingness to invest in marketing their property.***

Maximizing Your Photography Investment

Professional real estate photography represents one of your best marketing investments. Here's how to get the most value:

1. Prioritize Key Selling Features

Identify unique selling points: Before the shoot, make a list of the property's most marketable features—whether it's the kitchen renovation, the backyard oasis, or the spectacular view.

Communicate priorities to your photographer: Share your list with your photographer so they can allocate appropriate time and attention to these areas.

Prepare these areas meticulously: Special features deserve special preparation—polish that custom marble countertop, stage that home theater, or ensure the pool is crystal clear.

The Golden Hour Advantage:

Schedule twilight photography for exterior shots if the budget allows. Properties photographed in the warm, golden hour light receive 27% fewer days on market. Thursday evening twilight shoots make your listings ready to wow weekend house hunters!

2. Consider Seasonal Timing

Snow-covered properties: Fresh snow can create a winter wonderland effect, but ensure walkways are cleared and winter decorations are tasteful.

Spring listings: Schedule around peak garden blooms and make sure lawn maintenance is perfect.

Summer showcases: Early morning shoots before the harsh midday sun creates the best light for exterior features.

Fall foliage: If your property has mature trees, timing a shoot during peak foliage can create stunning exterior images.

3. Invest in Complementary Services

Drone photography: For properties with large lots, attractive neighborhoods, or proximity to amenities, aerial photography creates context that standard photos can't capture.

Virtual tours: Today's buyers expect immersive experiences—3D tours keep visitors on listings up to 10 times longer.

Interactive floor plans: These help buyers understand spatial relationships that even the best photos sometimes can't convey.

Room-by-Room Preparation Checklist

Exterior & Curb Appeal

Professional exterior photos capture your property's best angles in perfect lighting conditions, creating an immediate emotional connection that makes buyers stop scrolling and start clicking. ***Check out this property*** ***here***.

Remove vehicles from the driveway and front of the house
Store garbage cans out of sight
Clear walkways of any obstacles or debris
Mow lawn, trim hedges, and freshen mulch
Add seasonal potted plants near entryways
Turn on exterior water features
Remove pool covers and clean pool surfaces
Set up and clean patio furniture (weather permitting)
Turn on exterior lights for twilight shoots

Living Areas & Common Spaces

Professional photos of living areas showcase the flow and functionality of your interior spaces, helping buyers imagine themselves relaxing in the space while highlighting architectural features that smartphone photos typically miss. ***Check out this property*** ***here***.

Remove excessive furniture to create a sense of spaciousness

Hide TV remotes, game controllers, and electronics cords
Fluff and arrange pillows and throw blankets
Clear coffee tables or limit to 1-2 decorative items
Ensure all light bulbs work and are the same color temperature
Clean glass surfaces, including windows and mirrors
Draw back curtains to maximum width to allow natural light
Turn off ceiling fans to prevent motion blur in photos
Hide pet beds, toys, and feeding stations

Kitchen

Clear countertops of appliances except for 1-2 decorative items
Remove refrigerator magnets and notes
Hide dish soap, sponges, and towels
Empty sink and dishwasher
Replace worn hardware if budget allows
Polish stainless steel appliances
Add a simple fruit bowl or indoor herb plants for a lived-in touch
Ensure consistent lighting (replace any burned-out bulbs)
Hide garbage bins and recycling

Bathrooms

Professional bathroom photography highlights cleanliness, fixtures, and finishes through strategic lighting and composition, transforming utilitarian spaces into spa-like retreats that create emotional appeal for potential buyers. ***Check out this property*** ***here***.

Remove ALL personal items from countertops and shower
Clear towel racks or replace with fresh, matching towels
Close toilet lids
Remove bath mats (they rarely photograph well)
Clean mirrors and glass shower doors thoroughly
Replace shower curtain if stained or dated
Add small decorative elements like candles or small potted plants

Bedrooms

Professional bedroom photography uses perfect lighting to showcase the room's size and features, creating a peaceful atmosphere that helps buyers imagine their perfect end-of-day sanctuary. ***Check out this property*** ***here***.

Make beds with neutral, wrinkle-free bedding
Remove items from nightstands except for simple lamps or small plants
Clear floors of all items, including storage bins
Organize closets if they will be photographed (consider removing 30% of clothes to show spaciousness)
Remove exercise equipment unless it's a dedicated workout room
Ensure window treatments are clean and functioning properly

What to Tell Your Photographer: Communication Is Key

Pre-Shoot Briefing Points:

Share access codes and special instructions: Lockbox information, alarm codes, or specific entry instructions should be provided at least 24 hours in advance.
Identify special features: Point out unique elements that should be highlighted, like hidden storage solutions or smart home features.
Alert to challenging areas: If certain spaces have lighting challenges or unusual layouts, giving your photographer a heads-up allows them to bring specialized equipment.
Communicate staging limitations: If certain areas couldn't be fully staged, let the photographer know so they can work around these challenges.
Specify any "do not photograph" areas: If there are spaces that should be excluded from the shoot, make this clear.

Day-of-Shoot Preparations:

Turn on ALL lights before the photographer arrives
Open blinds and curtains completely unless the view is undesirable
Turn off ceiling fans to prevent motion blur
Make sure pets are secured or removed from the property
Plan to be absent during the shoot if possible—occupied homes photograph differently than unoccupied ones

Your Photography, Your Brand

Where you conduct business, the real estate market might be red hot. But even in seller's markets, prospective clients are comparing agents before deciding who to trust with their property. Many realtors are still selling homes with cell phone pictures, creating an opportunity for you to stand apart with professional photography.

Professional photos aren't just nice to have—they're a direct reflection of the agent's commitment to quality. Clients shopping for representation will see your past listings and judge your professionalism accordingly.

Each listing photo you publish becomes a permanent part of your portfolio. When potential sellers are researching agents, your previous listings serve as a visual resume showcasing your marketing standards. High-quality, professionally photographed listings tell potential clients that you invest in marketing their property at the highest level.

Conclusion: Creating a Visual Story

Remember that real estate photography doesn't just document a property—it tells its story. The best property photos help potential buyers envision their future lives in the space, while simultaneously building your reputation as a detail-oriented, marketing-savvy agent.

Professional photographers bring technical expertise, but agents who understand how to prepare homes for the camera create the foundation for truly exceptional marketing materials. By following these guidelines, you'll ensure your listings—and your personal brand—stand out in today's competitive, visually-driven marketplace.

Ready to showcase your property in its best seasonal light? Schedule a consultation with our team of Real Estate photography specialists today. Our seasonal expertise ensures your property shines regardless of when you choose to list. Find a schedule with us now to discuss your property's unique seasonal features.

Book Now

Triple Your Clicks: How to Prepare a Property for Photography