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How should we prepare the home for the shoot?

At a minimum, the house should look clean and organized. De-cluttering mantles and countertops of personal items go a long way to making a home look open and inviting. Smaller things like removing visible garbage cans can also make the house look cleaner. Bright, artificially colored packaging, like on cereal boxes and shampoo bottles are also very distracting to the eye. Perhaps most important, check to ensure every (and I mean EVERY) light fixture in the home turns on with a working light bulb. It can make a huge difference.

The following is a basic guideline to prepare a home for photography:

 

Interior

• Turn on all interior lights

• De-clutter or organize mantles, shelves, and tabletops.

• Remove or minimize personal photos and memorabilia

• Clear off countertops in kitchen and bathroom areas

• Remove photos, notes, and papers from the refrigerator

• Turn ceiling fans and televisions off

• Make all beds and tidy bathrooms

• Remove piles of newspaper and magazines

• Tuck trash cans out of view in a closet or cupboard

• Point out valuable or recognizable artwork that should be edited in post

• Contain pets in the garage or out of sight

 

Exterior

• Remove all vehicles from driveways and from in front of the house

• Remove all garden tools including hoses and sprinklers

• Mow and rake the yard

• Move garbage cans out of sight

• Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and patios