Preparing for a Photo Shoot Staging your Home, Apartment or Business
Tips for All Areas
- Meticulously clean all areas (vacuum rugs & carpets, mop hard surfaces, clean countertops, clean windows)
- Turn ON all overhead lights and lamps
- Replace all burned out light bulbs
- Use bulbs of the same temperature (Daylight, Warm, Cool, 5500K)
- Straighten all lamp shades
- Turn OFF all ceiling fans
- Turn OFF all TVs
- Turn OFF all computer screens
- Clean blinds/window treatments | Open let in natural light
- Remove personal pictures (or replace with general landscape/object photos)
- Stage all beds | Remove comforters if they appear lumpy
- Remove all clutter | Less is More
- Remove all shoes/clothing/jackets and place in closets
Tips for Exterior
- Remove all clutter – pay particular attention to balconies, porches, and common areas
- Close all garage doors
- Remove cars from the front of home or office
- Spruce up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, remove leaves)
- Have landscaper add Iron to grass if needed to make green
- Remove dead foliage and empty planters
- Remove trash cans
- Remove spider webs from eaves and door frames
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove toys, playground supplies, balls,
- Remove any seasonal decorations
Tips for Pool Area
- Balance pool water – Water should be blue, not green or milky
- Clean pool deck and any porches
- Remove all trash cans and signs
- Pool furniture should be meticulously organized and in perfect lines – Add towels if appropriate
- Remove any water hose
- Put away pool vacuum, net, and cleaner hose
- Hide all pool supplies
- Remove any toys and floats
- Open all umbrellas
- Make sure all cushions and umbrellas look bright and clean not faded
- Make sure umbrella functions
- Turn on any water features.
Tips for the Kitchen
- Clear countertops, less is more. No mail, clutter, knife blocks, or cooking supplies
- Clean countertops, remove any stains
- Stage Kitchen area with one small appliance, fresh fruit, and maybe a cookbook
- Remove any personal effects from the area including pictures, clothing, shoes, notes, etc
- Hide all dishes, move dirty dishes to the dishwasher
- Hide all garbage cans
Tips for Living Room
- Remove magazines, papers, mail, etc.
- Remove clutter from fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 3-4 items, including art)
- Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
- Remove toys, personal effects, and random clutter
Tips for Bedroom
- Bedding should be immaculate (matching colors, no wrinkles, no discoloring or faded bedding)
- Edges of bedding and sheets when visible should either be tucked neatly or hung straight
- Pillows should be wrinkle free, fluffed, matching and arranged neatly
- Carpet and Flooring should be freshly cleaned
- Remove all personal belongings (Pictures, clothing, electronics, clutter)
- Remove trashcans
Tips for the Lobby
- Remove all marketing materials (table tents, ads, rack cards, business cards, etc.)
- Remove all trash cans
- Remove everything from front desk (1 or 2 small items will be ok)
- Clean or remove doormats
- Arrange seating to look inviting
- Make sure all pillows are fluffed and appear bright and not faded
- Turn on all visible lighting
- Straighten all curtains
- Clear clutter from all tables
Tips for Business Center
- Chair should be slightly open to look inviting or perfectly square with the desk to look formal
- Clean computer screens
- Turn off computer screens
- Hide all cables
- Remove mouse pad
- Remove office supplies (extra paper, marketing material, pens, tape, etc.)
Tips for Fitness Center
- Turn off all equipment or sync there screens
- Clean all glass
- Remove stacked cups from water cooler
- Organize all free weights
- Remove waste baskets
- Fold all towels neatly and organize
- Clean and Turn off TVs
Tips for Meeting Rooms | Events Space
- Stage room as if a function was taking place ( theater, classroom, horseshoe, school, etc.)
- Make sure all chair backs are perfectly aligned, all glasses, pens, marketing material, should also be precisely aligned
- Make sure all tables are aligned and staged
- Hide all cables, trash cans, and stacks of drinking cups
- Avoid centerpieces or choose a very modern centerpiece (boardrooms can use communications equipment as a center piece
