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