Your photographs are often the first thing a guest sees, and the reason they book.
The owners of My Den in Oslo Beach told me that after their new photographs went online, their occupancy went from 25% to 75%. Same property, same rooms, same view. The difference was how it was shown.
A few hours of preparation before your shoot makes an enormous difference to how your property looks online. Here’s the checklist I share with every property owner I work with. It’s simple, but every point matters.
Before we start: the whole property
- Clean windows: they let in more light and make the views shine.
- Straighten every picture frame. The camera notices what the eye forgives.
- Put away the everyday clutter: magazines, keys in doors, remote controls, chargers, no-smoking signs and ashtrays.
- Pets out of the way for the duration of the shoot.
- Switch on every light and check the globes. A single blown bulb shows up in a photograph, and warm lights make a room feel inviting.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms are where guests imagine themselves staying, so they need to feel fresh and restful.
- Clean, ironed linen on every bed, as crease-free as possible.
- Arrange pillows, cushions and scatters the way you’d like guests to find them.
- Check that every light works, and straighten the bedside lamps.
- Hide bins and laundry baskets.
- Switch off the television.
Bathrooms
A spotless bathroom tells guests everything about how well a property is cared for.
- Remove all personal products, face cloths, sponges and laundry.
- Put out fresh, clean towels.
- Dry the floor and wipe down basins, taps and mirrors.
- If you supply your own branded toiletries, display them neatly.
Lounge, dining room and kitchen
- Fluff the cushions and straighten the couches.
- Hide electrical cords wherever possible.
- Kitchen counters: keep them clear, except for appliances or a few decorative pieces.
- Fridge magnets, photos and personal items: move them out of sight for the shoot.
- Dining table: setting it with a tablecloth, plates and candles is optional, but it looks wonderful and helps guests picture themselves there.
Outdoors and the pool area
Outdoor spaces sell the holiday, especially on the South Coast.
- Pool: clean and free of leaves, with the automatic pool cleaner, nets and covers removed. Make sure the pool light works.
- Hose down the walkways around the pool about two hours before the shoot, so they’re clean but dry.
- Loungers: cushions or covers on, with fresh towels if you have them. Open any umbrellas.
- Braai area: clean and tidy.
- Garden: grass cut, hedges trimmed and the driveway swept.
- Garden lights: on and working, especially if we’re photographing at dusk.
- Out of sight: pool equipment, garden tools, rubble and dustbins.
On the day
Plan to have everything ready before I arrive, so we can make the most of the light. I’ll work through the property room by room, and I’ll often make small adjustments as I go, like moving a chair or straightening a cushion, to get each image just right.
Well-prepared properties photograph beautifully, and beautiful photographs fill calendars.
Download the checklist
Prefer a printable version? Download my Property Photography Guide and work through it room by room before your shoot.
