Category Archives: Staging

My Approach to a Shoot

As a creature of habit, I generally have a certain way that I go about my shoots. When I arrive, I will normally shoot the exteriors of the home first, assuming that we have nice light and good weather. Since I’ll be at the home 1-2 hours, the light will change as time passes, As such, I’ll take the opportunity at the end of my shoot to assess whether or not the lighting on the home has improved. Sometimes I’ll end up re-shooting the front or back if I like the way the sun illuminates the property better than when I first arrived.

After exteriors, I’ll work the “heart of the home” – living and dining space, followed by bedrooms and baths. My goal is to photograph these rooms from various angles, and to show off not just each room but how one room flows into another. This helps the viewer get an idea of the home’s layout.

As I work in these areas, I will move things that I don’t want to draw attention to. The things I move most often are area rugs that are not anchored by furniture. These are typically door mats and kitchen and bath throw rugs. I pick these up because I want viewers to look into the room, and not at the pop of color on the floor (and it’s also generally nice to show off the flooring). I will also remove dish towels in kitchens and any excess “stuff” on the kitchen counters. Counters don’t have to be sterile looking, just not too cluttered. Continue reading My Approach to a Shoot

Staging Tips

You’ve hired me because you need someone to take great shots, hoping to attract tons of buyers to your listing. And when I arrive, it appears that the home is not really prepared to be photographed. This actually happens more often than it should, my friends.

The solution is relatively simple – give the sellers a few simple staging instructions.

  • Reduce clutter. Take a look around the house and see how much stuff is on counters, coffee tables, end tables, etc. and squirrel things away.
  • Remove area rugs. These are the types of small rugs you find in kitchens and baths. It’s fine if they are there for showings, but when photographing the room, I like buyers to look into the room and not at the pops of color on the floor.
  • Make beds, and make them as tidy as possible.
  • Clean mirrors and glass shower doors. There’s usually no concern about dirt showing up anywhere else, but it WILL show up in bathrooms.

The good news is that when I see clutter, I try to eliminate it. I’ve made beds, removed rugs and yes, cleaned mirrors. So, I’m on your side and do my best to get the best result for you.  But the sellers can spend more time on this than I can, and it’s worth the effort to coach them so that you get the best images possible.

Here’s a helpful flyer to give to your clients. Enjoy!

Staging Tips