Before the Photographer Arrives: The Real Estate Photo Prep Checklist That Saves You Money

Read this before your shoot. It protects your time, your listing, and your investment.

Professional real estate photography is a production, not a quick snapshot. The quality of the final images depends heavily on preparation. A fully photo-ready property allows us to work efficiently, deliver on schedule, and produce images that accurately and professionally represent the property.

If you are selling a car, you do not show it in a dirty condition. You take it to the car wash first. Real estate is no different. In Sarasota, many homes are priced between $500,000 and $1,000,000. That is far more valuable than a car. The property must be presented accordingly.

Preparation is not optional, and it is not something photography can “fix later.” We can elevate a well-prepared home. We cannot manufacture readiness after the fact.

General Standards (Non-Negotiable)

• The property must be fully photo-ready before arrival. Cleaning and staging must be completed in advance, ideally the day before the shoot. We may adjust small decorative items for composition, but furniture placement, staging, and major items must already be set. If the property is not ready when we arrive, delays, additional editing, or rescheduling may be required.

  
  

• No people or pets may be visible during the shoot. MLS rules prohibit people and pets in photos. Pets must be secured or removed from the property. Occupants should plan to be off-site or completely out of view. Rooms overlap in wide-angle photography, and reflections and movement compromise results.

  
  

• Garages may be used for storage. We can photograph garages upon request. That said, in about 95% of shoots, the garage is the ideal place to store items you do not want visible in photos temporarily. If the garage is to be photographed, it must be cleared and prepared like any other room. Remember, when in doubt, LESS IS MORE, meaning that you should put away or hide if something looks off.

  
  

• This is a professional system, not a hobby shoot. Bird Solutions is a Sarasota-based business that has competed for over 8 years against nationwide, high-volume media companies and continues to do so by operating with standards. The owner is the one behind the camera on every shoot, ensuring consistency, accountability, and experienced decision-making on site.

  
  

  A professional editing team then processes the work through a proven workflow to deliver polished, MLS-ready images with a 24 to 48 hour turnaround. We blend craft and systems. Creativity where it matters, structure where it counts. Every home is unique, but the objective is consistent: create images that sell. Our shot lists are built on performance, what buyers expect to see, what must be shown, and what converts. The result is reliable quality, not random outcomes.

  
  

Exterior Preparation

• Remove all vehicles from the driveway and, if possible, from the street in front of the home

• Hide trash bins and recycling containers

• Store garden hoses the day before to avoid wet pavement

• Mow the lawn and clear toys, tools, and debris at least 24 hours prior

• Turn off sprinklers on the day of the shoot

• Clean patios and outdoor furniture. Do not hose them down the day of the shoot

• Pools and spas must be clean, uncovered, and operational

• Water features should be clean and ready to turn on

• For-sale signs must be removed prior to the shoot to comply with MLS rules

Interior Preparation

• Clear kitchen counters of daily-use items

• Remove magnets, notes, and papers from refrigerators

• Remove personal items from bathrooms. Decorative items only

• Make all beds and tidy bedrooms

• Hide trash cans, portable fans, cords, remotes, and game consoles

• Clear entryways of shoes, umbrellas, and personal items

• Open blinds where views are attractive

• Turn on all interior lights

• Replace burned-out bulbs at least 24 hours in advance

• Turn off ceiling fans before arrival

Twilight Shoots (If Applicable)

Twilight shoots operate within a narrow lighting window. If you didn't know, there is an official twilight time you can consult on your smartphone for each specific day: "Hey Siri, what time is sunset today?" From the time it provides, the next 30 minutes are the official twilight window when the magic happens. Time is of the essence. And we already have the shots in mind. We show up 30 minutes before the official sunset time—usually 1 hour total.

All of the following must be ready before we arrive:

• All interior and exterior lights turned on

• Pool and spa lights on, covers removed

• Water features running

  
  

Delays during twilight cannot be recovered.

Real Life Happens. Here Is How We Handle It.

We understand busy households. Kids running around, packed schedules, work calls, and last-minute listing pressure. We also understand situations where the Realtor is not on site, the owner is juggling logistics, or a designer or homeowner has strong opinions about photography. None of that is a problem. What matters is how the space is managed during the shoot so the results stay professional and the timeline stays intact.

To keep the shoot efficient and protect image quality, the following rules apply:

• Children and pets must be secured. If you are a busy parent, that is normal. A grandparent, neighbor, or sitter can supervise the kids while we work. This is a real estate investment, and the home must be treated like a set during production.

• Choose one room as a home base. If anyone must remain on site, pick one room and stay there until we finish. Rooms overlap in wide-angle photography, reflections show in glass and TVs, and movement creates delays.

• No meetings, contracts, or walkthroughs during the shoot. Signing paperwork in living spaces, taking calls, or walking room to room while we work compromises the images and slows production.

• If the Realtor is not present, the property must be fully ready. We cannot guess how to operate every light, fan, or feature in every home. If a specific light or feature must be on, confirm it in advance or leave clear instructions. Complaints about items we could not reasonably locate or control after delivery are avoidable.

• No crews on site during the shoot. Do not schedule landscapers, pool service, handymen, or cleaning crews at the same time as photography. If a worker appears in the background, mirrors, windows, or reflections, those images require manual removal in Photoshop. This is billed at $15 per image. Example: 5 images × $15 = $75. Someone has to remove them, and that is graphic design work.

• Community amenities require access and coordination. If your order includes amenities photos, we need reliable access in advance: gate codes, door codes, and any required key fobs. A key fob can be left on the kitchen counter for pickup at arrival. If the community requires notice at the clubhouse or front desk, please inform them of our scheduled visit so access is not denied. We routinely remove people from pool areas and blur faces in gyms, libraries, lobbies, and similar shared spaces when possible, but access delays and restrictions can prevent us from capturing the amenities entirely.

• Respect is part of the standard. We schedule intentionally and avoid overloading our calendar because we care about quality. Please be prepared, respectful, and considerate of time. That protects your result and the next client on the schedule.

  
  

If these requirements feel difficult for you, we may not be the right fit, and that is completely fine. We run a structured production workflow to protect quality and turnaround time. If you prefer a more flexible approach, we are happy to refer you to other trusted local colleagues.

Important Note on Additional Editing

If the property is not fully prepared, additional post-production may be required. Touch-up work is billed at $15 per image. These costs are entirely avoidable with proper preparation.

Bottom Line

Preparation protects:

• Your timeline

• Your budget

• Your listing performance

  
  

We photograph every property with care, precision, and accountability. This guide ensures the process runs smoothly and the final images reflect the property's quality.

The goal is clean, professional work, delivered fast, with no surprises.

If you have any other questions, please get in touch with us at sales@bird-solutions.com.

Thank you, and have a nice day,

The Bird Photography Team

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Contact Bird Real Estate Media today for expert vacation rental, commercial, and architectural photography in Sarasota and Manatee counties, Florida.

📧 Email: sales@bird-solutions.com

🌐 Visit: www.bird-solutions.com