The cameras will capture your property exactly the way it is. That’s the power of professional photography — and that’s also the challenge. Last-minute clutter, burnt-out bulbs, and a car in the driveway are permanent once the shutter clicks. Edits cost extra and, for 3D Open House technology, may not even be possible.
This checklist is the same guide Big Picture 360 sends to every client before every shoot. Work through it room by room — ideally the afternoon before your scheduled session.
General — Complete Through the Entire House
These apply to every room and should be done first, before you go room by room.
- ☐ Make sure all light bulbs are working and are the same colour. Mixed colour temperatures (some warm, some cool) create uneven, unflattering light in photos. Replace any burnt-out bulbs and try to match bulb colour throughout each room.
- ☐ Clean windows inside and outside. Dirty glass kills natural light and shows up clearly in wide-angle shots. Clean windows are one of the highest-ROI prep tasks.
- ☐ Remove all pet items — food bowls, beds, litter boxes, toys, leashes. Pets are beloved, but their accessories distract buyers and reduce perceived cleanliness.
- ☐ Remove the following items from all visible areas:
- Seasonal decor
- Weapons (firearms, replicas, etc.)
- Valuables (jewelry, cash, small electronics)
- Family photos and personal portraits
- Political signs or branded merchandise
- Clothing left on chairs, hooks, or floors
- Shower and kitchen cleaning supplies
- Items of questionable legality
🏡 Exterior
First impressions are formed in seconds online. The exterior shot is often the hero image — make it count.
- ☐ Remove garbage and recycle bins. Roll them to the side of the house, down the driveway, or into the garage. Even partially visible bins signal neglect.
- ☐ Remove all landscaping and garden equipment and water hoses. This includes rakes, shovels, coiled hoses, wheelbarrows and lawn mowers.
- ☐ Remove seasonal decor and children’s toys. Trampolines, bikes, outdoor play sets, and patio decorations should be stored out of frame.
- ☐ Mow the lawn and clear leaves. Freshly cut grass photographs dramatically better than overgrown or patchy turf. Clear fallen leaves from the driveway and front walk.
- ☐ Cover or remove the agent’s sign. Your listing sign confirms the property is for sale, but it can distract from the home itself in marketing photos.
🍳 Kitchen
Kitchens sell homes. Buyers spend disproportionate time on kitchen photos — a clear, clutter-free kitchen can single-handedly lift perceived value.
- ☐ Clear off countertops completely. Everything — toaster, coffee maker, knife block, fruit bowl, paper towel holder. A completely clear counter looks larger and more luxurious.
- ☐ Minimize appliances. If you have small appliances on the counter that cannot be stored, keep only one or two that are spotlessly clean and visually neutral.
- ☐ Hide soap, sponge, dishes, and garbage. Under the sink or in a cabinet. Dish racks should be empty and out of sight.
- ☐ Clear the refrigerator of magnets and other items. A refrigerator covered in magnets, kids’ artwork, or takeout menus reads as visual noise in photos.
- ☐ Remove “junk drawer” items (mail, pens, keys, etc.) from any visible surfaces. If there’s a visible junk drawer, close it.
🚿 Bathrooms
Bathrooms should feel like a hotel suite, not a daily-use space. The goal is spotless and impersonal.
- ☐ Clear countertops completely. Remove all toiletries, toothbrushes, soap dispensers, hair tools, and medications. Leave the counter bare.
- ☐ Remove shampoo and all items from the shower. Bottles on shower ledges, hanging caddies, and loofahs should all go. The shower should look unused.
- ☐ Clean mirrors. Spotless mirrors reflect light and make the space look larger. Wipe with a streak-free cleaner immediately before the shoot.
- ☐ Clean shower doors. Hard water stains and soap scum are magnified in photos. Use a glass cleaner and squeegee for a crystal-clear result.
🛏️ Bedrooms
Bedrooms should feel calm, spacious, and inviting. The fewer personal items visible, the easier it is for buyers to picture their own life in the space.
- ☐ Make the bed. Use your best linen set. Smooth the duvet, fluff pillows, and tuck in the sides. This single step transforms bedroom photos.
- ☐ Clear potential items from nightstands and shelves. Keep only a lamp and at most one tasteful decorative item per side.
- ☐ Hide loose wires and cords. Phone chargers, lamp cords, and power bars should be tucked out of sight or taped behind furniture.
- ☐ Remove items from under the bed that might show in photos. Wide-angle lenses often capture under-bed storage. Slide everything in or place a bed skirt.
- ☐ Remove laundry and hampers. All laundry — clean or dirty — should be stored in a closed closet or removed from the room entirely.
- ☐ Make corners accessible. Your photographer will need to position a tripod in corners to capture the full room. Clear at least 2–3 feet of space in each corner.
📅 On the Day of Your Photographs
These are the final steps to complete on shoot day itself — ideally in the hour before your photographer arrives.
- ☐ Turn on all lights and lamps, inside and outside. Every single one. Overhead lights, floor lamps, table lamps, under-cabinet lighting, exterior porch lights — all on.
- ☐ Turn on fireplaces if applicable. A lit fireplace adds warmth and lifestyle appeal to interior shots. Gas fireplaces are ideal — turn them on 10 minutes before the shoot.
- ☐ Turn off all televisions and computer monitors. Screens show as dark, reflective rectangles in photos. Turn them off and avoid screensavers.
- ☐ Turn off ceiling fans. Moving ceiling fans create a motion blur that ruins HDR exposures. Off means truly still — double-check every room.
- ☐ Open all curtains or blinds. Fully open. Natural light is your best friend in listing photos. The only exception: a window with an unappealing direct view (e.g., facing a wall or dumpster).
- ☐ Close all toilet lids. Every bathroom. Every toilet. No exceptions.
- ☐ Close garage doors. Unless the garage is being photographed as a feature, keep doors closed for a clean exterior shot.
- ☐ Park all cars in the garage or down the street. No vehicles in the driveway or in front of the property during exterior shots.
- ☐ Lock up pets in the garage for the duration of the shoot, or take them for a walk. Pets underfoot slow down the shoot and may appear in reflections.
- ☐ Close the closets you don’t want to show, or open them fully if they’re a feature worth highlighting (e.g., a walk-in closet).
- ☐ Close the doors of any rooms you don’t want to show. Utility rooms, storage spaces, or rooms still in progress — simply close the door. Your photographer will focus on what’s open.
💡 One Rule That Covers Everything
When in doubt, remove it. Buyers need to imagine their own life in the space. The cleaner and more neutral the home, the more time buyers spend looking at the photos — and the more time they spend looking, the more emotionally invested they become.
What If the Home is Vacant?
Empty rooms are harder to photograph than furnished ones — bare walls and floors give buyers no sense of scale or warmth. Consider our virtual staging service, which digitally adds furniture and decor to empty rooms at a fraction of the cost of physical staging.
What If Some Photos Need Work After the Shoot?
Even the best-prepared homes sometimes have a stubborn item that got missed. Our Listing Photo Finish service lets you upload existing photos for professional editing — object removal, virtual staging, sky replacement, and brightness correction — no new shoot required.
📥 Download the Printable Checklist
Save or print the official Big Picture 360 Pre-Shoot Checklist PDF to share with your sellers before every listing appointment.
Big Picture 360 is a GTA real estate photography company specializing in HDR photography, Matterport and iGUIDE 3D tours, aerial drone media, floor plans, virtual staging, and listing photo finishing. We serve Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill and surrounding communities.