How to Have the Best Home Photography Experience

Our professional photographer, Melanie Hetzel, Melanie Hetzel Photography LLC gives the best tips to make your home photo ready.  Below is a helpful list of tips that Melanie Hetzel suggest.

Tips for All Areas in the Home

1. Thoroughly clean whole house
2. Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON (replace burned out bulbs)
3. Use light bulbs of all the same temperature (all incandescent or all fluorescent)
4. Turn all ceiling fans OFF
5. All TV’s and computer screens OFF
6. Open blinds to allow natural light in
7. Remove small floor rugs to reveal flooring underneath
8. Place all shoes and jackets in closets

Tips for Exterior Photos

1. Close garage doors
2. Remove cars from the driveway
3. Remove empty planters and blue tarps (we see this during the winter months here)
4. Remove as many toys as possible
5. Remove trash cans
6. Clean porch and tidy up outdoor tables and chairs

Tips for Kitchen and Dining Room

1. Clear countertops completely (no small appli., knife blocks, baking supplies, etc.)
2. Clear off outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
3. Hide garbage cans
4. Remove dishes from the sink and hide sponges and soaps
5. Wipe down kitchen/dining room table top
6. Use decorative place settings if available or at least a centerpiece
7. Straighten all chairs and space evenly, and remove child seats/booster chairs.

Tips for Living/Family Room

1. Remove stacks of magazines, papers, etc.
2. Declutter fireplace mantel/hearth
3. Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
4. Remove kids toys

Tips for Bedrooms

1. Make bed, including decorative pillows/ shams if possible
2. Clear nightstands of all personal items
3. Store away all charging cables
4. Remove clutter from top of dressers
5. Clean under the bed, removing items that may show in the photos
6. Close closet doors

Tips for Bathrooms

1. Clear countertops, showers, and baths completely! No personal hygiene items.
2. Put toilet seats down
3. Remove dirty towels, use only clean (white if possible) towels
4. Remove floor mats
5. New roll of toilet paper or none at all

Tips for Homes with Pets

1. Place food bowls in a pantry or closet
2. Hide beds and toys, and litter boxes
3. Use lint roller or vacuum on furniture to remove pet hair
4. Contain pets in hidden crates or outside

Tips for Laundry Rooms

1. Remove empty baskets,  extra hangers from racks, and items from under utility sink
2. Hide laundry detergents