A successful photo shoot starts well before the photographer arrives. Owners and agents who prepare a luxury villa for a photo shoot give the camera a home that looks calm, cared for and ready to be lived in, and they make the day smoother for everyone involved. The preparation is mostly practical: clear the surfaces, check the lighting, look after the garden and walk through the house as a buyer would. This checklist goes room by room, so that nothing is left to the last hour.
Plan the photo shoot a week ahead
Agree the date, the access times and the contact person with the photographer early. Walk through the property with a notepad a week before the shoot and note anything that needs repairing, replacing or moving. A cracked tile, a dead bulb or a scuffed wall is easy to fix in advance and very visible in a photograph. If drone footage is planned, check the forecast for wind and visibility, and tell the team about any gates, neighbours or access restrictions that could affect the plan.
Living rooms and reception spaces
These rooms usually carry the hero images, so they deserve the most attention.
- Remove personal items such as family photographs, post, chargers and remote controls.
- Arrange sofas and armchairs so they face each other or the view, and leave a clear path through the room.
- Plump the cushions, fold throws neatly and straighten rugs.
- Open the curtains fully and clean the glass on both sides, because dirty windows are the first thing a camera exposes.
- Switch off televisions or set them to a neutral screen.
- Add a few fresh flowers or a plant. One well-chosen object works better than a crowded shelf.
Kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms show care in small details. Clear the worktops except for two or three deliberate objects, such as a bowl of fruit or a single bottle. Hide bins, cleaning products, sponges and soap dispensers. In bathrooms, replace towels with fresh, matching sets, close the toilet lid, polish the taps and wipe the shower glass. In bedrooms, make the bed with fresh linen, square the pillows and keep the bedside tables consistent. Close wardrobe doors and remove anything that would look untidy if a door were left open.
Lighting, cables and reflections
Switch on every light in the property, including table lamps and wall lights, and replace any bulb that flickers or looks a different colour from the rest. Mixed colour temperatures are hard to correct after the shoot. Tidy visible cables, hide routers and set-top boxes, and move anything that would reflect in mirrors or glass, such as a phone, a ladder or a person. Decide in advance whether blinds should be open or closed; the photographer will advise on the best arrangement for each room.
Gardens, terraces and pools
Outdoor spaces are often the first thing buyers notice, especially when a property overlooks the sea, the hills or a lake. Mow the lawn, trim the hedges, sweep the terrace and remove leaves from the pool. Clean the water, and if an evening image is planned, make sure the pool is clear and well lit. Put away hoses, bins, toys and garden tools, and arrange the outdoor furniture so that it draws the eye towards the view. Ask yourself whether you would want to sit there; if the answer is no, change the arrangement.
For evening images, the lights outside can matter as much as the ones inside. Read more in our guide to twilight photography for luxury homes.
On the day, and booking your shoot
Keep pets, children and visitors away from the property while the shoot is in progress, and make sure doors and gates are unlocked and accessible. Stay reachable by phone for questions about the alarm, parking or access codes, but avoid walking through the rooms while the team works. A short note describing what has been prepared, and what has been left as it is, helps the team work efficiently. To understand the rhythm of the day, read what to expect on shoot day.
A well-prepared property lets the photographer focus on light, composition and detail, which is where the images are made. If you are preparing a home in Genoa, Liguria or elsewhere in our markets, get in touch through our contact page. We are available Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 19:00, and will help you plan the shoot. You can see examples of finished work in our portfolio.
