The room-by-room listing photo checklist

Most listings need 20 to 35 photos. The order matters as much as the shots: buyers scroll quickly, so the first five photos carry the listing. Use this checklist on shoot day. Print it or keep it on your phone.

Before you shoot

• Shoot in the brightest part of the day. Turn on every light, including lamps and under-cabinet lights.
• Open blinds and curtains. Straighten them.
• Clear counters, floors and surfaces. See the declutter guide for a full list.
• Turn off ceiling fans, TVs and computers. Close toilet lids.
• Use a tripod or hold the camera at chest height, level and straight. Vertical lines should be vertical.

The first five photos (your thumbnail set)

1. Front exterior, straight-on or at a slight angle, with the front door visible.
2. The best living space, shot from a corner so the whole room shows.
3. The kitchen, from the side that shows the most.
4. The primary bedroom, from the doorway or corner.
5. The best outdoor feature: yard, deck, pool, view.

Exterior

• Front elevation, daytime, with the lawn mowed and the walkway clear.
• Front elevation at twilight, if you can. See our twilight guide.
• Back or side elevation and any outbuildings.
• Driveway and garage.
• Yard, patio, deck, pool. Show how you would use it.

Entry and living areas

• Entry: shoot into the home to show the first impression.
• Living room: from the corner opposite the main window if possible. Add a second angle if the room is large.
• Dining area: show the table or the space, and any view.
• Family room or bonus room: one wide shot, one detail of fireplace or built-ins.

Kitchen

• One wide shot from the corner.
• One shot of the island or peninsula.
• One of the pantry or storage, if it is a feature.
• Appliances in one clean frame. Stainless finish gets wiped first.

Bedrooms

• Primary bedroom from the doorway, including the bed wall.
• Primary bath: vanity, tub or shower, and the closet.
• Other bedrooms, one wide photo each. If a room is empty, take it clean so it can be staged.

Bathrooms

• One wide shot each, standing in the doorway. Include vanity and shower or tub.
• A detail shot only if there is something special: freestanding tub, double vanity, tile work.

Other spaces

• Laundry, mudroom, office, basement, garage interior.
• Views from windows or balconies.
• Neighborhood details if they help: park, trail, downtown.

Camera notes

• Wide, not fisheye. Around 16 to 24 mm equivalent on a full-frame camera.
• Keep the camera at 4 to 5 feet high, level. Point slightly down in tall rooms.
• Bracket exposures or use HDR so windows are not blown out.
• Shoot horizontal for listing sites. Vertical photos get cropped.

Before you upload to a staging tool, keep the originals. You will want both the original and the staged photo for the disclosure and the gallery.