A few careful preparations can help an apartment look clean, spacious, and inviting in photos. Start by removing everyday clutter, then check lighting and arrange furniture so each room’s purpose is clear. Work through the unit before the photographer arrives, including shared spaces or amenities if they are part of the shoot. This checklist keeps the process practical and helps avoid last-minute rushing.
Clear Clutter and Clean Surfaces
Put away personal items, mail, toiletries, pet supplies, and anything sitting on counters or floors. Clear kitchen and bathroom surfaces except for a few simple, coordinated accents. Remove magnets and papers from the refrigerator, hide trash cans, and tuck away cords where possible. In bedrooms, make the beds neatly and clear nightstands so the room feels calm rather than occupied.
Clean the areas that will catch the camera’s eye: mirrors, windows, floors, appliance fronts, faucets, and glass shower doors. Dust shelves, light fixtures, and baseboards, especially where sunlight may reveal it. Empty small trash bins and check for water spots or smudges. A quick walkthrough at camera height can help you notice marks or clutter that are easy to miss while standing.
Set Up Each Room
Arrange furniture to show how people can use the space and move through it. Pull furniture slightly away from walls when that improves the layout, but keep clear walking paths and doorways. Straighten chairs, align dining table settings, and smooth bedding. Remove extra pieces that make a room feel crowded, while keeping enough furniture to show the room’s scale and purpose.
In kitchens and bathrooms, put away dish racks, cleaning products, bath mats, and countertop appliances that are not essential to the scene. Close toilet lids, straighten shower curtains, and fold towels neatly. For a balcony or patio, sweep the floor, arrange outdoor furniture, and remove planters or accessories that look worn. Keep decor simple so the apartment itself remains the focus.
Prepare the Lighting
Open blinds and curtains to bring in natural light, and make sure window coverings hang evenly. Replace burned-out bulbs before the shoot, using consistent light color within each room when possible. Turn on lamps and overhead lights unless the photographer asks you to leave them off. Check that every fixture works, including under-cabinet lights and bathroom vanity lights.
Avoid mixing very different bulb colors in the same room, such as cool white and warm yellow, because the space can look uneven. If daylight is strong, adjust blinds to soften harsh patches while keeping the view bright. The photographer can choose camera settings and refine the lighting, but clean windows, working fixtures, and accessible switches make that work easier.
Do a Final Walkthrough
Walk through the unit from the entrance and check what a visitor would see first. Open interior doors to a consistent position, straighten rugs, hide keys and cleaning tools, and make sure no one has left a bag or jacket in view. Look at each room through a phone camera if useful; the screen can reveal crooked lines, reflections, and objects that stand out in the frame.
Confirm access to every area included in the shoot, including closets, balconies, and amenity spaces. Secure pets elsewhere and let residents or staff know which rooms need to stay clear. If a feature is broken or an area cannot be prepared, tell the photographer before the session so the shot list can be adjusted.
A tidy unit, clear room layouts, and working, balanced lighting give the photographer a strong starting point. Use the checklist for a final pass, then leave space for the photographer to adjust the scene. Brickline Property Photo works with multifamily properties in St. Louis; contact the team to discuss your shoot.