How to take great listing photos

Buyers decide within a minute whether your home is worth visiting – and the cover photo is the first thing they see. You don't need an expensive camera: with your phone, daylight and a little preparation you can take photos that make your home look bright, spacious and inviting.

Prepare the room before you shoot

Photos highlight everything – tidy up first. Beds made, pillows fluffed, dishes away, bins emptied. Remove personal items (toothbrushes, medication, family photos) – buyers need to picture themselves in the home.

Switch on all lamps and open the curtains
Clear small items from countertops, sills and floors
Arrange chairs and sofas at straight angles
Close the toilet lid, clean mirrors

Light is your best friend

Daylight works wonders. Shoot during the day, light from the side or behind the camera – never towards it. Golden hour (just after sunrise / before sunset) gives the warmest facade light. Never use flash indoors; it flattens the light and creates harsh shadows.

Shoot the same room at different times – morning/forenoon is often clearly best.

Angles and composition

Stand in a corner so you see two walls – it adds depth and makes rooms feel bigger. Hold the camera at 120–150 cm and level, so walls and doors stand vertical. Take 3–4 photos per room: overview, detail, another angle.

Use wide angle, but not too much – it distorts
Turn on grid lines, keep the horizon straight
Open doors so you see into the next room

Phone settings and technique

Clean the lens with a microfiber cloth – that alone makes a huge difference. Turn on HDR, use the highest resolution, don't zoom (move closer instead). Landscape format, no color-changing filters.

What to photograph

Facade & driveway (first image – most important)
Living room, kitchen, all bedrooms and bathrooms
Kitchen details (countertop, oven, appliances)
Garden, terrace, balcony, carport/garage
Unique details (fireplace, view, floor/ceiling)
Storage (closets, basement, attic, shed)

Common mistakes

Crooked photos (walls/doors leaning)
Dark rooms (no lamps on)
Clutter and personal effects
Too much wide angle
Evening photos with flash