How Do You Get Your Home Ready for Listing Photos?

Oct 13

To get your Chandler or Tempe home ready for listing photos, turn every light on, turn every ceiling fan off, open the blinds, clear the counters, put away personal photos, and move the cars off the driveway. Plan for the shoot to take two to three hours on a larger home, and plan a few more days after that for editing and building the listing before it goes live.

Why do listing photos matter so much?

Because your photos are the first showing. Almost every buyer scrolls through them before deciding whether to see the home in person. If the photos don't earn a visit, the house never gets its chance.

A $1M+ buyer in South Chandler or South Tempe is comparing your home with every other one on their phone that week. Clean, bright, uncluttered photos tell them your home is cared for before they read a single word.

What should I do in each room before the photographer arrives?

Here's the checklist I'd work from, room by room:

Whole house: All lights on, ceiling fans off, blinds open and raised if you can. Take down personal photos.
Kitchen: Sink empty and clean. Counters as clear as possible, including the coffee maker and toaster. Wipe down stainless appliances.
Bathrooms: Plastic soap bottles out of sight. Toilet seats down. Rugs, towels, trash cans, and cleaning tools put away.
Bedrooms: Beds made, closet doors closed, nightstands cleared.
Outside: Yard groomed, pool clean, patio furniture straightened. Cars in the garage or down the street.
Pets: Keep them in one room, or out of the house for the shoot.

Ceiling fans are the one people forget. A spinning fan shows up as a blur in every photo, like a ghost who couldn't sit still.

How do I plan the photo date around my listing date?

Work backward. After the shoot, the photos get edited, reviewed, and fixed if needed. Then the listing gets written and sent to you for approval. That usually takes a few days.

So if you want to go live on a certain day, the photos should be taken several days before it. New listings tend to get the most attention when they launch heading into the weekend, when buyers plan their showings, so many sellers aim for a Thursday launch.

Also check the light. Arizona sun is bright and harsh at midday. Your photographer will often pick a time that flatters your home's best rooms, or come back for twilight shots of the pool and backyard.

Should I stage before photos?

Maybe. Many homes look great with simple decluttering and a few touches. Others, especially vacant homes or rooms with an awkward layout, photograph much better staged. I break down when it's worth paying for in do you need to stage a $1M+ home in Chandler or Tempe.

Either way, the goal is the same. Help a buyer picture their own life in the room, not yours.

What happens after photo day?

Once the photos are back and approved, the listing goes together and launches. From there, the marketing plan takes over, and that's where good photos earn their keep. You can see what a full launch should include in what marketing a $1M+ listing should get.

Before photo day, make sure your paperwork is underway too. My guide to the paperwork you need before listing covers it. And for every step from listing to closing in order, here's the full home selling roadmap.

Quick answers

How long does a real estate photo shoot take?

For a larger home, plan on about two to three hours. Twilight or drone shots can add a second, shorter visit.

Should lights be on or off for real estate photos?

On. Turn on every light in the house, open the blinds, and turn ceiling fans off so they don't blur in the photos.

Should I be home during listing photos?

It's fine either way, but most sellers find it easier to step out. The photographer moves fast, and every room needs to be empty of people.

If you're getting close to listing and want a second set of eyes on your home before photo day, I'm happy to walk it with you. Call or text me at 480-448-2020, or book a time to talk.

Ben Graham

You’ve made it. Now you want a home that finally feels like it.

Since 2011, I’ve helped move-up and move-in buyers do exactly that across South Tempe and South Chandler. More land, more quiet, more character, without leaving the city behind. If you’re buying or selling above $1M in 85284 or 85248, you want an advisor who knows the ground, not a salesperson who knows a script.

That’s the whole job, and it’s the part I love most.

Book a Phone Consultation

Ben is a husband, father, and full-time real estate advisor based in Chandler. Since 2011, across more than 500 transactions, he’s guided buyers and sellers through the Southeast Valley’s best neighborhoods.

His approach is simple: teach the market like a teacher, protect your equity like it’s his own, and tell you the truth even when the truth is “wait.” Clear communication, a proven plan, and your interests first.

Most of Ben’s clients fall into two camps.

The move-up buyer who’s outgrown a great starter home in Chandler or Tempe and is ready for something that feels like an arrival. More space, more privacy, more character, same easy access to four freeways, great schools, and Sky Harbor.

The move-in buyer relocating from out of town who needs someone who actually knows which street holds its value and which one only looks like it does.

He also represents sellers across South Tempe and South Chandler who want their home priced right in week one and marketed like the asset it is.

Faith and family are the center of how Ben lives and works. He’s a follower of Christ, a husband, and a father, raising his kids in Chandler with his wife Sarah. The family is active at CCV, the kids attend Valley Christian, and they support foster care and adoption. One of their sons joined the family that way.

Clients often tell Ben his faith is part of why they trusted him with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. He doesn’t take that lightly.

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