Photography day

The short answer

On photography day the details matter: every light on, every blind and curtain fully open, all surfaces clear, toilet lids down, bins and drying racks out of sight, cars moved off the drive and, where possible, off the frontage. Aim for the brightest part of the day for the property's aspect, and have the outside shot done while the light is good.

What the work involves

A final tidy and lighting round, removing signs of daily life, positioning simple dressing, and clearing the exterior of vehicles and bins.

Rules and responsibilities in Scotland

Images must represent the property fairly. In Scotland the Home Report has to be available before marketing begins.

What commonly goes wrong

A shoot booked for late afternoon in winter, with half the lights off and a car parked across the frontage.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Professional photography is a small proportion of selling costs and drives enquiry volume more than any other single item.
• A repeat shoot because of poor light or presentation costs time on the market, which is the expensive part.
• Twilight or drone shots are worth considering only where the property genuinely benefits.

What to do, in order

1. 1Clean windows and glass the day before.
2. 2Switch every light on and open all blinds and curtains fully.
3. 3Clear kitchen and bathroom surfaces completely.
4. 4Move cars, bins, drying racks and pet items out of shot.
5. 5Photograph the exterior while the light is on the front of the property.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Edinburgh tenement flats with north-facing rooms photograph best on a bright overcast morning with all lights on.
• Controlled parking on city streets makes moving cars from the frontage harder — arrange it with neighbours in advance.
• Where a flat has a view of the castle, Arthur's Seat, the Meadows or the Firth, make sure it is photographed.

When you need a professional

A property photographer used to interiors; the solicitor estate agent usually arranges photography alongside the Home Report.

Common questions

Should lights be on for property photographs?

Yes, every light, even in daylight. It warms the image and removes dark corners, particularly in north-facing rooms.

Do photographs really affect the sale?

They decide who books a viewing. Fewer viewings means fewer competing offers, which affects price in a closing-date market.

Related pages

• Staging on a budget

  Arranging what you already own so rooms read clearly in photographs and at viewings.

• Pre-sale deep clean

  The clean that happens once, before photographs, and is then maintained for viewings.

• Kerb appeal

  The front door, the frontage and the first photograph a buyer sees.