Preparing the space
Property photos: how should you prepare your apartment before the shoot?
The rooms to prepare, the details to tidy and the light to consider. My advice for being ready when I arrive, while keeping your apartment’s character.
About 9 minutes of reading
An open space, its glazed roof and its different living areas. A photograph from my property portfolio.
In this article
In a few words
Start by clearing walkways and surfaces, prepare each room, then put away any personal belongings you do not want to show. We will discuss timing, access and anything particular to your home before the shoot.
- Tidy rooms, with furniture that helps explain how each space is used.
- Accessible windows and a time chosen together.
- Documents, family photos and private belongings put away.
You are about to put your apartment up for sale or rent, and the photo appointment is approaching. Looking around, you may wonder where to start. Should you remove every object? Move the sofa? Buy a few accessories?
I suggest keeping things simple. Start with what is already there: the rooms, the furniture, the openings and the walkways. I want to show an apartment where you can understand where you enter, how you move through it and what each space offers.
Here is my preparation advice, to adapt to your home and daily life. Before taking photographs, we also walk through the rooms together to look at the framing, any objects to move and the light.1
Clear the spaces without emptying everything
I suggest starting at the entrance, then following the route through the apartment. Put away shoes, bags, the drying rack and boxes left in the way. Also check what is in front of doors and windows.
In the living areas, keep the furniture that gives the space its purpose: the dining table, the sofa, the desk. First remove what has gathered around it. A favourite throw or a few books can stay. You do not need to leave every surface completely bare.
For temporary storage, choose somewhere in advance that will not be photographed. A box can hold remote controls, chargers and small items you will put back after I leave. That saves you carrying them from room to room during the shoot.
And before moving heavy furniture, let us talk. I would rather you sent me a photo of the room before starting a major rearrangement.
Prepare the apartment, room by room
Once the walkways are clear, here is the tour I suggest. You can work through one room at a time, starting with those you particularly want to show.
The living and dining rooms
Straighten the cushions, fold the blankets and remove anything that does not need to stay on the coffee table. Tidy loose cables without unplugging necessary equipment. Switch off the television and screens.
Put the chairs back around the table and clear the floor. Keep the decoration that feels right to you: a vase already there may be enough. I am not asking you to set a festive table for the shoot.
The kitchen
Put away the dishes, wipe the sink and clear part of the worktop. I suggest putting away sponges, drying tea towels, packaging and cleaning products. Also look at what is displayed on the fridge.
An appliance you use every day can stay where it is. The aim is to show the worktop and the kitchen layout. Check for marks on glossy cupboard fronts and the splashback too.
The bedrooms
Make the beds, smooth the duvets and put away clothes left on a chair or behind a door. Clear medicines, papers and private items from bedside tables. Finally, check what sticks out from under the bed and what is on top of wardrobes.
In a child’s bedroom, keep a few things that show how the room is used. Gather scattered toys and remove any photographs or personal information you do not want to appear.
The bathroom
Clean the mirror, basin and shower screen. Put away toothbrushes, opened bottles, toiletries and laundry left to dry. Straighten the towels and close the toilet lid.
Take a moment to look at the reflection in the mirror too: the hallway, an open door or things left behind you may appear in it. We will check this when composing the photograph.
The balcony or terrace
If the outdoor area is part of the shoot, prepare it alongside the interior. Sweep the floor, remove bags and storage items, then arrange the furniture you normally use. Clear access from the room and check that the door opens.
Let me know if part of the space is inaccessible or being renovated. We can take that into account before planning the photographs.
Choose the time with the light in mind
Before we set the appointment, tell me when sunlight enters the main rooms, if you have noticed. You do not need to know the exact orientation: ‘the living room gets morning sun’ is already useful. A few phone photos can also help us prepare the shoot.
I suggest making the windows accessible, cleaning the panes you can safely reach and checking that shutters and blinds work. Let me adjust the curtains and blinds on site, along with which lights to switch on or off.1
If a lamp no longer works, let me know before I arrive. Tell me about darker rooms and any views that matter to you too. We will choose the time with the whole home in mind.
Take care with high or hard-to-reach windows. There is no need to put yourself at risk to prepare a photograph.
Put away anything private
Before the shoot, walk through the apartment looking only for personal belongings. Letters on the console, documents on the desk, a family calendar on the wall, photos on the fridge: gather anything you do not want to show in the listing.
Think of screens, names on doors, medical documents and valuables. Check mirrors and glass surfaces too. Something may appear in a reflection even if it is outside the main frame.
If other people live in the apartment, agree with them which rooms will be available and which belongings to put away. I suggest telling everyone what is planned and keeping moved items somewhere easy to find.
What I would like to show is your apartment with care: its spaces, its light and the way it is lived in.
Things put away temporarily can be put back. A defect in the home, damaged finish or unfinished work, however, should be pointed out. I want the photographs to remain true to the place people will discover on a viewing.
Keep this handy
One last walk-through before I arrive
You can tick off this list as you go.
If you have a pet, arrange somewhere it can stay quietly during the shoot. If you will not be there, make sure the person welcoming me knows the home and the rooms we plan to photograph.
Is there something you have not been able to prepare? Tell me. We will look together at what matters for the photographs, with the time and space we have.
Sources and useful references
[1] Hani Kanaftchian. Property photography in Brussels: preparing the spaces, walking through the rooms before the shoot and adjusting the lighting. Page checked on 21 October 2026.
The advice in this guide reflects my approach as a photographer. All photographs in this article come from my public property portfolio.
The duration of the shoot and the budget depend on the property and the project. You will find services and prices on the dedicated page; we will work out the arrangements together.
Practical questions
Do I need to buy decorations for the shoot?
I suggest starting with what you have. A clear table, a made bed and furniture back in place are a good starting point. If you are unsure about an item of decor, send me a photo before buying anything.
How do I prepare an apartment that is still lived in?
Have a box ready for everyday objects you will temporarily put away, and choose where to keep it during the shoot. Agree with the occupants when each room will be available. The idea is for everyone to know what will happen, without moving belongings from room to room at the last minute.
Should we postpone the shoot if it is overcast?
Let us not decide on that alone. Tell me which rooms and outdoor spaces matter to you, then we will look at the conditions together. If the weather requires a change of plans, we will discuss it before the appointment.
What if I cannot prepare everything?
Let me know and send a few photos of the home. We can set priorities and see what is realistic before the shoot. Mention any furniture that is difficult to move, rooms still in use or ongoing work.