How to Take Great Photos That Sell

Most buyers and tenants decide whether to enquire in seconds. Your photos are usually the first thing they scan, before they read the description, check the EPC, or look at the floorplan.

The good news is you don’t need a pro camera. With a bit of prep, good light, and a consistent approach, your phone can produce photos that look clean, clear and confidence-building.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do before you shoot, what to photograph (and what to skip), and how to choose a strong lead image for your Virify listing.

Key takeaways

• Prep matters more than the camera: clean, declutter, brighten.
• Shoot in landscape, at chest height, with straight lines.
• Get the “must-have” shots first, then capture features and storage.
• Use natural light and turn on lamps (but avoid harsh filters).
• Pick fewer, better photos and lead with your strongest image.

Before you start: quick setup

• Wipe your phone lens (seriously, it makes a huge difference).
• Turn off any beauty/portrait filters.
• Use grid lines if your phone has them (helps keep things level).

Virify tip
Buyers and tenants scroll fast. A clean, consistent set of photos beats dozens of random angles every time.

Step 1: Prep the property (room by room)

Think "calm and move-in ready". You're not hiding flaws, you're removing distractions so buyers and tenants can focus on the space.

Whole-home prep checklist

• Clear floors and surfaces (less clutter equals bigger rooms)
• Open curtains or blinds and let light in
• Put away personal paperwork and valuables
• Empty bins and remove pet bowls or litter trays
• Do a quick vacuum and wipe visible marks

Living room

• Fluff cushions and fold throws
• Clear coffee tables
• Hide wires where possible
• Put toys and clutter in a basket (out of shot)

Kitchen

• Clear worktops, especially dish racks and small appliances
• Empty the sink
• Remove tea towels, fridge magnets and cleaning bottles
• Wipe taps, splashbacks and shiny surfaces

Bedrooms

• Make the bed tight and tidy
• Put laundry away
• Clear bedside tables (keep it minimal)

Bathroom

• Close the toilet lid
• Remove shampoos, toothbrushes and razors
• Clean mirrors and taps
• Photograph when dry (avoid steam and wet floors from recent use)

Outside

• Move bins out of view
• Sweep the path and tidy the entrance
• Set out patio furniture (if it’s a marketing point)
• Remove cars from the driveway if you can (it makes it look bigger). Otherwise, make sure the licence plate isn’t visible.

Step 2: Take the right shots

You don’t need 50 photos. You need a complete story.

Must-have photos for most listings

• Front exterior (often your lead photo)
• Entrance or hallway
• Main living space
• Kitchen
• Each bedroom (yes, all of them)
• Bathrooms and separate WC if applicable
• Garden, balcony or terrace
• Storage wins: built-in wardrobes, understairs cupboard, utility (if you have them)

Helpful extras

• Home office or garden office
• Loft (especially if boarded or usable)
• Garage or workshop
• Feature shots: fireplace, bay window, views

Tip
Don't skip "in-between spaces" like hallways and landings. They help buyers and tenants understand flow.

Step 3: Framing that makes rooms look bigger

The simple rules

• Shoot in landscape (horizontal) every time
• Hold your phone at chest height
• Keep the phone level (use grid lines)
• Stand in doorways or corners to show the full room
• Show two walls where possible (it helps people understand shape)
• Avoid extreme wide-angle distortion

Quick example: good positioning

Instead of standing in the middle of the room, step back into the doorway and shoot straight-on with the horizon level.

Step 4: Lighting that sells

Light makes a room feel bigger, cleaner and more inviting.

Best time to shoot

• Bright daytime (mid-morning to late afternoon works well)
• Avoid harsh midday glare if your rooms get direct sun

Use both daylight and lamps

• Open curtains or blinds
• Turn on lamps and ceiling lights to lift dark corners

Avoid backlighting

If the window is behind your subject, the room will look dark.

• Face away from windows where you can
• Or tap the screen to adjust exposure on your phone

Step 5: Choose your best photos

Once you’ve shot everything:

1. Review on a bigger screen (laptop or tablet helps)
2. Remove:
   • Blurry shots
   • Tilted horizons
   • Duplicates
   • Anything with reflections of you, pets and mess
3. Put your strongest photo first (usually exterior or best interior room)

Virify tip
Lead photo matters. Choose the image that feels brightest, clearest, and most “clickable”.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Portrait mode photos (cropped and awkward on listings)
• People or pets in the frame
• Heavy filters or over-editing
• Messy worktops, open toilet lids, wet bathrooms
• Shooting too high or too low (ceiling-heavy angles shrink rooms)
• Mirror selfies and reflections