How to Prepare a Villa for an Architectural Photo Shoot

Most of the difference between a good set of photographs and a great one is decided before the camera comes out of the bag. None of this is difficult, but it is much harder to fix afterwards than to sort out the morning of the shoot.

Clear everything that is not meant to be there

Bins, drying racks, floor mats, charging cables, remote controls, toiletries, fridge magnets, slippers by the door. Rooms photograph far better with less in them than you expect. If in doubt, take it out — it is easy to put a piece back.

Clean the glass

Windows, mirrors and glass partitions show every mark under a wide lens. Hard water stains on a bathroom mirror are one of the few things that genuinely cannot be fixed afterwards without a lot of time.

Check the bulbs

Every bulb in the frame should work, and ideally they should all be the same colour temperature. A single warm bulb in a row of cool white ones is instantly visible and awkward to correct.

Think about the garden

Exteriors need the lawn cut, the drive swept and cars moved well out of the frame. If there is a dusk shot planned, make sure the external lights and any pool lighting are working.

Leave the styling to the shoot

Do not arrange cushions and throws perfectly in advance. Styling gets adjusted constantly as the camera moves, and a room staged for the eye rarely reads the same through a lens.

A quick checklist

• Surfaces cleared and wiped
• Windows and mirrors cleaned
• All bulbs working and matching
• Cars moved, garden tidied
• Air conditioning remotes and cables hidden
• Someone available on site who can move furniture

That last one matters more than people expect. Having one person around who can shift a chair or find a key saves a surprising amount of time across a day.