2 June 2026
How to prepare an apartment for an interior photoshoot: a 10-point checklist
A prepared apartment is half the result. What to do the day before the photographer arrives: from textiles to light bulbs, based on 47+ projects.
Why preparation decides the outcome
The camera does not see the way your eye does. A cable by the skirting board you have ignored for years becomes the main character of the frame. A crumpled throw reads as untidiness of the whole interior; a dead bulb reads as a dark corner. Retouching can fix a lot, but every fix costs time and money, and the natural feel of the frame suffers.
That is why we send clients a checklist before every shoot. Apartments prepared with it shoot faster, and the frames come out noticeably stronger. Here it is.
The checklist: surfaces and order
1. Deep cleaning — especially glass and mirrors, light depends on them.
2. Clear horizontal surfaces: remotes, chargers, bottles, fridge magnets. The rule is simple: one to three objects per surface, not ten.
3. Hide the cables: behind furniture, in boxes, into cable channels.
4. Put away personal photos and documents — for privacy, and because they fragment the frame.
5. Check the bulbs: all working, ideally the same colour temperature — mixed warm and cold light looks muddy on camera.
The checklist: textiles and decor
6. Steam the textiles: curtains, bedspreads, cushions. The camera highlights fabric creases mercilessly.
7. Make the beds hotel-style — taut and even. The bedroom is shot from the bed; it must be impeccable.
8. Fresh flowers or branches in a vase are the cheapest way to bring a frame to life. One bouquet can travel from room to room between shots.
9. Bathroom towels: fresh, plain, hung straight. Shampoos and brushes go into the cabinet.
10. If there is a fireplace — have firewood ready; if there are beautiful cups — we will style a kitchen still. Details of a lived-in home make frames warm.
What not to do
Do not remove all furniture and decor: empty apartments are shot for rentals, but for designer portfolios and sales, lived-in frames work better. Do not buy new decor specially — we bring basic props ourselves. And do not worry about small things on shoot day: the final styling of every frame is done together, it is part of the job.
This list takes one evening, and the shoot afterwards takes an hour less. For a large property or tight deadlines, discuss preparation with us in advance — we will tell you where to save time.