Real Estate Photo Guide | Creative Title Co
Field Guide

The Real Estate Photo Guide

A field checklist to take property photos right the first time.

Don't Crop Too Tight
Light It Up
Sharp Focus
Nothing in the Way
The Checklist

Photo Targets

Work through each card top-to-bottom. If you can't capture a shot, snap a photo of why so we know it wasn't missed.

Exterior — Front

  • Front of property and yard, center (Angle 1)
  • Front of property and yard from left corner (Angle 2)
  • Front of property and yard from right corner (Angle 3)
  • Full view of front, facing away from the house (taken from against the house)

Exterior — Rear & Around

  • Rear of property and yard, center (Angle 1)
  • Rear from left corner (Angle 2)
  • Rear from right corner (Angle 3)
  • Full view of rear, facing away from the house (taken from against the house)
  • Closeup of each utility entry (gas, water, electrical, cable)
  • Roof-specific photos from all sides — back up, hold phone high, block the sun or adjust exposure so the roof is clear, in focus, and not washed out
  • VIDEO walk-around — full circle

Interior — Living Spaces

  • Open Interior Space (Living or Dining)
  • Open Interior Space 2 (Living or Dining)
  • Kitchen Angle 1 (full view)
  • Kitchen Angle 2 (full view)
  • Kitchen Angle 3 (full view)
  • One photo of each hallway

Interior — Rooms & Storage

  • Each bedroom — full view (show closets if possible, or take separate closet photos)
  • Each bathroom
  • Laundry room
  • Garage / carport — enough photos to cover the entire space (consider panorama)
  • Basement
  • VIDEO walk-through — one video per floor

Appliances & Mechanicals

  • Water heater, water softener, filtration systems
  • Pool pump, heater, filter
  • A/C unit
    • Full unit
    • Pipes / connections to & from the house
    • Any labels
  • Furnace
    • Full unit in context of the room it's in
    • Pipes / connections to & from the unit
    • Any labels
  • Electrical panel — door open, handwriting/text in focus
  • Plumbing pipes or electrical wires wherever exposed (basement, chases, under sinks). Look for water damage below sinks and inside cabinets.
  • Solar panels, wind turbines, etc.

Damage & Modifications

  • Any damage — two shots minimum (one closeup, one wider so we see the damage in context)
  • Water leaks — inspect carefully for evidence of mold
  • Wood rot — check where exposed wood meets other wood (decks, porches, stairs/posts touching the ground)
  • All ceilings — easy to miss water damage unless you look up on purpose

Other Amenities

  • Pool / hot tub / sauna
  • Additional amenities (firepit, sheds, outbuildings, decks, fencing, etc.)
Avoid These

The Four Most Common Photo Problems

1

Too Close!

Hold the camera in the middle — we want to see the floor and ceiling in most photos. Panoramas help (they don't have to be ultra-wide, just enough to show context of the whole room).

2

Not Enough Light!

Open the shades and turn on every light. Bring a bright flashlight and use the camera flash. Use night mode in dim spaces.

3

Blurry Shots

Usually a low-light problem. Hold still and tap-to-focus. Double-check your work to make sure each shot is in sharp focus before sending.

4

Something in the Way

Watch for rugs or furniture blocking the view of a problem area. Do a visual check, move what you can, and take photos of any hidden issues.

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