Listing Your First Property for Sale? This Realtor’s Guide to Property Listing Photos Will Help You Sell!

Are you listing your first property for sale? First of all, congratulations! This is an exciting time for you as a new agent. At Square Foot Photography, we take pride in being a part of our clients’ journeys as they grow their businesses. We’re here to help you throughout every step of the photography process to ensure you have the best listing photos possible for your marketing.

If this is your first listing, you may be wondering what to expect or how best to prep for listing photos. We created this guide to help you understand our process and what we can do to support you in your business. Here’s what you need to know!

The Booking

The first step is booking our residential listing photography services. You can view our packages and pricing here, and then schedule your photoshoot here. Start by entering the address and details of your listing property. Then choose your base photography package, including drone photography and 3D Matterport tours if desired.

The next page features a selection of add-on services that pair well with your base package, including twilight photos, virtual staging, social media videos, and more. Our team is also available to discuss your listing with you and recommend the services we think will help it shine the best. Finally, schedule your shoot, enter your contact and payment details, and confirm your booking.

If you’re wondering when to schedule your shoot, we posted a blog about the best times to take real estate photos. We offer next-day delivery (Monday through Friday) on all our photos, so you don’t need to worry about last-minute listings!

The Prep

Once booked, we’ll send you an email outlining what to expect, plus some tips for preparing the property for photos. This will include the photographer’s contact info in case you need to reach them directly. Here are a few tips for properly prepping a listing property:

• Turn off exterior lights (unless it’s a twilight shoot)
• Clean up the landscaping, pools, and other water features
• Put away distracting items, such as trash cans, lawn tools, and other clutter
• Turn on all interior lights and turn off the fans and electronics
• Make up all beds, and open curtains and blinds
• Wipe everything down to remove dust, dirt, and water stains
• Hide interior clutter and personal items

For more tips on this, check out our blog on maximizing your listing’s potential (and review the checklist in your email)! Remember, these are not mandatory; they are just suggestions to achieve the best listing photos possible.

The On-Site Experience

When the day of your shoot arrives, your photographer will call or text you to confirm their arrival time. If you, your representative, or the property owner are on-site, the photographer will do a personal check-in before starting. This is your chance to review the scheduled services and note any access points or tips they’ll need to ensure everything goes smoothly.

While it’s best to complete the recommended prep list before the shoot, all our photographers pay close attention to detail. They are happy to make small, quick adjustments (within reason) to help your listing look its best while staying on schedule.

If any questions come up during the shoot or you’d like additional services, your photographer will contact our admin team to ensure you receive the most accurate information and support. They will then call or text to let you know when the appointment is complete, if you’re not on-site.

Timeline & Delivery

We aim to deliver all processed images by the next business day after each photo shoot. So, if your appointment was completed on Saturday, your images will be delivered by Monday morning. (Commercial shoots completed on Friday or Saturday are delivered Monday morning).

If you ordered virtual staging, look for a follow-up email requesting staging notes. Turnaround time is typically 24 to 48 hours once we have your final photos and receive your notes. If you need revisions on any images, please let us know. We’re happy to make adjustments so your photos best represent your listing!

What to Expect from Our Services

We take pride in our work and understand how our photos can impact your business. When you order a photo shoot with us, we give you the “Square Foot Photography Guarantee.” This means:

• All photographers are background checked, extensively trained, and fully insured.
• If we are more than 30 minutes late for a “non-flexible” appointment, the photo shoot will be free. (We aim to arrive on time to every appointment).
• We will deliver high-quality images and re-edit or reshoot if you are not 100% satisfied.
• We will respect and honor deal confidentiality for every photo shoot.
• We will provide first-class customer service.

If you have questions, feedback, or want to explore other services, just reach out by email (sales@squarefootphotography.com) or text/call us at (800) 519-6427. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm (CST). We’re happy to discuss our drone photography, 3D Matterport tours, social media videos, 2D floor plans, virtual staging, or any other services you may need. We’re here for it all – for you!

Ready to book your listing photos? Get started here!