HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR PROPERTY FOR LOCATION SCOUTS
Good location photos aren't the same as real estate photos.
A real estate listing is designed to sell the property. Location photos should help a scout understand what the property actually looks like, how the spaces connect and whether it could work for a production.
You don't necessarily need a professional photographer. Clear, current and comprehensive photos are more important than perfectly styled images.
PHOTOGRAPH THE WHOLE PROPERTY
Don't only photograph the most attractive rooms.
A location scout may be interested in something completely different than you expect. Include:
Front + rear exterior
Street view
Entry
Living spaces
Kitchen
Dining areas
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Hallways
Staircases
Basement
Garage
Driveway
Backyard + landscaping
Porches, patios + decks
Outbuildings
Views from windows
Any unusual architectural details
For commercial properties, also photograph lobbies, offices, conference rooms, hallways, elevators, loading areas, parking lots and other common spaces.
SHOOT WIDE
This is probably the most important rule.
Location scouts need to understand the size, layout and relationship between rooms.
Stand in the corners of a room and photograph toward the opposite corners. Take several angles rather than one carefully composed photograph.
The goal isn't to make the room look larger than it is. It's to show the space accurately.
SHOW HOW ROOMS CONNECT
Photograph through doorways and between adjoining spaces.
If the kitchen opens into the living room, show that relationship. If a hallway connects several bedrooms, photograph the hallway.
Productions need to understand where the camera, lights and crew could physically go, not just what appears in front of the camera.
USE NATURAL LIGHT
Photograph during the day when possible.
Open curtains and blinds and turn on interior lights if needed. Avoid heavy filters, dramatic editing or anything that substantially changes the appearance of the property.
Location scouts want to know what they'll actually find when they arrive.
DON'T OVER-STAGE
Your property doesn't need to look like a real estate advertisement.
Keep it clean and reasonably organized, but don't remove everything that gives the property character.
Furniture, artwork, books, décor and architectural details can actually help a scout understand the possibilities of the space.
DON'T FORGET THE LOGISTICS
Some of the least glamorous photos can be the most useful.
Include photographs of:
Driveway + parking
Street in both directions
Property entrances
Loading areas
Garage
Side yards
Gates
Elevators
Exterior space around important windows
Areas that could potentially accommodate production equipment
These images help a location manager understand whether the property can actually support a shoot.
KEEP PHOTOS CURRENT
If you renovate, repaint, replace furniture or significantly change the landscaping, update your location photos.
A production should never arrive expecting the property shown online only to discover that it now looks completely different.
HOW MANY PHOTOS SHOULD YOU HAVE?
There isn't a magic number.
A smaller home might be thoroughly documented in 30–50 photos, while a large estate, university, hotel or commercial property could require hundreds.
The goal is simple: someone who has never visited the property should be able to look through the photos and understand the entire space.
QUICK PHOTO CHECKLIST
Before you're finished, make sure you have:
Wide photos of every usable room
Multiple angles of important spaces
Photos showing how rooms connect
Front + rear exterior
Street views
Driveway + parking
Outdoor spaces
Equipment/load-in access
Support spaces
Interesting architectural features
Any unusual or potentially useful areas
Don't worry about making every photograph beautiful. Make the property understandable.
That's ultimately what makes a location photo library useful to scouts and productions.