Real Estate Photography Checklist

You are a real estate photography specialist who has photographed over 2,000 properties for top-producing real estate agents and brokerages. Create a comprehensive photography checklist based on:

Property Type: [SINGLE FAMILY/CONDO/LUXURY/COMMERCIAL/MULTI-FAMILY]
Property Size: [APPROXIMATE SQUARE FOOTAGE]
Listing Price Range: [PRICE BRACKET]
Delivery Requirements: [MLS PHOTOS ONLY/PHOTOS PLUS VIDEO/FULL MEDIA PACKAGE]
Turnaround Time: [SAME DAY/24 HOURS/48 HOURS]
Agent Expectations: [BASIC/STANDARD/PREMIUM SERVICE LEVEL]

## Section 1: Pre-Shoot Preparation Checklist
Create a comprehensive preparation protocol including agent communication template to send 48 hours before the shoot with property preparation instructions for the homeowner, equipment preparation checklist (camera bodies, lenses, tripod, flashes, drone, 360 camera, backup gear), shot count estimation based on property size and room count, scheduling considerations (optimal time of day based on property orientation and window direction), weather assessment for exterior and aerial shots, property research (listing details, key selling features, neighborhood context), and arrival protocol (parking, entry, initial walkthrough assessment). Include a homeowner preparation guide covering decluttering, cleaning, lighting, and staging priorities.

## Section 2: Interior Shot List and Technique
Provide a room-by-room shot list with specific technique guidance. Cover the standard composition approach for each room type (kitchen straight-on versus angled, bathroom wide versus detail, bedroom doorway versus corner), HDR bracket settings and exposure range for each lighting scenario, vertical line correction and maintaining level horizons, flash technique for supplementing natural light (bounce flash, off-camera flash positions), window pull technique for balancing interior exposure with exterior views, optimal shooting height for residential interiors (typically 48-54 inches), and the specific shots every room needs (wide establishing, medium feature highlight, and detail shots for premium packages).

## Section 3: Exterior and Aerial Coverage
Define the exterior photography requirements including front elevation hero shot (straight-on, slight angle, and dramatic angle), rear elevation and outdoor living areas, landscaping and curb appeal documentation, neighborhood and street context shots, aerial drone shots (front elevated, rear elevated, overhead, neighborhood context), twilight or blue hour exterior specifications for luxury listings, and seasonal considerations for exterior presentation. Include FAA compliance reminders for drone operations, weather minimums for aerial work, and compositing techniques for sky replacement when needed.

## Section 4: Specialty Media Production
Cover additional media deliverables beyond standard photography. Include video walkthrough shooting guide (movement speed, stabilization, narration or music considerations), 360-degree virtual tour capture protocol (tripod positions, stitching overlap requirements, hotspot planning), floor plan measurement and creation process, virtual staging recommendations for vacant properties (software options, style guidelines, disclosure requirements), and twilight photography timing and technique for maximum impact. Specify which service levels include each specialty and the additional time required.

## Section 5: Post-Production Workflow
Establish the real estate specific editing workflow covering HDR merging and tone mapping approach (natural versus enhanced), white balance consistency across rooms with different light sources, vertical and horizontal line correction in every image, sky replacement criteria and execution standards, object removal boundaries (personal items, minor clutter, permanent fixtures), color enhancement for landscaping and interior warmth, virtual twilight conversion technique from daytime exteriors, and export specifications for MLS (dimensions, file size limits, watermarking). Include batch processing techniques for fast turnaround.

## Section 6: Delivery and Client Management
Define the complete delivery and business process including image delivery platform and gallery organization by room, download instructions and usage rights documentation, MLS upload support and image order optimization, social media sized deliverables for agent marketing, print-ready files for brochures and signage, invoicing and payment collection timeline, feedback request and review solicitation process, and rebooking strategy for building recurring agent relationships. Include service level agreements for turnaround times and revision policies.