Pocktt›Photo guide

Shoot your homelike the pros do.

Australian buyers spend an average of 8 seconds on a listing before scrolling on. Your photos do the heavy lifting — these are the same dos and don'ts professional Melbourne and Sydney real-estate photographers work to, broken down room by room.

Sources: REA Insights consumer behaviour reports, CoreLogic listing performance data, and the shot lists used by BoxBrownie, Open2View and the major franchise photography teams.

Before you shoot

Your phone is enough.
If you prep first.

Camera

A modern phone (iPhone 12+ or Pixel/Samsung equivalent) is genuinely enough.

Lens

Use the 0.5× ultra-wide for rooms; the 1× for hero exteriors. Skip 2×+ zoom.

Tripod

$25 phone tripod from Officeworks. Non-negotiable for low light and straight horizons.

Time of day

Interiors: 9am–11am or 3pm–5pm. Exteriors: golden hour. Never midday.

Format

Shoot in HEIC or RAW if your phone allows. Landscape orientation, always.

Editing

Pocktt auto-straightens, white-balances and brightens. You shoot, we polish.

Street appeal

REA's own data says the hero shot drives 80%+ of click-through. If the front of the house doesn't stop the scroll, nothing else gets seen.

Good example of a street appeal listing photo
Do
  • Shoot golden hour — 30 minutes after sunrise or before sunset.
  • Stand square to the façade, camera at chest height, lens level (no tilt).
  • Mow, edge, sweep the path. Wet the lawn for that deep-green pop.
  • Switch the porch light on — it adds warmth even in daylight.
Bad example of a street appeal listing photo
Don't
  • Wheelie bins on the kerb. Move them out of frame, every time.
  • Cars in the driveway or across the front of the house.
  • Midday Australian sun — blown-out skies, harsh shadows under the eaves.
  • Hoses, sprinklers, dog bowls, real-estate signs from a previous campaign.

Living areas

Buyers look for space and light. Wide angle, low ISO, natural light — every survey of Australian listing performance ranks bright living shots second only to the façade.

Good example of a living areas listing photo
Do
  • Shoot from a corner at chest height to maximise perceived depth.
  • Open every blind, curtain and door. Turn off ceiling and lamp lights — mixed colour temperatures look amateur.
  • Style with one throw, two cushions, fresh flowers. That's it.
  • Straighten everything: rugs, cushions, art on walls, remotes off the table.
Bad example of a living areas listing photo
Don't
  • Don't shoot in the middle of the room pointing at one wall — it flattens the space.
  • Don't leave lamps on during a daytime shoot. Yellow cast kills the photo.
  • Don't crop out the floor — buyers want to see flooring condition.
  • Hide power cables, kids' toys, washing baskets and pet beds.

Kitchen

Kitchens are the second-most studied photo on REA after the hero. A clear benchtop reads as 'usable space' even when the kitchen is small.

Good example of a kitchen listing photo
Do
  • Clear the entire benchtop. One bowl of fruit or a vase is the maximum.
  • Shoot straight onto the longest run, then a second from the corner.
  • Polish the splashback, taps and oven door — reflections show every smudge.
  • Open blinds; let the window do the lighting.
Bad example of a kitchen listing photo
Don't
  • Don't leave kettles, toasters, microwaves, knife blocks or dish racks out.
  • Don't photograph a fridge covered in magnets, photos or shopping lists.
  • Don't shoot with only the downlights on — they cause harsh pools and shadows.
  • Don't include tea towels hanging off the oven handle.

Bedrooms

Buyers count and measure bedrooms from photos. A made bed in a bright room signals 'this is a real bedroom, not a study with a mattress'.

Good example of a bedrooms listing photo
Do
  • Crisp white linen, hospital corners, doona pulled tight, three to five cushions max.
  • Symmetry sells: matching lamps, matching bedside tables, art centred above the bed.
  • Shoot from the doorway corner with a wide lens — get bed plus floor plus window.
  • Soft morning light through sheers is the gold standard.
Bad example of a bedrooms listing photo
Don't
  • Don't photograph an unmade bed. Ever.
  • Don't leave personal photos, medication, phone chargers or laundry visible.
  • Don't shoot wardrobes open showing clothes — close them, or empty and shoot inside as a feature.
  • Don't use the flash. It flattens the room and bounces off mirrors.

Bathrooms

The hardest room to shoot well at home. Tight space, mirrors everywhere, mixed lighting. Get this one right and your listing instantly looks pro.

Good example of a bathrooms listing photo
Do
  • Strip the vanity bare. Fresh folded white towels, one orchid or candle — done.
  • Toilet lid down. Shower screen squeegeed. Mirror polished.
  • Shoot from the doorway so you're not in the mirror.
  • Use a tripod or rest the phone on the door frame — bathrooms need a steady hand at low light.
Bad example of a bathrooms listing photo
Don't
  • Don't appear in the mirror holding your phone. It happens constantly.
  • Don't leave shampoo bottles, toothbrushes, soap, razors or bath mats on show.
  • Don't shoot up close with a fisheye filter — it warps tiles and looks cheap.
  • Don't photograph at night under fluorescent light — the green cast is unflixable.

The 60-second checklist

Run this before every single shot.

  1. 01Bins, hoses and cars out of frame
  2. 02All blinds and curtains fully open
  3. 03Every internal light off (yes, every one)
  4. 04Toilet lids down, shower screens dry
  5. 05Beds made, cushions plumped
  6. 06Benchtops clear (one styling object max)
  7. 07Personal photos and fridge magnets removed
  8. 08Pet beds, bowls and toys out of sight
  9. 09Phone in landscape, on the 0.5× lens for interiors
  10. 10Camera level — use the in-app grid and horizon line

Don't fancy shooting it yourself?

Pocktt's photographer panel is one tap away.

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