Why You Shouldn't Let Poor Property Photography Ruin Great Staging (and what constitutes a bad photo!)
- wildkindinteriors
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
By Louise Wynne, Founder of WildKind Interiors
Let’s get straight to it, no messing today!
You’ve spent time, money, and brainpower turning a property into something special. It’s styled, staged, and ready to wow. You’ve created a space that feels warm, inviting, and genuinely desirable.
So why… oh why do we still see photos that make it look like an unfinished rental property from last century?
You know what I'm talking about. Flat, lifeless room shots taken from the doorway with a wide angle lens that distorts the hell out of the space. Plus no atmosphere. No emotion. No sense of what it’s like to actually live there. Hey! Maybe they've even gone and bleached most of the lovely colour out. Criminal!
This is the problem.
Staging isn’t just about making a space look nice.
And as I've said before on many occasions, it’s definitely not about waving a magic wand. It’s part of your property marketing strategy.
If your photography doesn’t match the care and intent behind the staging, then frankly, you are causing yourself a problem.
Great staging is nothing without two other ingredients: professional property photography and a proactive agent. The three together, done right, are gold for your sale. Get one element wrong just to save a few ££ and you won't get as good a result. Simples.
Why Basic Estate Agent Photography Isn’t Enough
You’re not just selling square footage and sockets. You’re selling a lifestyle. I am PASSIONATE about that (so passionate that I had to put the caps lock on).
Staging is more than well-placed furniture. Yes! You need staging for someone to be able to visualise a space. This is a critical part of staging. But just as important - honestly just as - is bringing the property to life with beautifully dressed beds, wall art, and styling accessories.
What do I mean by 'styling accessories?’ The books, vases, faux greenery, and objects of art that a well-trained interior stylist will use as the all-important, can't-do-without cherry on top of the cake.
If you don't believe me, check out my LinkedIn post which shows the before and after of a living room to very neatly demonstrate my point!
Make sense?
I digress. Back to the photography…
Good property photography will stop people from scrolling on by and make them think “Yeah, I could live here.” And to achieve that, you need to include lifestyle property photography alongside your room shots.
They are each as important as the other. Room shots show the full space and help people to understand the proportions and layout of the room.
And for the lifestyle images?
They're the kind that captures the life in the room, rather than the layout.
Your photographer might get lucky on shoot day; it could be the way the light hits the breakfast bar. Or maybe a throw that hints at a cosy evening on the sofa. A magazine-worthy dining table setting. A spa-like bathroom set-up. You get my drift. These aren’t extras, they’re visual cues that create an emotional connection with buyers.
And as we know, people don't buy with logic. They buy with emotion, and you've got to get them to feel something positive if you want them to make an offer.
It really is that simple.
The Big Mistake (and Yes, It’s Still Happening)
Believe it or not, some estate agents still pay their photographers bottom dollar and just ask them to churn out the standard room shots. They don't even bother to ask for lifestyle shots because they don't understand the science behind why people buy. They're more interested in getting as many properties on their books as possible and keeping their costs as low as possible.
"We sell the most homes in XXX county” some agents boast. Yeah, but how many homes do you have on your books that don't sell? And why is that? Are your stats really that impressive?
This stuff matters.
A poor photo can undo all the work that’s gone into prepping and staging the home. And if you think that sounds dramatic, I staged a stunner the other week… and the photos? Absolutely awful. I couldn’t even bring myself to share them.
I posted about it (see below) and there was a comment from Elaine Penhaul of Lemon & Lime Interiors, who, like me, has been dressing properties for sale for many, many years. Whereas my background is in showhome design for PLC developers, Elaine has been prolific working with homeowners to help them present their properties beautifully and get the fastest and highest sale price.
Elaine's package includes high-quality property photography, so that she can keep control of the quality of the photos, and it's something that I’ve toyed with the idea of doing in the past, too.
However, it’s my opinion that, as your agent will include this as part of your package, you are already paying for this service. And providing you choose a decent, proactive agent, they will view photography as a critical part of their service. Check them out and make sure this is a fact. And if not, go elsewhere!
Agents list a higher volume of homes than your home staging company stages properties; therefore they will have access to the best experienced property photographer at the best price. (This bit is critical for you to keep your costs down.)
Here’s the LinkedIn post:
What Professional Property Photography Should Look Like
You don’t need fancy filters or over-editing. You need someone who knows how to capture atmosphere. Someone who understands how to frame a room so that it pulls you in.
I love the lifestyle shots from this recently de-staged property which you can see throughout this blog. De-staged why? Because it sold of course, just a few weeks after staging. What a great photographer.
Final Thought
Staging works. But only when it’s supported by the right photography and a solid property marketing plan.
So don’t let poor visuals tank your sale. Work with people who understand how to present the space properly. Who can style it with intention and photograph it in a way that sparks interest and gets offers.
Ready to make buyers fall in love at first scroll? Let’s talk.
About the author: Louise Wynne has been working with house builders and property developers since 2006. Combining interior design and styling with her colour psychology expertise, Louise gets to the heart of her clients' requirements.
