Make bath and kitchen sell
Few rooms move buyers like the kitchen and bathroom. They are expensive to replace, so buyers look at them especially closely. A strong photo of these two rooms often convinces more than any living room.
BeforeAfterThe kitchen and bathroom are where a buying decision is made. Show them modern and well kept and you take away the buyer's fear of costly renovation. Both rooms have their traps, though: tight layouts, harsh reflections on tiles and fittings, and plenty of clutter that makes a photo restless. A few simple moves get far more out of them.
Declutter first, then shoot
No editing tool replaces a clear surface. In the kitchen, remove the sponge, washing-up liquid, tea towels and fridge magnets. In the bathroom, hide toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, the bin and used towels. What remains is the room itself. A touch of styling, a bowl of fruit, a folded fresh towel roll, adds warmth without overloading. It costs five minutes and saves you a lot of retouching later.
Light and reflections
Tiles, glass showers, mirrors and glossy fronts reflect everything, including you and the camera. Shoot so you do not appear in the mirror or shower screen, and avoid direct flash, which throws hard hotspots onto the tiles. Soft daylight is best here too. In windowless bathrooms it helps to switch on every light and neutralise the artificial-light colour cast afterwards in editing.
The right angle
Tight rooms look larger when you shoot diagonally from a corner. In the kitchen, show the run with worktop and appliances in one frame. In the bathroom, the diagonal from the door is usually the strongest view, because it shows basin, shower or tub together. Keep the camera level so the tile joints run as clean horizontal and vertical lines. Crooked joints stand out instantly in these rooms.
Details decide
A second, closer photo of a nice detail lifts the impression: a quality tap, a natural-stone vanity, a new hob. Such close-ups signal quality and give the buyer the sense that the place was cared for. In editing, exposure, white balance and a little clarity are usually enough to make tiles and fittings look clean.
All of these steps improve the photo without changing the room. You remove distractions and correct light and colour, but you do not build a new kitchen or a larger shower. The example on this page stands for exactly that standard: a tidy, clearly exposed image of the room the buyer will also find at the viewing.