Real Estate Photography Client Guide

Thank you for choosing JTP Studio.

We've put together this guide to help make your real estate media experience as simple and successful as possible. Inside you'll find everything you need to prepare the property for photography, answers to frequently asked questions, and important information about our services and policies.

This Guide Includes

Preparing Your Home for a Photo Shoot
A simple checklist to help make sure the property is clean, bright, organized, and photo-ready before we arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about turnaround times, photo delivery, drone photography, Matterport 3D tours, licensing, and more.

Real Estate Photography Service Agreement
Important information regarding image licensing, payment, cancellations, rescheduling, weather, property preparation, and the terms of your JTP Studio services.

Preparing Your Home for a Photo Shoot

A little preparation makes a big difference.

Our goal is to showcase your home at its absolute best. Before your photographer arrives, please use this checklist to prepare the property.

Throughout the Home

Zero clutter. Clear countertops, tables, dressers, nightstands, and other visible surfaces.
Keep décor simple, coordinated, and neutral.
Remove seasonal and holiday decorations.
Remove personal and family photographs.
Keep wall décor limited to artwork and decorative pieces. Remove calendars, posters, notes, and similar items.
Remove all visible pet items, including food/water bowls, beds, toys, crates, and litter boxes.
Remove taxidermy and animal mounts from areas being photographed.
Avoid area rugs placed over carpeting. They can make it appear that something is being covered.
Hide trash cans and wastebaskets.

Lights & Windows

Make each room as bright and inviting as possible.
Check all light bulbs several days before the shoot and replace any burned-out bulbs.
Turn on every available light before the photographer arrives.
Open curtains and drapes completely.
Open wooden blinds horizontally.
Raise vinyl blinds completely whenever possible.
For still photography, turn ceiling fans OFF.

Kitchen & Bathrooms

Clear kitchen countertops of unnecessary appliances, dishes, paper towels, cleaning products, and miscellaneous items.
Remove magnets, papers, photos, and calendars from the refrigerator.
Close all toilet lids.
Remove bathroom wastebaskets.
Clear bathroom counters of toothbrushes, toiletries, medications, and personal items.
Hang clean, coordinated towels.

Don't Forget to Look Up!

Clean ceiling fan blades.
Dust the tops of cabinets and other high surfaces.
Remove visible cobwebs.
Check light fixtures for dust and burned-out bulbs.

Where to Hide Extra Items

Garages and small closets are typically not photographed, so these are great places to temporarily store boxes, personal belongings, pet supplies, and other items you don't want visible in the photos.

Final 10-Minute Walk-Through

Before the photographer arrives, walk through the home as if you were a potential buyer seeing it for the first time. Look for clutter, cords, trash cans, pet items, personal belongings, crooked blinds, burned-out lights, or anything else that could distract from the home.

The cleaner, brighter, and less cluttered the home is, the better it will photograph.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the turnaround time for real estate photos, and how will I receive them?

A. Most real estate photos are delivered within 24 hours. Faster or same-day delivery may be available depending on the property, schedule, and advance arrangements.

Your completed images will be delivered through a convenient online gallery and download link with simple instructions for downloading your photos.

Q. How does the JTP Studio Money-Back Guarantee work?

A. We want you to be happy with the photography we provide. If you are not satisfied with your photos, JTP Studio offers a 100% money-back guarantee on photography services.

You must notify JTP Studio in writing within 48 hours of receiving your completed images. Once your refund has been issued, the refunded photographs may no longer be downloaded, published, posted, distributed, or used in any way.

The money-back guarantee applies to photography services only and does not apply to other services or products.

Q. Do you provide drone photography? Are you FAA certified?

A. Yes. JTP Studio provides professional aerial photography and is FAA Part 107 certified for commercial drone operations.

The FAA regulates commercial drone flights, and certain properties may be located within restricted or controlled airspace. We check the property location before the shoot to determine whether drone operations are permitted.

Weather, airspace restrictions, temporary flight restrictions, safety considerations, and other conditions may prevent us from flying a drone at a particular property or time.

Q. How long does a real estate photography shoot take?

A. Every property is different, but we recommend allowing approximately one hour for an average-size home.

The amount of time required depends on several factors, including the size of the property, number of rooms, lighting conditions, views, property features, and the services you've selected.

Larger homes, particularly properties over approximately 2,500 square feet, or shoots involving additional services may require two hours or more.

Once we know the size of the property and the services being requested, we can provide a better estimate of the time needed.

Q. Do you offer Matterport 3D Tours?

A. Yes. JTP Studio offers professional Matterport 3D Tours.

Your Matterport tour includes hosting for up to 6 months as part of your booking. If you need the tour to remain active beyond six months, additional hosting is available for $35 for each additional 4-month period.

Q. Can I give the photos to the builder, stager, homeowner, or another business?

A. The photography provided by JTP Studio is licensed to the client for the agreed-upon purpose of marketing and listing the property for sale or lease.

The photographer retains the copyright to the photographs. The standard real estate photography license does not automatically give third parties—such as builders, interior designers, stagers, contractors, architects, or other businesses—the right to use the images for their own advertising, websites, social media, portfolios, or other commercial purposes.

We're happy to provide additional image licensing when needed. Please contact JTP Studio for licensing information.

Have Another Question?

We're happy to help. Contact JTP Studio with any questions about photography, drone services, Matterport 3D tours, video, floor plans, social media content, virtual services, or preparing your property for its shoot.

Real Estate Photography Service Agreement

JTP Studio

By booking photography or real estate media services with JTP Studio, the Client acknowledges and agrees to the following terms and conditions.

PHOTO LICENSING & COPYRIGHT

JTP Studio ("PHOTOGRAPHER") retains all copyrights to photographs and images created during the real estate photography assignment.

The real estate broker, agent, or other party commissioning the services ("CLIENT") is granted a limited, non-exclusive license to use the delivered photographs for the purpose of marketing the photographed property for sale or lease through MLS, websites, social media, digital advertising, print advertising, brochures, flyers, and other customary real estate marketing channels.

This license remains valid only while CLIENT is actively representing or marketing the property and expires when the property is sold, the listing expires or is withdrawn, or CLIENT is no longer responsible for the listing.

CLIENT may resize or crop photographs as reasonably necessary for marketing purposes. Other substantial editing, alteration, manipulation, resale, or relicensing of the photographs is not permitted without prior authorization from PHOTOGRAPHER.

CLIENT may not sell, transfer, give, or license the photographs to third parties for their independent use. This includes, but is not limited to, homeowners, builders, contractors, architects, interior designers, stagers, other real estate agents or brokers, and other vendors or businesses.

Unauthorized use or distribution of photographs may constitute copyright infringement and may result in additional licensing fees and/or legal action.

CLIENT is not responsible for normal distribution of listing photographs by the MLS to authorized syndicated real estate websites and platforms.

PHOTOGRAPHER reserves the right to separately license photographs to homeowners, builders, designers, stagers, contractors, publications, vendors, or other interested parties under separate licensing agreements.

PAYMENT & DELIVERY

Payment is due no later than the date of the scheduled service unless other payment arrangements have been approved by JTP Studio.

CLIENT understands that the license to use photographs and other delivered media is conditional upon payment in full.

If an invoice becomes past due, JTP Studio reserves the right to suspend or revoke CLIENT's license to use the photographs and/or media until the outstanding balance has been paid.

Most real estate photographs are delivered within 24 hours of the completed shoot.

Certain projects involving larger properties, extensive photography, video production, Matterport, virtual services, or other additional media may require additional processing time. When reasonably possible, CLIENT will be informed of extended turnaround times.

Completed media is delivered electronically through an online gallery or download link.

PROPERTY CONDITION & SHOOT READINESS

CLIENT is responsible for ensuring that the property is clean, organized, clutter-free, accessible, and ready to photograph at the scheduled appointment time.

PHOTOGRAPHER is not responsible for cleaning, dusting, making beds, changing light bulbs, moving furniture, organizing rooms, removing personal belongings, or preparing the property for photography.

PHOTOGRAPHER may make minor adjustments when reasonably necessary, including turning lights on or off, adjusting blinds or curtains, or moving small objects.

CLIENT is responsible for ensuring that the property is safe to enter and photograph. Any known hazards should be disclosed before the appointment.

Pets should be secured and kept away from areas being photographed.

Unless specifically ordered as an additional editing service, PHOTOGRAPHER is not responsible for digitally removing or concealing permanent property conditions or defects, including stains, wall or floor damage, driveway cracks, utility lines, neighboring structures, or similar items.

CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULING

CLIENT may cancel or reschedule an appointment at least 36 hours before the scheduled shoot without penalty.

Cancellations made less than 36 hours before the scheduled appointment may be subject to a fee equal to 20% of the scheduled services.

Rescheduling requested less than 36 hours before the scheduled appointment may be subject to a 10% rescheduling fee.

If PHOTOGRAPHER arrives at the property and the property cannot be photographed because it is not ready, access is unavailable, occupants have not vacated as required, pets are not secured, or for another reason outside PHOTOGRAPHER's control, a $50–$100 trip/rescheduling fee may apply.

CLIENT should ensure that the property can be accessed at the scheduled appointment time. Delays of 20 minutes or more, inability to access the property, or CLIENT no-shows may result in an additional trip, waiting, or rescheduling fee.

Repeated cancellations or rescheduling may result in additional charges.

JTP Studio understands that unexpected situations occur and will make reasonable efforts to work with CLIENT whenever possible.

INCLEMENT WEATHER & DRONE OPERATIONS

Weather conditions may affect exterior photography and may prevent safe or legal drone operations.

PHOTOGRAPHER may recommend postponing exterior or aerial photography when weather, visibility, wind, rain, airspace restrictions, temporary flight restrictions, or other conditions may negatively affect the final product or prevent safe operation.

When PHOTOGRAPHER recommends rescheduling because of weather conditions, applicable rescheduling fees will be waived.

If CLIENT chooses to proceed with photography despite PHOTOGRAPHER's recommendation and later requests that exterior photographs be retaken because of those conditions, additional photography or trip fees may apply.

Drone operations are always subject to FAA regulations, airspace authorization, weather conditions, property conditions, and PHOTOGRAPHER's determination that the flight can be conducted safely and legally.

PHOTOGRAPHER retains the final decision regarding whether a drone flight can safely and legally be performed.

IMAGE RETOUCHING & REPRESENTATION OF THE PROPERTY

Standard image processing may include adjustments to exposure, color, contrast, perspective, sky appearance, and other normal photographic enhancements.

JTP Studio will not intentionally alter photographs in a manner that materially misrepresents the physical condition, permanent features, or characteristics of a property.

Virtual staging, virtual decluttering, day-to-dusk conversions, and other digital enhancement services may substantially modify the appearance of an image and should be disclosed or used by CLIENT in accordance with applicable MLS rules, advertising requirements, and laws.

FILE STORAGE

JTP Studio will generally maintain delivered photographs and media for up to 90 days from the date of the shoot.

JTP Studio does not guarantee permanent storage or archival of completed files beyond this period.

CLIENT is responsible for downloading and maintaining a backup copy of all delivered photographs and media.

When CLIENT's license to use the photographs expires, CLIENT should discontinue future use of the photographs except where otherwise permitted by a separate written agreement.

MATTERPORT & THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Matterport 3D Tours include hosting for up to 6 months, unless otherwise stated in the selected package or invoice.

Additional Matterport hosting is available for $40 for each additional 4-month period.

Certain JTP Studio services rely on third-party platforms, hosting providers, MLS systems, or online services. JTP Studio is not responsible for outages, policy changes, technical failures, or service interruptions caused by third-party providers.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

JTP Studio stands behind the quality of its photography.

If CLIENT is not satisfied with the delivered photographs, CLIENT must notify JTP Studio in writing within 48 hours of delivery.

For qualifying photography services, JTP Studio will provide a 100% refund of the amount paid for the photography services.

The satisfaction guarantee applies to photography services only unless otherwise stated.

Once a refund has been issued, CLIENT's license to use the refunded photographs immediately terminates. CLIENT may no longer download, publish, post, distribute, advertise with, or otherwise use the refunded photographs.

ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By booking services with JTP Studio, submitting payment, or permitting photography or media services to begin at the property, CLIENT acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to the terms of this Real Estate Photography Service Agreement.

JTP Studio
Full-Service Real Estate Media