The quality of a staged image depends heavily on the photo it starts from. A clear, well-lit, straight photo gives the designer accurate light, perspective and scale to work with. Use these eight tips before you send your photos.

1. Clear the room completely

Remove loose items, cables and old furniture that you don't want in the final image. If something has to stay, such as a radiator or a built-in cupboard, mention it.

2. Shoot in daylight

Natural light shows true colours and gives soft, realistic shadows. Open curtains and blinds, switch on the room's own lights, and avoid mixing strong colour casts.

3. Keep verticals straight

Hold the camera level so that walls and door frames are vertical. Tilted photos make furniture look wrong once it is added.

4. Shoot from a corner, at chest height

A corner shot shows the most of the room. Chest height keeps proportions natural. Avoid very wide, distorting lenses that stretch the edges.

5. Show the floor

Furniture needs to sit on something. Make sure the floor is visible across most of the frame, including near the walls.

6. Use high resolution

Send the largest JPG or PNG your camera or phone produces, not a screenshot or a messaging-app copy, which is often compressed.

7. One room, one or two angles

Photograph each room from the angle that best shows its size and light. A second angle is useful for larger spaces.

8. Tell the designer about the room

Say whether it's a living room, bedroom or office, and which style you prefer. At Arian Studio you choose both when you send your photo.

What to avoid

  • Strong filters or heavy editing before sending the photo.
  • Flash photography, which creates harsh reflections on floors and glass.
  • People, pets and cars in the frame, including reflections in mirrors and windows.
  • Photos taken in the evening with a single bright lamp, which flatten the room and distort colour.

A short checklist

Before you press send, check that the room is empty, the photo is straight, the floor is visible, the resolution is high and the light is natural. If all five are true, you are giving the designer everything they need for a convincing result.