How to Photograph Rooms for AI Virtual Staging (No Fancy Gear)
Cleaner, brighter room photos with just your phone. Camera height, angles, light, and quick prep — the fast checklist.
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QuickDesignHome TeamRelated reading
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You don’t need a $5k camera to capture great base photos. Keep the lens steady, shoot at the right height, pick one lighting story, and your AI renders instantly look more believable. This guide is the fast, no-nonsense checklist we follow in the field.
Gear you actually need
- Phone or camera with a wide lens (or the 0.5× ultra-wide on your phone for tight spaces).
- Tripod if you’ve got one; otherwise brace on a shelf or door frame.
- Microfibre cloth — clean glass = crisp photos.
Camera height is the secret sauce
Set the lens around chest height (about 1.2–1.5 m) and keep verticals straight. Kitchens and bathrooms can sit a touch higher; bedrooms look natural about 40–50 cm above the mattress.
Angles that add depth
Shoot into a corner to show two walls; it instantly makes rooms feel bigger. Flat-on walls tend to look cramped unless you’re highlighting a feature.
Pick one lighting story
Daylight only? Turn lamps off. Going for a cosy evening mood? Close the blinds so the lamp colour doesn’t clash with daylight.
Declutter in two minutes
- Remove fridge magnets, shampoo bottles, stray cables.
- Straighten bedding, fluff cushions, align dining chairs.
- Decide which doors stay open for flow, and close the rest.
Keep lines upright
Use the camera grid. If the verticals lean, the AI output will inherit that tilt. Level the camera or fix it before uploading.
File tips for clean uploads
- Shoot at native resolution; export as JPG or PNG without heavy filters.
- Name files simply (e.g.
living_01.jpg). It keeps collections tidy. - Don’t overwrite originals until you’ve checked the AI outputs.
Troubleshooting quick wins
- Wonky lines → reshoot with a tripod or use the grid overlay.
- Harsh glare → wait for softer light or pivot the angle.
- Tight spaces → step back, go slightly wider, keep foreground anchors.
Ready to shoot?
Once you’ve got clean photos, jump back into QuickDesignHome, pick your mode, and see how much better your renders look.