Your house is gorgeous. You've decluttered, tidied, even bought fresh flowers for the hallway. Then the estate agent photos arrive and... they're not what you expected. Dark corners. Awkward angles. That beautiful bay window somehow looks half the size.
You're not being picky. Bad photos genuinely tank your sale. Research shows listings with professional photography sell faster and for more money. So if your agent's photos aren't cutting it, here's exactly what to do.
First: Work Out Why They're Bad
Not all bad photos are created equal. Before you fire off an angry email, figure out what's actually wrong:
Lighting issues – Rooms look dark, gloomy, or have weird yellow/orange tones from tungsten bulbs. This is fixable with a reshoot at the right time of day.
Poor angles – The photographer made your spacious lounge look cramped, or shot your kitchen from a bizarre corner. This is a skill issue.
Styling problems – Your stuff is in the shot (kids' toys, laundry, yesterday's breakfast). This is partly on you, partly on the photographer for not flagging it.
Technical disasters – Blurry, pixelated, or visibly edited in a rush. This is unacceptable at any level.
If it's a styling issue and you can quickly fix it, offer to reshoot with the house properly prepped. If it's technical or compositional? Keep reading.
What Your Estate Agent Contract Actually Says
Dig out your contract. Most estate agents include photography as part of their service, but the specifics vary:
Some contracts guarantee professional photography
Others say "marketing materials" without defining quality
A few explicitly state you can request a reshoot if you're unhappy
If your contract mentions photography standards or gives you approval rights, you've got leverage. If it's vague, you'll need to rely on the agent's goodwill and their motivation to sell your house.
How to Ask for a Reshoot (Without Burning Bridges)
Your agent wants to sell your house. Remind them that bad photos work against both of you. Here's a script:
"Thanks for getting the photos over. I've had a look and I'm concerned they're not showing the property at its best – particularly [specific room/issue]. The lighting in the lounge makes it look much darker than it is, and I think that'll put viewers off. Could we arrange a reshoot? I'm happy to make sure everything's camera-ready this time."
Key points:
Be specific about what's wrong
Frame it as a shared problem (not selling = bad for everyone)
Offer to help (prep the house better, be flexible with timing)
Stay professional
Most agents will agree to a reshoot, especially if you're reasonable about it.
But here's the thing: If the problem is the photographer's skill (poor composition, bad angles, lack of understanding about how to shoot property), sending the same photographer back probably won't fix it. If you've identified it's a skill issue rather than a prep issue, this is the time to take control and instruct a professional property photographer yourself. Don't wait for your agent to repeat the same mistake.
When Your Agent Won't Reshoot
Some agents dig their heels in. Budget constraints, photographer availability, or just stubbornness. If they're refusing, you have options:
Option 1: Hire your own photographer
You can commission fresh photography and ask the agent to update the listing. Make it clear you're doing this with them, not against them. Provide high-res images in the right format and most agents will swap them in without a fight.
This costs money upfront, typically around £180 excl VAT, but it's an investment. Better photos mean more viewings, faster offers, potentially higher sale price.
Option 2: Push back harder
If your contract specifies professional photography or quality standards, you can threaten to escalate. Most agents would rather reshoot than deal with a formal complaint. Just be aware this can sour the relationship, so use it as a last resort.
Option 3: Switch agents
If you're early in the process and the agent is being unreasonable about something this basic, it's a red flag for how they'll handle the rest of the sale. You might be better off cutting your losses and finding an agent who takes marketing seriously.
What Good Property Photography Looks Like
So you know what you're asking for, here's the baseline:
Bright, naturally lit rooms (ideally shot with curtains open all the way)
Wide-angle shots that show the full space without distortion
Straight lines (no wonky horizons or leaning walls)
Minimal clutter, styled to look lived-in but not messy
High resolution – sharp, clear, no pixelation
The best agents work with experienced property photographers who understand staging, lighting, and composition. They'll advise you before the shoot on what to move, hide, or highlight.
Our property photography service includes a pre-visit staging guide, experienced photographers who know how to shoot property, and free corrective edits after delivery. Because your home deserves better than smartphone snaps.
Get Your House Ready for a Reshoot
Here's the reality: preparing your home for photography is your job, not the photographer's. A professional photographer is there to help guide framing and composition, suggest staging tweaks on the day, and capture your space at its best. But they're not there to tidy up or move your stuff around.
The sign of a professional photography company? They'll send you a pre-shoot staging guide before they arrive. If you haven't received one, ask for it. It's the difference between amateur snaps and marketing that sells.
Here's your pre-shoot checklist:
Declutter ruthlessly – Clear kitchen counters, hide bathroom toiletries, remove personal photos and fridge magnets. Everything needs a home that isn't "on display."
Styling vs cleaning – Here's what matters: moving clutter, arranging furniture, and creating visual breathing room. Here's what doesn't matter as much as you think: deep cleaning. Photos don't pick up dust on skirting boards or smears on tiles. Save your energy for the stuff that shows up on camera.
Use your hallway as storage – Hallways are rarely photographed (they're tight, awkward spaces). This makes them perfect for stashing everything you don't want in the shots. It's the opposite of what you'd do when someone's coming to view, but for photography it works brilliantly.
Fix small stuff – Straighten cushions, tuck away cables, replace burnt-out lightbulbs, close toilet lids
Stage key rooms – Add fresh flowers, plump up cushions, set the dining table (but keep it minimal)
Turn on all the lights – Even if it's daytime. Lamps, ceiling lights, under-cabinet lighting. Everything.
Open curtains and blinds – Unless the view is genuinely awful, natural light is your friend
Don't rely on "fixing it later" – People often think things can be "airbrushed" or edited out afterwards. What does that even mean? Post-production editing isn't always included in basic photography packages, and when it is available, it can be costly. Moving things before the shoot is always more effective (and cheaper) than trying to remove them digitally afterwards.
A good photographer will guide you on the day about specific angles and staging, but turning up with a camera-ready house is your responsibility. Do the work upfront and you'll get photos worth showing off.
The Nuclear Option: Pay for Your Own Professional Shoot
If your agent won't reshoot and you're not ready to switch, hire a professional property photographer independently. It'll cost you a few hundred quid, but the ROI is real.
Look for photographers who specialise in property (not just general commercial work). Check their portfolio – do their images make you want to view the house? Do they understand light, space, and styling?
When you commission your own shoot, you get:
Full creative control over angles, timing, and styling
High-res images you own (useful for future sales or rentals)
The ability to reshoot specific rooms if needed
Professional editing and corrections included
Hand the final images to your agent with a polite "I've had these done professionally – please replace the existing photos on the listing." Most will comply without argument.
When to Just Live With It
Sometimes the photos are... fine. Not amazing, but not actively terrible. If you're in a hot market where houses are selling regardless, or your property has unique features that'll shine through on viewings, it might not be worth the fight.
Ask yourself:
Are you getting viewings? If yes, the photos are doing their job
Is the issue noticeable to others, or just to you because you know the house intimately?
Will a reshoot actually make a material difference?
If the photos are mediocre but functional, your energy might be better spent on other parts of the sale. But if they're genuinely bad and you're getting no interest? Push for better.
What Click Media Does Differently
We're not estate agents trying to tick a box. We're property marketing specialists who believe every home deserves photography that sells.
When you book with us, you get:
Pre-visit staging guidance – We send you a detailed guide before the shoot so your home is camera-ready. This is the sign of a professional service, not an optional extra.
Experienced on-site photographers who understand property composition, lighting, and how to make spaces look their best
Free corrective edits after delivery (brightness, straightening, color correction)
Optional retouching for anything extra (object removal, sky replacement, etc.) – but honestly, if you've prepped properly using our staging guide, you rarely need it
We work directly with homeowners and partner with agencies at scale. Whether you're relaunching a listing that's gone stale or starting fresh, we'll make your property impossible to scroll past.
Book your property photography shoot
The Bottom Line
You're not being difficult by wanting decent photos. You're being smart. Bad photography costs you time, money, and stress. Good photography gets you viewings, offers, and a faster sale.
Start by asking your agent nicely for a reshoot. If that doesn't work, commission your own. Your house is probably the biggest financial transaction of your life – it deserves marketing that matches.
