Lighting & Staging Secrets: What Works for Alaska Listings
Here’s the truth: even in a strong market, listings that look better get more clicks, more showings, and better in-person reactions.
And in Alaska, that starts with two things you can actually control:
How the home is lit
How the home is staged (or at least de-cluttered and arranged)
You don’t need a designer budget or a TV-level makeover.
You just need a simple, repeatable system you can give to sellers before photo day.
This guide is built for Alaska Realtors—but it’s also perfect to send directly to your clients.
Why Lighting Matters So Much in Alaska
Our light is… unique.
Depending on the time of year, we’re dealing with:
Short winter days and long shadows
Low-angle sun that can be gorgeous—or harsh
Darker interiors, especially in older homes or heavily wooded areas
That means if a home is poorly lit in person, it will look even darker in photos.
Simple Lighting Rules to Share with Sellers
Ask your sellers to:
Turn on every light in the home for photos and showings
Overheads
Lamps
Under-cabinet lights
Vanity lights
Replace burnt-out bulbs
Nothing says “tired” like half-lit fixtures.Match bulb color where possible
Aim for warm white (around 2700K–3000K)
Avoid mixing super cool/blue bulbs with warm bulbs in the same space—it looks off in photos.
Open blinds and curtains (unless they reveal a bad view)
Let in as much natural light as possible
Raise blinds fully if they visually cut through windows
Avoid harsh direct sunlight on tiny rooms
If one window is blowing out the whole image, we may adjust shades slightly—but that’s something your media team (like DMD) can balance on site.
You can give sellers one simple line:
“If a room feels a bit dark to you standing in it, it will look very dark in photos—so let’s bring in as much light as we can.”
Staging Rule #1: Clear the Noise, Not the Personality
Staging isn’t about making a home feel empty.
It’s about making it feel easy to understand and easy to imagine living in.
In Alaska, buyers often care about:
How cozy the main living area feels
How functional the entry is (boots, coats, gear)
Storage and mudroom/drop zone areas
Dining spaces for family and friends
You don’t need model-home perfection. You do need less visual noise.
The 3-Box Declutter Trick
Tell sellers to grab:
1 box for donate
1 box for trash
1 box for “hide it for photos/showings”
Focus on:
Kitchen counters
Bathroom counters
Entry areas
Nightstands and dressers
Open shelving (books, knickknacks, extra decor)
Rule of thumb:
“If your eye goes to the object before the room, it’s probably one too many things.”
Room-by-Room Lighting & Staging Tips (Alaska Version)
1. Entryway / Mudroom
This area is huge for Alaska life.
Lighting:
Turn on all overheads or sconces
Use a lamp if the space feels cave-like
Staging:
Limit coats to a few neutrals on hooks
Hide excess boots, bags, and gear in a closet, bin, or garage for photos
Straighten rugs and make sure they’re clean and flat
You want buyers thinking:
“Oh good, this home can actually handle our Alaska gear,”
not
“Wow, there’s stuff everywhere.”
2. Living Room
This is your emotional anchor room.
Lighting:
All lights on
Open blinds/curtains to show any views or natural light
If there’s a fireplace, we can decide on site whether to light it for photos
Staging:
Fluff and straighten pillows and throws
Remove excess blankets, toys, and pet beds
Clear visible cords as much as possible
Keep coffee tables and side tables simple (1–2 decor items tops)
Try to create one main focal point:
fireplace, window view, or main seating area—not competing attention points.
3. Kitchen & Dining
Buyers judge hard here.
Lighting:
All kitchen and dining lights on
Under-cabinet lights on if available
Blinds up if view is decent
Staging:
Clear most items off counters (keep 3–5 max: coffee maker, fruit bowl, plant, simple tray, etc.)
Remove fridge magnets, calendars, and personal photos
Wipe stainless surfaces and cabinet fronts
In dining: set a simple table (runner + 1 decor piece or basic place settings—no over-the-top arrangements)
Tell sellers:
“Think ‘Airbnb ready,’ not ‘Thanksgiving dinner.’ Clean, simple, inviting.”
4. Bedrooms
We want “restful,” not “storage room.”
Lighting:
Lamps on both sides of the bed if possible
Overhead lights on if the room is dim
Staging:
Use clean, simple bedding (solid or subtle patterns)
Avoid heavy, dark comforters that absorb light
Clear nightstands except for a lamp and maybe one small decor item
Put laundry, extra pillows, and clothes in closets or bins
If kids’ rooms are very themed, that’s okay—but remove excess toys and clutter so the room itself still reads.
5. Bathrooms
Small space, big impact.
Lighting:
All lights on
Replace any flickering bulbs—bathrooms show this the most
Staging:
Clear counters (keep 1–2 things: soap, small plant, folded hand towel)
Hide toothbrushes, razors, meds, personal products
Close toilet lids
Hang clean, neutral towels (matching if possible)
Remove trash cans for photos if they’re distracting
Bathrooms should feel fresh and hotel-clean, not personal.
6. Bonus Spaces: Basements, Offices, Flex Rooms
These can be major value-adds if they look usable.
Lighting:
Turn on all overheads and lamps
Open blinds even if the window is small
Staging:
Decide on one clear purpose per space: office, gym, playroom, TV room, etc.
Remove random storage unless the room is truly only storage
For offices: clear cords, extra paper stacks, and cluttered surfaces
Buyers should be able to say:
“Oh, this could be our [office/gym/TV room],”
within two seconds of seeing the photo.
7. Exterior & Curb Appeal (Alaska Edition)
We’re dealing with:
Snow
Mud
Dark winter days
Sometimes patchy lawns
That’s okay—just clean it up as much as possible.
Lighting:
Turn on exterior lights for evening/dusk shoots
Make sure bulbs at the front door work
Staging:
Sweep or shovel walkways and entry steps
Tidy up porch: straighten chairs, remove broken or seasonal items
Put away hoses, tools, and random yard items
In snow: clear paths and make it safe (this matters for photos AND showings)
You want “cared for,” not perfect.
What to Tell Sellers the Day Before Photo Day
Here’s a simple checklist you can literally copy, paste, and brand:
Photo Day Prep:
✅ Clean kitchen & bathrooms
✅ Clear counters as much as possible
✅ Put away personal items (toothbrushes, shampoos, phone chargers)
✅ Turn on all lights before the photographer arrives
✅ Open blinds and curtains (unless they show something we don’t want featured)
✅ Hide pet bowls, litter boxes, and crates if possible
✅ Park vehicles away from the driveway and front of the home
✅ Do a final floor sweep: toys, laundry baskets, Amazon boxes, etc.
Tell them:
“You don’t need to be perfect. We just want the rooms to feel bright, open, and easy to understand in photos.”
How DMD Real Estate Photography Alaska Supports You on Photo Day
As your media partner, DMD Real Estate Photography Alaska isn’t just there to click the shutter and leave.
We:
Work with the light that Alaska gives us—season by season
Adjust blinds, minor items, and angles to flatter each space
Help make small on-site tweaks (move a chair, straighten a rug, hide a trash can)
Capture the home in a way that feels true-to-life and inviting
And we always welcome your input:
Have a favorite angle in the living room?
Want to highlight a certain feature (view, fireplace, built-ins, shop/garage, lot)?
Prefer certain rooms to be the “heroes” of the listing?
Tell us. We’ll build that into the way we shoot.
Final Thoughts: Small Adjustments, Big Difference
When you:
Coach your sellers on lighting and staging with simple, clear instructions
Partner with a professional media team that understands Alaska homes and light
Stay consistent with how your listings look online
…you’re not just making nicer photos. You’re:
Creating stronger first impressions
Helping buyers feel more connected to the home
Building a brand as an agent whose listings always “show up” well
That’s good for this listing—and the next one.
Ready to Make Your Next Alaska Listing Shine?
If you’re a Realtor in Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer, the Mat-Su, or the Kenai Peninsula and you want a media partner who cares about the prep as much as you do, we’d love to help.
➡️ Book Your Next Listing Shoot with DMD Real Estate Photography Alaska
We’ll help you turn those lighting and staging efforts into photos and media that truly show each home in its best light. 💡🏡❄️
