How to Prepare Your Showroom for 360-Degree Photography
A panorama shows everything in the room. This checklist covers planning scenes, styling, lighting and what to keep out of frame before you shoot.
By Immersiq Team · · 2 min read
A 360° photograph captures every direction at once, so there is nowhere to stand out of shot. Preparation is what separates a tour that looks professional from one that shows the clutter behind the counter.
Decide the route and scenes
Walk the showroom as a customer would and list the areas you want to show, in order. Aim for one scene per distinct area instead of many near-identical ones. Choose the opening scene, usually the entrance or a striking main display. Plan where each shot will be taken so neighbouring scenes share a landmark, which helps visitors keep their bearings.
Tidy and style
- Clear stray boxes, packaging, cables and cleaning supplies.
- Straighten displays and make sure products are in their intended places.
- Check price tags and signage are correct and current. If something is wrong in the panorama, the only fix is a re-shoot.
- Remove personal items such as bags and coats.
Lighting and timing
Turn on all showroom lighting. Strong sunlight through windows can leave the interior dark in the picture, so choose a time when the light is softer or the glare is lower. Shoot when the space is quiet, as people walking through the frame will appear in the image.
What to keep out of frame
Anything you do not want public will be visible to anyone who can look around. That includes:
- Staff-only areas, stockrooms and offices.
- Security details such as alarms, cameras, safes or keys.
- Documents, screens or whiteboards with customer or business information.
- People who have not agreed to appear.
Day-of checklist
- Walk the route and confirm every area is ready.
- Set the camera at a consistent, level height.
- Shoot each scene, then review it before moving on.
- Take a spare shot where anything moved.
- Check file names so scenes are easy to recognise when you upload them.
Afterwards
Check each image against the panorama requirements, then follow how to create a 360° virtual tour of your showroom to build it. You can also read about photography equipment.
