A typical photography mistake is to shoot towards a bright window. When you do this everything else in the photo looks too dark. But what do you do if you need the natural light for your shot?

First, see whether you can make the shot work by standing in a slightly different spot to change the angle. Then try switching from a horizontal image to a vertical one. This will allow you to cut out the window while still using the natural light coming in. In the example on the right, changing the orientation and angle of the photo also provided a better composition for my own staging portfolio.

This is only one of the 20 home staging photo mistakes I discuss in the Staging Diva Ultimate Portfolio Guide: Winning Clients with the Perfect Home Staging Portfolio. If you’re not happy with your current portfolio, or you’re wondering why clients aren’t calling you after seeing your website, you’ll find the answers in this guide.

> Read the full list of what’s included in the Portfolio Guide.