Is your project ready for its close-up? Here’s everything you need to know before your next photo shoot, including who to hire, how much to spend, what to expect, and so much more.

Much like design, great interior photography all comes down to the details. “There’s a difference between documenting and telling a story,” says Los Angeles–based photographer Karyn Millet. “Photographing an interior is storytelling. We’re brought in to capture the emotion that a space communicates.”

And much like interior designers, some of the most successful photographers can make you think they were never there. “You don’t notice the photography unless it’s bad,” says Palm Beach–based photographer Nick Mele. “If the photography is good, you’re responding to the interior design, not the photograph. It’s ‘Wow, what a beautiful room,’ not ‘What a beautiful photo.’”