How to Plan Your First Virtual Tour Shoot A high-quality virtual tour can elevate your business online — but to get the best results, proper planning is essential. Whether you’re preparing a restaurant, retail store, property, school, or showroom, this guide walks you through exactly how to get ready for your first 360° virtual tour shoot. Step 1: Know What You Want to Achieve Before the camera arrives, ask yourself: What areas do I want to include in the tour? Who is the target audience (e.g. customers, students, investors)? What’s the goal? (Drive bookings, attract footfall, show transparency?) Do I need any interactive elements like hotspots or info panels? Having a clear objective helps shape the shoot and ensures the final tour works for your business. Step 2: Choose the Right Time of Day Natural lighting plays a big role in the visual quality of your virtual tour. If your space relies on daylight, aim to schedule the shoot during a bright time of day — ideally mid-morning or early afternoon. Avoid times when the sun casts harsh shadows across the space or when interior lighting is patchy. Step 3: Clean, Declutter, and Stage Virtual tours are detailed. Every part of the captured space will be visible to viewers — so preparation is key. Checklist: Clear surfaces of unnecessary items Tidy up wires, boxes, signage, or personal items Set tables (if in hospitality) with glasses, menus, or props Ensure all lights are working and switched on Clean mirrors, windows, and glossy surfaces to reduce reflections Check for posters, boards, or screens with personal information Think of it like preparing for a photo shoot — only more thorough. Step 4: Close Doors You Don’t Want Captured If there are private rooms, storage areas, staff-only corridors, or any spaces you don’t want featured — make sure the doors are closed and clearly marked. If the camera operator doesn't know, they may assume it's part of the tour route. Step 5: Plan the Route You can help your virtual tour provider by guiding them through the space beforehand. Walk the route you’d like viewers to take and highlight: The key features to include Any specific angles you’d like to capture Any flow of movement (e.g. entrance to exit) This avoids confusion and ensures your most important areas are prioritised. Step 6: Remove or Mute People if Possible While it’s sometimes fine to have customers or staff in the background, it’s usually best to keep the space as empty as possible. This keeps the focus on the venue — and avoids privacy issues or awkward blurring. For schools, nurseries, offices, or clinics, this is especially important due to GDPR. Step 7: Consider Signage and Branding Your brand should be visible in the tour. Consider including: A-boards or posters with your logo Printed menus, brochures, or flyers Branded digital screens Loyalty offers or call-to-action signs These reinforce your identity and can guide viewers to take action after exploring the space. Step 8: Coordinate with Your Tour Provider Your virtual tour company (like Go Virtual Tours) will advise on: Arrival times Equipment setup How long the shoot will take Hosting and delivery times Optional extras (e.g. Google Street View upload, video exports, floor plans) Ask any questions in advance so the day runs smoothly. Go Virtual Tours – Making It Easy from Start to Finish At Go Virtual Tours, we support businesses throughout the process — from pre-shoot planning to delivery and embedding. We use Matterport Pro3 technology for sharp visuals, smooth navigation, and fully mobile-optimised tours. If this is your first virtual tour, we’ll guide you through every step and help you present your space at its very best. Contact us today to schedule your shoot.