Realtor Magazine - Why Some Homes Sell
https://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2009080302?OpenDocument
Above is a link to an article that asks the question - If two homes are similar, why does one sell? The article cites the top 6 reasons why they feel one home sells over another similar home. Please note that reason #3 has to do with proper staging.
Proper staging also affects having effective pictures on the web. Of course, even with proper staging, you still need to have a good photographer behind the camera.
Good photos are key to getting buyers out from in front of the computer and into your home/listing. However, even with a good photographer, you must first have something good to photograph - stage it well!