2.5.7
How do I take good “before” and “after” photos?
In short From the same spot, in good light, the whole area plus a close-up. The “before” photo also shows what was already damaged before you started.
Take a photo of the whole area and a close-up, both from the same spot before the work and after it. That way anyone can see the difference at a glance.
A few rules
- Turn on the light and open the blinds. A dark photo proves nothing.
- Hold the phone straight. A crooked shot can make a level shelf look crooked.
- Show some context: a bit of the floor, the ceiling or the furniture next to it.
- Capture the existing condition: cracks, chips, old water stains. After the work, nobody will remember they were there.
- After the work, clean up before you take the photo.
What it’s all for
The photos document that the work was done. They help in a dispute and in a complaint. The parties to the contract see them, and in a dispute so does a staff member.
