Photo documentation: 9 tips for evidence photos

Why photos are so valuable

A good photo answers questions before they are asked: what did it look like before? What was done? Was the damage already there? For photos to do this job, a few simple rules help.

The 9 tips

1. Always before and after. Only the comparison shows the work. Take both from the same position.
2. Overview first, then detail. An overview shows where the detail is. Without it, a close-up is often worthless.
3. Record existing damage immediately. Scratches, stains or defects present before work began should be documented as a “defect” – before you start.
4. Get the lighting right. Turn on lights, open blinds, avoid backlight. Dark photos prove little.
5. Landscape for rooms, portrait for details. That way the most relevant content fits in the frame.
6. Not too many photos. Three meaningful pictures beat thirty similar ones – and make it easier for the customer to review.
7. Assign photos to the job straight away. Pictures sorted in the evening often end up in the wrong folder – or nowhere.
8. No people, no private details. Make sure no people, number plates or private documents are recognisable. That matters for data protection too.
9. Don’t leave photos on private phones. Company photos belong in a central system, not in a personal camera roll or family chat.

How easy it is with Workalife

In Workalife your team takes photos directly within the job and chooses the category before, after or defect. Images are timestamped automatically, land on the right job and appear in the sign-off report. More on the photo documentation page.