Quick answer: Take before-and-after photos from repeatable viewpoints, label the date and work stage, and connect each set to the relevant scope. Keep original images and distinguish completed work from areas that are still open.

A dramatic pair of pictures may be useful for a portfolio. A project record needs more: where the camera was, which work occurred between the images, and whether the finish shown is complete. Those details help the estimator, crew and customer understand the same job.

Choose viewpoints before work starts

Capture the whole room or elevation, the affected assembly and the details that drive the scope. Note the camera position using an existing feature, such as “from hall doorway toward sink wall.” Photograph transitions and adjacent finishes as well as the central repair.

When furniture or stored items obstruct the view, record the limitation. Do not imply that an inaccessible surface was inspected. Repeat viewpoints only from safe, authorized positions.

Use stages that explain the work

Suggested photo sequence
Stage	What to document
Before	Starting condition, work boundary and adjacent areas
Access or removal	Newly visible conditions and proposed scope changes
Work milestone	The assembly or task relevant to that stage
Finish	Completed scope from the original viewpoints
Open items	Incomplete selections, touch-ups or work outside the scope

These are documentation stages, not a technical sequence for performing the job. Choose milestones appropriate to the trade and project. A photograph does not establish that a required inspection or technical test occurred.

Add a caption that separates fact from conclusion

“Kitchen, sink wall. October [date], after cabinet removal. Previously concealed surface now visible. New finding recorded in photo group [reference]. Proposed additional work is in estimate revision [number], awaiting review.”

Use “proposed” and “completed” accurately. A scope revision in a file is not evidence that the customer approved it. Keep the approval record and the condition photographs connected without treating one as a substitute for the other.

Keep the original and the annotated copy

Use an annotated copy to show a work boundary or identify a fixture, while retaining the original. Label arrows, circles and notes as annotations. If you crop an image, preserve enough context elsewhere to locate the detail.

Keep capture dates distinct from upload dates where the distinction matters. A photo uploaded today may show a condition from an earlier visit. Store who took it and the work stage rather than letting the upload order tell an inaccurate story.

Use project photos carefully in marketing

A customer who lets you document a job has not necessarily agreed to public promotion. Get appropriate permission, remove unnecessary identifying details and describe only work your company performed. If the result includes work by other trades, attribute your portion clearly.

SnapDamage organizes job photos by project and area. Use consistent labels and scope notes so the record stays useful during estimating and handoff. This guide describes a capture method, not a claim that the app automatically produces a matched before-and-after comparison.

Start with the job photo checklist. For location naming across crew notes, use room-by-room scope capture.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take only the two best images?

Keep the context and relevant stages needed to explain the scope. A portfolio pair is usually less complete than a working project record.

Can an after photo prove all work is complete?

It shows the visible condition at that moment. Completion also depends on the agreed scope, open items and applicable checks.

What if the original viewpoint is blocked?

Capture another safe view and explain the difference. Do not force a matching angle at the expense of safety or accuracy.