The best-looking jobs often end up with the worst photos — two quick snaps at handover, in bad light, with the homeowner’s washing in the background. It’s not a camera problem. It’s a timing problem.
Here’s the shot list we give every client. It adds about two minutes to a job.
Before you start (3 shots)
The “before” is the most valuable photo you’ll ever take, and the one most often forgotten.
- The wide shot — stand in the doorway or the corner and get the whole space in
- The problem — the cracked tiles, the rotten fascia, the waterlogged lawn
- The same angle you’ll use for the “after” — pick a spot you can find again
During the job (4–5 shots)
This is what homeowners never see and what sets you apart from the firm that cuts corners.
- First fix — pipework, cabling, joists, drainage. Proof of what’s behind the finish
- The prep — tanking, levelling, the membrane going down
- One detail shot — a joint, a cut, a mitre. The thing you’re quietly proud of
- The team at work — hands and tools rather than faces, if the lads are camera-shy
At handover (4 shots)
Tidy up first. Five minutes of clearing dust sheets and bins makes more difference than any camera.
- The “after” from your “before” spot — same angle, same height
- Two detail shots — close enough to see the quality
- One wide in natural light — open the blinds, switch off the overhead lights if they’re harsh
Four habits that fix most bad photos
- Hold the phone upright for social, sideways for your website — or take both
- Wipe the lens. It’s been in your pocket all day
- Stand still and tap to focus on the part that matters
- Don’t zoom — step closer instead
Then send it all, straight away
Photos taken and never sent are as good as photos never taken. Drop them in a WhatsApp chat the same day with a two-minute voice note: what the customer wanted, what was tricky, what you’re pleased with. That’s everything needed to turn one job into proof for the next.
Want it written up for you?
That shot list and voice note is exactly what a Job Story is built from — we turn it into a case study, a before-and-after set, social posts and a Google update. Email info@torqpoint.com for the printable shot list.