The Contractor’s Quick Guide to Taking Photos at Job Sites
Business Tips
4 min read
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Sam Miller
RevOps Manager
Do you specialize in residential remodeling or restoration? Great! This guide to job-site photography is written just for you. Learn about the gear you need, reasons for taking photographs, when to shoot photos, tips for taking good shots, and the importance of good photo organization.
Essential Gear
Why You Should Be Taking Photos
When to Take Photos
10 Tips for Taking Pictures with a Mobile Device
With a little technical know-how, you can fine-tune your photography skills and capture optimal images.
See the light. If a work zone is lacking enough brightness for picture taking, increase the amount of natural light by opening blinds, curtains and exterior doors. If that’s not enough, avoid using your flash and add some extra interior lighting instead. But try to keep light sources behind you to improve the look of your construction photos.
Change your perspective. Try shooting from a higher or lower vantage point. Get closeups when you want to accentuate details or high-end finishes. Also, photograph each scene from different angles
Check the background. Too busy or distracting? Then try framing the shot differently. Or remove clutter for a cleaner look.
Keep the view in focus. Follow your smartphone or tablet maker’s instructions for taking sharp, not fuzzy photos.
Stay steady. Stabilize your stance as much as possible to deter motion blur. You can also try shooting while sitting down or leaning against a firm support.
Skip the zoom. Using a digital zoom will reduce the quality of your photos. So, just move closer to get the shot you want.
Underscore the scale. If you want to show the scale of something you completed in a room, insert a stationary object as a reference point for comparison.
Get plenty. Always take more pictures than you think you need.
Make sure marketing photos are up to snuff. Concentrate on composing each shot really well. Use your camera in “landscape” (horizontal) position when you plan to use photos online. Work on good angles, adequate lighting, and proper framing and focus. Stage rooms with props, such as fresh flowers, art or textiles, to make the spaces look more polished. Then post the very best shots on your website and social media accounts.
Play with appearances. Tinker with your mobile device’s built-in editing options to adjust any photo’s brightness, contrast, cropping and more. Or you can even use a separate photo-editing app.
Organization is Important
You don’t want to waste time sifting through job-site pictures when searching for a certain image. Prevent that from happening by arranging your photos in folders labeled with key information, such as project names, dates and invoice numbers. And be sure to identify individual shots as well. For example, "2022-04-08-kitchennorthwall.jpg" could be the file name for a kitchen remodeling or restoration picture photographed on April 8, 2022.
Take Your Best Shot
Detailed project documentation is invaluable for a number of reasons. However, written records cannot tell the whole story. Taking photos throughout a project’s lifecycle provides clarity about work details and progress, and is useful for many purposes. With the right gear, some practice, and a good photo-organization system, you can make job-site photography a rewarding part of every project.
Read our guide on how to impress potential customers at spring home shows.
Or learn how magicplan's photo report feature lets you capture images while scanning a room with your phone camera quickly.
