Job site photo documentation: what to shoot and when
Published
Photos are the cheapest insurance a contractor has. A few good pictures taken at the right moment settle questions about the condition of a site, the state of the work and what was hidden behind a wall. The trick is to take them on purpose and keep them with the job.
Before you start
Photograph the site as you find it: floors, walls, fixtures, driveways and anything already damaged. Include the areas near the work and the route you will use to bring materials in. If a customer later says something was damaged by your crew, these pictures are your answer.
While the work is under way
- Hidden work such as pipes, wiring, insulation and waterproofing, before it is covered
- Each stage of the job, from the same position when you can, so progress is easy to compare
- Anything unexpected, such as damage, rot or a wrong measurement
- Deliveries and stored materials, including damage on arrival
- Anything the customer asks you to change
When the job is finished
Take a clear set of finished photos of every area you worked on, and of the site once it is clean. They show the standard of the work and make a good record if a question comes up later.
Two shots are better than one
Take a wide shot that shows where you are in the building and a close-up of the detail. Put a tape measure or a recognizable object in the frame when the size matters. Check that the photo is sharp before you move on, because you cannot go back to a covered wall.
Keep them organized
Photos buried in a phone's camera roll are hard to use. Keep each photo tied to a project and a date, and add a short note on what it shows and where. A one-line caption saves a lot of guessing.
Be careful with people and privacy
Ask before photographing people or the customer's personal belongings, and keep faces out of shots when you can. Share photos only with the people who need them.
Photos in SiteReporta
In SiteReporta you attach photos to the daily site report of a project. Photos you take or pick are copied into the app's storage and stay on your device, and the report exports as a PDF without prices. See what to include in a daily site report for the rest of the record.
General guidance, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Rules differ by country and trade.