How to take before and after photos of your work

A good before and after needs no skill, just consistency. If both photos come from the same place, the result does the talking.

The steps

1. Take the before first. Do it before you unpack or touch anything. You can't go back for it later, so make it the first habit on site.
2. Pick a spot you can repeat. Stand in a doorway, a corner or against a wall, so you can return to exactly the same place.
3. Hold the phone level. Keep it upright and at chest height. Tilting makes walls lean and the room look wrong.
4. Get the whole area in. Step back for a wide shot first, then take close-ups of details and problem areas.
5. Use the same light. Turn lights on or off the same way both times. Avoid shooting straight into a window.
6. Clear the clutter. Move tools, ladders and bags out of the after photo, so that only the work is in view.
7. Match the after to the before. Return to your spot and line up the same edges. An on-screen overlay makes this much easier.

Common mistakes

• Taking the after from a nicer angle. It looks like a different place, and clients notice.
• Shooting wet surfaces, which look better than they will when dry.
• Using zoom, which softens the image. Walk closer instead.
• Forgetting a dirty lens. Wipe it on your shirt first.

Questions