The Art Of Taking Before And After Pics?

Melissa

Anyone have any tips? Ours could use some work. We often make the mistake of taking them prematurely with the intention of taking more later, but don't, or do, but there's a soda can or butt crack in the pic. HA! Just kidding! No really, does anyone have any tips? Sometimes we get lucky and the HO has flowers out or towels folded just right in the bath and it really makes for some great professional looking pics, but that's rare.

RobertF

I put a lot of effort in to the pictures. First few jobs I did I moved around plants to make things better. Nothing wrong with bringing some towels from home to put in their bathroom

You are having them sign a picture release though, correct?

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-Robert F

Melissa

DOH! No. I'm not. In fact, I posted a question about that a while back and it seemed most weren't either. So, I should? I've also been posting them on here in the gallery. Uh oh!

ApgarNJ

most people are happy to know that the pictures of their house will go on your website or photo album. the job we are finishing up, the people are already asking me to put it up on my site.
i always take before and after shots, but not much during the job. i always want to, but never take the time to do it.

RobertF

I've always had them sign a release saying I can use it for advertising and the like. It's just a CYA.

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-Robert F

Glasshousebltr

Ya have to be religious about remembering the camera.

Bob

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Bob

ProWallGuy

Its already a term in my contract. when they sign the contract, they release the photos I take.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Bone Saw

word, I have cam/batts/chargers with me at all times for this reason, before and after pix are great, but during pictures are the best they put together a story from begining to end. Pics looking up/straight on perspective/or immediate post construction are never great pix for display purposes. Pix that are skewed on xyz axis/look lived in are great. have a camera with High res/high zoom and take the highest rez pix. You will always have some bad light/bad shadow/rain or wetness/or minute discoloration that would otherwise make a great pic stink. Open the high res pix with photo editing software and adjust color , bright , contrast as nessecary, ad in some effects, airbrush out bad shadow spots or other problem areas and viola. very easy to make an otherwise ordinary diy pic into a glowing front page photo. good winter and rainy day activity

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Custom Decks & Carpentry LLC.
Chester County Custom Decks
Custom Deckbuilder Mainline
Philadelphia Deck Builder
Custom Decks & Carpentry on Facebook

AAPaint

Ditto that.

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

Teetorbilt

I'm the worst, even with a camera in the truck at all times. I have tons of before, in progress and afters, just not from the same job. I'm usually hustling and just plain forget. I do always remember to take the important ones that show structural, plumbing or electrical changes.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

janrickey

A clause in the contract is the way we go, too. When I take a proposal to a client, I also take my album and let our pics do a lot of the talking. Your words can only get so much of a visualization going for your clients. Pics, on the other hand, say it all. And I agree, take the time to make your pics look as sweet as the actual job.

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When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!

Jan

AtlanticWBConst

Cameras:

I keep a digital camera in my truck all the time....it is 'part' of my mobile office. I have it in a case attached to the 'messenger bag' style PC case that I also keep my lap top and portable printer in.

I know that the day I just say "screw it", and leave it at home will be the day I am kicking myself....because of really needing it. It has come in real handy when doing estimates, especially damaged home property. My Biz. partner keeps one...and it has helped out ALOT - when he has tried to describe to me a job, construction or moisture damage, etc.
It's also a good refresher for determining what we need for materials and repairs....for when we start the day of work at the job.

I used it a couole of years ago before we fired 2 workers for doing a lousy job and also leaving the HO's property a mess. They tried to argue with me that the job was fine.....until I pulled out the pictures of their mess. They 'clammed up' and quit before I had to fire them.

I have alot of CD's loaded with before and after pics. for when ever we get round to using them somewhere. I am also waiting to 'find a friend' who does internet websites - so we can have them design one for free. (Gotta cut corners).

-2 cents.

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- Build Well -

Sparky Joe

Or Japanese

I didn't know permission was needed. On the jobs I've been on it is required for the general to take pics of everything at all phases, I've been in a few of them and have never been asked, no biggy, maybe the right person will see them and call me to be in a movie

Perhaps our situation is different though because the owners don't actually own the building until the inspector signs it off for occupancy???

Has anyone looked at Melissa's pics in the gallery? That Troy Adams kitchen is amazing. Is that a food and water bowl for the dog on the lower left, with a built in faucet?

Tom R

She's got 'malicious' pics in there??

Definitely worth checkin' out!!

A+Carpenter

Stand in the middle of your project room by room and take one small step at a time in circle. Take a series of picture until you make a full 360'degree turn to starting point.

Then take them and piece them together in your program of choice.

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A+Carpenter

Same here- on my custom projects. I dont care about the production homes.

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Humble Abode

Get a spouse who is a professional photographer! My girlfriend, who has a degree in fine arts photography, takes all our pictures. She has a Canon 20D digital camera. I make her take at least 100 before, 100 during and 100 after then I pick the best.

The pictures on our website are all taken by her and me, if you look closely at every picture you can tell that I took the crappy ones and the nice crisp ones with a good composition are hers.

My advice after that little rant; You must know someone who fancies themselves an amateur photographer and would take all your pictures for a lunch date?

Most people don't read contracts. I think it is the polite thing to do to either A) point out the clause and have them initials it or B) have a separate release form. It's better than having to say "Hey it's in the contract you signed."

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Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the Universe. Kurt Vonnegut, (1922 - 2007) from the Novel 'Hocus Pocus'
The NAPP
Milwaukee Painting Contractor

ProWallGuy

I go over my contract line for line before they sign. Gets rid of headaches down the road. Everybody is always on the same page.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

ProWallGuy

Photo stitching software ROCKS! I've taken a couple like that, if I can dig it up, I'll post one.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

ProWallGuy

Here is a stitched photo of a huge room we hung a mural in. You arel ooking at over 6000 sq ft of wall surface on 3 walls. This is the picture in its raw state, before I cropped the edges smooth.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation