A different angle or lighting for the after shot makes a dramatic correction look ordinary.
For car detailers
Detailing is made for before and after. Make every shot match.
A dull, swirled hood next to a mirror finish sells itself, but only if the two photos line up. Photo Luego guides you back to the same angle for each panel, records the condition on arrival, and builds a report your customer will happily share.
Works in your phone's browser. Free plan, no card needed.
BeforeAfter
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Transformation 01Paint correction ยท illustration
Where the money leaks
Existing scratches, curb rash and interior stains can become your problem if they are not on record.
Customers post your work without crediting you, or not at all, when there is no tidy report to share.
How Photo Luego helps
An overlay of the before photo guides you to the same spot and angle, panel by panel.
Time-stamped photos of existing damage and stains, kept with the job.
A report with a drag-to-compare slider for each panel, wheel or seat.
Your logo and review links on every report, so a happy customer can leave a review in one tap.
On the job
Photograph the paint, wheels and interior before you touch the car, including any damage. Match each shot after the detail and send the report before the keys change hands.
How a car detailer uses it, step by step
- 1
Photograph before you start. Each panel, the wheels, the interior and any damage already on the car. Tap the shutter for each shot.
- 2
Do the work. Wash, correct, protect and finish the interior. Your photos are saved on your phone, even without a signal.
- 3
Match the after shots. The camera shows a ghost of each before photo, so you stand in the same spot at the same angle. A live percentage tells you when it lines up.
- 4
Send the report. Text your customer a link to a page with before and after sliders, your logo, your review links and a pay button.
What makes a good detailing report
Detailing results are visual and personal, so the report is part of the product you sell.
Panel by panel: a slider for the hood, the doors, the wheels and the seats shows the work you did where it counts.
Condition on arrival: time-stamped photos of existing damage protect you from a claim.
Package upsells: a before and after of a ceramic coating or a paint correction makes the next package easy to explain.
Reviews at the right moment: a review button right after the results, when the customer is happiest.
Photo Luego or booking and field service software?
Booking and field service software, such as Jobber, Housecall Pro and Square Appointments, handles scheduling, invoicing and your customer list. Photo Luego does one job: proving and presenting your work.
| Topic | Photo Luego | Booking and field service software |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Before and after photos, pairing and a branded report | Scheduling, invoicing, payments and a customer list |
| Best for | Showing the finish, recording condition, getting reviews | Running the whole business from one place |
| Price | Always-free plan. Pro is $12 a month, with a 7-day free trial and no card | Priced per user or per feature, so check each company's own site |
| Setup | Open it in your phone's browser. Nothing to install | Usually a longer setup |
| Together | Keep your scheduling tool and add Photo Luego for the proof | Keep it, and add Photo Luego if photos are weak |
Prices and features change, so check each company's own site. Many crews use both.
What to photograph on a detailing job
- Each side of the car, the front and the rear, from the same distance and angle.
- The worst paint defects close up: swirls, scratches, water spots and bird etching.
- Wheels, tires and wheel wells.
- Headlights, trim and glass.
- Every seat, the carpets, the headliner, the dash and the door cards.
- Existing damage on arrival: scratches, chips, dents, curb rash, interior tears and stains.
- The same views after the detail, in the same light.
Want it room by room, with how to frame each shot and a checklist you can print? Read the car detailing photo checklist.
Tips for before and after photos that match
- 1
Use the same spot and the same light for the before and the after. A shop with fixed lights makes this easy.
- 2
A detail light or sun held at one angle shows swirls and the correction clearly.
- 3
Photograph panels dry and clean of product residue, so the finish is true.
- 4
Keep your reflection and your phone out of the paint where you can.
- 5
Take a wide shot of each side and a close shot of each defect.
- 6
For the interior, open the doors for light and hold the phone at the same height.
Short captions that help the report sell
One line under a transformation says what you did. A few to adapt:
Paint correction: swirls and scratches removed from the hood.
Wheels cleaned and brake dust removed.
Stained rear seat extracted and cleaned.
Headlights restored to clear.
What to tell the customer
Tell the customer you photograph the car before and after: "I take pictures of the paint and interior when it arrives and when it is done, and I will send you a short report. It records the condition when you dropped it off." Photograph any existing damage before you start.
General advice, not legal advice. Rules about photographing people and property vary by place, so check yours.
Questions
What is the best before and after photo app for car detailers?
It depends on what you need. If you want matching before and after photos and a report you can send to customers, Photo Luego is built for exactly that, and it has an always-free plan. If you also need online booking, payments and a customer list, booking and field service software does that, and many detailers use one of those together with a photo app like Photo Luego.
How do I record damage that was already on the car?
Photograph it first, close up and from a step back, before you start: scratches, chips, curb rash, dents, interior tears and stains. The time on each photo comes from your phone, so the record shows the car arrived that way.
What should I photograph for a paint correction?
Each panel in the same light, with a close-up of the worst swirls or scratches, and the same views after. A sun gun or detail light held at the same angle shows the correction clearly. Match the angle and the light for the best comparison.
Can I show the interior and the engine bay too?
Yes. Take the seats, carpets, headliner, vents and door cards before and after, and the engine bay if you detailed it. Each pair shows up as its own slider in the report.
Does it work with Jobber or Square?
It connects directly to Calendly: your bookings appear on their own. With other tools, such as Square Appointments or Housecall Pro, there is no direct link yet, but Photo Luego works alongside them. Take the photos and text or email the report to your customer.
How much does Photo Luego cost for detailers?
The free plan has no time limit and keeps one job at a time on your phone. Pro is $12 a month or $99 a year, with a 7-day free trial and no card needed. Pro saves your photos to your account, shares report links, and adds Calendly and team features.