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What to photograph on a painting job: the room, the prep and the finish
Most of a paint job disappears under the paint. The patching, the sanding, the caulking and the priming are the work that makes the finish last, and once the last coat is dry, nobody can see any of it.
A short set of photos makes the hidden work visible: the room as it was, the prep as you did it, any damage that was there, and the finished walls shot the same way as the before.
Before you start
- Photograph each room before furniture is moved, if you can, so the customer sees the room as they lived in it.
- Use even light. Turn on the lights and open the curtains. Raking light shows wall defects, which is what you want for the before.
- Photograph existing damage to floors, trim, windows, furniture and fixtures before you cover or move anything.
- Pick a standing spot for each room, such as the doorway, and use it again after.
The shot list
12 photos, in the order to take them. For each one: what to shoot, how to frame it, and why it is worth the few seconds.
The room before prep
- Each room wide, from the doorway
How: Include the walls, ceiling and floor, with furniture as it is.
Why: It is the anchor for the finish pair.
- Each wall that you are painting
How: Straight on, with the light coming from the side.
Why: Side light shows cracks, nail pops, dents and uneven texture.
- Cracks, holes, peeling paint, water stains and mold
How: Close up, with a pen or coin for scale, then a step back.
Why: It records the real condition and supports any extra prep.
- Trim, doors, windows and baseboards
How: Close up of any damage, and a wide shot of the whole run.
Why: Trim damage is the most common dispute.
- Existing damage to floors, counters and furniture
How: Scratches, chips and stains before you lay drop cloths.
Why: It protects you from claims for damage you did not cause.
Prep and protection
- Repairs: patched holes, caulked gaps, sanded surfaces
How: Close up, before the primer goes on.
Why: It shows the prep that the finish hides.
- Masking and drop cloths
How: A wide shot of the room protected.
Why: It shows the care you took of the house.
- Primer coat
How: A wall with primer, especially over stains or a dark color.
Why: It shows you did not skip steps.
The finish
- Each room from the same spot as the before
How: Same standing spot and height, with the lights on.
Why: The pair shows the change, and the color in context.
- Each wall, straight on and from the side
How: Side light again, so it shows the finish and any flaws you can still touch up.
Why: It shows crisp coverage, and it is an honest final check.
- Cut lines, trim and ceiling edges
How: Close up of the lines you are proud of.
Why: Clean cut lines are what customers judge a painter by.
- Cleanup
How: Floors, fixtures and furniture after the tape and cloths are off.
Why: It shows you left the room as you found it.
Get the angle and the light right
- Raking light from a window or a lamp shows wall defects in the before and the finish in the after. Photograph both ways.
- A color swatch or the paint can label in one early photo records exactly which color went where.
- Shoot the finish after it has fully dried. Wet paint looks different, and glare on a wet wall hides the finish.
- Keep drop cloths, ladders and cans out of the final shot.
Mistakes that make the result look smaller
- Photographing only the finished room.
- Skipping the prep, which is the work the customer will not see.
- Not recording trim and floor damage before the drop cloths go down.
- Shooting the finish in dim light, so the color looks wrong.
When it is not a standard job
Exterior painting
Photograph each elevation from a fixed spot, then peeling, rot and caulking close up. Weather and light change the color, so note the time of day.
Cabinets and trim
Photograph the doors and drawers before you remove them, numbered, and each piece after refinishing. It also helps you put it back correctly.
A color change
Photograph the old color next to a swatch of the new one, on the wall, before you start. It helps the customer remember what they chose.
Printable checklist: painting
Tick each one before and after.
- Each room wide, from the doorway
- Each wall that you are painting
- Cracks, holes, peeling paint, water stains and mold
- Trim, doors, windows and baseboards
- Existing damage to floors, counters and furniture
- Repairs: patched holes, caulked gaps, sanded surfaces
- Masking and drop cloths
- Primer coat
- Each room from the same spot as the before
- Each wall, straight on and from the side
- Cut lines, trim and ceiling edges
- Cleanup
photoluego.com/guides/painting-photo-checklist
From photos to proof
A folder of photos is not a report. Photo Luego for painters lines up each before and after shot with a ghost of the first photo, pairs them for you, and turns the best pairs into a report with your logo, your review links and a pay button. It works in your phone's browser, and it has an always-free plan. New to it? Start with Getting started, then see how to send a report.
Questions
What should a painter photograph for the customer?
The room as it was, the repairs and prep, and the finished walls from the same spot. A report with a few rooms and a note on the prep tells a customer what they paid for.
Should I photograph the prep?
Yes. Prep is where quality is made and where corners get cut. Photos of patched holes and sanded surfaces show the customer, and your own crew, that the work was done.
How do I avoid disputes about damage?
Photograph floors, counters, trim and furniture before you cover them, with the date on each photo, and mention what you found to the customer at the start.
General advice, not legal advice. Rules about photographing people and property vary by place, so check yours.