Photo Documentation Best Practices

Inspectors photograph what they can still see. Once walls are closed, carpets replaced, and debris hauled off, only your images and notes explain what was there. Shoot early. Shoot more than you think you need.

Core rules

• Safety first. Do not climb unstable roofs or enter collapse zones for a better shot.
• Date and phone time are usually enough; leave location services on if you can.
• Wide + close. One room overview, then close-ups of damage details.
• Context. Include a doorway, window, or yard so the viewer knows where they are.
• Do not stage. No pouring water, no moving furniture to fake a flood line. See honesty guidance.

Suggested shot list

Outside

• All four sides of the structure
• Roof, eaves, gutters, chimney if visible and safe
• Driveway, yard debris, outbuildings, generators, fuel tanks
• Street view or mailbox if flooding or debris field needs neighborhood context

Inside (room by room)

• Doorway wide shot into each affected room
• Flooring, baseboards, lower walls (especially for water)
• Ceilings and upper walls for wind/rain intrusion
• HVAC, water heater, appliances, electrical panels if damaged
• Contents only when relevant to disaster damage (soaked furniture, broken windows into living areas)

Water-specific

• High-water marks with a common object for scale (tape measure, dollar bill, tool)
• Direction water entered if obvious (door threshold, window, foundation crack)
• Basement / crawlspace / garage as separate zones
• For more flood context: flood inspection tips

Wind / hurricane-specific

• Missing shingles, tarps, punctures, blue roof areas
• Broken windows, screens, shutters
• Tree impact, fence, and outbuilding damage
• See also: hurricane inspection tips

Repairs already started

Photograph before covering damage. If drywall is already open or flooring is pulled, shoot the exposed layers and keep receipts for materials. Tell the inspector what was removed and when. Honesty plus images beats a clean room with no story.

Video tips

• Slow walkthrough with door labels ("kitchen," "north bedroom").
• Narrate briefly: "This wall was wet to here on day two."
• Keep files; do not rely only on social media posts that compress or lose EXIF data.