Photo Documenting Projects

4 Corner Photography

Definition: "4 corner shots" refers to taking photographs from each of the four corners of a room, in the direction of the opposite corner.

Purpose:

• • To provide a complete and comprehensive visual record of the entire room.

  • To ensure all surfaces (flooring, walls, and ceiling) are visible in the photographs.

Why are "4 Corner Shots" Important?

Complete Visual Overview:

• • They eliminate blind spots and ensure that no part of the room is overlooked.

  • This provides a full understanding of the room's layout and condition.

Documentation of All Surfaces:

• • They capture the condition of the flooring, walls, and ceiling, allowing for accurate assessment of damage or progress.

  • This helps to document pre-existing conditions, and furniture layouts and any changes that occur during the project.

Facilitates Remote Assessment:

• • They enable stakeholders who are not physically present to understand the room's layout & situation.

  • This is particularly useful for insurance adjusters, claims handlers, management teams, and remote team members.

Aids in Decision-Making:

• • They provide visual evidence that supports informed decision-making regarding situations that required immediate attention.

Part of Comprehensive Project Records:

• • They contribute to a thorough and accurate record of the project, which can be valuable for future reference or in case of disputes.

  • They provide proof for disagreements between employees & management, as well as between the company & their customers.

Clarity:

• • By having a shot from each corner, it gives a clear understanding of the room, and how each wall relates to the others.

  • Makes understanding drawings & sketches of areas make sense to those entering that information into estimating software.

  • Also allows an easy to replicate image showing before & after imagery.

Essential Image Documentation for Restoration Projects:

Front of Property:

• • Important for verifying the correct project location, preventing errors and ensuring accurate documentation.

Source of Loss:

• • Vital for documenting the origin of the damage, identifying the cause of failure (e.g., burst pipe, roof leak), for supporting insurance claims.

Close-Up Images of Damage:

• • Provides detailed evidence of damage, illustrating the extent of the loss and justifying decisions regarding repair or replacement. This also helps to show why an item is non-restorable.

Images Showing Perspective:

• • Establishes context, linking close-up damage images to the overall property, preventing misinterpretations and ensuring accurate portrayal of damage.

Images of Pre-Existing Damage:

• • Documents prior damage unrelated to the current project, protecting against future liability, despite it being involved with the current scope of work.

Images of Equipment Placed:

• • Verifies the presence and quantity of equipment on-site, supporting accurate billing and inventory management.

Images of Specialty Equipment:

• • Documents the use of specialized equipment, justifying its necessity and supporting billing for unusual situations that warranted it.

Images of Containments:

• • Confirms the implementation of containment barriers, demonstrating adherence to safety protocols and that steps were taken to prevent cross-contamination.

Images of Employees Working:

• • Verifies employee presence and productivity, supporting accurate labor tracking.

Images of Employees Wearing PPE:

• • Documents compliance with safety regulations and supports billing for PPE usage.

End of Day Images:

• • Showcases daily progress, providing a visual timeline of the project's evolution and demonstrating efficiency.

Completion of Demo Images:

• • Confirms that demolition is complete, signaling readiness for the next phase of the project.

Images of Stored Materials:

• • Documents the careful handling and storage of salvaged materials, demonstrating care and consideration.

Images of Furniture & Artwork:

• • Provides a detailed record of furniture and artwork, documenting pre-existing conditions, loss-related damage, and room placement for accurate processing and storage.

Images of Dumpsters & Trash Containers:

• • Verifies waste disposal, and tracks waste removal. 

  • Pictures of containers should ideally show the property visible in the background.

  • Pictures showing fullness validates the # of dumpster swaps, or amount of trash hauled.

Images of Furniture Storage Units (Pods):

• • Documents the condition and proper storage of customer items within storage units. 

  • Pictures of the units should also be from the outside with the property in the background to connect the units to the project.

Exterior Images:

• • Documents preexisting conditions, or loss related damages to exterior areas of the property, such as driveways, walkways, and the building itself.

  • Conditions of the property unrelated to the loss, such as mix matched shingles, siding or just a general lack of maintenance can paint a different picture than the customer demands later.

Prohibited Images:

• Incorrect Procedures (Unless Directed): Do not photograph instances of employees performing tasks incorrectly, unless specifically requested by management for training or quality control purposes.

• Tools on Customer Countertops or Sensitive Surfaces: Absolutely no photographs should depict tools placed on customer countertops or any surface that could be scratched, chipped, or otherwise damaged. Documenting tools on these surfaces can be used to support customer claims of damage caused by you.

• Customers and Their Children: Do not take photographs of customers or their children under any circumstances. If a customer insists on being included in a project photo, document their explicit request separately in writing or digital form.

• Incomplete Equipment Setups: Avoid photographing equipment on project sites that is not fully installed and operational. Images of wrapped or partially set up equipment may be misinterpreted by claims reviewers as evidence that the equipment was never used, only billed.

• Equipment Removal (On-Site): When documenting the removal of equipment from a customer's property, ensure the photograph of equipment removed is taken outside the property. This provides clear visual confirmation that the equipment is being removed from the premises.

• Unprofessional Employee Conduct: Do not take photographs of yourself or other employees engaging in unprofessional behavior, including inappropriate gestures or unsafe actions, while on a project site. Such images can have negative consequences in the event of incidents or claims that arise on the project.

• Unauthorized Personal Social Media Content: Unless explicitly authorized by senior management, do not take or upload photographs from project sites for your personal social media accounts. All project-related photography should serve a legitimate business purpose, and approved by senior management.