Good practices for photographing and recording damage

The photographs and videos provided by the client can significantly reinforce an expert report, especially when the damage evolves over time, has been partially repaired or corresponds to a time when the expert had not yet been called. This guide includes good practices to make this material useful.

Basic principles

• Document as soon as possible. The damage usually worsens or changes.
• Combine general context images with specific details.
• Do not delete the original photos after making copies; the original file retains metadata.
• Avoid editing, cropping or applying filters to the material that will be provided to the expert.

Framing and context

General image of the room or element

Each affected area must first be photographed in general plan, showing its relationship with the rest of the property or vehicle. This allows damage to be located.

Medium shot of damaged area

Below, a medium shot showing the entire defect.

Close detail

Finally, a close detail of the specific damage, with enough clarity to appreciate the texture, material and depth.

Scale references

When the size of the damage is relevant, including a reference helps to assess it:

• A meter or a measuring tape next to the crack, stain or break.
• A reference coin if you do not have a tape.
• An object of known size close to the damage.

Lighting

• Use natural light whenever possible.
• Avoid strong backlights.
• If you need artificial light, use the phone’s own and avoid close shadows on the damage.
• In humid conditions, grazing light helps to see the relief.

Time sequence

When the damage evolves, maintain a sequence:

• Write down the date you took each photograph.
• Go back to the same frame to compare.
• Keep original files without renaming when possible; metadata usually includes date automatically.

Useful videos

When they add value

• Active humidity with visible dripping or filtration.
• Fissures that open and close depending on conditions.
• Mechanical noises in a vehicle.
• Intermittent failures.

How to record them

• Short duration and stable framing.
• Focus on the element, not the distant environment.
• Record with audio when sound is part of the defect.

Metadata preservation

Metadata (date, time, device, coordinates if activated) reinforce traceability. To preserve them:

• Do not compress or crop images when sending them.
• Send them through services that maintain the original file (mail with attachment, cloud storage services with link).
• Avoid forwarding photos through messaging systems that compress them.

What not to do

• Do not draw or annotate on top of the original photos.
• Do not apply filters.
• Do not delete images that may appear to be duplicates; sometimes they are useful.
• Do not expose personal data of third parties without need.

Next steps

• Please refer to general process.
• Review the general documentation guide.
• discuss your case from the help form or the contact page.