Photos that sell the job: a field guide for the trades

Nothing on your website builds trust faster than photos of your actual work. Not stock images, not clip art — real jobs, real crews, real trucks. The good news is that a modern phone is all the camera you need.

The before-and-after habit

Make it a rule: one photo before you start, one when you're done, from the same spot. Before-and-after pairs are the most persuasive images a trade business can have, and they take ten seconds.

Light is everything

• Shoot with the light behind you, not behind the subject.
• Overcast days are your friend outside — soft, even light with no harsh shadows.
• Indoors, turn on every light and open the blinds.
• Avoid the flash when you can; it flattens everything.

Framing that works

• Hold the phone sideways for website photos. Wide images fit banners and galleries better.
• Step back. Show enough of the space that people understand what they're looking at.
• Clean the frame. Move the ladder, the trash bag, and the coffee cup out of the shot.
• Get one detail shot. A close-up of clean tile lines or a tidy panel shows craftsmanship.

People and permission

Photos of your crew at work make you approachable. Always ask the homeowner before photographing their property, and avoid house numbers, license plates, and family photos in the background.

Getting them onto your site

Pick your favorites once a month and send them over with a line about each job: "Kitchen backsplash, Newtown, finished in two days." We'll size them properly so they load quickly, add descriptive alt text, place them in your gallery or on the right service page, and send you a preview.