1) Quick setup (5 minutes before you start)

• Clean the lens with a microfibre cloth.
• Turn on the grid (Settings → Camera → Grid) to keep lines straight.
• Enable HDR/Smart HDR to protect bright windows and shiny tiles.
• Use the 4:3 photo ratio for maximum detail (crop later as needed).
• Disable heavy filters/beauty modes; keep it natural.
• Keep flash off unless it’s genuinely dark (flash = harsh shadows).

2) Prep the scene (the bit that separates OK from great)

• Declutter: remove tools, packaging, bottles, bins, cloths, ladders, cables.
• Wipe surfaces: glass, tiles, chrome, countertops, mirrors.
• Straighten & stage: towels aligned, toilet seat down, shower head centred, cushions fluffed, wires tucked.
• Lighting:
  • Indoors: use window light. If bulbs make colour look yellow/blue, turn some lights off and stick to one type.
  • Outdoors: avoid harsh midday sun. Morning or late afternoon is softer. On bright days, step a little into shade.
• Watch reflections: in bathrooms, step left/right so you’re not in the mirror or glass.

3) How to shoot (simple formulas that always work)

Capture a Wide + Medium + Detail set for every job:

Detail — the craft

• Silicone lines, grout, mitres, tap close-ups, hinges, textures, logos.
• Tap to focus, then slide exposure down slightly to keep highlights.

4) Before & afters that actually match

• Shoot the “before” from the same spot/height as the “after”.
• Mark your position with a tiny tape square on the floor for the after shot.
• Keep the camera level on both; avoid zooming on one and not the other.
• For dramatic afters, tidy the space and turn on more lights.

5) Extra pointers by job type

Bathrooms & Kitchens

• Avoid standing where the mirror sees you; step aside or crouch.
• Chrome and tiles blow out easily—lower exposure a notch.
• If everything is too warm/yellow, open curtains and turn off warm ceiling lights.

Fencing & Landscaping

• Shoot the full run at a slight angle so posts and boards show depth.
• Keep a clean foreground (no bags/offcuts) and include a little sky/trees.

Roofing

• From ground level, step back for a longer view that shows the whole elevation.
• Close-ups of flashing, ridge and valleys sell the quality.

Cleaning & Decorating

• A small tripod or support helps with sharpness indoors.
• Detail shots of edges and finishes tell the story.

6) Simple editing (10 minutes max)

Use your phone’s Photos app or free tools like Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile or Google Photos.

• Straighten first so verticals are truly vertical.
• Crop to remove dead space and distractions.
• Exposure/Highlights: lift shadows a touch; pull highlights down to protect windows/tiles.
• White balance: if it’s too yellow, nudge towards cooler/blue.
• Clarity/Structure: +5–10 only—don’t overdo it.
• If your app has a healing/retouch tool, remove small marks or a stray bin.

7) Save & export for web

• Keep originals in a folder (or cloud album) by client/job/date.
• Export web copies at common sizes:
  • Hero banners: 1600–2000px wide (landscape).
  • Gallery images: 1200px wide.
  • Thumbnails: 600–800px.
• Prefer WebP (small, fast) or JPEG at 80–85% quality.
• File names matter for SEO: bathroom-renovation-dunfermline-west-fife-plumbing-01.webp

8) Captions & alt text (helps Google + real users)

• Caption (under the image or in a gallery): “Walk-in shower with matt black fittings — Dunfermline. Completed in 3 days.”
• Alt text (for accessibility/SEO): “Completed bathroom installation with glass walk-in shower, Dunfermline.”

9) Permissions, privacy & safety

• Get the customer’s OK (message or a line on your invoice/terms).
• Hide addresses, reg plates, family photos.
• If staff appear, PPE should be correct.
• If you geotag photos, consider removing location data before upload.

10) Fast shot list you can reuse

Mini kit (cheap and worth carrying)

• Microfibre cloth
• Small phone tripod or clamp
• Portable LED light (dimmable)
• White card/foam board (bounce light)
• A strip of gaffer tape (mark your before/after spot)