Before: establish the area and instruction

Take an overview that identifies the room and a view of the particular area involved. Write down which wall, fitting or finish the photo relates to. Where existing visible marks matter to the conversation, describe them without guessing when or how they appeared.

Keep the original files and the written brief together in your own records. A photo of an existing condition does not by itself establish who is responsible for it or what the contractor has agreed to change.

During: record a decision point

Choose stages where someone needs to review work before the next activity. A useful stage photo answers a specific question, such as which pipework area is being submitted before wall closure. Agree the review point in advance so the person documenting it knows what view is needed.

Do not delay safety-critical decisions while waiting for a remote photo response. Arrange the appropriate qualified inspection or supervision where required. Images cannot replace measurements, tests or certificates.

After: make the result comparable

Repeat the overview from a similar position where practical, then show the detail requested in the brief. Check the photograph before leaving: can the reviewer identify the area, and is the important detail actually visible? If glare or objects hide it, take another suitable view.

Copyable renovation shot list

BEFORE
[ ] Room overview with a clear room name
[ ] Area covered by the task brief
[ ] Relevant existing visible condition, described neutrally
DURING, WHERE AGREED
[ ] Work stage before it becomes concealed
[ ] Location and reason for the stage review
AFTER
[ ] Comparable room or work-area overview
[ ] Detail requested in the task brief
[ ] Any outstanding item explained in a note
FOR EACH RECORD
[ ] Task reference, room and description
[ ] Original file retained outside the test platform

Example photo note

Kitchen doorway, completion submission

“This photo shows the kitchen doorway edge after grouting. It relates to the doorway correction in the task brief. The wider room view is retained in our project records. Please review the visible edge shown here.”

Keep the note factual. Do not write “fully compliant” or “all defects fixed” when the image only shows one detail.

Using the shot list with WorkSign

The current WorkSign task flow has a reference photo and a completion photo, with optional completion comments or a voice note. It is not a multi-photo stage album. Use separately assigned tasks for stages needing their own review and keep additional originals in your external project records.

Before sharing, remove unnecessary personal details from the scene: private documents, access codes or people who do not need to appear. WorkSign is in testing, so keep copies of important photographs elsewhere.