As a business owner or leader, you want the best for your business so you can attract the customers you need to help your company succeed. One way to showcase your brand and connect your expertise with your customers is to demonstrate it by adding before-and-after photos to your company’s website and social media platforms. Sounds easy enough, right? Perhaps your team members forget to take the necessary photos, or they are not comfortable using a camera and cannot provide the pictures you want. Whatever the reason your technicians aren’t taking before-and-after photos can be addressed with a little motivation, training, and organization. Learn the steps to encourage your team to take good-quality before-and-after photos so you can use the pics for advertising, training, and company growth.

Why is it Valuable to Have Before and After Photos of Jobs?

Photos of your expertise help you show current customers exactly what your technicians are working on and how they fixed or improved the issue. You can also use before-and-after pictures on your company’s website or social media pages to showcase your brand to prospective customers, helping build trust and boost your credibility among competitors.

What Steps Are Needed to Instill Picture-Taking Tasks For Technicians? 

• Consider before and after photos as a requirement per project and add the task onto the checklist of things to do at every jobsite. As the technician reviews the project completion list, they will note that before-and-after pictures have been added to the list.  
• Make the photo-taking task simple by providing explicit directions to team members and using simple software that works easily and consistently. The same photographic platform should be used across the board so that each technician understands the picture-taking process. 
• Provide picture-taking training for all team members so the expectations are clear, and each technician feels confident in their photographic ability. Ensure each team member has the equipment they need to complete the picture-taking task. 
• Offer incentives or rewards for thorough follow-through by recognizing a technician’s photos, highlighting great pictures, or offering a bonus for the most consistent or best pictures taken during a certain timespan. Track each technician’s compliance to ensure you are receiving the photos you want from your team. 
• Instill a sense of security and protection for technicians by educating them on the benefits of before and after photos. The pictures can protect team members during customer disputes and showcase their own talent and professionalism. Good photos also help them compile their work, which builds a professional reputation and trust with customers.

Bottom Line

When you want your team members to provide before-and-after photos of job sites so you can use the pictures for training, advertising, or building trust in your community, it is important for your technicians to feel supported with easy equipment, thorough training, clear expectations, and a clear purpose for the task. Most technicians are pleased to provide the photos needed and appreciate incentives, rewards, or acknowledgment for a job well done. In this age of online advertising and high online visibility, it is beneficial for companies to use before-and-after photos to strengthen their online presence and build trust with their current and potential customers. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Per project, how many photos should my team member take to display their workmanship?
It is important to have before-and-after photos of a project so you can easily see where you began and how the job looked once the work is finished. You can use the photos to post on your website or social media, or use them as a training tool. Approximately 2-6 photos per project are sufficient, as long as they are taken before the project begins and after the project ends. Before-and-after photos are the best way to see the transformational use of your talent and expertise.  

What are some simple ideas I can use to motivate my team to take photos of their projects?
Picture-taking should be part of the scheduled project if that is something you want for your company. Incorporate before and after photos as part of the project compliance list and offer incentives or rewards to team members who succeed in meeting company expectations. 

What is the best way to improve the quality of photos my team members take?
If some team members are not providing adequate photos, you should provide training on photography, including the focal point, lighting, and the desired photo style. As with most things, the more a person practices, the better the outcome.