How to take photos a contractor can actually use
Most project photos are close-ups that show texture but not the job. Here's the set of photos that lets a contractor understand your space, your access and your problem areas — taken in about five minutes.
Why most project photos don't help
A close-up of patchy grass or a cracked paver tells a contractor the material — not the size of the area, what's next to it, how they'd get equipment in, or what has to be protected. Without that context, they still have to visit before they can say anything useful.
The six photos
From the house, looking out
Stand against the house (or at the back door) and capture the whole area in one frame. Step back or turn the phone sideways if you need to.
From the far end, looking back
The house wall, windows, doors and downspouts all matter for grading and drainage — get them in.
Left side
The left edge of the area and what's beside it: fence, neighbour's yard, beds, a slope.
Right side
The same for the right edge.
The access route
Stand on the street or driveway and photograph the way in — the gate, the side yard, any steps. Then one from just inside the gate looking into the yard.
Anything you're worried about
Wet spots, cracks, heaving, roots, rot, a sagging fence. Take a wide shot first so it's clear where the problem is, then a close-up.
How to take them
- Shoot in daylight, with the sun behind you if you can. Harsh noon shadows hide grade changes.
- Hold the phone at chest height, level — not tilted at the ground.
- Use the normal or wide lens, not zoom. A 0.5× ultra-wide is great for tight side yards.
- Don't tidy too much. Contractors need to see what's actually there, including the mess they'll be working around.
- Number or name them (“1 – from house”) when you send them, so you can talk about them on a call.
Extras by project type
| Project | Also photograph |
|---|---|
| Sod / lawn | Low spots and puddles, the hose bib, where downspouts drain |
| Interlock / patio | Existing steps and door thresholds (height matters), any cracks in walls nearby |
| Deck | Where it meets the house, the existing ledger or posts, the ground underneath |
| Fence | Each corner, the property-line markers if you know them, slopes along the line |
Photo checklist
- From the house, looking out
- From the far end, looking back
- Left side
- Right side
- Access route — from the street and from inside the gate
- Problem areas — wide, then close
- Something for scale in close-ups
Updated October 2, 2026 · Landscaping & sod · Interlock & hardscaping · Decks · Fences · Exterior renovations
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