The old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" holds true when it comes to winning the Consumer Services job. Now more than ever, homeowners want to see examples of your work so they can find the trust they need to sign off on their home improvement project. That is why it is important to take high-quality photos before and after your project is completed and submit them to Contractor Connection.

In order to build that trust the homeowner seeks, you have to spend time with them at the kitchen table building rapport and finding out what their vision is. If you have a portfolio that includes high-quality images of your past work to show them, it will help the homeowner decide on the specifics of their project and it will give you the credibility of having experience with home improvement projects.

In addition to you personally having photos for your portfolio, Contractor Connection will be able to highlight those photos on our website and in emails to potential customers, which in turn helps increase the number of assignment requests. Many competitors of Contractor Connection use stock photos, but we want to be able to display our contractors' actual work.

Now you might be saying, "I'm not a photographer, so how do you expect me to do this?" While hiring a professional photographer would be very beneficial, it might not always be possible. To help you, here are the top five best practices when taking photos of your job.

1. Bring The Right Camera
You might think this is the easiest step of all, but having the right camera can make all the difference in the world. To take a great photo for the web, you don't need the most expensive camera in the store, but it is important to have a couple of basic things:

1. At least eight megapixels – This will help give the photo enough flexibility to be resized and it will be print quality. Fortunately, you can find many cameras with more megapixels – which usually means more clarity – for under $100.

2. Automatic mode – If you're a novice photographer, this is a must. It will make the camera do all the work for you when it comes to focusing on the image.

2. Check The Room's Lighting
This is arguably the most important step. If your project is in an area with windows, you'll have access to natural lighting. If you have natural lighting for your photo, try to take your photo either in the morning or evening sunset because that is when the lighting is softest. If you are in an area with artificial light, make sure the room is not too dark. Try to go for a nice balance and remember to take a few photos with and without your camera's flash.

3. Remove The Clutter
You successfully completed steps one and two and took what looked to be a photo worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. Then later you take another look at the photo and realize it can't be used because of an old towel hanging in your remodeled bathroom. Remember, before you snap the photo, clean up the area and remove any clutter. The photos you are taking will be shared with prospective clients and every small detail counts.

4. Don't Forget The Before
Sure, everyone wants to see the finished product, but why not show them what you started with? Be sure to snap a quality photo when you begin the project so you can show prospective clients before and after photos. The before and after shot is a very powerful illustration of just how good you are at turning a mediocre space into something the homeowner can be proud of.

5. Capture The Shot From Different Angles
One of the most important strategies for building a good portfolio is to have a variety of photos to choose from. For example, a straight-on shot of your kitchen remodel could lack the pizzaz you're looking for but when taken from a different angle, it looks like a celebrity kitchen. Remember to take several photos of the project from different angles.

To help you remember all of these tips next time you're on the job, be sure to download Contractor Connection's Project Photograph Checklist.

Once you've taken a look at all your snapshots and are happy with what you have, be sure to send them to Contractor Connection so we can proudly display them on our website. This will help increase assignment requests, which in turn helps our network receive more business.