As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.  As an auto damage appraiser in the claims industry, appraisers must remember… YOU are the eyes and ears for the adjuster. Taking excellent photos is not difficult at all if one takes a little time to prepare and focus on doing a quality job.

First off, the required tools necessary to do the job correctly consists of a good digital camera, a pocket rod (measuring tape), tire tread depth measuring gauge, magnetic arrows, a mat ( to lie down on) and an additional source of light ( such as a spotlight ) if inspections are done at night or in dark environments.

With these tools you have everything you need to do a perfect job. The next step is to think like an adjuster. Don’t just go through the motions but remember each file has a story to tell and your job is to tell that story. Adjusters need to know the height of the impact, direction of the damage and the severity to the location. This can make all of the difference in a liability investigation. It is possible your photos may need to be utilized in litigation. There is nothing more embarrassing than presenting poor or insufficient photos to a judge.

Proper photo protocol can be classified in 4 categories:

1. Admin photos:  These photos identify the vehicle.  Vin number, license plate, mileage, condition ratings of interior, exterior, missing items, tire condition, etc. Don’t rely on the vin number on the door. It may have been replaced before. Always confirm on the dash panel as well.

2. Overview photos: Photos of all 4 sides of the vehicle and the general overall “condition” of interior and exterior.

3. Unrelated damage photos:  Documented photos of any damage that is not related to the loss.

4. Impact photos: As many photos as possible of the damage from every possible angle with the damage clearly shown. A measurement of the damage, direction of the impact and the location and depth of dents taken from all angles can show the true severity.

The rule of thumb is very simple. When in doubt, take more photos than you feel are necessary.