How to Take Great Photos of Your Work Using Just Your Phone
You've done the hard part. Don't let a bad photo undo it.
Whether you've just fitted a kitchen, finished a loft conversion, or laid a brand new driveway — the work speaks for itself. But only if people can actually see it.
Stock images don't cut it anymore. Potential customers want to see your work, in real homes, before they pick up the phone. And the good news? You don't need a photographer. You just need your phone and two minutes.
Here's how to do it properly.
Before You Take a Single Photo
1. Clean the lens
It sounds obvious, but it's the most common reason photos come out blurry or hazy. Give the lens a quick wipe on your shirt before you start. Done.
2. Tidy the space
Remove the dust sheets, empty mugs, packaging, and any tools left lying around. You're not hiding anything — you're showing the work, not the job site. Take two minutes to make it look finished, because it is.
3. Turn the lights on
Natural light is best. Open the blinds, pull back the curtains. If it's a dark space, turn on the room lights too. The more light, the sharper your photo.
Taking the Photo
4. Switch to landscape mode
Turn your phone sideways. Landscape photos (wider than they are tall) look far better on websites and social media — and they show more of the space.
5. Step back further than you think
Most people stand too close. Back up until you can see the whole room or the whole job in the frame. Wide shots show context and scale — that's what impresses people.
6. Tap the screen to focus
Don't just point and shoot. Tap the part of the screen where the most important detail is — the worktop, the tiling, the finished wall. This tells your phone exactly what to focus on and often adjusts the brightness too.
7. Keep the phone level
Wonky photos look unprofessional. Keep the phone straight, or use the on-screen grid lines if your camera has them (look in your camera settings — it's usually under "Grid" or "Guidelines"). Horizontal lines should be horizontal.
8. Hold it steady
Don't jab the shutter button — tap it gently, or use the volume button instead. If your hands aren't steady, rest your elbows against your body or prop the phone against something solid.
Get More Than One Shot
9. Take three angles minimum
Wide shot — the whole room or space from the corner or doorway
Mid shot — a closer view of the main feature (the island unit, the tiled shower, the new staircase)
Detail shot — right up close to show quality. The joint. The finish. The handle. The thing you're proud of.
10. Take more than you think you need
Take eight or ten photos and pick the best two or three. Storage is free. Regret isn't.
The Quick Checklist
Before you leave the job, run through this:
Lens is clean
Space is tidy — tools and packaging cleared
Lights on, curtains open
Phone turned landscape
Stepped back far enough to see the whole job
Tapped the screen to focus
Phone held level and steady
Three angles covered — wide, mid, detail
At least 6–8 photos taken
Send Them Over
If we’re managing your digital stuff for you then once you've got them, send them across to us and we'll handle the rest — naming them correctly, compressing them for the web, and placing them where they'll do the most good on your site.
Real photos of real work. That's what gets you found on Google, and that's what gets customers calling.
Thanks for reading,
Ollie
Need help getting your website working harder for your business? Get in touch with Midlands Digital — no jargon, no compromises.
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