We all know that case studies can help you win over leads and book more jobs, but it can be difficult to know where to start. What details should you include? What type of photos should you be taking? Check out our step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect case study.

1. Take Quality Photos

In this day and age, you don’t need fancy equipment to capture a great picture. Just use your smartphone! Keep these things in mind when taking photos for your case study:

• Keep it steady: Avoid blurry photos by keeping a steady hand. Avoid trying to take photos while walking through a job site. Make sure you are stationary and using both hands to keep your phone steady when possible. 
• Make sure the area is well-lit: There are all different types of job sites and we understand that it can be hard to take a well-lit photo in places like a crawlspace. Utilize your job lights or even the flash on your phone to make sure everything in the photo is visible. When possible, open the curtains or blinds to let in more light. 
• Ditch the zoom: Oftentimes zooming in on your smartphone camera can cause images to turn out pixelated or blurry. Take a photo of the entire area and know that you can always crop it later. If you need a closer image, simply move closer to the area. If your phone has a wide angle function, this is even better! Capture as much of the scene as possible.

2. Be Mindful of Photo Content

Once you’ve got the basics down, you’re ready to focus on the subject of your photos. Whenever you show up at a job site, use these tips to get the most out of your pics.

• Before and after photos: Before you begin the job, take photos of what the job site looks like. If it’s a damage restoration job, get photos of the damaged area and document what caused the damage. If it is a roofing job, take photos of the old roof and document any damaged or work-down spots. The most important thing to remember is to take after photos too! Show off your hard work and craftsmanship by taking photos of the same area once the job is done. 
• Take photos from the same angle: The best before and after photos are taken from the same angle. For example, if you take the before photo from the corner of the bedroom, take the after photo from the same corner. Don’t switch it up and take the after photo from the doorway in the kitchen. This lets your potential customers see the full transformation.
• No personal information: It’s important to remember that you are still in someone’s home and it’s important to respect their privacy. Don’t take any photos with house numbers, photos, or any other identifying information. Avoid mirrors to make sure you don't accidentally take photos of people who don't want to be photographed and always make sure you have permission to use photos from inside their home.

3. Record Videos

If you’re able to take videos while you're on the job site, it can help bring your services to life. A quick 30-second video showing off your work will help your customers connect with you and build trust. Even better, if you can take short videos throughout the entire job you can help educate your potential clients!

• Show off your team: This is a great opportunity to show off your team and their skills. Have your team introduce themselves and explain what they are doing on the job site. Being able to showcase your team’s knowledge and skills is a great way to win over leads.
• Narrate your job: Explain what caused your clients to call you in for a job. Was there damage? What was it caused by? How are you going to fix it? You can explain all of this in a short clip while showing off the job site.
• Show your service in action: Are you in the middle of pulling up flooring? Tearing off old shingles? Have someone on your team (safely) record you showing off your skills.