The single best thing you can put on a trades website is photos of your actual work. Not stock images, not a logo — real photos of real jobs. You don’t need a professional camera or a photography course. A modern smartphone is more than good enough.
Why photos matter more than anything else
When a potential customer lands on your website, they’re trying to answer one question: is this person any good? A photo of a clean, well-finished installation says the same thing as fifteen years of experience — but instantly and credibly. Before-and-after photos are especially powerful: they show the transformation, demonstrate the scale of what you do, and give the customer a clear sense of what to expect.
Before and after — the format that works best
Take one photo before you start a job and one when you’ve finished. Stand in the same spot for both shots — the comparison only works if the viewer can see what changed. Clear away your tools, packaging, and off-cuts before the “after” shot. Don’t worry about the “before” being messy — that’s the point. The worse the before, the more impressive the after.
Lighting: the one thing that makes the biggest difference
Natural light is almost always best. Open blinds and curtains fully before taking your shots. Don’t shoot into a window or bright light source — it makes everything else dark. Turn off artificial lighting if it’s competing with natural light; mixed lighting creates odd colour casts. For outdoor jobs, overcast days are often better than bright sunshine — direct sun creates harsh shadows that can obscure detail.
What to include in the frame
Show the whole job, not just a detail. Tidy the surrounding area before shooting — a quick two-minute tidy makes a significant difference. Hold your phone sideways (landscape orientation) for most shots — it gives a wider view and looks more professional on a website.
A few common mistakes to avoid
Don’t zoom in digitally — move your feet closer instead. Digital zoom reduces quality noticeably. Don’t use the flash indoors — it creates flat, harsh light and often a distracting reflection off shiny surfaces. Don’t wait for perfect conditions — a slightly imperfect real photo is worth ten times more than no photo at all.
File size — just send them as they are
Don’t compress your photos before sending. Send them at full quality and I’ll handle the sizing for the website. Compressed photos often look noticeably worse on screen and can’t be improved once the quality is lost. If you’re submitting via the intake form, you can upload up to 20 photos directly.
Use the client details form to upload your work photos.