A good before-and-after does more selling than anything I can write. It takes about a minute to get right, and most trades are one small habit away from having a steady supply of them.

Take the before shot before you’ve touched anything

Sounds obvious, but it’s the step that gets missed. Take the photo the moment you arrive, before tools come out of the van. A messy, dated, or broken before shot makes the after look twice as good.

Shoot from the same spot both times

Stand in roughly the same place for the after photo as you did for the before. Side-by-side photos from different angles are harder to compare and look less convincing.

Daylight beats your phone’s flash every time

Finish the job with enough daylight left for the after photo if you can. A flash photo at 7pm in a dark room never looks as good as the same room in daylight.

Tidy the frame, not just the job

Move the dust sheets, the tools, the rubbish bags out of the after shot. People are looking at the work, not your van’s worth of kit sitting in the corner.

Ask before you post anyone’s house

A quick “mind if I post this?” takes two seconds and most customers are flattered to be asked. It also means you’ve got a natural moment to ask for a review while you’re there.

What to do with the photos once you’ve got them

Send them on, and they become posts. That’s genuinely most of the job on your end: two photos and a text to whoever runs your page. Everything after that is someone else’s problem.

Quick answers

Does the photo need to be professional quality?

No. A clear, well lit phone photo works fine. Lighting matters more than the camera.

Do I need permission to post a customer’s home?

A quick verbal check is enough for most people, and it’s good manners either way.

How many before-and-afters do I need before my page looks established?

A handful of strong ones, posted regularly, does more than a big backlog posted all at once.

Written by Tony Flynn, who runs Toflin from Carluke and works with trades across Lanarkshire. Want a hand with any of this? Call 01698 598763 or see the prices.