LibreThe Universal Jobsite Photo Checklist
Four categories of photos. Works for any trade. The minimum documentation every contractor should capture.
The photos every contractor should take
It doesn't matter if you're a roofer, a plumber, a GC, or a restoration company. There's a universal set of photos that protects you on every single job. This isn't about being thorough — it's about being smart. Four categories, 5 minutes of your time, and you've got the documentation you need to defend yourself in a dispute, support a payment request, or prove your work to a client.
Every job, every trade
Site arrival / overall condition
Before you unload a single tool, photograph the site from multiple angles. Capture the driveway, landscaping, neighboring property lines, and anything that could be disputed later. This is your 'before' baseline.
Work area before
Photograph the specific area where you'll be working — the kitchen before demo, the roof before tear-off, the bathroom before tile. Close-ups of existing conditions, damage, or wear.
Work in progress
Capture key stages as work happens — rough-in before it's covered, structural connections, anything that will be hidden later. Voice captions are faster than typing on site.
Work complete / after
Photograph the finished work from the same angles as your 'before' shots. Wide shots of the full area plus close-ups of details. This is your proof of quality and completion.
Trade-specific additions
The four categories above are your foundation. On top of those, each trade has specific shots to add. Roofers should follow our roof inspection checklist. Restoration companies should use the restoration daily photo log. For safety documentation, see the safety walk checklist. And for project closeout, use the final walkthrough checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a typical service call, 8-12 photos. For a multi-day project, 15-25 per day. The key is covering all four categories — arrival, before, during, and after.
Yes. Before photos are the single most valuable documentation habit you can build. They take 2 minutes and can save you thousands in disputes.
Yes. LibreCam lets you create custom photo checklists for your specific trade and workflow. Start with the universal set and add trade-specific items.