Most surface repair companies — including Shazam Repairs — offer free quotes based on photos. This is genuinely fast and convenient: you can get a price within a few hours without anyone visiting your home. But the quality of the photo significantly affects the accuracy of the quote you receive. Here’s how to photograph surface damage well.
What Makes a Good Surface Damage Photo?
Get Close Enough
The most common mistake is not getting close enough to the damage. A photo of the whole bathroom with a chip somewhere in it tells us very little. Get your phone within 20–30cm of the damage and photograph the chip or crack clearly. Most modern smartphone cameras will focus at this distance.
Use Good Lighting
Bathroom lights can create shadows that obscure damage — but also too much light can blow out the detail. Natural daylight is best if possible. For baths, open the window blind or turn on multiple light sources to avoid harsh shadow. If the damage is in a dark corner, a torch held at an angle (not directly at the surface) can help reveal texture and depth.
Take Multiple Photos
- One close-up of the damage itself
- One slightly wider showing the damage in context (is it on the edge, in the middle, near a tap?)
- One overall shot showing the full surface (bath, worktop, tile area)
Include Something for Scale
A coin (10p or 50p works well) or a ruler placed near the damage helps us gauge the actual size. A chip that looks large in a close-up photo might be 5mm across; one that looks small might be 20mm. Scale reference significantly improves quote accuracy.
For Coloured Surfaces
If you’re photographing a coloured surface (green bath, dark tiles, natural stone worktop), try to take the photo in daylight without flash. Flash photography distorts colours significantly and makes colour-matching assessment very difficult.
What to Include in Your Message
- What the surface is (bath, shower tray, tile, worktop etc.)
- What it’s made of if you know (acrylic, cast iron, laminate, quartz etc.)
- How the damage happened if relevant (dropped object, impact, crack appeared over time)
- Your location (for travel/availability purposes)
- Any flexibility on dates if you’re not urgent
Ready to get a quote? Send your photos to Shazam Repairs and we’ll respond same day →
