Getting an accurate surface repair quote without an in-person visit depends almost entirely on the quality of photos you send. A clear, well-lit photo of a chip or crack allows a skilled technician to assess the size, depth and complexity of the repair accurately. A blurry, poorly lit image makes meaningful assessment impossible. Here’s how to photograph surface damage for the best quote outcome.
Equipment
A modern smartphone camera is sufficient. You don’t need specialist equipment. What matters is how you use it — not which camera you have.
Lighting
Lighting is the single most important factor. Surface damage — especially chips and cracks — is often easiest to see under raking (angled) light. Hold a desk lamp or torch at a low angle across the surface and take the photo from directly above. This accentuates the shadow in the chip or crack and makes it clearly visible. Bright overhead lighting often causes the damage to blend into the surface under a flat glare.
Distance and Detail
Take at least two photos: one from 30–40cm (close-up) showing the damage in detail, and one from further back (60–90cm) showing the damage in context — the surrounding surface area, the edge profile and the location on the worktop. This gives the technician both the detail needed to assess the repair and the context needed to plan colour matching.
Include a Size Reference
Place a coin (10p or 50p) or a ruler next to the damage in at least one photo. This provides a reliable scale reference that allows the technician to estimate the physical size of the chip or crack from the image.
Show the Whole Surface
A third photo showing the whole worktop section or bath helps with colour matching — it shows the technician the pattern and variation of the surrounding surface beyond the immediate damage area.
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