Take Before Photos: Document Your Bathroom's Current State
Before the first tile is removed, you need comprehensive documentation of your bathroom's current condition. These photos serve multiple critical purposes: providing accurate information for contractor quotes, creating a baseline for insurance purposes, enabling meaningful before-and-after comparisons, and helping you remember details during the planning process. This is your only chance to capture this documentation—once demolition begins, these moments are gone forever.
Quick Summary
Time needed
30 minutes - 1 hour
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Free
Why Before Photos Matter
Many homeowners skip or rush through before photos, only to regret it later. These images become invaluable throughout your remodel and long after it's complete. Here's why taking thorough before photos is one of the most important steps in your planning process.
Documentation & Records
Create a permanent record of your bathroom's original state. This documentation proves what existed before work began—essential for resolving disputes, verifying completed work, and maintaining home records.
Insurance Protection
If hidden damage is discovered during demolition—mold behind walls, water damage, or structural issues—your before photos establish the pre-existing condition for insurance claims and contractor scope adjustments.
Planning & Design Reference
Reference photos help during the design phase when you need to remember exact layouts, fixture positions, window locations, or outlet placements. They're invaluable when shopping for materials and fixtures.
Before-After Comparisons
After living with your remodel for a few months, you'll forget how bad the old bathroom was. Before photos let you appreciate the transformation and share your success story with others.
What to Photograph: Complete Checklist
Work systematically through your bathroom, capturing each category of shots. Use this checklist to ensure you don't miss anything important.
1Overall Room Shots from Multiple Angles
Start with wide-angle shots that capture the entire space. These establish the overall layout and proportions.
2Current Fixtures and Their Condition
Document each fixture individually with both overall and detail shots showing wear and condition.
3Problem Areas (Damage, Mold, Leaks)
These are the most important photos for contractor quotes and insurance. Don't hide problems—document them clearly.
4Measurements with Tape Measure Visible
Including a tape measure in photos provides scale and captures exact dimensions for planning and ordering.
5Inside Cabinets and Storage Areas
Open everything up. These photos reveal hidden issues and help plan your new storage needs.
Photography Tips for Best Results
You don't need professional equipment—a smartphone works perfectly. But following these tips will ensure your photos are clear, useful, and properly capture the information you need.
Use Natural Light When Possible
Take photos during daytime with blinds and curtains open. Natural light reveals true colors and shows details that artificial light can hide. If you must use artificial light, turn on all bathroom lights but avoid using your camera's flash, which creates harsh shadows and washes out details.
Include Scale References
A tape measure in photos shows exact dimensions, but even a common object provides scale. Place a credit card, phone, or shoe in frame when photographing problem areas or features. This helps contractors understand the true size of damage or spaces.
Don't Clean First—Document Actual Condition
Resist the urge to scrub before photographing. The purpose is documenting reality, not making your bathroom look presentable. Grime, soap scum, mold, and wear are exactly what contractors need to see for accurate quotes. Remove personal items for privacy, but leave the authentic condition visible.
Shoot in Landscape Orientation
Hold your phone horizontally for most shots. Landscape orientation captures more of the space and creates better before-after comparisons. The exception is tall features like full-length mirrors or shower walls, which may need portrait orientation.
Use Your Phone's Wide-Angle Lens
Most smartphones have an ultra-wide camera (0.5x). Use it for room shots to capture more of the space in each frame. Switch to the standard lens (1x) for detail shots of fixtures and problem areas to avoid distortion.
Mark Your Photo Positions
For meaningful before-after comparisons, you'll need to recreate the same angles after the remodel. Use painter's tape to mark where you stood for key shots, or sketch a simple floor plan noting camera positions. This small effort pays off enormously.
Organizing and Labeling Your Photos
Dozens of bathroom photos can quickly become a confusing mess. Organize now while details are fresh in your mind, and you'll thank yourself throughout the project.
Recommended Organization System
Create a dedicated album or folder
Name it clearly: "[Address] Bathroom Before Photos - [Date]"
Add descriptions to key photos
Note what each photo shows: "Water damage behind toilet - southwest corner"
Create sub-folders by category
Separate into: Overall Views, Fixtures, Problem Areas, Measurements
Back up immediately to cloud storage
Upload to Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud right away. Phone loss or damage could mean losing these forever.
Keep a backup on a separate device
Copy to a computer hard drive or USB drive as additional protection.
Critical Reminder
Once demolition begins, you cannot retake these photos. Back up immediately and verify your backups are accessible before any work starts.
Sharing Photos with Contractors
How you share photos matters. Contractors need clear, full-resolution images to provide accurate quotes and understand the scope of work.
Do This
- Share via cloud link (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
- Send original resolution files
- Include measurement photos
- Add notes about specific concerns
- Organize into clear folders
Avoid This
- Texting photos (compresses and loses detail)
- Sending one at a time via email
- Using social media messaging
- Editing or filtering photos
- Omitting problem areas to "look better"
What to Include When Sharing
When sending photos to contractors for quotes, include this information:
- - Property address and bathroom location (master, hall, etc.)
- - Approximate square footage of the space
- - Your remodel goals (full gut, refresh, specific changes)
- - Any known issues you want addressed
- - Your target timeline and budget range
Frequently Asked Questions
How many before photos should I take of my bathroom?
Take at least 30-50 photos to thoroughly document your bathroom. This includes 4-6 wide shots from different angles, individual photos of each fixture, close-ups of problem areas, and measurement reference shots. Storage is free—it's always better to have too many than too few since you cannot retake them after demolition.
Should I clean my bathroom before taking before photos?
No, avoid deep cleaning before taking photos. The purpose is to document the bathroom's actual condition, including dirt, grime, mold, and wear. Remove personal items and clutter for privacy, but don't scrub or hide problems. Authentic documentation is essential for accurate contractor quotes and insurance purposes.
What camera settings should I use for bathroom before photos?
Use your smartphone's widest angle setting (typically 0.5x or ultra-wide) for room shots. Turn on HDR mode to capture details in both bright and dark areas. Use natural light when possible and turn off the flash. Hold the camera horizontally (landscape) for most shots.
How should I organize before photos for my contractor?
Create a dedicated folder labeled with your address and date. Organize photos into categories: overall room shots, individual fixtures, problem areas, and measurements. Add descriptions to important photos. Share via cloud link (Google Drive, Dropbox) rather than texting, which compresses images and loses important detail.
Can before photos help with insurance claims during a remodel?
Yes, before photos provide crucial documentation for insurance purposes. If you discover hidden damage during demolition (mold, water damage, structural issues), your before photos establish the pre-existing condition. They also protect you if disputes arise about what was original versus what was damaged during work.
Complete Before Photos Checklist
Use this master checklist to ensure you've captured everything before moving on.
Ready for the Next Step?
With your bathroom thoroughly documented, you're ready to move into the Design phase. Next up: deciding whether to hire a professional designer to help bring your vision to life.
Related Guides
Bathroom Remodel Checklist
The complete 47-step checklist for your bathroom renovation.
Take After Photos
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Hire a Designer
When and why to bring in professional design help for your remodel.
Select a Contractor
How to find, vet, and choose the right contractor for your project.