The Elevations Blog
Practical guides on documenting work in photos, across roofing, solar, HVAC, general contracting, landscaping, and storm restoration.
Documenting Storm Damage for a Claim: A Pinned-Photo Workflow
A repeatable, pinned-photo workflow for documenting storm damage so your claim reads clearly, covers every elevation, and is hard to kick back.
Roof Inspection Photos That Sell the Repair
Homeowners can't see what you see from the ground. Here's how to document a roof inspection so the photos make the repair obvious and easy to approve.
Punch Lists That Stick: Photo Documentation for General Contractors
Text-thread punch lists get lost and argued over. Here's how pinning items to the exact spot on a jobsite photo keeps everyone accountable.
Solar Site Survey & Install Documentation, Pin by Pin
Site surveys and installs live in scattered photos. Here's how to pin roof conditions, obstructions, and install details so the whole job stays in one record.
HVAC Service Documentation: Show Customers the Exact Problem
A photo of a whole condenser doesn't justify a repair. Here's how to document HVAC service so customers see the exact problem and approve the fix.
Before, During, After: Landscaping Project Documentation
Clients picture the yard differently than you do. Here's how to pin plans, problem areas, and progress so everyone stays aligned from proposal to final walk.
The Photo Documentation Workflow Every Trade Should Use
Photo documentation isn't a roofing thing or a storm thing, it's a trade thing. Here's a simple, repeatable workflow any field crew can run.
Pin the Spot, Not the Whole Photo: Why Placement Beats a Photo Dump
A folder of 200 photos isn't documentation, it's a problem you've handed to someone else. Here's what marking the exact spot changes.
How to Take Field Photos That Hold Up Months Later
The photo you take today has to make sense to someone else months from now. Here's how to capture field photos that still hold up when it counts.
Document Pre-Existing Conditions to Avoid Damage Disputes
The cheapest insurance on any job is a set of dated photos taken before you start. Here's how to document pre-existing conditions the right way.
From Phone to Shareable Report: A Job, Start to Finish
Good documentation shouldn't mean a second shift at the desk. Here's how a job goes from phone photos to a shareable report without re-typing your notes.
Visual Proof That Gets Estimates Approved
An estimate backed by photos the client can actually understand gets approved faster. Here's how visual proof shortens the path to yes.
Get Paid Faster with Documentation Clients Can't Argue With
Disputed work is unpaid work. Here's how clean, pinned documentation removes the friction between finishing a job and getting paid for it.
Fewer Callbacks: How Time-Stamped Photo Records Protect You
Most callbacks come down to "was it like that before?" Here's how a time-stamped photo record cuts callbacks and protects your margin.
When Pin Labels Map to Xactimate (and When They Don't Need To)
Insurance work rewards documentation that maps to the estimate. Here's when pin labels should follow Xactimate line items, and when they don't need to at all.
Elevations vs CompanyCam: Which Tool Fits Your Trade?
CompanyCam and Elevations both help contractors organize jobsite photos. The difference is pin placement, marking the exact spot, and structured, shareable reports.
The Best Photo Documentation Apps for Contractors (2026)
A practical buyer's guide to photo documentation in 2026, the features that actually move the needle for contractors, and how to match a tool to your trade.
Outgrowing the Camera Roll: When Trades Need Real Documentation
The phone camera roll is where most documentation starts, and where it stops working. Signs your trade has outgrown it, and what comes next.
Turn Before-and-After Reports into Referrals
Your finished work is your best marketing, if you can show it clearly. Here's how before-and-after reports turn everyday documentation into referrals.
Read-Only Report Links: Share Proof Without the Back-and-Forth
The fastest way to share proof of work is a link the recipient can open without an account. Here's how read-only report links cut the back-and-forth.