Instructor Ed Jones has over 30 years of experience in theindustry, has the title of MasterWater Restorer, is an Institute ofInspection Cleaning andRestoration Certification (IICRC)-approved instructor, and hasserved on the S500-2021consensus body committee todevelop the most recent standard.
Time and GPS stamping your photos when mitigating a water loss is critical.
These details can help prove pre-existing conditions and protect you and your company if there are allegations that you caused mold or spread asbestos fibers, lead paint dust, or mold spores.
Making sure your photos are time and GPS stamped can also help document initial conditions versus the conditions present when mitigation starts.
This can be especially important if there is some type of delay. Delays may affect the evaluation of long-term damage or the category of water if the water deteriorated due to time.
There are many app options that make it easy to add more detail to your photos, including:
Many times, the first responder — the restorer — is the person everyone depends on to provide accurate documentation that tells the story of the loss, including the timeline.
There can even be legal ramifications where detailed photos may save everyone thousands of dollars and help minimize disputes.
It is all about the documentation.
Time and GPS stamping your photos is one more way to build a defensible claim file that protects all materially interested parties.
Below are several tips to help strengthen photo documentation during water mitigation.
Use apps that place important information directly on the image itself, such as:
This helps ensure the information survives no matter how the files are shared.
Your photos should tell a visual story.
Start with wide shots to establish the location and context.
Then take medium shots of the damaged area.
Finally, take close-up shots of specific details.
This approach helps materially interested parties understand not only what happened, but where it happened and how the damage appears in context.
Photograph the source of the issue whenever possible.
This may include:
For close-up shots of damage, include a ruler or tape measure so adjusters have a clear sense of scale.
Your photo documentation should show the full mitigation process from start to finish.
Include photos of:
Final photos should show that no trash, dust, or debris was left onsite.
Make sure to label your photos with the claim number and a brief description.
Examples may include:
Clear labels make your file easier to review and help connect the photos to the mitigation story.
Make sure your app supports C2PA standards.
C2PA stands for Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity. It is an open technical standard that verifies the origin, creator, and editing history of digital content, including:
Often referred to as Content Credentials, C2PA acts like a cryptographic “nutrition label” to help combat digital manipulation and misinformation.
This can add another layer of credibility to your documentation.
Always retain the original RAW image file.
The RAW image contains the camera’s exact, unedited data. If someone manipulates a copy of your photo or claims it as their own, having the original RAW file can serve as definitive proof that you are the original owner.
Look for ways to strengthen your file and prove that you followed the industry standard.
Time and GPS stamped photos help document your timeline, support your mitigation story, and reduce allegations that damages were caused during the restoration process.
Time and GPS stamping is an inexpensive way to improve photo documentation and build a stronger, more defensible claim file.
