Introduction

Best Photos for Home Service Listings (Before/After Strategy) is a field-tested visual system for HVAC, roofing, siding, windows, painting, flooring, landscaping, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, and junk removal. Use these shot lists, composition cues, lighting tips, and export sizes to raise clarity, trust, and conversions—without fancy gear.

1) Why this works

• Clarity beats hype: Clean, level photos answer scope questions instantly and cut “Is this legit?” DMs.
• Proof over promise: Before/after with a “during” shot shows method, not just outcome.
• Speed to publish: A 2–5 minute edit/export pipeline gets listings live while intent is hot.

2) The Before/After Strategy Playbook (3-Phase Proof)

1. Before: Wide “problem” context (room/roof/yard), close-up of issue (stain, crack, rust), a measurement/reference if helpful.
2. During: Process shots (prep, tools, safety, protection), detail of technique (flashing, cuts, leveling), crew professionalism.
3. After: Same angle as “before” for perfect comparison; detail macro; warranty/inspection handoff photo.

Use the same height and angle for “before” and “after” to amplify the improvement.

3) Trade-Specific Shot Lists

4) Composition & Framing

• Keep verticals vertical; use gridlines and back up rather than tilting.
• Chest-height (~48–52 in) for rooms; lower in tight spaces.
• Show two walls plus a slice of the third for depth; leave breathing room at edges.
• Avoid harsh ultra-wide distortion; step back or switch to 1× lens.

5) Lighting & Time of Day

• Natural: Late morning/golden hour for exteriors; open blinds, turn on lights inside.
• Mixed: Slightly lower exposure to balance bright windows and fixtures.
• Night: Tripod/steady surface; avoid mixed color temperatures.

6) Fast Editing Workflow

7) Export Sizes by Platform

8) File Naming, EXIF, Compression & Watermarks

• Names: {trade}_{city}_{before|during|after}_{angle}.jpg
• EXIF: Remove GPS if privacy is a concern; keep date.
• Compression: Aim 200–400 KB per image; JPG quality 70–82% for web speed.
• Watermarks: Tiny corner logo; avoid heavy overlays (policy risk, low CTR).

9) Caption Templates & Policy-Safe Overlays

Caption Blueprint

{City} • {Service} • {Timeline}
Before ➜ After: {1-line improvement}. Want the same result?
Comment "QUOTE" or DM to schedule. Licensed & insured.

Overlay Rules

• Keep overlays minimal and legible; no exaggerated claims.
• If posting specs (SEER, materials), include brand or source.
• Use contrasting but soft colors; avoid text walls.

10) A/B Testing Photo Sets

1. Test leading image: room wide vs detail macro.
2. Square vs portrait in feed; keep captions identical.
3. Decision rule: promote the variant with higher click-to-message and save rate over 3 rotation windows.

Snapshot metrics 24h post—record reach, saves, DMs, call taps.

11) UGC & Short Video

• 15–30s passes: “walk-in reveal,” “tool in action,” “edge/corner detail.”
• On-site testimonial in good light (even 8–12s) can outperform texts.

12) Accessibility & Legal

• Add alt text: task + angle + feature (e.g., “After — tile shower, niche shelf, matte black fixtures”).
• Blur personal photos, addresses, or sensitive items.
• Use accurate “before/after”; no deceptive edits; keep claims substantiated.

13) Posting Cadence & Content Calendar

• 3 posts/week baseline; evenings/weekends often best for residential.
• Stories daily during launch week; pin the best gallery for 48–72h.
• Rotate trades/services to showcase breadth and keep feeds fresh.

14) KPIs & Dashboard

UTM idea: utm_source=marketplace&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=before_after_2025

15) 30–60–90 Day Rollout Plan

Days 1–30 (Foundation)

1. Adopt the 3-phase shot list; create mobile preset and export presets.
2. Publish 3 galleries/week; log metrics by window.
3. Refresh GBP photos; add products/services with images.

Days 31–60 (Momentum)

1. Start A/B tests (lead image, aspect ratio).
2. Add 2 short “process” videos/week.
3. Build a proof page on your site (before/after albums by service).

Days 61–90 (Scale)

1. Templatize captions; train assistants; standardize file naming.
2. Localize per neighborhood; translate if useful.
3. Boost only winners; prune low performers.

16) Troubleshooting & Optimization