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[Pro] Guidelines: Taking Photos

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Intro

This page serves as a guideline for taking photos during your jobs. Taking good photos is an integral part of the lawn mowing process. Good photos can validate work and provide proof of important details, such as the size of the service area, the length of the grass, or any other details like obstruction. It is also required to take photos for first-time visits to a property, so acquainting yourself with taking good photos is crucial.


Table of Contents

 

Lawn Love/LawnStarter

Best Practices

This section provides recommended practices for executing the process based on industry standards and internal expertise, ensuring optimal results and efficiency.

 

Tips for Taking Photos

For your first job, you will be required to take after photos of the lawn as well as in certain situations, like a Customer request. Below are some tips on taking proper photos to ensure you receive the appropriate payout and your claim is not denied.

  • Take enough photos.
    • If we can only see one section (front yard, back yard, side yard, etc) of the yard in the photos, you may only receive a portion of the additional payout. 
    • Make sure that you take several photos of each section of the yard that you are servicing (2 to 3 photos of the front, back, and side yards each).
    • It is always best for you to take photos using your phone's camera and save them to the device's gallery, not the in-app camera.
      • If there is a drop in cell service or any other issue, the app may refresh and the photos will be lost. 
        • If the photos are stored in the phone's memory, they can be retrieved and resubmitted if needed.
          • The photos can be saved or deleted to conserve space once the long grass report has been approved and you have been paid for the additional work.
            • Take before and after photos from the same place and angle. 
    • When uploading many photos, you may be slowed down by data speeds.
      • Poor cell service will also make this a hassle so it is good to save the photos to your gallery and then upload when they have better reception. 
        • Yes, you can now upload as many after photos as you want!
  • Photos should not be close-ups.
    • Take photos from chest level that show as much of the area being serviced as possible.
  •  Make sure the photos are in focus.
    • If photos are blurry, we won't be able to approve the additional payout.
    • If the Customer claims some or all of the work was not done, this is important as well so that you have proof of what was done. 
  • Use a tape measure or yardstick as a reference.
    • If you don't feel like the length of the yard comes through on photos you can use a tape measure, yardstick, or another item as a reference.
    • Also, you can take a photo or two during the service to show the difference in the overgrown and mowed lengths in the yard.
  • Take a photo with the Customer's address in it.
    • This will help to confirm that the photos are for the right property in case you have made multiple submissions.
  • Take before and after photos from the same place and angle. 
    • This ensures that you are showing the same areas in the before and after pictures and we can do a side-by-side comparison of the photos.

Taking Long Grass Photos

You are required to take photos of any property that is being reported for long grass. These photos will be used to determine the additional payout for the extra work performed on the property.

  • You are required to provide both before and after photos for all long grass reports.
    • If no photos are submitted the additional payout will not be granted.
    • You are required to submit photos proving that long grass is over six inches tall.
    • Since the Long Grass Fee is automatically approved when submitted, these photos are used to validate if the Long Grass report is valid or not.
    • When reviewing photos, make sure that all parts of the scope of service are visible, that the photos aren't blurry or tightly cropped, etc.
  • Do the photos uploaded show that all the portions of the scope were mowed?
    • Front yard only.
      • Photos of the front, the left, and the right sides or up to the fence on the side yards. 
    • Backyard only.
      • Photos of the backyard, the left, and the right side or up to the fence on the side yards.
    • Full yard
      • Photos of the front yard, the backyard, the left, and the right sides.
  • Photos should not be close-ups.
    • The photos should be taken from chest level that shows as much of the area being serviced as possible.
      • The exception is acquiring close-up measurement photos that verify the height.
  • Make sure the photos are in focus.
    • If the photos are blurry and you can not make a determination, we will not be able to approve the long grass claim.
  • Do the photos show that the grass is over six inches?
    • Did you use an item that is standard in size, standard meaning the object does not vary in size? 
      • Yardstick, tape measure, etc.
    • Did you take photos during the service to show the difference in the overgrown and mowed lengths of the yard?
      • Pictures must clearly show that the grass is long. 

Taking Photos for Unique Situations

Sometimes you will be tending to a property for something other than a scheduled service visit.

  • Make sure that you take several photos of each section of the yard. 
    • This includes the front, sides, and back yard. 
  • Below are the times when photos are required: 
    • First Service at a Property
      • Anytime you are servicing a property for the first time we will require after photos of the service. This helps to resolve potential disputes if there is an issue with the service or property damage reported.
    • Return Request
      • Anytime you respond and schedule a return trip from a Return Request, we will require photos of the completed work. This is to help resolve any potential disputes that the Customer may have.
    • Required Work Quotes
      • Anytime that you are submitting a required work quote through the "Property Requires a Quote for Cleanup" option in the app, we will require you to upload "before" photos on the quote. This helps to provide clarity on the scope of the work that will be done.
      • If you are reporting long grass at one of your LawnStarter properties, you will be required to take before and after photos. These photos are used to determine the additional 50% or 100% payout for the extra work you performed at the property.

 

Ensuring Consistency

This section outlines measures to maintain a consistent approach throughout the process, ensuring adherence to established standards through strategies, guidelines, and checkpoints.

Taking Good Photos

Field Description
What it Means
  • Take clear photos.

    • Make sure the photos are in focus.

    • If photos are blurry the additional payout will not be approved. 

  • Show enough area
    • Photos for normal cuts should not be close-ups.
    • Take photos from chest level that show as much of the area being serviced as possible.
Example of Good Practice

This photo captures a majority of the service area.

Notice how the photo is not close-up and shows the entire service area.

This is a good before photo that captures a majority of the service area.

This photo is clear.
Example of Bad Practice

This photo is too close up.

This photo is too blurry.
Why Does it Matter? Taking good photos protects you from claims that the grass was not cut, and ensures that you get a payout for the job.

 

Long Grass Photos

Field Description
What it Means

One exception for acquiring a close-up photo is when you are measuring the height of the grass to confirm that it qualifies as Long Grass.

In this case, use a Tape Measure or a Yardstick as a reference for the photo:

  • If you do not feel like the length of the yard comes through on photos, use a measuring tape, yardstick, or other items as a reference. 
    • You can also take a photo or two during the service to show the difference in the overgrown and mowed lengths in the yard. 
  • If you do not have a measuring tool, use something standard in size. 
    • No bananas, shoes, etc. 
Example of Good Practice

Pro_app_measuring_tape_1.png

See how the yardstick provides a more accurate measure of the grass?
Example of Bad Practice

We don't know how long that French bread is!
Why Does it Matter? Taking photos of long grass and showing a clear measurement will justify the long grass claim.

 

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Examples & Templates

This section offers practical examples and/or ready-to-use templates to guide users in implementing the process effectively.

 

Include the Customer's Address

This will help to confirm that the photos are for the right property in case you have multiple submissions. The house number is usually found on the front of the house or in the mailbox.

 

Use Side-by-Side Comparisons

This ensures that you are showing the same areas in the before and after pictures and we can do a side-by-side comparison of the photos.

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