A preparation guide from American Financial Claims. Updated September 20, 2026. This guide organizes information; it does not determine coverage or replace advice for your specific claim.
01. Start with safe access
Do not climb onto a damaged roof, enter a restricted building or move into standing water to get a better picture. Photograph only from places that are safe to access. If an area is unsafe, write that down and let the appropriate professional document it.
02. Capture the room, then the detail
Start at the doorway so someone unfamiliar with the property can understand the room. Move to a medium view showing the affected wall, ceiling, floor or item. Finish with close-ups of the visible condition. Repeat the same sequence in each affected area. A close-up alone can be difficult to locate later.
03. Keep a simple photo log
Use an ordinary note with four columns: filename, room or location, date photographed and what you observed. Describe the condition without guessing at a technical cause. Keep the original files. If you make annotated copies with arrows, retain the originals separately.
04. Document work as it happens
Where safe, keep photographs before emergency work, during access or removal, and after the work is complete. Ask the contractor for their own photographs and reports. Record who performed the work and when. Save invoices in a separate folder linked to the same room or area.
05. Bring the record to the review
Share the photographs together with the timeline, relevant repair reports and carrier estimate. Identify anything that changed after the first photographs. A useful record does not have to be beautiful: it needs to show the location, condition and sequence clearly.
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