Photography Tips for Collision Estimating and Documentation
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- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2013
- If you're an estimator one of your most important jobs is taking photographs to document the damage on an estimate and during the repair process.
It sounds simple right? Just point and shoot. However, if you've ever had to participate in a desk audit or review you know sometimes the photos are just not enough to support the claim payment.
In this video we'll talk about some tips and tricks for taking great photos of collision damage on cars and the best techniques for documenting damage and your estimate.
Be sure to visit www.CollisionHub.com for more information or watch this great video from State Farm: • Video 
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Kristen, I'm a photographer and an aspiring estimator. Couple of things I would add:
1) Regarding flash or any source of light reflecting off of a shiny surface. The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. So, if you shoot a flash picture of a panel or glass at a 45-degree angle the flash is going to bounce off at a 45-degree angle away from the camera lens.This is good. You don't want to shoot straight on with flash as it will reflect like a mirror, straight back into the lens which "blows out" or overexposes the shot.
2) All camera meters are calibrated to measure approx 12% gray reflectance of the subject for proper exposure. In practice if you point the camera at a white car, it will adjust itself to make the car darker than it is. Point it at a black car and it will adjust to underexpose the car. It's always trying to achieve a light gray.
There are other tips, but a key thing to remember when photographing panel damage is that our eyes are much more sensitive to contrast, i.e. light to dark, than any camera sensor or film. You need shadows to be able to see the damage. Too much direct light will flatten everything out and lose the detail you're trying to capture.
I am an estimator/service advisor in a Mercedes dealership. I have take pictures of damaged vehicle for estimation purpose, due to lack of parking space, some times the vehicle has to be parked directly inside the working bay. Here comes the main problem for shooting pictures, I have to face a lot of problem, mainly inside workshop hall, there is two much light and any picture you will take (at any mode of camera's)it will give you more shine, instead of subject (which you want to take image).
secondly i am still struggling to take pictures for scratches from any surface like painted body part, especially headlights even from any angle, what happened, instead of picture of object, our own image is reflected in picture.
At the moment i am using canon IXUS-which i think is perfect.
need your suggestion/tips. My request is open to all,if any one can guide me?
your videos have been extremely helpful. thank you!
king gonzy Thanks for watching!
Really good video, very professional
This video is old and smart phone cameras have come a long way..although most of the tips are still valid and helpful. You can set-up a Google photos account and all your mobil pictures get uploaded there. Also even if you don't have micro, a good trick is to keep the camera about 10- 12 inches away and zoom in; that way your camera will focus.
this was a great video.
very helpful information
The one dislike, can you tell us why so we can improve?
Any suggestions where I can go to take a quick course?
jrisky22 I-CAR website has an online course for photography and I believe AMI also has one on their website.
Collision Hub Thanks a lot!
Can you show us how to make a three thousand job in a thirty thousand job like running a old head light down the side of a vehicle and compound it off
Probably
Just use a good cell phone, note 3, 4, and set up a live.com account. Your photos are instantly uploaded to live and anyone can view them that needs to. Also known as onedrive. Get away from the antique memory card, upload, remove insert card life.
Guys you forgot to take pic of the interior,floor mats ,spare wheel,and wheel lock.plus after every picture taken inspect for clarity if not erase and try again.