For tree service owners
What photos and notes should I keep for every tree job?
Short answer
Take clear before, during and after photos, plus notes on hazards, the agreed scope and any change made on site. Store them with the job record. They help with disputes, insurance questions and future estimates.
By Umair Nawaz. Published October 25, 2026. General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.
The longer answer
Good records protect you and help you grow.
Before: photos of the tree, the yard, fences, roofs and anything already damaged. This shows the condition before you started.
During: photos of any surprise, like rot, hidden wire or a cracked limb. Note what changed and who approved it.
After: photos of the finished work and the cleaned yard.
Notes: the date, the crew, hours worked, equipment used and anything that went wrong. These also feed your next estimate.
Keep customer privacy in mind. Ask before you post photos publicly, and do not show faces or house numbers.
Store everything by customer and date in one place. Back it up.
We have a photo checklist that lists what to capture.
More answers for owners
- What photos should I post on my Google profile as a tree service?Read the answer
- What records should a tree service keep for licenses, insurance and safety?Read the answer
- What should a crew check before starting each tree job?Read the answer
- What should a tree service do when a customer calls back after a quote?Read the answer
- What should a tree service estimate template have on it?Read the answer
- What should a tree service voicemail greeting say?Read the answer
Own a tree service?
See where your calls and leads slip away
A free audit of your Google profile, website and missed-call handling. See what we set up and pricing.