Types of Inspection Photos
Inspectors take several categories of photos, each serving a different purpose in the report.
Overview and Orientation Photos
Wide shots of each room, exterior views from multiple angles, the roof from ground level. These establish context and prove the inspector was there. They're less about problems and more about documentation.
If something looks different later (was that crack there before?), these photos create a baseline.
System Documentation
Equipment nameplates showing age and model numbers. Electrical panel labels. Water heater data plates. These photos let you verify equipment age and look up warranty information or recall notices.
Check these carefully. A water heater from 2008 has about two years left. A furnace from 2015 might have a decade.
Condition Photos
Close-ups of specific conditions the inspector wants to highlight. Cracks, stains, rust, damage, improper installations. These are the photos that actually matter for your purchase decision.
Look for rulers, fingers, or objects placed in frame for scale. Inspectors include these references so you can tell if a crack is hairline or significant.
Reading Photo Angles
Experienced inspectors choose angles deliberately. Understanding their choices helps you understand what they're showing.
Straight-On vs. Angled
A photo shot straight at a wall shows overall condition. A photo shot at an angle emphasizes bowing, bulging, or surface irregularities that catch light differently. If an inspector took both angles, they're probably showing you a wall that isn't flat.
Floor-Level Shots
Photos taken from floor level often show gap patterns under doors and baseboards, revealing floor slope or settling. A door that looks fine from standing height might show a 1-inch gap underneath when photographed from below.
Flashlight Illumination
Side lighting from a flashlight makes surface defects pop. Cracks, nail pops, and texture inconsistencies become visible when light rakes across them. If you see harsh shadows in a photo, the inspector is emphasizing something the overhead lights wouldn't reveal.
Common Photo Red Flags
Certain photo subjects typically indicate concerns worth understanding.
Staining Patterns
Water stains with defined edges (tide marks) suggest repeated wetting. Active leaks show darker, irregular staining. Old stains from a fixed problem look different from ongoing issues. Ask the inspector to clarify the pattern.
Multiple Angles of One Area
If the report includes five photos of the same foundation wall section, something about that section concerned the inspector. They're documenting thoroughly either because there's a problem or because they expect questions.
Reference Objects
A ruler placed next to a crack means the inspector wanted you to know the exact size. A coin for scale suggests they're documenting something small but notable. These details don't appear by accident.
What Missing Photos Might Mean
Sometimes what's not photographed matters as much as what is.
Inaccessible Areas
If there are no attic photos, the attic might have been inaccessible (blocked access, unsafe conditions). The report should note this. No photos of an area that should be accessible is worth a question to the inspector.
Normal Conditions
Inspectors don't photograph everything that's fine. No photos of the plumbing doesn't mean they didn't check it - it might mean nothing was notable. But if the text mentions a condition without photos, ask why.
Using Photos After Closing
Keep your inspection photos permanently. They become valuable reference material.
Compare current conditions to inspection photos when something seems different. That stain on the ceiling - was it there before? Check the photos. The crack in the garage floor - has it grown? Compare to inspection day.
If you hire contractors later, inspection photos help them understand the house's history without exploratory work.