Photos & Videos Evidence
Detailed guidance on capturing, recording, and retrieving photo and video evidence for your case.
Photos & Videos
Visual evidence is powerful - judges can see exactly what happened. Learn how to capture clear, admissible photos and videos that support your case.
Why Visual Evidence is Powerful
Shows, Don't Tell
A picture is worth a thousand words to a judge
Proves Condition
Documents the state of things at a specific time
Objective Evidence
Less subjective than verbal descriptions
Technical Requirements for Good Evidence
Resolution
Higher resolution shows more detail. Use at least 1080p for videos and full resolution for photos.
Lighting
Natural daylight is best. Avoid shadows and backlit subjects. Use flash for dark areas.
Stability
Use both hands or a tripod. For videos, move slowly and avoid zooming in/out.
Metadata
Enable location and timestamp on your camera. This proves when and where photos were taken.
Types of Photo Evidence
Property Damage Photos
What Qualifies
- Damage to buildings, walls, floors, or structures
- Broken appliances or fixtures
- Water damage, mold, or deterioration
- Before and after photos showing change in condition
How to Record
- ā¢Take wide shots showing the entire affected area
- ā¢Take close-up shots of specific damage
- ā¢Include something for scale (ruler, coin, hand)
- ā¢Photograph from multiple angles
- ā¢Capture any labels, serial numbers, or identifying marks
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your phone's photo library by date
- ā¢Search cloud backups (Google Photos, iCloud)
- ā¢Check social media posts from that time period
- ā¢Ask family/friends if they took photos
- ā¢Request photos from property managers or inspectors
Vehicle Damage Photos
What Qualifies
- Dents, scratches, or body damage
- Broken parts (mirrors, lights, windows)
- Interior damage or stains
- Photos showing vehicle identification (VIN, plates)
How to Record
- ā¢Photograph all four sides of the vehicle
- ā¢Get close-ups of each damaged area
- ā¢Include the license plate in at least one photo
- ā¢Photograph the odometer reading
- ā¢Take photos in good lighting (daylight preferred)
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your phone's camera roll
- ā¢Request copies from insurance company
- ā¢Ask the repair shop for their documentation photos
- ā¢Check dashcam footage if available
- ā¢Request police report photos if accident was reported
Product Defect Photos
What Qualifies
- Damaged or defective products
- Missing parts or incorrect items received
- Packaging showing shipping damage
- Labels, receipts, and product information
How to Record
- ā¢Photograph the product as received (before unpacking fully)
- ā¢Capture the defect clearly with good lighting
- ā¢Include product labels and serial numbers
- ā¢Photograph the packaging and shipping labels
- ā¢Take comparison photos if you have a working version
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your phone photos around delivery date
- ā¢Request photos from the seller if you returned the item
- ā¢Check online reviews - you may have posted photos
- ā¢Ask anyone who saw the product when it arrived
Injury Documentation
What Qualifies
- Visible injuries (bruises, cuts, swelling)
- Progression of healing over time
- Medical devices or treatments (casts, bandages)
- Photos showing the accident scene
How to Record
- ā¢Take photos immediately after injury occurs
- ā¢Continue photographing as injury heals/changes
- ā¢Use good lighting to show true colors
- ā¢Include a date reference (newspaper, phone screen)
- ā¢Photograph any medical treatments or equipment used
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your phone's photo library
- ā¢Ask family members who may have taken photos
- ā¢Request photos from medical providers
- ā¢Check messages - you may have sent photos to someone
Work Quality Documentation
What Qualifies
- Poor workmanship or unfinished work
- Comparison to contract specifications
- Progress photos showing incomplete work
- Photos of materials used vs. materials promised
How to Record
- ā¢Take before, during, and after photos of the project
- ā¢Document specific issues with close-up shots
- ā¢Photograph materials and product labels
- ā¢Include photos with measuring tape for dimensions
- ā¢Compare to contract drawings or specifications
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your phone photos during the project timeline
- ā¢Request progress photos from the contractor
- ā¢Ask neighbors if they took photos
- ā¢Check home security camera footage
Types of Video Evidence
Security Camera Footage
Home security, doorbell, or business surveillance footage
How to Record
- ā¢Download footage before it's overwritten (usually 7-30 days)
- ā¢Note the exact date, time, and camera location
- ā¢Save in original format - don't compress or edit
- ā¢Keep the entire relevant time period, not just key moments
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your security system's cloud storage
- ā¢Download from the camera's app before it auto-deletes
- ā¢Request footage from neighboring businesses
- ā¢Ask property managers for building security footage
Dashcam Footage
In-car camera recordings of accidents or incidents
How to Record
- ā¢Save the footage immediately after an incident
- ā¢Most dashcams loop-record - act fast or footage is lost
- ā¢Copy to multiple locations (computer, cloud, USB)
- ā¢Note the timestamp settings of your camera
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Remove the SD card and check on a computer
- ā¢Check the dashcam app if it syncs to your phone
- ā¢Professional data recovery for damaged cards
- ā¢Request footage from other drivers involved
Walkthrough Videos
Video tours showing conditions or problems
How to Record
- ā¢Narrate what you're showing as you record
- ā¢Move slowly and steadily - avoid shaky footage
- ā¢Start and end at recognizable locations
- ā¢Include timestamps by filming a clock or phone screen
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your phone's video library
- ā¢Search cloud backups by date
- ā¢Ask real estate agents or property managers
- ā¢Check if you shared the video with anyone
Incident Recordings
Videos of problems as they happen
How to Record
- ā¢Start recording as soon as safely possible
- ā¢Capture the full incident without editing
- ā¢Avoid confrontational behavior while recording
- ā¢State the date, time, and location verbally
How to Retrieve
- ā¢Check your phone's video storage
- ā¢Ask witnesses if they recorded
- ā¢Check social media for posts from that time
- ā¢Request body camera footage from police if applicable
Photo Documentation Checklist
For any damage or condition, capture these essential shots:
Wide Shot
Shows location context
Medium Shot
Shows the affected area
Close-up
Shows specific damage
Scale Reference
Shows size of damage
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ā¢ Using filters or editing - Never alter photos; judges may question authenticity
- ā¢ Poor lighting or focus - Blurry, dark photos don't help your case
- ā¢ No scale reference - A scratch looks the same size as a dent without context
- ā¢ Missing before photos - Always document condition before problems occur
- ā¢ Deleting "bad" photos - Keep all photos; selective deletion looks suspicious