Robert's preference: one or two good photos
Robert quotes repairs from photos, usually within minutes when you reach him during business hours. You don't need to send dozens. One or two clear photos from different angles usually tell him what he needs to know, and a short video is welcome if that's easier.
A few good pictures beat a pile of blurry close-ups. The tips below are about making those one or two photos count.
“I just need some good pictures, maybe one to two at different angles.”
A dry car and good light
Water beads and wet streaks hide scratches and make scuffs look worse than they are. Let the car dry first.
Daylight is best. Open shade or an overcast day is easier than hard midday sun, which throws glare. Photos taken at night under a streetlight or garage bulb rarely show the damage clearly.
“I prefer the car to be dry and in a well-lit area so I can see everything clearly.”
Start wide, then get closer at an angle
Start with one wider shot of that corner or side of the car. It shows where the damage sits and whether nearby parts still line up the way they should.
Then make sure the whole damaged part is in frame: the entire bumper, panel or headlight, with every end of a crack or scrape visible. Damage that runs out of the frame leaves Robert guessing about the part he can't see.
Then take a closer photo straight on, then another from the side. Light skimming across the surface at an angle shows depth: whether a scratch is a surface mark or cut into the paint, and whether a bumper is dented or just scuffed.
If you're wondering about a scratch, try the fingernail test before you shoot, and mention in your text whether it caught. Will that scratch buff out? explains the test.
Include anything loose, cracked or missing
Photograph anything that looks out of place, even if it seems minor. These details change what the repair involves:
- Gaps where the bumper has pulled away from the fender or trunk
- Loose or hanging trim, or a bumper corner that's popped out
- Cracks, especially both ends of each one
- Missing pieces, or a broken piece you still have
- Parking sensors in or near the damaged area
Photos that make quoting harder
Most unclear photos fall into a handful of patterns. Avoiding them is usually enough:
- Only an extreme close-up, with no way to tell which part of the car it is
- A wet car, or one just out of the wash with water still beading
- Night shots, or flash bouncing straight back off the paint
- Zoomed-in photos that turn blurry; walk closer instead
- A reflection of you, the sky or another car sitting right on top of the damage; take a step to the side
What to put in the text
A few words with the photos save a back-and-forth:
- Year, make and model
- Your area or neighborhood, so Robert can plan the drive (service areas)
- A line about what happened, if you know
- Whether you have a driveway and a power outlet nearby, since that's his best setup (how it works)
What happens after you send repair photos
Robert replies with a quote. If you like it, you pick a day, usually a morning, and he comes to you. You pay when the repair is done.
Quotes rarely change. They only change if you add work, or if something wasn't visible in the photos, and if that happens he explains why before going further.
If your parking setup is unusual, say so in the same text. Some townhomes work, office complexes sometimes do, and parking decks don't, so it helps to sort out the spot before the day.
Common questions: What photos should I send for a repair quote?
How many photos should I send?
One or two clear photos from different angles are usually enough. Add a wide shot if the close-ups don't show where the damage is on the car.
Can I send a video instead?
Yes. Videos are welcome, especially a slow walk past the damage in good light.
Will the price change once he sees the car?
Rarely. A quote only changes if you add work or something wasn't visible in the photos, and Robert explains why if it does.
Do I need to wash the car before the appointment?
It isn't required, but a reasonably clean car helps. For the photos, the most important thing is that the car is dry.
Written from Robert Crenshaw's own explanations of how he works. Nearly 30 years repairing bumpers, and 25 years running his own business.