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Adjuster photo checklist
Nine shots, in the order an adjuster expects them, with what each one is for and how to take it safely from the ground.
The one shot people always miss
The air conditioner condenser. Aluminium fins dent at hail sizes that leave an architectural shingle looking untouched from twenty feet away, and the damage is unambiguous, undateable-away and at eye level. If the fins are dented and the roof "shows nothing", that is a conversation worth having with the adjuster.
Same logic applies to gutter aprons, turbine vents, window screens, mailbox lids and soft-wood deck boards. Collateral damage at ground level proves a size of stone reached the address. The full guide.
Common questions
Should I get on the roof myself?
No. Falls from ladders are the most common serious injury in this whole subject, and an adjuster will not accept your photographs as a substitute for their own inspection anyway. Shoot from the ground, from a ladder at the eave, or with a pole or drone.
How many photos is too many?
There is no such thing as too many, but there is such a thing as disorganised. Name the files by slope and subject and put them in one folder with a one-page index.
Do timestamps matter?
Yes. Leave the camera's date correct and do not strip metadata. Photographs taken before any repair, with a verifiable date, are the strongest thing in your file.
What if I already had temporary repairs done?
Photograph what remains, keep every receipt, and say so plainly. Emergency mitigation is expected of you under most policies — concealing it is not.
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