TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES!

**pilotpip** · 11-09-2020, 05:49 PM

I've been promising my dad that I'd make his 16 F-150 look good since he bought it nearly 18 months ago. Thanks to a near death experience for him, a job change for me, and life in general, I finally got around to doing something about it today. I was just going to slap some sealant on it for the winter and be done with it. After washing it, and using my clay mitt, I couldn't just do that. The previous owner must have used an old Terry cloth towel soaked in gravel to wash this thing. Swirl city.

I bust out my PC, my orange thin pro pads, and some McKees 360 and get to work. 4 hours later, we pull it out of the garage, and he's blown away by how much better it looks. Deep scratches are still there, but the ruby red metallic paint is popping in the sun, and the swirls are gone. As he pulls away I realize:

I. Didn't. Take. A. Single. Picture.

**PaulMys** · 11-09-2020, 05:57 PM

Hit yourself in the forehead with a tack hammer 10 times.

(I have don the same thing.

)

Mike Phillips · 11-10-2020, 09:23 AM

Been preaching this for decades...

The power in the after shots is created in the before shots

In the picture below, if you DIDN'T know how bad the paint was BEFORE the paint correction, you wouldn't have as much appreciation for the AFTER results.

It's the before shot that gives perspective. It's the before shot that provides context.

The power in the after picture is created in the before picture -Mike Phillips

Before starting any detailing project, take the time to capture the before condition pictures. Take my word for it, you'll regret it if you don't.

Plus - how can anyone truly know how bad the paint, or the interior, or the engine compartment was before you worked your magic. Without good before pictures, you saying how bad it was is just words. Sure you may have a great reputation but like the saying goes,

A picture tells a thousand words

You have one chance to get the before shots...

In my life I've had the good fortune to work on a lot of cool cars and with a lot of cool people for which I'm always very thankful for. I've also had the good fortune to work on a lot of very neglected cars, some special interest and some not but to the owner it was always important and when it's important to the owner then it's important to me.