Before/after pairs are the single most shareable photo format for aftermarket work. They're proof, they're satisfying, and they drive a 3-5x higher engagement rate than standalone shots. The installer app makes the pairs trivial to capture.
How it works
When an installer opens a job and starts photo capture, the app prompts:
1. "Capture before photos first" — guided through the standard panel list (front 3/4, rear 3/4, side, hood, etc.) 2. Job proceeds 3. "Capture after photos" — same panel list, same angles
The app holds each "before" photo as a faded overlay when capturing the matching "after" shot, so the installer naturally aligns the angle. Within 5 jobs, installers stop needing the overlay.
Step 1 — Turn on pair mode
Settings → Photos → Capture mode → "Before/after pairs."
Step 2 — Configure the angle list
Default list works for most shops, but you can customize:
- Front 3/4
- Side profile
- Rear 3/4
- Hood
- Front fender (close)
- Rear fender (close)
- Front bumper
- Headlights
For PPF work, add panel-specific close-ups. For wrap, add the full vehicle 360 sequence.
Step 3 — Train installers
Two rules to drill:
- Same angle, same distance. If "before" was shot from 6 feet at a 45-degree angle, "after" needs to match.
- Same light. If before was outdoors in shade, don't do after under bay lights.
The overlay helps. The discipline is what makes the pair shareable.
Step 4 — Auto-generated comparison shot
When both members of a pair are captured, the gallery system generates a side-by-side comparison image:
- Mobile-friendly format (vertical)
- Watermarked
- Tagged with the service performed
The customer sees these comparison images in their gallery and can share them to Instagram/TikTok directly.
What customers actually share
After 6 months of pair-mode, here's what shops report customers share most:
1. Front 3/4 before/after (#1 by a mile — full car visible) 2. Hood before/after (great for paint correction, ceramic depth) 3. Headlight before/after (huge for restoration work) 4. Rear bumper (for PPF showing rock chip protection)
Side profiles share less because they're harder to photograph well. Skip them if you're optimizing for shareability.
Tips
- Don't fake it. A "before" photo of a clean car next to an "after" of the same clean car with film looks fine but the customer can tell. Capture the real before — dust, swirl, original tint pulled off, whatever.
- Get the customer's permission to share publicly. The shareable gallery is private to the customer by default. They can opt to share publicly, and you can ask them to.
- Caption the pair. When you post to your shop's Instagram, mention the car, the service, and the warranty. "2023 Tesla Model Y — full vehicle Suntek CXP ceramic — 5-year warranty."