Record the room, then the details
Take a wide view from the doorway and another from the opposite corner. Include the furniture and fittings that belong with the property. These pictures show where individual details sit in the room and make close-ups easier to understand later.
Photograph existing marks, chips and worn areas in ordinary light. For each close-up, take a second image from farther back so its location is clear. Avoid dramatic filters or edits that change the appearance of the surface. A simple filename with the room and date is more useful than a large collection of unnamed images.
If there is an inventory or check-in record, compare it with what you see and raise discrepancies through the appropriate channel. Photographs are a useful record, but they do not by themselves settle every question about responsibility or condition. Keep the written conversation with them.
Capture what decoration will conceal
Before placing a large rug or moving a sofa, record the visible floor and skirting around it. If you are permitted to remove handles or another small fitting, photograph the original position and keep the parts together. These pictures can later help you restore the arrangement accurately.
Do not remove electrical fittings, dismantle furniture or investigate hidden defects simply to make a more complete photo set. Record what is safely visible and ask the responsible person about anything that needs attention. The exercise should not create new damage.
Save copies somewhere you can find after moving. Separate room photographs from private documents, faces and personal information, especially if you will share them with an agent. A folder arranged by room is usually sufficient.
Take a matching set after any agreed change is finished. The two sets help explain exactly what changed and preserve the details that memory tends to lose. They are also useful for design: when a room starts to feel crowded, the earlier wider view can remind you which pieces were already there before the new layers arrived.
