The power in the after shots is created in the before shots by Mike Phillips

[Mike Phillips]

The power in the after shots is created in the before shots by Mike Phillips


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.

One of the biggest problems with capturing a great before shot is someone, not understanding the value in the before shot and all it's ugliness, will take some kind of paint polishing product and make a clean, shiny spot in an otherwise really neglected and ugly panel like the hood or the trunk-lid.

It's this single shiny spot that ruins the dramatic "before" pictures.


These types of panels make the best before and after shots because they are usually large, they are usually in the worst shape, you can look down on them, or in this case take an overhead shot of them, and the hood is specifically the panel that gets the most attention from car enthusiasts.


Also, after you polish out a neglected car you can ALWAYS get the after shots, just walk out to the garage and take some pictures. But you can NEVER go back in time to take the "before shots.


So, over the years when I've discussed doing future extreme makeovers on project cars with the owners, I've always stressed the importance of not touching the paint till AFTER we get the before shots.

It's just so uncanny that if you don't bring this topic up, then sometime before you arrive at the car's location or the car is brought to your location, someone and their good intentions will do you the favor of rubbing something smack dab in the middle of the hood and make a shiny spot and ruin the before pictures.

Anyway, a couple of years ago while scheduling an Extreme Makeover, I wrote this little sentence that I think states the concept very clearly and wanted to post it in it's own thread with a time stamp for others to learn from and hopefully explain the "why" behind the idea...

So here it is and you can quote me on this,


"If you ever do an extreme makeover on a car or some other project, remember the power in the after shots is created in the before shots"


So do your best to get GREAT before shots before bringing your hand or your polisher down onto the paint and making a shiny spot. And try to educate the owner if there's going to be time passing before the project is scheduled to also not take any action until after the before shots area captured. Just as a precaution. Better safe than sorry.


Often times I'll see a great write-up on a spectacular and dramatic before and after project and the detailer will say something like,

"Sorry I didn't get any before pictures"

This happens all the time. It's happened to me because I didn't have a camera handy or the batteries were dead.

So just a note to anyone reading this, if you ever do an extreme makeover on something cool or special interest, remember, the power is in the before pictures, so make plans to capture them before buffing on the car.


Mike

 

[Mike Phillips]

Here's an example,

I met this gentleman at our local AutoZone and mentioned to him that his car was a great candidate for an extreme makeover; explained the process and gave him my phone number and in our conversation, I let him know the importance of not making a shiny spot on the hood.

I figured like most people he'll never call. A few months later this guy calls me and reminds me of the car and asks if I still want to use it for an extreme makeover. Let's me know he's going to take his dad along for an upcoming car cruise and car show.

I asked him,

Have you worked on it at all?

He said no

So, I said, bring it on over and we'll buff it out till it shines like a diamond, which he did. Anyway, it's just a nice old Ford and it was fun to polish out. I was just happy he didn't rub some kind of compound in the middle of the hood in the months between when I met him at AutoZone and the day he brought it over.

He purchased this 1960 Ford Ranchero off eBay in running condition for $900.00 and has been tinkering on it in his spare time while using it as a daily driver back and forth to the cement plant where he works. So, the paint sits out in the Mojave Desert sun and bakes with a coating of all kinds of dust from the cement plant landing on it.

Before

One half covered and taped-off

Before and after results

After

 

[Dsholes78]

Well said.
I’ve made the mistake of taking some quick before photos from afar and then once I get going I drop the phone for 7 hours and then I’m done. And then realize I never took photos of the slime on the steering wheel, the heavy oxidation on the wheels or the scuffs in the paint CLOSE up.
Then I say “man this steering wheel was a mess” and generally will get the “oh I never really noticed that, but it looks good now”

 

[Mike Phillips]

Well said.
I’ve made the mistake of taking some quick before photos from afar and then once I get going I drop the phone for 7 hours and then I’m done. And then realize I never took photos of the slime on the steering wheel, the heavy oxidation on the wheels or the scuffs in the paint CLOSE up.

Your description is probably fairly accurate for most people, that is we get so excited to get in so we can get out, we don't capture the most important pictures - the before pictures.

Then I say “man this steering wheel was a mess” and generally will get the “oh I never really noticed that, but it looks good now”

That sounds about right too.


Mike