Ask the company which contact route it accepts before sending photographs. Take an overview, a sharp close-up and a size reference only when this can be done safely. Remove faces, letters, medicine labels, keys and screens from view, and explain where and when the image was taken.
Make the image answer three questions
The first photograph should show the location: sill, cupboard shelf, carpet edge or furniture seam. The second should show the object in focus. The third, if needed, can include a ruler or familiar neutral item for scale. Keep the camera parallel to the subject and use ordinary room light rather than a filter.
Do not reach into a void, climb, open an appliance or handle an unknown animal to improve the photograph. If a specimen is already safely contained, photograph it through the container and label the original location. Stop if the closer image would require unsafe access.
Before sending, inspect the whole frame. A close-up on a kitchen table may also reveal post, payment cards or a child’s school letter. Move those items or reframe. Keep people and skin out of the pest photo set; use a healthcare route for medical concerns.
Ask where the image will go
Phone first and ask for the current, company-approved sharing route. Confirm the recipient and send only the images relevant to the enquiry. If there is no live uploader, do not guess an employee’s personal account or post publicly for attention.
Add a short caption: exact room and surface, date, whether the object was moving, approximate size and whether similar examples appeared before. Keep the original file until the question is resolved. Editing that changes colour or removes surrounding detail can make identification harder.
A photograph can support triage, but it may remain inconclusive. It does not show hidden areas or establish extent. The next step may be a better specimen, additional context or an inspection rather than treatment.
Call The City Pest Company on 0203 393 2338 and ask how to share the image securely. See the identify a pest page for service context.
FAQs
Should I catch a live insect for the photo?
Do not take risks. Photograph from a safe distance; keep a specimen only if it is already safely contained.
Can a photo give a definite answer?
Sometimes it supports identification, but scale, focus, damage and lookalike species may leave uncertainty.
Should I include my address in the image?
No. Give necessary contact details through the agreed route, not by photographing private documents.
