A photo checklist works because it moves the thinking away from the moment when your crew is tired, the light is fading and the customer is asking when they can switch the system on. Written once and used every time, it turns “have we got everything?” into a ticked list. This one is built by stage, in the order the work happens, so the photo is taken when the subject is still in view.
Use it alongside the STC photo requirements resource and the practical advice in what crews get wrong on site. For batteries, which have a separate set of rules, see battery installation photo requirements.
Before you start: set up the phone
- Location services on for the camera app.
- Highest photo quality; no beauty filters, no HDR modes that alter metadata.
- Date and time set automatically.
- Lens clean. A smudge shows up on every label shot.
- Storage free, because a full phone is a missing photo.
Stage 1: arrival and site
| Shot | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Street frontage showing house number | Ties the job to the address |
| Front of property | Context for the location data |
| Meter box and meter | Existing supply and location |
| Existing switchboard, before work | Pre-existing condition |
Stage 2: roof and mounting
| Shot | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Roof surface and pitch | Proves roof type and suitability |
| Rail layout before panels go on | Shows mounting is to standard |
| Roof penetrations and flashing | Weatherproofing evidence |
| Any structural fixings | Shows how the array is held |
Many of these shots are impossible once the panels are on, which is why they come first.
Stage 3: array
| Shot | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Full array from the best available angle | Shows all panels installed |
| Panel labels, close-up, serial legible | Product and serial evidence |
| Cable management and earthing | Compliance with standards |
| Panel count visible | Matches claimed capacity |
If the array cannot be photographed in one frame, take overlapping shots from two angles and write the panel count on the job sheet. A 6.6 kW system on fifteen 440 W panels should show fifteen panels.
Stage 4: inverter and DC side
| Shot | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Inverter in position, wide shot | Location and clearances |
| Inverter rating label, serial legible | Product and serial evidence |
| DC isolator and labelling | Safety compliance |
| Cable entry and conduit | Workmanship |
Stage 5: AC side and switchboard
| Shot | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Switchboard with cover off, showing new protection | Wiring and breaker evidence |
| Switchboard with cover on, labels visible | Required labelling |
| Main isolator and solar supply labelling | Safety signage |
| Meter changes, where applicable | Metering evidence |
Stage 6: handover
| Shot | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Inverter display showing running state | Commissioning |
| Completed array, clean | Final condition |
| Customer handover and signed paperwork | Shows the job was finished |
Common misses and fixes
- Serial hidden behind the panel. Photograph labels during unboxing or before panels go up, and note which panel is which.
- Photos taken from inside the van. The location data may still be correct, but check it carries the house location, not the depot.
- Screenshots of photos. Original files only.
- One photo for many items. A single wide shot rarely proves five things. Separate shots are quicker to review.
Using the checklist across a crew
Print it. Put it in the van. Make the lead installer tick it off before they leave. When a rejection comes back, tick which item failed on a wall chart; after a month you will see which line needs training. If you work with a trader that pre-checks, ask for their rejection feedback by category so you can fix the pattern, not the job.
Where the checklist fits in the claim
Photos are one part of an evidence set that also includes the assignment form, electrical certificate, network approval and product details. See the STC compliance checklist for the whole pack. The answer on solar installation photo requirements gives the short form.
A realistic time budget
Crews worry that a photo routine slows jobs. In practice a disciplined crew spends about ten to fifteen minutes spread across the install on photos, most of it while the next task is being prepared. Compare that with the cost of a rejection: on a 6.6 kW zone 3 job worth around $1,700 in certificates, a single week of delay costs more in tied-up cash than the total photo time across a month of jobs.
Special cases to plan for
Ground mounts and carports. There is no roof to photograph, so show the structure, footings and cable runs instead, with the same label close-ups. Add a shot that proves the array’s location on the property.
Microinverters. A microinverter per panel means a serial for each panel and each inverter. Photograph the pairing, or record the mapping on the job sheet as you go. Cross-check against the claim, because mismatches between the microinverter count and the panel count are a classic query.
Additions to existing systems. Photograph the existing array as well as the new panels, so the reviewer can see what was there and what was added. This supports the installation type chosen in the claim; see installation type: new, replacement or additional.
Replacements. If you are swapping panels or an inverter, photograph the old equipment before removal and its labels, then the new equipment. A replacement can earn no certificates or fewer than a new system, so evidence of what was removed matters.
Photos you should never take
- A photo of a different job, even if the equipment looks the same.
- A photo taken weeks before or after the install date to fill a gap.
- A photo edited to brighten a label, which can strip or alter metadata.
If you cannot supply a shot, say so. An honest gap that is explained is a manageable problem. A reused or doctored image is a serious one, and the regulator can act against an installer for it. The answer on avoiding STC fraud covers how installers get caught out, often innocently.
What to do next
Print the checklist and pilot it on your next five jobs. Review the sets in the driveway and again in the office. If you want another pair of eyes, our desk reviews photos before lodgement, as set out on how it works. The STC trading pillar and resources library cover the rest of the claim.