Take two photos, not one
The first photo should show the full equipment and label location. The second should fill the frame with the rating plate while preserving every edge. This prevents a cropped serial from becoming detached from the equipment it belongs to.
Reduce character errors
- Hold the camera parallel to the plate
- Use tap-to-focus on the serial line
- Avoid flash glare on metallic labels
- Add side lighting when characters are embossed
- Photograph a second angle
- Read the value aloud or type it before leaving the equipment
Protect private information
Equipment labels generally do not contain a resident’s name, but a surrounding photo can reveal addresses, access codes, work orders, or customer details. Crop or redact unrelated personal information before sharing a report or correction request.