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    Photo or Video? When to Use Each Type of Evidence

    Photos are best for fixed conditions — damage, injuries, scenes. Video is best for events that unfold over time — behavior, harassment, leaks in motion. Use both when possible. SnapProof adds a verified timestamp, GPS, and a cryptographic fingerprint designed to detect later edits to either format, creating independently verifiable evidence regardless of medium.

    The wrong format weakens your documentation. Here's the guide.

    4 min read

    When Photos Are Stronger

    Photos are better for: static damage (cracks, stains, broken items), documents and text (contracts, signs, labels), injuries (clear, detailed close-ups), before/after comparisons, and any situation where detail and clarity matter more than context.

    Photos are easier to review, share, and include in reports. A lawyer can quickly flip through 50 properly documented photos. They're not going to watch 50 videos.

    When Video Is Stronger

    Video is better for: active situations (leaks, noise, aggressive behavior), walkthrough documentation (showing the full scope of a scene), movement and behavior (pets, people, traffic), audio evidence (threats, noise violations, verbal harassment), and anything a photo can't fully capture.

    Video captures context, sound, and duration that photos can't.

    📸 Use Photos

    Static damage
    Documents & text
    Injuries (detail)
    Before/after
    Quick sharing

    🎥 Use Video

    Active situations
    Walkthroughs
    Behavior & motion
    Audio evidence
    Full context

    The Best Approach: Both

    For any serious documentation situation, use both. Start with video to capture the full scene and context. Then take individual photos for detail and close-ups. Both should be timestamped and GPS-verified.

    Format Tips

    Videos — Keep them focused, 30-60 seconds is ideal, narrate what you're seeing
    Photos — Wide shot first for context, then close-ups for detail
    Both — Capture from multiple angles, don't zoom digitally (move closer instead), hold steady

    FAQ

    Yes, significantly more. But for important evidence, storage is a worthwhile tradeoff. You can always take a few key videos alongside many photos.

    Yes. Timestamped, GPS-verified video is powerful evidence. Audio in videos can be especially compelling.

    Never edit originals. If you need to highlight a section, keep the original intact and note the relevant timestamp for your lawyer.

    Capture the right evidence, the right way.

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