How to document a leather-care case: before, during and after treatment

A useful case record supports risk assessment, review of the work, team coordination and the explanation given at handover. It does more than show a before-and-after result.

One photograph before treatment and one afterwards rarely explain the cause of a problem, the limits of the work or the changes during treatment. A useful record should help another person understand the original assessment, what was done and how it turned out.

The aim is to make the assessment, process and result reviewable, creating reliable material for a shop's quality management and training.

Record the item before treatment

Photograph the whole front, back, both sides, base and lining.
Take close-ups of stains, wear, colour loss, cracks and other damage.
Use consistent lighting to record colour and sheen.
Record the material assessment, the customer's priorities and any known previous treatment.
Identify existing defects, risks and problems that the service does not promise to eliminate.

Record the work as it progresses

Keep the location, product and outcome of each small-area test. Record the products, tools, steps and timing actually used. Together with the condition photographs, this information makes it possible to review the process and explain the result.

Protect customer information

Remove customer names, contact details, order information and other private information from material intended for publication. Do not publish information that identifies the customer or the source of an item without authorisation.