Usually I have no problem getting the required when I do a certain wireless shop. I took one that was on the board last week after the fee hit a pretty decent price. Did the shop then was trying to get photos....nightmare. The location is in a strip center and the store signage that has the name of the store is attached to an overhang that protrudes out from the building a good 10 feet or so. So getting the photo was going to require some distance, creating a second problem. The parking spots in front of the store were filled with an SUV and a pickup, so I could get the store sign, but not the windows. One angle gave me a clear shot of a window, but had a column supporting the overhang blocking the second window. It was starting to become apparent why no one wanted this shop. I went shopping to wait for vehicles to move...nope. nothing. My short 15-20 minutes shop turned into a good two plus hours before finally the truck moved and II was able to finally get a clear shot with only part of the SUV in the way..
The shop was approved, but man it so wasn't worth the headache.

In a MF related note, I looked today and saw another wireless shop posted twice (same shop, same location, same days except the second one had a longer range). The first posting had a $10 higher pay and the make an offer button. I wonder if someone will take the lower fee and/or not make an offer?

Assuming this is the common cell phone shop where you MUST get a picture and a business card, this is what I do: The night before I google the address and click the ground view, where you see a picture of the strip mall. I note the parking lot and where to park.

When I get there, I park somewhat far enough (not in front of the front door) so that I may get the shot. If there is an SUV and a Van blocking the shot, that is not your fault. You want to get the signage and that may be ALL you get. The client knows cars park in front of the business. They just want to verify you went to the right store. Any disputes and the store manager could say that was not their store. Worry more about the "before" you get there and strategize your best parking spot to get the best shot.

Yeah you totally overthought that. Just take the photo as best you can and be done with it.

Great advice. You could also take multiple additional shops capturing the key areas as long as the form allows you to submit additional photos? I would have taken 5 minutes max to get the best photo (s) possible.

Ah . Cool. I had always kinda assumed they were looking to see if the window displays and or signs were what the wireless company wanted. Thanks everyone;

If they need those type of photos, they should send in someone to do an overt audit rather than a shopper to take picture surreptitiously.

After you have finished your shop and gotten your business card. I generally walk out the door and turn around an take a picture. If I can take a picture before entering the Retail, I do that also. Some of theses cell phone cells are popping up like holes n the wall. The Client is looking to make sure you are at the right place.

In my area these cell phones Client has opened up, at the top of a street, at the bottom of the street, around the corner any vacant storefront.

I frequently shop this particular wireless carrier in my area and as sojo9017 said, they will pop up any and everywhere. Inside grocery stores, at the top of the top of a building and some of the signs are awful to capture a photo. What I tend to do is just get a picture of the actual building that the wireless carrier is located inside to show the address when the sign is not a visible as I want . As someone stated, the client just wants to be sure that you were actually at the location. Also I have my phones location set so inside the details of the photo, MF and the client can actually see the location address as well as the time which is sufficient enough.

I was allowed to do two of these in one week at the same location, you can bet that I deleted the old picture before I took the new one!

@Bookwormmom wrote:

I was allowed to do two of these in one week at the same location, you can bet that I deleted the old picture before I took the new one!

While deleting the pictures is a good idea. Maybe a better idea would be better to use two different cameras-taking devices. Some times a Client comes back and ask for "better" pictures and if you don't have them, they can call suspicious.

At least, it is good to save all submitted items to a Client/MSC, until you get paid or at least six months after the shop. You never know when they will come back with a question, sometimes even after payment.

Why would not having multiple photos when only one is required somehow look suspicious? Carrying multiple devices to take photos sounds like a real drag.

To each his own. I would rather be safe than sorry. If I was carrying around 2 DSLR that would be a drag. But to carry around 2 compact cameras along with a cellphone, sound like a better choice than no pictures. The poster did not indicate how many pictures they had to take for one shop.

It is up to the MF shopper to make sure its pictures or visits do not overlap.

You still didn't answer why the lack of extra photos would be suspect.

If one photo is required I take one photo, mostly with my phone. If it doesn't look clear I delete and take another, but rarely more than required. Do you know how many assignments I have had rejected for picture quality? In eight years it was one and that one was my first assignment for the notoriously picky pizza joint.

The point is there is a lot of overthinking and time spent to get just the perfect shot or pick out the absolute perfect photograph from dozens taken. We are not photo journalists here.

I do what is best for me and the shops I perform. You may do something different. To each his own. Over thinking is something I don't do. I think enough to get the shop done and paid. MF does not and have not found any problems with my photos. I submit the right photos. I am a amateur when it comes to photos, been taking pictures since I receive my first camera. A photo journalist I am not. And MF is not looking for a gob of photos.

BTW, your discussion is not with me, for I am not also a right fighter.

It certainly was with you. The use of the word "suspicious" is what caught my eye and was never explained. Perhaps you were trying to say something else and used that word by mistake.

Deleted from phone, still in cloud. I go months between sessions clearing that out. My prayer though with each shop is, let this be it. Pretty please no pestering about details!

@Bookwormmom wrote:

I was allowed to do two of these in one week at the same location, you can bet that I deleted the old picture before I took the new one!

It's a good idea to hang on to all pictures taken at the same location, in the span of a week because they may ask you to resubmit for Cell Store #1 and if you have deleted them, (hopefully you were able to save Store #1 and Store #2) it would be hard to produce them if the client asks for them again.