Is a toilet photo a restroom photo?
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I've encountered similar sitiations. Now I usually stick to sink areas and have had no problems. If I really couldn't get a photo of the sink area, I would probably do the same thing you did. I probably also would get a picture of the outside door, so that if they took issue, I would tell them to change it to a "restroom busy" response. But, honestly, unless this were a covert audit, I would just put on my vest after the reveal, go in the restroom, politely announce my intentions and purpose, and get the sink photo.
Thanks! I should have given the context: This was a dining mystery shop, not a revealed audit.
No, because it's not the room.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
In my experience, and ymmv, when a restroom isn’t a single-person restroom and there are people in there, the MSC wants a pic of the door and an explanation of why you didn’t take the pic inside.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
In my experience they want the room or part of it, not the toilet. Of course if there is an issue with the toilet they would probably want a pic of that too. I do not do fast food so if it is ff I have no idea. If you need a pic of the restroom it is a good idea to check in the beginning of the shop to give you time to check again later if it is too busy for a pic.
It depends on the guidelines. There is one shop that wants the focus on the toilet. There are other shops that focus on the whole interior of the restroom. If you have any questions it is best to call the msc. If you can't reach them take extra pictures to cover all possible cases.
I take pictures of toilet and sink area and attach both to report.
I take pictures of toilet and sink area and attach both to report.
As a general rule a "bathroom" photo is not a "toilet" photo. Of course, sometimes the guidelines might allow you to just photograph any "offensive" parts of the restroom......
When I have to do a restroom photo (which, admittedly is very rare with the shops I do), I'll make a point of visiting the restroom early in my shop with the idea that I can try again later should it be too active. For instance, at a restaurant, it would not be out-of-place at all to make a visit before your meal - or even before you sit down - to wash your hands. It is certainly reasonable to make a trip during the meal. Of course, it is normal to make a stop before leaving after the meal. So, if necessary, I could make three visits to the facility and, typically would have an empty restroom at least once.
I'm not keen on bathroom photos when other folks are making use of the facility. - it's just not.... Anyhow, I have seen strange phone usage in men's rooms and suppose I could still take a clandestine picture if I had to. I'll never forget the guy who made the mistake of texting at the urinal - and dropping his phone. (I did not stick around long enough to find out if he decided to try and salvage it.)
When I have to do a restroom photo (which, admittedly is very rare with the shops I do), I'll make a point of visiting the restroom early in my shop with the idea that I can try again later should it be too active. For instance, at a restaurant, it would not be out-of-place at all to make a visit before your meal - or even before you sit down - to wash your hands. It is certainly reasonable to make a trip during the meal. Of course, it is normal to make a stop before leaving after the meal. So, if necessary, I could make three visits to the facility and, typically would have an empty restroom at least once.
I'm not keen on bathroom photos when other folks are making use of the facility. - it's just not.... Anyhow, I have seen strange phone usage in men's rooms and suppose I could still take a clandestine picture if I had to. I'll never forget the guy who made the mistake of texting at the urinal - and dropping his phone. (I did not stick around long enough to find out if he decided to try and salvage it.)
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
In the past, I pretzel-ed myself as much as possible to obtain photos of places that did not have toilets near sinks, etc. If ever I do one of those shops at certain places again, I will include a note: if you want the image to include all those features, please re-model the restroom. Otherwise, please accept the collection of images that I have provided. Just now, I need to visit the chiropractor.
As far as persons in images, that is vile. Fortunately, I have not had to deal with persons potentially in images.
As far as persons in images, that is vile. Fortunately, I have not had to deal with persons potentially in images.
Pronoun, schmonoun. I am a female human.
I take the photo that shows as much of the room as possible. Photos of issues always trump. This is why I always take more than just the required single photo, so I have extras if the client asks. You cannot always show all the issues in one photo.
I agree with showing as much of the restroom as possible unless specifically told otherwise. Taking a photo of only the toilet seems akin to taking a photo of a chair or one table and calling it a dining room photo. If others are present, I usually just wait for them to leave, but I definitely don't include them in the restroom photo.
Happily shopping the Pacific Northwest. Shopping since 2013 
I focus on a getting a good view of the sink area. Getting as much of the room as possible is important, but it is a secondary consideration for me. This approach has led to the fewest issues with editors, because some clients want a photo showing actual restroom equipment and not just floors and walls. But some restrooms have so much traffic it is not possible to get the sink area or a wide shot of the room. A toilet shot along with a comment on restroom traffic at least shows you didn't forget to inspect the restroom.
I usually try to stand in the corner to capture the sink area & open stalls. In the case of a very busy restroom, I would make at least two visits. In the event that only one pic can be uploaded, I have used the snipping tool on my laptop. Open as many pix as you need, shrink them a bit, arrange on your desktop, then use SNIPPING TOOL to capture everything and submit as one pic.
Now that's a clever way to do it without opening a graphics editor.@Monk-N-Nut wrote:
In the event that only one pic can be uploaded, I have used the snipping tool on my laptop. Open as many pix as you need, shrink them a bit, arrange on your desktop, then use SNIPPING TOOL to capture everything and submit as one pic.
We went to a restaurant that had paper towels and papers on the floor. The bsthroom was occupied both times my husbabd checked. The MSC wants a picture.
@Monk-N-Nut wrote:
I usually try to stand in the corner to capture the sink area & open stalls. In the case of a very busy restroom, I would make at least two visits. In the event that only one pic can be uploaded, I have used the snipping tool on my laptop. Open as many pix as you need, shrink them a bit, arrange on your desktop, then use SNIPPING TOOL to capture everything and submit as one pic.
Good gravy. That's way too much work. If only one photo is able to be uploaded, that's the MSC's problem. I'll take more than one if necessary but I'll upload one and let them ask for more if they need it.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I consider it the rule of 3 - 1) A pic of the toilet stall including pare, etc, 2) a pic of the sink and paper towels, etc and last 3) an overall as I would see walking in, baby changing rack, sanitary needs and the fixtures. Never been rejected that I can remember.
I have had that happen as well. Sometimes those restrooms are so small, its hard to photograph anything besides the toilet!
TinaMarie
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