Camera & Photos

Use your phone's camera to take photos directly in GetCost. Attach photos to estimates, jobs, expenses, and templates.

Taking Photos

Anywhere you see an upload or camera button in the app, you can take a photo with your phone's camera or choose an existing photo from your gallery.

  1. Tap the Upload Button

    Look for the camera or upload icon wherever photos are supported.

  2. Take a Photo or Choose from Gallery

    Your phone will ask whether to take a new photo or pick one from your photo library. You can select multiple photos at once.

  3. Photo is Attached

    The photo is uploaded and attached to the item you're working on (estimate, job, expense, etc.).

Note: The mobile app uses your device's native camera. You may need to grant camera and photo library permissions when prompted.
Tip: Photos taken with GPS enabled on your camera will be automatically geocoded — GetCost extracts the street address from the photo's location data. See GPS Location for details.

Add an Image or File to an Estimate or Invoice

To attach a photo, document, or drawing to an estimate or invoice, open the document and tap the + Images button. This opens the Images window, which has three options:

📷

Image

Add a photo or video. On mobile you can take a new photo with your camera or pick existing ones from your gallery; on a computer you can upload from your files. Paid plans let you select up to 25 at once — free accounts can add one at a time.

📎

File

Attach a document of any type (PDF, spreadsheet, etc.). Attaching files is available on paid plans.

✏

Drawing

Sketch a freehand drawing right in the app — handy for marking up a diagram or a quick site sketch.

Note: Attachments are added to the estimate or invoice itself. You can add several, and remove any of them at any time before the document is finalized.

Where You Can Use Photos

Photos can be attached in several places throughout the app.

📋

Estimates & Invoices

Attach photos of the job site, materials, or completed work to your estimates and invoices.

🛠

Jobs

Document job progress with before and after photos.

💰

Expenses

Photograph receipts to keep a visual record of your expenses.

📋

Templates

Templates with image elements let users attach photos when filling out the form (e.g., job site photos).

Ask GetCost AI About a Photo

When you open a photo in the image editor — the screen with the pen, text, crop and rotate tools — you'll find the GetCost AI button in the corner opposite the back arrow. Tap it and the chat opens with that photo already attached, so you can ask about it straight away instead of uploading it again.

👁

What do you see?

Have the AI describe the site, the condition of the work, or what's in the frame.

📦

List the materials

Ask what materials are visible so you can turn them into estimate line items.

✍

Describe it for the estimate

Get wording you can put in front of a client, based on the photo.

Note: The AI sees the photo itself, not the pen marks or text you've drawn over it. It also looks at the photo only for the question you ask right after opening the chat — if you keep the conversation going, attach it again for a follow-up question about the image.

Scanning Receipts

The Expenses screen includes a dedicated Scan Receipt button that uses your camera to photograph a receipt and automatically extract the details.

  1. Go to Expenses

    Navigate to the Transactions screen.

  2. Tap Scan Receipt

    Tap the Scan Receipt button to open your camera.

  3. Photograph the Receipt

    Take a clear photo of the receipt. The app will process the image and fill in the expense details automatically.

Tip: For best results, photograph receipts on a flat surface with good lighting. Make sure the entire receipt is visible in the frame.