Quick Answer#
Clean Report uses two pieces of a photo's EXIF metadata: GPS coordinates, to calculate distance from the property, and orientation, to display the photo right-side up. It does not use EXIF data for anything beyond that.
What EXIF Data Is#
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data is metadata most phone cameras embed directly in a photo file — things like the camera orientation, and optionally GPS coordinates if location services were enabled.
What Clean Report Reads#
GPS coordinates — used to calculate distance from the property; see Photo Location Verification.
Orientation — used to automatically correct a photo's rotation so it displays right-side up regardless of how the phone was held, rather than relying on the viewer's browser to guess.
What Clean Report Does Not Read or Use#
Clean Report does not currently extract or act on a photo's capture timestamp from EXIF data, camera model, or any other metadata field beyond GPS and orientation. The completion time shown on a Clean Report comes from when the photo was submitted through Clean Report, not from EXIF timestamp data embedded in the file.
Why This Distinction Matters#
It's easy to assume software "reads everything" in a photo automatically. Being specific about what is and isn't used helps set the right expectations — for example, that Clean Report doesn't currently detect a photo's original capture time independently of when it was uploaded.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Does removing EXIF data before uploading break anything? It only means distance-from-property won't be available for that photo; everything else about submitting and reviewing the Clean Report still works normally.
Is EXIF data shown directly to the property owner? Only the derived distance is shown; raw EXIF metadata isn't displayed as a separate field.