A photo inventory is the best way to document your possessions for insurance purposes.

1. Room by Room take photos to create a photographic inventory of your house.  Be sure to take photos of the property and any structures on the property showing inside and out of each structure.
2. Use a simple background - this focuses attention on the object you are trying to photograph.  This can be as simple as taking the shot from a different angle, or using a poster board as a background.
3. Fill the entire frame of each shot with your subject.  This can be done by zooming or getting closer to the object.  If your camera has a "macro" mode use it for smaller items.
4. Be sure to photograph brand names and model numbers if applicable.
5. Take lots of photos - For structures be sure to take photos from mulitple angles/corners of each room.  For objects; take as many photos needed to show all of the detail.
6. Shoot in High Resolution - this will allow you to zoom in /crop with less distortion on the computer.
7. Make 2 copies of the photos.  Store one in a safe or safe location within your home.  The second should be stored safely at an offsite location (safety deposit box, family member's house , etc...)