Automotive Photography Tips for Used Car Dealerships

Why Professional Automotive Photography Matters

In today's digital-first car shopping experience, the quality of your dealership's vehicle photos can make or break a sale. Studies show that listings with professional-quality photos receive up to 70% more inquiries than those with amateur snapshots. For used car dealerships especially, high-quality images help build trust with potential buyers who may be hesitant about pre-owned vehicles.

Car Shots was designed specifically to help dealerships create consistent, professional-looking inventory photos without requiring expensive equipment or photography training. With our app, your sales team can capture images that highlight each vehicle's best features while minimizing imperfections.

Essential Equipment for Dealership Photography

While Car Shots works with your existing smartphone camera, there are a few additional items that can elevate your automotive photography:

• Smartphone with good camera - Most recent iPhone models offer excellent cameras that work perfectly with Car Shots
• Microfiber cloths - For quick cleaning of smudges and dust before shooting
• Portable LED light - Helpful for illuminating dark interiors or shooting on overcast days
• Car detailing supplies - Ensure vehicles are properly cleaned before photography
• Phone mount or stabilizer - Optional but helpful for consistent shooting angles

The Perfect Exterior Shots: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to capture showroom-quality exterior photos of your used car inventory:

1. Find the right location - Choose a clean, uncluttered area of your lot with even lighting. Avoid shooting near distracting elements like trash bins, other vehicles, or busy backgrounds.
2. Time your shoot properly - The "golden hours" (1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset) provide the most flattering light. Avoid shooting at midday when harsh sunlight creates unflattering reflections and shadows.
3. Use Car Shots' guided overlays - Our app provides model-specific overlay templates that ensure you capture the perfect angle every time. Simply align your camera with the overlay for professional results.
4. Capture the standard angles - At minimum, include these shots for every vehicle:
   • Front 3/4 view (most important and typically the main listing image)
   • Rear 3/4 view
   • Direct side profile
   • Front direct view
   • Rear direct view
5. Highlight special features - Capture close-ups of unique selling points like special wheels, sunroof, or distinctive trim elements.

Interior Photography Tips

Interior photos are crucial for used vehicles, as they demonstrate the condition and features of the cabin:

• Clean thoroughly - Remove all personal items, papers, and debris before shooting
• Shoot from the driver's door - Capture the entire dashboard and front seats from the driver's side door opening
• Use Car Shots' interior mode - Our app automatically adjusts exposure for dark interiors
• Highlight technology features - Take close-ups of navigation screens, premium audio systems, and other tech features
• Capture rear seating - Show the back seat area from the rear door opening
• Document the trunk/cargo area - Empty the trunk and capture its full capacity

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with Car Shots' guidance, watch out for these common photography errors:

• Shooting in poor weather - Rain, snow, or heavy overcast conditions rarely showcase vehicles well
• Capturing your reflection - Be mindful of reflective surfaces that might show you or your phone
• Inconsistent angles - Maintain the same shooting height and distance for all vehicles in your inventory
• Poor lighting balance - Avoid half-shadowed vehicles; either shoot in full shade or full indirect light
• Cluttered backgrounds - Check what appears behind the vehicle before taking the shot

Post-Processing Best Practices

Car Shots includes basic image enhancement tools, but remember these guidelines:

• Maintain honesty - Enhance colors and lighting but never manipulate images to hide damage or defects
• Consistent editing - Apply similar adjustments to all photos in your inventory
• Proper cropping - Ensure the vehicle is properly framed and centered
• Appropriate file sizes - Optimize images for web without losing quality
• Watermarking - Use subtle dealership branding that doesn't distract from the vehicle