When selling your car, high-quality photos are essential to attract potential buyers and showcase your vehicle’s best features. Great photos can make a significant difference in how quickly and successfully your car sells. At CarsupplyCo, we understand the importance of presenting your car in the best possible light. Follow these tips to ensure your car looks its best in every shot.

1. Prepare Your Car

Before you start taking photos, make sure your car is clean and well-presented:

  • Wash and Wax: Give your car a thorough wash and wax to make it shine.
  • Clean the Interior: Vacuum the carpets, clean the upholstery, and remove any personal items.
  • Detail the Engine Bay: A clean engine bay can impress buyers and show that the car is well-maintained.

2. Choose the Right Location

Select a location that complements your car and avoids distractions:

  • Find a Neutral Background: A plain, uncluttered background (like an empty parking lot or a park) keeps the focus on your car.
  • Avoid Busy Areas: Stay away from areas with heavy traffic or many people to keep the scene clean and professional.
  • Consider the Surroundings: Make sure the surroundings enhance the car’s appearance and don’t detract from it.

3. Use Good Lighting

Lighting is crucial for high-quality photos:

  • Shoot During Golden Hour: The best times to take photos are during the golden hours—early morning or late afternoon—when the light is soft and warm.
  • Avoid Harsh Midday Sun: The harsh sunlight can create unflattering shadows and highlights.
  • Use Natural Light: Whenever possible, use natural light to illuminate your car. Avoid using flash, as it can create reflections and glare.

The Golden Hour

Where and when you take your photos can make all the difference in your shots. Don’t go out on your lunch break and snap photos of the car in a parking lot. The light is too harsh at midday and your photos will look washed out. Similarly, don’t take photos at night, because a camera’s flash is a poor substitute for the sun.

In photography, the “golden hour” is when the sun rises and when it is about to set. Photos taken at this time are less likely to be overexposed, and the light has a warm look that enhances the colors in the photo. A good rule of thumb is that the golden hour is roughly an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to take photos during the golden hour, your best bet is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Cloudy mornings work well, too.

The location of your photo shoot can also help the car stand out among the crowded online listings. Try to find an isolated location or parking lot. This allows your car to be the focal point in the photos. The Edmunds offices are a few miles from the beach, so we often use it as a location. If you are landlocked, a nearby park is a good choice. In a pinch, an empty parking lot will suffice.

4. Capture Multiple Angles

Showcase your car from various angles to give buyers a comprehensive view:

  • Exterior Shots:
    • Front
    • Rear
    • Both sides
    • 3/4 front and rear views
    • Close-ups of wheels, headlights, and other details
  • Interior Shots:
    • Front seats and dashboard
    • Rear seats
    • Cargo area
    • Close-ups of the odometer, infotainment system, and special features
  • Engine Bay: Include a photo of the engine bay to show its cleanliness and condition.

Quantity and Variety

The more photos your listing has, the more likely it is that your car will sell. If the online listing is free, upload the maximum number of photos the site allows. With sites that charge for listings, it’s worth the extra cost to have more photos in the ad. You don’t have to spring for the top package, either. Something that gives you about 10 photos should be sufficient.

Take photos of the car at eye level. There’s no need to get creative with fancy high and low angles. Start out in front of the car and make your way around it, snapping a photo from every angle. You may not use them all in the ad, but you can sort that out later.

Make sure you get the basic car-selling angles covered. This includes the front, back, side profile, and wheels. Turn the wheels left slightly so that you can take a photo of the tire tread. Finally, open up the hood and take a photo of the engine.

Inside the car, make sure you take a photo of the seats, paying close attention to the driver seat, which tends to get more wear. Sit in the back of the car and recline the front seats to take photos of the front section of the interior. You’ll want to show the stereo and instrument cluster, the shifter (to show whether the car is automatic or manual), and the condition of the steering wheel. Be sure to snap a photo of the odometer so that prospective buyers can see that the mileage reading shown is consistent with what you have said in your ad.

If your car has any special selling points or features (for example if it’s a convertible), show them. Photograph it with the top both up and down. If it’s a big SUV with folding seats, fold them down to show off the storage space.

5. Highlight Key Features and Flaws

Be honest and transparent in your listing:

  • Showcase Unique Features: Highlight any special modifications, custom parts, or standout features.
  • Document Flaws: If there are any scratches, dents, or other imperfections, take clear photos to show potential buyers what to expect.

Be Honest

If the car has any imperfections, don’t try to angle the shots to hide them. In fact, you should take a photo of any dents or scratches on the car. Be upfront about them. The same goes for any curbed wheels. A buyer is going to see the car eventually, and it is best to be able to say, “I had a photo of this in the ad,” rather than “Oops, I forgot about that.”

Being honest with the imperfections can help with your negotiations. A prospective buyer is likely to offer you a lower amount if he inspects the car and finds a dent that wasn’t shown in the ad. But if you had a photo of that dent in the ad, you can hold your ground and say that you were upfront about the damage and have priced the car accordingly.

6. Use a High-Quality Camera

The quality of your camera can make a big difference in your photos:

  • Use a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera: If you have access to one, a DSLR or mirrorless camera will give you the best results.
  • Smartphone Cameras: Modern smartphones have excellent cameras that can produce high-quality photos if used correctly. Ensure the lens is clean and use the phone’s camera settings to optimize the shot.
  • Stabilize Your Camera: Use a tripod or stabilize your camera on a solid surface to avoid blurry images.

7. Edit Your Photos

Editing can enhance your photos and make them more appealing:

  • Adjust Brightness and Contrast: Make sure the car is well-lit and stands out against the background.
  • Crop and Straighten: Ensure your car is centered and the horizon is level.
  • Avoid Over-Editing: Keep the edits natural and avoid filters that distort the car’s true color and appearance.

Too Good To Be True?

A final word of caution comes from carsupplyco.com staff photographer Delwar H: If your photos look too well-produced, they may make people suspicious. Potential buyers might think you used stock photos and will be less likely to reply to the ad. Honest images, not glamour shots, are what you’re after.

8. Organize Your Photos

Present your photos in a logical order:

  • Start with the Exterior: Begin with wide shots of the exterior, followed by close-ups of details.
  • Move to the Interior: Show the overall layout first, then focus on specific features and areas.
  • End with the Engine Bay: Conclude with photos of the engine bay and any additional shots of special features or documentation.

By following these tips, you can create an appealing and professional photo gallery for your car listing. High-quality photos will help attract serious buyers and increase your chances of a successful sale. At CarsupplyCo, we’re committed to helping you showcase your car in the best possible light, ensuring a smooth and successful selling experience. Happy photographing!