A picture is worth a thousand words when listing your car online. A good photo can help you sell your car faster. While a point-and-shoot or mirrorless camera will give you better image quality, even an older smartphone can produce excellent photos. Follow these tips to make your car photography stand out.
Choose Your Shots Wisely
The photos used to sell my car online Huntsville, AL can tell a story, even without you having to write the words. Capture your car in a suitable location with a clean backdrop, and avoid parking lots where light poles, trash bins, and other cars are cluttering the background. Similarly, it’s best to avoid direct sunlight when taking interior pictures. Sunlight can cast unflattering shadows on the vehicle, brighten blemishes, and make a clean car look dirty. Instead, capture interior photos in the morning or evening golden hours. Consider a few different shots from each angle of the car. Buyers want details; these extra photos help eliminate doubt and drive inquiries. If your car has a unique feature, like a set of alloy wheels or a steering wheel button that stands out from other vehicles, include these in the photos. When capturing 3/4 or rear shots, turning the wheels can add style and show off their detail.
Keep It Simple
A simple photo editing application can go a long way to make your car photos stand out. Be careful not to edit so much that the car appears unnatural or unrealistic. If you do, potential buyers might assume the car is too good. In addition to choosing a location free of distracting features, take pictures of your vehicle from different angles. For example, rather than taking a classic front three-quarter view, turn the car more dramatically to add interest and style. This minor adjustment can make your car look much better than other cars on online listings. Pay attention to the lighting and shadows when taking close-ups or detail shots. Shoot the car at the golden hour or early morning, when the light is less harsh. This will help prevent glare and other unflattering dissecting lines in the picture. It will also help make the vehicle shine and look like new.
Take a Lot of Photos
A buyer who is serious about your car will want to see every angle of it, especially close-ups of the interior and any cool features like a backup camera or custom leather seats. You will also want to include pictures of any noticeable blemishes or wear that would appear in a real-world test drive. Try to take photos on a sunny day. Overcast days tend to wash out the colors and make your vehicle look duller than it is. You should also refrain from taking your photos in a busy location where people or objects might distract from the focus of your photo. Invest in a good quality digital point-and-shoot camera for better results than your old smartphone. Using a telephoto lens will create a positive perspective on your vehicle and eliminate the “fish-eye” effect common to many smartphone cameras. These tips will help you take high-quality photos of your car for online listings that will grab buyers’ attention and increase your chances of selling your car quickly.
Don’t Be Afraid to Edit
Getting the right angles on your car can make or break your online listing. This is why many car dealers take the time to hire professional photographers for their ads. But even if you can’t afford to hire a pro, there are plenty of tips and tricks to help you sell your car. For example, capture close-ups of your car’s unique features – such as a high-tech backup system or custom leather seats. It’s also important to pay attention to the background. A cluttered parking lot can easily distract buyers from your car’s main attraction. So be sure to shoot your photos in a clean, empty location. You can even use a free photo editor to remove the cluttered background from your photos quickly. The result is a much more professional-looking image. Plus, it allows you to include or exclude telegraph poles, cars in the distance, and other unwanted distractions.
