Knowing how to take car advert pictures that clearly show your vehicle can make a big difference when you’re selling online. Photos are often one of the first things a potential buyer looks at, so they should accurately show the car’s appearance, condition, interior and important details.
You don’t need professional photography equipment. A modern smartphone, decent lighting and a little preparation can be enough to produce excellent advert photos.
If you’re getting ready to sell, you can advertise your car on MotorHype.
The key to understanding how to take car advert pictures is to think about what you’d want to see if you were considering buying the vehicle yourself.
A potential buyer should be able to look through your photos and get a good impression of the entire car before arranging a viewing.
That means taking more than one or two general photographs. Show the exterior from several angles, photograph the interior and boot and include important details and any imperfections.
Your photographs should accurately represent the car rather than trying to make it look better than it really is.
Before taking any photographs, give the car a proper clean inside and out.
Remove obvious dirt and grime from the bodywork, windows, lights and wheels. Inside, vacuum the carpets and seats, clean the dashboard and remove unnecessary personal belongings.
Don’t forget the boot. Remove clutter so potential buyers can clearly see its size and condition.
A clean vehicle is easier to inspect in photographs and can give a better impression of how it has been cared for.
When learning how to take car advert pictures, remember that the objective is to present the vehicle at its best while still representing its true condition.
The background can have a surprisingly large effect on an advert photograph.
You don’t need to find a dramatic viewpoint or impressive scenic location. A simple and uncluttered background is often better because it keeps attention on the car.
A clean driveway, quiet parking area or another safe location with enough space around the vehicle can work well.
Avoid photographing the car with bins, large amounts of clutter or other vehicles immediately behind it.
Also check what’s visible before taking each photograph. Personal information such as your house number or other details may be worth keeping out of the images.
Choosing the right location is a simple but useful part of how to take car advert pictures that look clear and professional.
Lighting is one of the most important things to consider when working out how to take car advert pictures.
Daylight generally makes it easier to show the car’s colour and condition accurately.
Very harsh direct sunlight can create strong reflections and dark shadows, while poor light can make bodywork and interior details difficult to see. An overcast but bright day can provide good conditions because the light tends to be more even.
Try to avoid photographing directly towards strong sunlight.
Before moving on to the next shot, check the photograph to make sure important areas aren’t hidden by glare or deep shadows.
You don’t need an expensive DSLR or professional camera to produce good car advert photographs.
Most modern smartphones can take more than adequate pictures in good lighting.
Clean the camera lens before you start, as fingerprints and dirt can make otherwise good photographs look hazy.
Use the normal camera mode where possible and avoid excessive digital zoom. Moving slightly closer to the car will usually produce a better result than heavily zooming into the image.
When considering how to take car advert pictures, good lighting, composition and focus are generally more important than owning expensive photography equipment.
Potential buyers should be able to get a good overall view of the car.
Take photographs from the front, rear and both sides. Three-quarter views from the front and rear can also give buyers a useful impression of the vehicle’s overall shape and condition.
Try to keep the entire car within the frame for these main photographs.
You don’t need unusual high or low camera angles. Clear, consistent photographs taken from a natural viewing height are usually more useful to somebody considering buying the vehicle.
One of the easiest ways to improve how to take car advert pictures is simply to provide enough useful angles.
When learning how to take car advert pictures, don’t concentrate solely on the exterior.
Take clear photographs of the driver’s seat, passenger area, dashboard and rear seats. Opening the doors can make it easier to get wider and brighter photographs of the interior.
It’s also useful to photograph the instrument display so potential buyers can see the recorded mileage.
If the car has desirable equipment such as heated seats, a touchscreen, navigation, reversing cameras or other notable features, include clear photographs where appropriate.
Make sure the interior photographs accurately show the condition of the seats, trim and controls.
Boot space can be an important consideration for buyers, particularly those looking for a practical family car.
Open the boot and take a clear photograph showing the available space.
Remove unnecessary items first unless they’re accessories included with the sale. If the vehicle has features such as a removable parcel shelf, adjustable boot floor or additional storage compartments, these can also be worth showing.
Including the boot is another useful part of how to take car advert pictures that give buyers a more complete view of the vehicle.
When learning how to take car advert pictures, remember to move closer after taking the main photographs and capture important details.
Depending on the car, useful photographs could include the:
If the car has features that could be particularly important to a buyer, make sure they’re clearly visible.
These detailed photographs can help somebody understand exactly what they’re considering before they contact you.
Transparency is an important part of how to take car advert pictures.
If the vehicle has scratches, scuffs, dents, corrosion, wheel damage or other visible imperfections, take clear photographs of them.
Trying to hide an obvious problem may only result in a disappointed buyer when they arrive to inspect the car.
Showing imperfections doesn’t mean deliberately making the vehicle look bad. Take a clear photograph that accurately shows the extent and location of the damage.
Being upfront about condition can also make your written description more credible.
The first photograph may become the main image that buyers see while browsing listings.
Choose one of your strongest exterior photographs for this position.
A clear three-quarter view showing the front and side of the car often works well. Make sure the vehicle fills a sensible amount of the frame without cutting off parts of it.
The photograph should be sharp, properly exposed and immediately make it obvious which car is being advertised.
When deciding how to take car advert pictures, don’t overlook the importance of choosing the right main image.
When learning how to take car advert pictures, basic adjustments such as straightening or cropping can be useful, but avoid heavy editing.
Filters that substantially alter the car’s colour or hide its condition aren’t helpful to potential buyers.
You should also avoid digitally removing dents, scratches, wheel damage or other imperfections.
The purpose of advert photography is to give somebody an accurate representation of the vehicle rather than create an unrealistic version of it.
Before publishing the advert, look through every photograph carefully.
Make sure the images are sharp, correctly orientated and show everything you intended to photograph.
Delete duplicate, blurry or poorly exposed images and retake anything that doesn’t clearly show the vehicle.
Also check for information you may have captured unintentionally in the background or through reflections.
Once you’ve found a buyer, remember that you’ll also need to tell DVLA that you’ve sold the vehicle as part of completing the sale.
Understanding how to take car advert pictures includes knowing which photographs not to upload.
Good photographs are only one part of selling a car successfully.
Your written description should accurately explain the mileage, registration year, condition, MOT and service history, specification, features and any known faults.
Our guide on how to create a car advert explains what information you should consider including.
Together, a clear description and a useful set of photographs give potential buyers a much better understanding of the car before they arrange a viewing.
Knowing how to take car advert pictures doesn’t require professional photography skills or expensive equipment.
Clean the car, choose an uncluttered location, use good natural light and photograph the vehicle from several useful angles. Include the interior and boot, capture important details and be honest about visible damage.
Most importantly, think about the photographs from the buyer’s perspective. Your images should answer as many visual questions as possible before somebody comes to see the car.
Taking the time to understand how to take car advert pictures can help your listing look more complete, trustworthy and useful to potential buyers.
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