Tips for Car Photography to Help Dealers Take Compelling Photos

Car photography is an incredibly rewarding and intriguing field, despite the significant risks involved. It is highly recommended for car dealers to invest in crucial equipment. Though there are debates about whether it’s the photographer or the camera that impacts the result, it cannot be denied that the right equipment provides a definite advantage. Armed with appropriate gear and a bit of knowledge, your cars could essentially sell themselves.

According to Google, twice as many automotive consumers start their research online rather than at a dealer. Automotive consumers today are much more informed and knowledgeable because they educate themselves online before ever making contact with a dealer. This means that your dealership’s website, in particular, needs to be much more than a place to list inventory; it needs to showcase your cars and establish trust with potential buyers.

One of the best ways to do this is through high-quality car photography. Not only will professional-looking photos make your inventory look more attractive online, but they can also help you highlight specific features of your vehicles, making them more appealing to buyers.

In this guide, we’ll list the top tips for car sale photography and how specialized image editing for car dealers can help your dealership’s website stand out.

Tips for Car Sale Photography

1. Choose the Right Time of Day to Shoot
To get the best lighting for your vehicle photos, you’ll want to choose a time of day when there is plenty of natural light. If possible, shoot outdoors on a sunny day with clear skies. This will help ensure the lighting is even across your car’s surface and minimize shadows or glare from direct sunlight.

For instance, shooting an SUV during the morning or evening hours will result in more dramatic lighting, with the sun casting long shadows across the body of your vehicle. If that’s not to your liking, then shoot during midday – when the sunlight is brighter and more even.

2. Be Careful of Reflections Emanating from the Surface of the Car
Reflections can be a big problem when photographing cars, especially when shooting in direct sunlight. Most cases, this is caused by water droplets on your car’s surface. These reflections can be distracting and ruin an otherwise-great photo, so it’s important to take steps to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

One way to do this is by using a microfiber cloth or chamois when cleaning your car before shooting. This will help you remove any lingering water droplets and reduce the risk of reflections. You can also try to avoid shooting your car in areas where it may come into contact with direct sunlight, such as near a body of water or on an asphalt road.

3. Take Advantage of Different Angles and Views
While there are certain views of a car that many buyers prefer, such as a full frontal or profile shot, it’s important to keep your photos interesting by experimenting with different angles and views. This can help you showcase the unique features of your cars while making them more visually appealing to buyers.

For best results, shoot from multiple levels and viewpoints when taking car photos. Try to photograph your vehicles from a variety of heights, including low angles and overhead shots. You can also get interesting results by shooting at an angle or using a shallow depth of field – making sure that only the car is in focus and the background becomes blurred.

4. Get Down Low and Shoot Up Close
One of the best ways to showcase the interior and exterior of your car is through close-up shots. Shooting up close will help you highlight unique features, such as a flashy set of rims or an impressive engine. Not only that but taking these photos from a low angle will make your car look larger than life – making it more appealing to buyers.

One tip is to add white space around your car in these photos or use a wide-angle lens. This will help you achieve an image that showcases the entire vehicle while maintaining focus on the specific area of the car you want people to see.

5. Shoot the World Through the Front Window
Shooting from within your car can help you create a sense of movement and show off the interior interestingly. This is especially true if you are selling aftermarket parts or detailing products – as it’s important to showcase how these new additions will look on a vehicle, both inside and out.

The best way to shoot from within your car is by using a wide-angle lens or a fish-eye camera. This will help you capture more of the surrounding area, including things like other cars and pedestrians in the distance. You can also try shooting through the front windshield to emphasize movement and add texture to your shot.

6. Shoot the Car When It Is Moving
If you are selling an exciting, fast, or powerful car – shooting it when it is moving can help give your photos a sense of energy and excitement. This will also help emphasize the speed and power of your vehicle, making it more appealing to buyers.

One way to achieve this effect is by using a slow-shutter camera technique, such as panning or zooming. You can also try shooting from a moving car, such as by using a tripod or suction cup mount. Just make sure to use safety precautions when doing so, especially if you will be photographing on city streets.

7. Shoot Your Car in Nature
Shooting your car in nature – such as in a field, on the beach, or near a body of water – can help make your photos more visually appealing. This is especially true if you want to showcase the power and speed of your vehicle, as well as its sleek appearance.

One tip for shooting cars in nature is to experiment with different lighting conditions. This can help you achieve the best results, depending on the mood or look you are trying to create. You may also want to consider shooting photos at different times of day, such as during sunrise and sunset, when the light is softer and more dramatic.

8. Try Shooting Indoors with Controlled Lighting
Depending on the lighting conditions, indoor car photography may help you produce a variety of styles. Shooting in an indoor studio is one way to make your car photos look clean and professional. This can be especially true if you are selling high-end or luxury vehicles – as it will help them look more desirable and attractive to buyers.

To create these photos, you must have access to professional lighting equipment. This can include things like softboxes, reflectors, and light stands. You may also want to consider investing in a background that can be easily changed or replaced – such as fabric backdrops or a painted wall.

9. Use the Technique of Light Painting
If you are trying to show off your car at night, using the technique of light painting could be a great idea. This will involve lighting specific vehicle parts with LED lights or flashlights – which can help create dramatic and eye-catching photos.

One tip for this technique is to start photographing the car during the day and experimenting with different composition ideas. For example, you may want to consider which areas of the car should be highlighted and whether your photos need any text or captions.

10. Highlight the Best Parts of Your Vehicle
When it comes to car photography, it is important to showcase the best parts of your vehicle. This can help make your car stand out from similar listings on classifieds websites, as well as increase its overall desirability and appeal to buyers.

You may want to consider what unique features or benefits your car has. For example, if it is a high-performance vehicle, you may want to focus on its powerful engine or sleek design. If your car has any special features or functionality, try including these in your photos.

Additionally, use shots that show off the best angles and views of your vehicle – such as from different perspectives or close-up images of specific details or features. This will help make your photos more interesting and engaging and draw in potential buyers. And remember to try editing your images with software like Photoshop or Lightroom – which can help create the perfect look for your car photography.

11. Try to Incorporate Motion Blur in Your Photos
One way to make your car photos more visually appealing is to incorporate motion blur. This can help give the viewer a sense of speed and motion in your images, which can be especially useful when showcasing a high-performance vehicle.

There are several techniques you can use when incorporating motion blur into your car photography. One option is to use a fast shutter speed, which will help create streaks of motion and movement as your car passes through the frame. Another option is to use a longer exposure time, which can help give your photos a more artistic or creative look.

12. Avoid Distracting Backgrounds
When taking photos of your car, it is important to keep the background in mind. This means that you should try to avoid distracting backgrounds or elements, as they can take away from the focus of your images.

One way to minimize distracting elements in your car photography is to use a shallow depth of field. This will help blur out the background and reduce unwanted distractions from your photos.

Another strategy is to choose a location with a simple background. This can include shooting outside in an open field or using studio lighting to create a blank backdrop for your car. Additionally, you may want to avoid photographing your car under trees or near other vehicles – as this can draw the eye away from your car and make it difficult to see the subject clearly.

13. Use Depth of Field in a Creative Way
If you want to add a creative twist to your car photography, consider using depth of field in an interesting way. This can help create striking and eye-catching images that stand out from the crowd.

One strategy for incorporating depth of field into your photos is to use a wide aperture setting. This will blur out the background behind your car and help it stand out in the photo.

Alternatively, you may want to use a longer shutter speed and smaller aperture setting to create a blurred background effect. This can help draw attention to your car in the image while still giving it an interesting and dynamic look.

14. Use a Drone to Capture Aerial Photos
If you want to take your car photography a step further, using a drone can be an effective way to create unique and dynamic images. This will help you get shots of your vehicle from different angles – such as overhead or at ground level – which will give your photos more visual interest and appeal.

Always use a faster shutter speed to avoid blurry photos, and choose a location with good lighting conditions. Additionally, make sure you have a clear line of sight if flying your drone outdoors near people or vehicles.

15. Add a Human Element to Your Photographs
If you want to take your car photography one step further, consider adding a human element. Including people in your shots can help give them more interest and draw the viewer’s attention to key aspects of the image.

One option is to use scale models or figurines in your photos, which can add a realistic touch without the hassle of finding real people to pose for your photos.

Another strategy is to place yourself in the frame, either sitting or standing near your car. This can help give a sense of scale and setting for your photos – making them more interesting and compelling to viewers.

16. Capture the Car’s Personality
When photographing your car, it is important to consider the personality and feel that you want to convey. Do you want the photos to be sleek and refined? Or do you prefer a more playful and whimsical look?

One way to capture your car’s personality in photographs is to use props or other accessories. For example, if your car is sporty and fast, consider including a toy car or toy airplane in the frame.

Another option is to use creative lighting or camera angles to make your car stand out from the background. This could include using dramatic shadows, depth-of-field effects, or even having someone hold up your car by hand to create a unique silhouette effect.

No matter how you choose to capture your car’s personality, it is important to consider what message you want to convey and how you can best achieve that with your photography. By choosing the right techniques and approaches, you can create stunning images that truly highlight all the best aspects of your vehicle.

Pixel by Hand Car Image Editing Services

Pixels by Hand is a well-known car photo editing services used by major automobile dealers worldwide. We’ve been in operation for many years, and we realize that high-quality photos are critical to increasing sales and developing a stronger brand image.

With our car photo editing and retouching services, you’re guaranteed to get results that’ll convert your buyers. Whether it’s for print or digital media, we make sure your vehicles look their best—professional and attractive images guaranteed.

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