Tips For Getting Great Photos and Selling Your Used Car
If you're planning on selling your car through a private party sale, creating an eye-catching ad that highlights the best features of your vehicle is essential. And one of the most important aspects of a successful car ad is the photographs. High-quality photos can make your car stand out and attract more potential buyers, while poor quality photos can turn people off and make your car appear less desirable.
So, whether you're taking photos with a professional camera or just your smartphone, here are some tips to help you photograph your car for private party sales in classified ads.
1. Clean Your Car
The first step in taking good photos of your car is to ensure that it's clean. A dirty car can be distracting and take away from the overall look of your vehicle. So, before you start taking photos, take the time to give your car a thorough wash. This includes the exterior, the wheels, the windows, and the interior. A clean car will make your photos look more professional and appealing to potential buyers.
2. Choose the Right Time and Location
When taking photos of your car, it's important to choose the right time and location. Avoid taking photos at high noon, in direct sunlight, or during harsh lighting conditions, as this can create harsh shadows and highlights. Instead, choose a time when the sun is not too bright, such as early in the morning or late in the afternoon. If possible, find a location with a pleasing but non-distracting background, such as a blank wall, a park, or an open field, to ensure that your car is the main focus of the photos.
3. Use a High-Quality Camera
If you have a professional camera, use it to take photos of your car. A high-quality camera will capture more detail and produce sharper, more vibrant images. However, if you don't have a professional camera, don't worry. Most smartphone cameras are more than capable of taking great photos, especially if you follow the other tips in this post. But if you do use a smartphone, make sure you clean your lenses. And if your older smartphone has scratched lenses and produces hazy photos, it might be time for an upgrade before you photograph your vehicle. Odds are the better photos could pay for the phone upgrade by increasing the value of your car.
4. Take Photos from Different Angles
When taking photos of your car, make sure to capture it from different angles. Take photos of the front, back, and sides of the car, as well as the interior and engine. This will give potential buyers a more complete view of your car and help them get a better sense of its condition.
5. Focus on Details
While it's important to capture the overall look of your car, don't forget to focus on the details. Take close-up photos of the wheels, the headlights, the dashboard, and any unique features your car may have. This will give potential buyers a better idea of the condition of your car and its features.
6. Highlight Any Upgrades or Repairs
If you've made any upgrades or repairs to your car, make sure to highlight them in your photos. Take photos of any new parts or accessories, such as a new exhaust system or upgraded stereo, to show potential buyers that your car has been well-maintained and cared for.
7. Show Off Your Car's Best Features
When taking photographs of your car, make sure to highlight its best features. For example, if your car has leather seats or a sunroof, make sure to include photos of these features. If your car has any unique or custom features, such as a special paint job or aftermarket rims, be sure to include pictures of these as well. These features can make your car stand out from the crowd and attract more potential buyers.
8. Don't Be Afraid to Edit and Crop
Once you have all the photos taken, don't be afraid to crop distracting times from the background or adjust the brightness or contrast in your choice of photo editing software. However, do avoid adding unrealistic touches to your images with filters or any other enhancements that might make your photos seem fake or manipulated. You want to present your vehicle in the best possible light without creating a sense that the images have been manipulated in a way that's intended to deceive a potential buyer.
9. Add the Photos to Your Used Car Ad in the Right Order
When building the ad for your car, it's important to present the images in the right order. Start with the best overall photo of the car to give potential buyers a sense of its condition and style. Then, move on to one or two different angles. Then focus on specific features and details, such as the wheels and dashboard. Finally, add photos of the interior and engine to give buyers a complete view of the car.
Why Great Used Car Photography Matters
With great photography your vehicle will stand out from other used car listings on private party selling platforms. If your vehicle is presented in the best possible way, it's far more likely to fetch the dollar amount you hope to get from it when you sell. You'l find yourself getting more inquiries about your vehicle in a shorter period of time and the likelihood that your car will sell quickly will dramatically increase.
While at the same time, poor photos will make it harder for potential buyers to see the value in your vehicle. The calls from interested parties who will want to come see your car in person will come in more slowly and you may find yourself dropping the price repeatedly to attract potential buyers.
Great photography is the key to a quick and lucrative private party sale so do your best, and if you have absolutely no talent or knowledge when it comes to computers or photography, consider asking a few friends or perhaps even hiring someone. The cost could easily be recouped when you sell your used car for top dollar.
And if you want to avoid the hassle of selling your car or truck private party altogether, you can simply bring it into any Stephen Wade Auto Center dealership where you'll get top trade-in value towards your next vehicle purchase or we'll give you cash for your used car today!
