Car Photography Tips – Attract More Buyers Online

When selling your used car online, great photos are the key to standing out in a “sea of 200,000+” listings on platforms like Carsales. High-quality, well-composed images can create an emotional connection with buyers, making your car more appealing and boosting your chances of a quick sale.

Here’s how to capture the perfect shots and make your listing irresistible.

Images are Worth a Thousand Words

You may have been told at school that images are worth a thousand words. Well, we thought that meant a 1,000-word essay could be replaced with a single image!

Yes, images are powerful, and they create emotion. This makes them invaluable when you’re trying to sell your used car in a “sea of 200,000+” other cars listed on Carsales. In fact, great photos can make or break the sale of your car and, we’d say, are worth far more than a thousand words.

How NOT to Take Photos of Your Car

We spend a lot of time online and have seen some very poor attempts by people photographing their cars for online classified sites such as Carsales and Cars Guide. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

  • Taking photos in poor lighting.
  • Shooting on an overcast day.
  • Photographing a dirty car.
  • Using an indoor setting, such as a garage or carpark.
  • Taking pictures on your driveway.
  • Using multiple inconsistent locations, which can confuse potential buyers.

Location, Location, Location

Choosing the right location is critical for making your car stand out. Buyers purchase on emotion more than you might think, so your background can make all the difference.

Recommended locations include:

  • Near the sea or a river.
  • Next to a park or green space.
  • Against a wall with a mural.

Tip: The car should be the focal point in the foreground, while the background supports the emotion you convey to potential buyers.

What Photos Do You Need?

Make use of the maximum number of photos the platform allows (usually 12 to 20). We recommend taking at least 20 crystal-clear photos. Modern smartphones are perfect for this task due to their excellent camera quality.

Here’s the checklist of essential shots:

  • Front: Head-on and three-quarter angles (both sides).
  • Side profiles: Left and right.
  • Rear: Tail-on and three-quarter angles (both sides).
  • Interior: Driver side, passenger side, and rear passenger seats (both sides).
  • Details: Boot, engine bay, dashboard (showing odometer), and accessories (e.g., tow bar, roof racks).
  • Extras: Open sunroof or any standout features.

Pro Tip: Use your chosen background (e.g., sea, river, mural) for exterior shots to create visually appealing images.

First Photo to Feature in the Advertisement

Your front three-quarter photo should always be the first image featured. This will be the first thing potential buyers see while scrolling through listings, so make it count by ensuring it’s eye-catching and highlights the car’s best angles.

Order of Photos in the Advertisement

  • Organise your photos in a logical order to make your listing easy to view:
    • Start with the front three-quarter photo.
    • Follow with the front, side profiles, and rear shots.
    • Include interior photos, starting with the driver’s side, then move to the passenger side and detailed shots (e.g., odometer, accessories).
    • End with a contextual shot that shows the car in your chosen background (e.g., mural, park).

Bundle Great Photos with an Emotive Description

Photos are only part of the equation. Pair your great visuals with an engaging description of your car. Highlight its unique features, mileage, recent servicing, and why it’s the perfect car for the buyer. This combination of stunning photos and an emotive description will have buyers contacting you in no time.