How to take pictures that sell your car fast
Verde Valley Classifieds provides an amazing platform for the buying and selling of all types of vehicles. With such a high number of listings, sellers need to be on top form to attract the right buyer at the right price. When it comes to creating your listing, every little detail matters if you want to get the right price for your ride.
We look at the best way to take photos of your car when selling it online – these will ensure that your advert is of high quality and draws the attention of buyers.
A picture paints a thousand words
Good quality photos can make or break an advert. Gone are the days of newspaper classifieds with five lines of text and no image of the item for sale. The best part about the internet is the freedom you have when it comes to selling an item, in this case, your car. Showing pictures of the condition of the vehicle, along with the color and trim, means that you can spend less time painting an image with words and can actually just include a picture of whatever you'd like to describe.
We're also extremely fortunate that technology is on our side. Digital cameras and cellphone technology mean that nearly everyone has access to an item that can take a very respectable digital photo. But the camera is only as good as the user that is pressing the shutter button. We're going to give you a few tips to help make your images stand out from the rest, to ensure that your car sells first.
- Clean your car. Give your vehicle a good clean, inside and out. Whether you do it yourself at home or opt for a professional detailer, be sure it is spotless from top to bottom before taking any photographs. A dirty or poorly maintained vehicle will not attract the right buyers and will send them running.
- Find the right location. Opt for a clutter-free, neutral background to help your vehicle stand out. While an open field is an option, we don't recommend taking photos of your car on grass – it ends up sticking to the paint and the green (or brown) affects the color of the paint. Try to get a spot that contrasts with your car's color – so no white cars on white backgrounds. Photography is about capturing light, as you will soon see.
- Get the lighting right. Middle-of-the-day lighting is unflattering (the sun is often too bright!) so to avoid harsh, washed-out lighting, we would recommend taking shots during ‘golden hour’, which is the time right before the sunsets. This is the most popular time for professional photographers to take outdoor photographs!
- Get all the angles. There are a few completely necessary shots and those are:
- Two front, three-quarter angles showing the front and either side of the car
- Two rear, three-quarter angles showing the rear and side of the car
- A head-on shot
- A rear shot
- Two side shots
- Interior showing the seats
- Interior showing the dashboard and steering wheel (best to take one from either side, passenger and driver) – make sure that steering wheel is straight
- An engine bay shot
It’s all in the Details. Take more photographs than you think is necessary, and include every little detail you think would attract buyers. Don’t forget to take shots of any damage too, as buyers would rather know about them before they meet you in person to take your ride for a spin.
Now that you’ve got the knowledge, it’s time to sell your ride! Head to verdeclassifieds.com and don’t forget to use your location settings to attract buyers close to home.
