Whenever you are trying to sell anything, especially online, the presentation is everything. Whether you’re trying to sell old furniture or old clothes, potential buyers will want to be able to see what it is that they are spending their money on and will want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the product they are looking at matches their individual tastes and needs.
This is especially true when it comes to selling used cars and trucks. In addition to the usual statistics, such as the mileage the vehicle has accumulated, buyers will also want to be able to see the vehicle itself so they can make a determination as to its condition and the price tag that it warrants.
In this article, we have gathered some of the most helpful words of advice from professional photographers who understand what it is that makes a compelling photo. You don’t need to be a professional in order to take effective product shots, but you should heed the words of those with experience in order to avoid basic errors.
Invest in a Decent Camera
This is one of the most important pieces of advice to bear in mind. Your cell phone might have a built-in camera and on the more modern phones, the photos you take look fantastic on the phone’s display. However, when the photos are blown up to full size, or viewed on a higher resolution device, the artifacts and other issues become very obvious. If potential buyers notice that you have skimped on the camera to take photos of the vehicle, this will create an image of a lack of professionalism. It is therefore worth investing in a decent camera to use.
Check out Black Smoke Media for examples of photos, which have been taken with professional grade equipment.
Consider The Lighting
The lighting of a shot can completely alter its tone. You should always avoid shooting with the sun directly in the background as the excessive light will mean that you lose detail and clarity in the photo. Equally, if the sun is behind you then you will want to make sure to position yourself so that your shadow isn’t cast over the scene, potentially spoiling an otherwise perfect shot.
Also, remember that the ambient lighting will have an effect on how the image as a whole is perceived. If your image appears washed out with drab, grey skies in the background, then viewers will unconsciously make a number of negative assumptions about the vehicle that you are photographing.
Multiple Angles
You will want to take multiple shots of any vehicles that you are hoping to sell, to ensure that buyers know that you aren’t hiding anything. As well as taking shots from multiple angles, you should also make use of multiple zooms and incorporate close up shots alongside wide angle views.
Taking decent product photos is an important step in selling anything over the internet. In the case of cars and trucks, buyers are often even more vigilant than usual and so will expect more from the product photos they see.
