Hi again! Welcome back to Jennifer’s Visual Design’s blog this week, and I am going to show you How-To Properly Photograph a Vehicle for Re-Sale. I got this idea from viewing a few craigslist pages of vehicles trying to be sold on the online market. Which comes in handy due to one of my jobs as a photographer at Kelley Automotive in Fort Wayne, IN.
You can do this photo process on any sort of device that has a form of camera attached to it such as a cell phone, tablet, digital camera, or a DSLR camera. Most individuals take photos with their phone to make the process easier to transfer from phone memory too whatever marketing platform you are trying to sell your vehicle on.
I will be showing you this process with photos I have already taken in an enclosed environment at my work for better quality, but this process will work in whatever environment you are in. To help with the photo taking process, and to attract more viewers look into washing, waxing, and detailing your vehicle before capturing images for re-sale.
How To Steps
Starting Step: Start by photographing the front passenger side of the vehicle to show the viewer a outside view of the vehicle first.
Second Step: Proceed to go into the inside of the vehicle to photograph the inside, starting with the center council to capture the display in reverse mode, and then on home mode. Then go on to capture the heating elements, and if the vehicle is a 4×4 then capture the push button and/or stick shift to show the viewer the options available.
Step Three: Move your camera back far enough to capture the entire steering wheel and part of the center council, then move in closer to capture any of the steering wheel amenities buttons (cruise control, volume control, and etc). Then place your camera near the horn to capture the dash display so viewers can see the mileage, the entire set up of the display, and if any lights are on.
Step Four: Step out of your vehicle, and then move to the front of the vehicle to capture a 180 degree area of your vehicle by capturing the front of the vehicle, then the front driver’s side, the back driver’s side, the entire back of the vehicle, and then the back passenger side of the vehicle.
Step Five: Move back to the front of the vehicle and then capture the front driver’s side tire so show your viewer the amount of tread that is still applied towards the tire. Then capture the inside of the vehicle starting with the front driver’s side, then capture an image of the inside of the door to show the viewer the amenities. Duplicate this process on the passenger side, back passenger side, and back driver’s side. Do not forget to capture extra amenities on the inside such as dvd players, remotes, headphones, and even the third row seat!
Step Six: Move to the back of the vehicle and if you have a car with a trunk then try and capture the best you can of the size and inside as you can. If you own a SUV/Van then open up hatch and capture the inside from the rubber seal in, then capture the button (if applicable) that automatically shuts your hatch. If you own a truck, then unlatch the tailgate and capture the inside of the bed of the truck. Also if you’re SUV, Van, or Truck has a hitch then capture an image of it to show the viewers the individual hook up’s and what condition it is in.
Step Seven: Move back to the front of the vehicle, lift the hood, and capture an image of the motor. If you have any extra amenities that are under the hood make sure to capture them also for the viewer’s information.
Step Eight: Last but not least, capture an image of the keys. Your viewer’s like to see the keys to make sure that you have them, and the options that are provided upon the key fob (if you have that option).
Extra Input: Some of the extra options that you can provide for your viewer that will help encourage them to possibly purchase your vehicle would to apply a video of the vehicle running so the viewer can hear the engine and exhaust conditions of the vehicle. If you own a 4×4, provide a video of the vehicle tow show that what condition that 4×4 transfer case would be in.
I hope this week’s How-To steps were helpful and informative towards your next re-sale. Please leave a comment on any improvements, and/or questions. Hope to see you next week, Thanks!
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