Practical guides for selling cars online
Three short guides written for people who list cars every week. No jargon, and nothing you have to buy a camera to try.
How to merchandise a car so buyers actually call
Buyers scroll fast. They open the listings that look trustworthy and skip the ones that do not, and they decide mostly from the photos. This guide covers how to set up a listing so the right buyers stop and call.
A photo standard your whole team can follow
A good result starts with a good source photo. These are the simple rules that get the best out of any phone or camera, and the ones worth writing on a card for whoever shoots your cars.
A weekly photo routine for a busy lot
The best photos come from a routine, not from one heroic afternoon. This is a simple way to get every new car photographed, finished and listed in a day or two, without making it one person’s full-time job.
The twelve-shot list
A complete set of photos for any car. Shoot these in this order and a buyer can walk all the way around the car without leaving the listing.
Front three-quarter
Stand at a front corner, a few steps back. This is your lead photo.
Side profile
Square on to the side, with the whole car in the frame.
Rear three-quarter
The same view from the back corner on the other side.
Straight front
Directly in front, camera at headlight height.
Straight rear
Directly behind, showing the boot, lights and number plate area.
The wheels
One close-up of each wheel, so tyre and wheel condition are clear.
Dashboard
From the driver’s seat, showing the wheel, gauges and screen.
Front seats
Both front seats from the open door, wear and all.
Rear seats
The back row, with space shown honestly.
Boot
Open and empty, so buyers can judge the space.
Odometer and screen
The mileage and the infotainment, switched on.
Flaws and extras
Any chip or scuff close up, plus the keys and service book.
How many photos should a listing have?
Enough to walk a buyer around the car. The twelve-shot list above is a good starting point. More is fine when every photo shows something new, but repeats only slow the scroll.
Portrait or landscape?
Landscape for the outside of the car, because most listing sites show wide frames. Portrait photos work with Carzbooth too, since the booth is built around the shot you took. Either way, keep the whole car in the frame.
What is the best time of day to shoot?
An overcast day, or the hour after sunrise and before sunset, when the light is soft and low. Midday sun is the hardest to work with.
Does the car really need to be washed?
Yes. A clean background makes dirt more noticeable, not less. Ten minutes with a hose and a cloth shows in every photo.
Is it all right to show scratches and chips?
It is better than all right. Photographed honestly, they build trust and save wasted viewings. Carzbooth never removes them, so the photos always match the car.
What file should I send?
The original photo straight from the camera or phone. Screenshots and copies forwarded through chat apps lose detail, and detail is what the booth is built from.
Can I use the finished photos on marketplaces and ads?
Yes. The booth photos are yours to use on your website, on marketplaces and in your advertising.
Three-quarter view
A photo taken from a front or rear corner, so you see the front and one side at once. It shows the most car in one frame.
Lead photo
The first picture in a listing, and the only one many buyers look at before deciding whether to open it.
Golden hour
The hour after sunrise or before sunset, when the sun is low and the light is soft and warm.
Wide-angle distortion
The stretched, bulging look you get when you shoot a car from very close with a wide lens. Step back and zoom in a little instead.
Reflections
The sky, trees and buildings mirrored in the paint and glass. They hide the finish and make the windows look like mirrors.
Booth
The studio setting Carzbooth places your car in: a clean floor, a clean backdrop and consistent light.
Batch
A group of photos sent together, usually a day’s cars, so the whole lot can be finished in one go.
Stock number
The code your dealership gives each car. Use it to name batches, so photos never get mixed up between cars.