Guide - How To Improve Your Inventory Photos

A PRACTICAL GUIDE Improving Your Inventory Photos

Table of Contents Introduction 3 Manufacturer References 4 Proper Lighting 6 Detailing is Important 7 Quantity Matters 8 The Right Background 9 Exterior Photos 10 Exterior Close-up Photos 12 Interior Photos 13 Interior Close-up Photos 15 Please click on the numbers to go to a specific page.

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE In this guide, we will go over the five easy steps you can take to improve your inventory photos, making them more enticing, Introduction enhancing the look and feel of your website, and leaving your potential customer with an excellent first impression. As a savvy dealer, you must have observed how rapidly We will cover the best time of the day to take photos, where the car-buying behaviour has to park the vehicle, what angles to shoot from, what parts should been changing in the past have close-up photos, and all the do’s and don’ts of the couple of years and how the entire process. internet is playing a major role in influencing consumers’ Having a guide that can be shared amongst your team, with clear buying decisions. instructions on how to proceed from preparation to submission will guarantee the quality and consistency throughout all of your 3 inventory photos. They are seen by thousands of monthly visitors looking for their next vehicle purchase. Therefore, you should always have a professional approach in taking them. The tips given here fit any budget and can make a significant difference in how customers see your dealership. Given the indispensable role that vehicle photos play in your business, it is of the utmost importance that every aspect mentioned in this article is taken into consideration when taking photos of each and every vehicle that enters your inventory.

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Manufacturer References What better place to get references from than the manufacturer’s website and newsroom? We are not talking about achieving the same level of quality, For example, photos are never taken from eye-level. but rather reproducing their shot angles, which shows all of the They are either taken close to the ground or high up, looking major selling points of the vehicle when it comes to exterior/ down. interior design, premium features and key details. They picture the vehicles in five major angles, showing 1/4 and There are some photography rules that every manufacturer 3/4 of one or both sides of the vehicle, and the entire front, back follows when photographing their vehicles. Once you get familiar and side. Take a look at the examples below. with them, you will start noticing the similarities between photos from different vehicle models and brands. Please check page 10 for a step by step guide on taking exterior photos. 4 Image source: insidemazda.mazdausa.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Manufacturer References When it comes to the interior, manufacturers take shots peeking To highlight special features of the vehicle or to simply from the front and rear windows, and sitting in the back seat, add more detail to the shots, close up photos of the rims, front showing the front panel from side to side. and rear lights, dashboard, and interior side of the doors are taken. Please check page 10 for a step by step guide on taking exterior photos. 5 *Images sources: media.cadillac.com • insidemazda.mazdausa.com • media.volvocars.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Proper Lighting Take a look at the photo below, likely taken at noon, when the sun is at its highest, making the light reflect very harshly and casting unwanted shadows. When a vehicle enters inventory, the first thing that some dealers And compare it with this photo taken at the right time of may do is take photos in order to quickly upload them to their the day. website and social media. However, waiting for a couple of hours to do so or leaving it to the next morning can really impact the quality of your photos. Unless you have an indoor space where the vehicle photos are taken, there are appropriate times to capture the best possible shots. The hour after sunrise and before sunset have just the right amount of light to give warmth to your photos. Take photos during this time frame to better capture the vehicle colours and sharpen its edges. 6

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Imagine looking at the front window of a store, and seeing items for sale that are full of dust, dog hair and stains. Would you feel Detailing is Important motivated to go inside and inquire about a product? This should be pretty obvious, but we often see photos of Your website is the front window of your business and if it vehicles that were not cleaned at all prior to the photoshoot. strives for excellence in every aspect, it should demonstrate that, Ensuring that each vehicle is properly detailed before taking starting with the quality of the vehicle photos it showcases to photos of them will make a significant difference in how your the public. dealership is perceived by prospective customers. It not only impacts the first impression the consumer has about your business, but also decreases the chances of serious buyers making the next move and visiting your dealership. Please check page 13 for a step by step guide on taking interior photos. 7

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Quantity Matters With the growing adoption of technologies such as 360-degree cameras that are able to create a level of immersion close to the experience of seeing a location or product in person, consumers are getting more demanding and expect to see a high quantity of photos when browsing through your inventory. Starting with the classic shots mentioned previously, you should get between twelve to fifteen photos. Once that’s done, complement it with photos of the open hood, open trunk, back seats, and close up photos of the dashboard, entertainment unit, window switch, speakers, shift knob, cup holders and centre-console, to achieve a set of twenty to thirty photos, which is the ideal amount. This will not only improve the overall browsing experience for consumers, but it will also add transparency and build trust in your business. Please check pages 10 to 16 for a step by step guide on taking a complete set of photos. 8

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE For optimal results, find a corner with high walls, indoors or outdoors, with neutral colours and place your vehicle infront The Right Background of it. This can be a hard one, especially if you don’t have a dedicated As mentioned previously, rotating platforms make photographing space at your facility for taking photos of your vehicles. your inventory much easier, but just having the right background will improve your photos tremendously. Other cars, signs, and especially people in the background, can be very distracting. As we want to highlight the vehicle being sold and get eyes on what matters, finding a proper background with no distraction is crucial. Some dealers like to photograph their inventory with their storefront in the background. While it’s a good idea to have your logo and phone number in the photo, your storefront can have a lot of distracting elements like the ones mentioned above. Logos and contact information can always be placed as overlays on top of the original image, therefore there’s no need to worry about this when taking photos. Rotating platforms like the one in this image retails for 9 approx. $3,000.

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Exterior Photos Full Front Front 1/4 (Right) Front 3/4 (Right) Full Side (Right) Rear 1/4 (Right) Rear 3/4 (Right) 10 *Images source: volvocars.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Exterior Photos Full Rear Rear 1/4 (Left) Rear 3/4 (Left) Full Side (Left) Front 1/4 (Left) Front 3/4 (Left) 11 *Images source: volvocars.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Exterior Close-Up Photos Side Mirrors Wheels Front Lights Rear Lights Engine Muffler 12 *Images source: insidemazda.mazdausa.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Interior Photos Driver’s Window Peeking (Left) Driver’s Window Peeking (Right) Passenger’s Window Peeking (Left) Rear Window Peeking (Right) Rear Window Peeking (Left) Trunk 13 *Images source: shift.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Interior Photos Looking from Rear Seats Driver’s POV Passenger’s POV Doors Centre Console Special Features 14 *Images source: media.volvocars.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Interior Close-Up Photos Mileage Steering Wheel Controls (Left) Steering Wheel Controls (Right) Entertainment Unit Controls Shift Knob Entertainment Unit 15 *Images source: media.cadillac.com

INVENTORY PHOTO GUIDE Interior Close-Up Photos Fabric Material We hope that the information covered here is of value and Dashboard Window Control Panel useful to your dealership, and strongly believe that it can 16 take your website’s content to the next level, consequently bringing more customers and increasing your sales. Try it and let us know what difference it made to your business! *Images sources: media.cadillac.com

The complete solution for today’s car dealer  Phone Fax  Email  500-10 Lower Spadina Ave (866) 776-9446 (905) 479-1531 [email protected] Toronto, ON M5V 2Z2

The complete solution for today’s car dealer  Phone Fax  Email  500-10 Lower Spadina Ave (866) 776-9446 (905) 479-1531 [email protected] Toronto, ON M5V 2Z2