8 Mistakes to Avoid When Photographing Dealership Inventory
8 Mistakes to Avoid When Photographing Dealership Inventory
First impressions matter, especially when your customers are swiping through vehicle listings faster than they scroll social media. Whether you’re selling a 2021 BMW or a 20 year old trade-in, the right photo can be the difference between a click and a skip.
But here’s the kicker: we still see dealerships making some super common (and super avoidable) mistakes when photographing inventory. These slip-ups might seem small, but they can seriously drag down the quality of your listings – and your leads.
So let’s fix that, shall we?
Here are the top mistakes to avoid when photographing your vehicles plus some dealership photography tips to help you get it right. Bonus: there’s a printable version of these tips at the end of the article for your team to download, print and refer back to.
1. Obstructed view
Trash cans. Other vehicles. Stray signage. If something’s sitting between your camera and the car, it’s going to end up in the shot. And while we love a good game of “Where’s Waldo?”, your customers don’t want to play that with your listings.
Quick Fix: Always check the foreground before snapping. The cleaner the view, the better the end result.
2. Photographing Directly Into the Sun
It might feel artsy, but trust us – it’s not.
Photographing vehicles into harsh light creates glare, reflections, and exposure problems that even the fanciest photo tools can’t always fix.
Pro tip: Keep the sun behind you, not behind the vehicle. Photographing vehicles with the light gives you even exposure and fewer harsh reflections.
3. Casting Your Own Shadow
Nothing says “DIY” like a photographer’s shadow stretched across the side panel of a car. We see this one all the time, especially in early mornings or late afternoons.
Best practice: Mind your angle and keep that shadow out of frame. Bonus points if you move slightly side-on to avoid reflections too.
4. Lights On, Engine Running
Yes, it makes the car look like it’s alive. But it also makes your images look messy.
Headlights create odd reflections. Running engines can kick out exhaust, which might get picked up in backgrounding or AI editing.
Keep it clean: Turn off the engine and headlights before you take your photo. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
5. Photographing in the Rain
Unless you’re staging a moody car commercial, don’t do it. Raindrops on the vehicle surface mess with reflections and detail. Wet ground can confuse background removal tools too.
Quick fix: Wait for it to dry, or give the vehicle a quick wipe before snapping your photo.
6. Forgetting to Clean the Camera Lens
It’s not your camera. It’s your lens.
Smudgy lenses blur your photos and make even the shiniest paint jobs look dull. And yep, we’ve seen whole inventories captured like this.
Remedy: Quick wipe with a microfiber cloth before every session. It’s like brushing your teeth. Tedious, but necessary.
7. Photographing Too Close (or Too Far)
Too close, you chop off bumpers.
Too far, you lose all the detail.
Either way, it’s bad news for the VDP view.
Sweet spot: Stand about 8 to 10 feet back and use the gridlines on your camera to center the vehicle properly. Bonus: keep your framing consistent. Consistency is key for brand professionalism.
8. Inconsistent Backgrounds
Nothing kills that polished dealership vibe like wildly different backgrounds for every car. One’s outside on the lot, the next is in a service bay. Not ideal.
That’s where providers like CarCutter come in. We help dealerships create consistent, professional backgrounds that reinforce your brand, no matter where or when the photo’s taken.
Bonus Tip: Think Like a Buyer
Ask yourself, would I click on this car? If the photo looks unclear, cluttered, or confusing, your answer’s probably “no.” And if you wouldn’t click it, neither will your customers.
Download the Printable Checklist
Keen to have these dealership photography tips always on hand? We’ve created a free, printable version of this list so you can keep it nearby for quick reference. Print out the PDF version and stick it up somewhere in your dealerships’ office – your team will thank you.
Great vehicle photography doesn’t need to be hard. It just needs to be intentional. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’re already ahead of the game. And if you want to take your inventory presentation from good to brilliant, that’s what we specialize in here at CarCutter.
These dealership photography tips don’t just make your photos look better, they help CarCutter’s AI do its best work, too. Clean, well-lit, distraction-free images mean smoother backgrounding, sharper results, and fewer retakes. The better the input, the better the output.