A car photography checklist for dealerships

Prepare the car and the camera

Clean the vehicle, remove loose personal items and check for anything that distracts from the car. Straighten the front wheels for your main exterior photographs. Photograph genuine wear or damage separately so the finished advert still gives a clear account of condition.

Wipe the camera lens and use the original camera files. Avoid screenshots or copies downloaded from messaging apps when you have the originals. Leave space around the whole car so you can adjust the crop without cutting off a bumper, mirror or wheel.

• Vehicle clean, windows clear and cabin free of loose items.
• Lens clean and camera held level.
• Number plate, badges and trim visible where relevant.
• Original files saved in a folder for the correct registration.

Choose even light and a repeatable position

Open shade or an overcast sky is a useful starting point because harsh sunlight can leave one side of the vehicle much darker than the other. Check the screen for bright reflections that hide the paintwork, and move the car or camera if necessary.

Keep a similar camera height and distance around the vehicle. Stand back enough to fit the whole car in the frame; avoid an extreme wide-angle view that stretches the nearest corner. If you intend to replace the background, the source angle should still make sense against the dealership setting you choose.

Capture an exterior set that answers buyers’ questions

Start with the front three-quarter view you want to use as the main advert image. Continue around the car in a consistent order. A matching set is easier to review than a collection of repeated angles with important areas missing.

• Front three-quarter views from both sides.
• Straight front and rear views.
• Both side profiles and rear three-quarter views.
• Wheels, tyres and relevant exterior equipment.
• Separate close-ups of visible wear or damage, with a wider view for context.

Show the cabin, storage and equipment

Open doors where that gives you more even light, and check that the dashboard and seats are both visible. Keep the camera level and avoid making the nearest seat dominate the frame. Check reflective screens for personal information before uploading or publishing.

Photograph the actual equipment fitted to that car. A feature close-up helps a buyer understand a specification claim, but an edited image should not be used to add equipment or conceal a warning or defect.

• Front seats, dashboard and driving position.
• Rear seating, footwells and door trim.
• Boot, load space and relevant storage areas.
• Controls and optional equipment mentioned in the advert.
• Keys and accessories included with the vehicle, where appropriate.

Review every AI edit before using it

In Photo Studio, enter the registration, upload the batch and check the detected photo types. Use your saved dealership background for exterior photographs; interior and detail images use their original surroundings. Start with one exterior image to check whether the chosen setting suits the angle before processing the rest.

Compare every completed edit against its original. Look closely at the paint colour, registration, badges, wheels, glass, trim and visible condition. Check that the tyres sit naturally on the ground and that the perspective and shadows make sense. Refine or reject anything inaccurate.

Download the approved images individually or as a ZIP, put the strongest exterior image first and check the complete set on a phone as well as a larger screen. Keep your original condition photographs with the vehicle record. Save the finished files within Photo Studio’s 120-day photo retention period.