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How to take listing photos that sell

By the OnlyCars teamUpdated October 1, 20265 min read

Buyers decide in the first second whether to open your listing, and the first photo makes that decision. Here are the shots that sell and how to get them with a phone.

The short versionWash it, shoot it in soft light with nothing behind it, take the front three-quarter shot first, then walk around it, then the inside, then the proof shots. Twelve good photos beat forty bad ones.

Ten minutes of prep

Wash the outside and vacuum the inside. Take everything out: the phone mount, the floor-mat clutter, the air freshener, the stuff in the door pockets. Buyers read mess as neglect, and they're often right.

Light and placeAn hour after sunrise or before sunset, cloudy days any time. Park on an empty lot or a quiet street with sky or trees behind the car, not your house, your trash cans or other cars. Turn the wheels slightly so the front wheel shows its face.

The twelve shots

Front three-quarter, from knee height: this is your cover photo
Rear three-quarter
Straight-on side, both sides
Front and rear, straight on
Driver's seat and dashboard through the open door
Dashboard with the car running: mileage and no warning lights
Back seat
Trunk or cargo area, empty
Engine bay
All four wheels and tires, close enough to see the tread
Any damage, close up, honestly
The window sticker or service records, if you have them

0 of 12 ready

Phone settings that matter

Hold the phone level and shoot landscape (sideways). Tap the car to focus. Stand back and walk closer rather than zooming, and never use the flash. Wipe the lens; a smudge makes every shot look foggy.

No filters, no editingBuyers see the real car at the test drive. A photo that looked better than the car costs you the sale on the spot.

Order and labels

On OnlyCars the first photo is the cover, so drag the front three-quarter shot to the front. Follow with the rear three-quarter, the interior, then the rest. Use the photo labels (Front, Interior, Odometer, Damage...) so buyers can jump to what they want.

Show damage rather than hide it. A clear photo of the scratch with a note in the description gets you a buyer who already accepted it; hiding it gets you a buyer who walks.

On this pageTen minutes of prep The twelve shots Phone settings that matter Order and labels

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