Photo Guide
Requirements
- At least 30 high-res photos of the entire car
- Cold start & Walk-around videos
- Step 1 — Clean Your Car
Clean thoroughly, inside and out, wipe any water spots, and remove personal items. - Step 2 — Choose a Great Location
Simple and pleasing background, unoccupied location, and nothing distracting near the car. - Step 3 — Shoot your photos & videos
Follow the shot list to capture all angles needed. Make sure to shoot in landscape orientation and keep the whole car in frame.
Don’t want to take your own photos? Booking a professional photographer is easy and will help you get more money for your car.
Book a Professional Photo ShootJump to a section
Clean Your Car
Cleaning Tips
- Consider hiring a detailer
- Clean the car in the shade
- Remove any unnecessary items from the car
Exterior Recommendations
- Use a detail spray to aid in drying
- Pay attention to details like wheels and glass
- Consider purchasing glass-specific towels
Interior Recommendations
- Vacuum the mats and the carpet below them
- Clean the glass inside and out
- Don’t clean with oil-based products
Choose a Location
Photo Location Tips
- Find a good outdoor location
- Pick an unpopulated place with a neutral background
- Ensure room to stand back from the car
- Find space with even lighting; no shadows
✅ Good Location
❌ Bad LocationTake Great Photos & Videos
General Photography Tips
- Shoot one hour after dawn or one hour before dusk
- Clean your lens
- Use a 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratio
Exterior Tips
- Stand 8-10 feet from the car
- Center the car in landscape orientation
- Take close-up photos of details and flaws (paint chips, dents, scratches)
Get the right angles!Interior Tips
- Don’t kill the battery; take photos with the engine running
- Ensure there’s enough daylight
- Show as much of the interior as possible in each photo
Mechanical Tips
- Turn off the engine
- Take photos zoomed out and in
- Aim the phone – with flash enabled – under the car
Video Tips
- Record touching the engine during a cold-start video
- Walk around the car with the engine on
- Film any special features (electronics, pop-up headlights, raisable spoiler, etc.)
Great Photo Examples
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Mark VSep 2026I wish I could leave a 10 star review, that’s how great my experience was as a seller. From start to finish, including using safe pay, my experience selling my 2021 BMW M2 Competition was flawless. A five star review does not do this marketplace justice, it deserves much more. The community is awesome, and the enthusiasts understand the true value of the vehicles up for auction. Cars&Bids provides a place for like-minded sellers and buyers to meet and makes the entire process seamless. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it.
