You only get one chance to make a good first impression. That's why having great photos is the most important part of your listing. It catches the attention of our users and makes them fall in love with your car – even if it's just for a short time.
On Getaround, we’ve seen that cars with appealing photos get an average of 3 times more interest than cars with less-than-great photos. To help make your listings more successful, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best tips for taking attractive photos of your car.
Trust us – it's easier than you think!
Tip #1: Use the landscape format
This is the simplest tip and can have the biggest impact. Just by turning your phone 90 degrees, the picture will already look much better. Even though we tend to use our phones in portrait mode, images on Getaround are optimised to be seen in landscape format, since that’s the best way to display a car. Photos taken in portrait mode are cropped, and our users rarely show interest in them. Easy, right?
“Think about how car brands display their cars in advertising: it’s most often at an angle. The reason is simple – it shows off the whole car beautifully. ”
Tip #2: Find the perfect angle
Looks are a matter of perspective. Either from the left or the right, photograph your car at an angle for the main photo of your listing.
Think about how car brands display their cars in advertising: it’s most often at an angle. The reason is simple – it shows off the whole car beautifully. You can do the same with yours, giving users a view of the front and side at the same time, as well as an idea of its size.
Tip #3: Make the car the star
The car should be the primary focus of your photos, so position it front and centre. Take the photo from a distance that allows you to show your full car without cropping it, and avoid capturing other people and cars parked next to it. That might be hard to do if you’re on a busy and congested street, so try to take the photos when you’re in a calmer area.
“After the car, the next most important element of a great photo is the location. Look for a beautiful spot that can make your photo stand out. ”
Tip #4: Pick the right background
After the car, the next most important element of a great photo is the location. You don't have to show the exact spot where the car will be parked, so instead, look for a beautiful spot that can make your photo stand out. The countryside and the beach are always winning choices, but the city can be great, too – bright, colourful walls or surfaces with nice contrasts can make good-looking backdrops.
Tip #5: Get the right light
Everything looks better under the right light. Don’t take photos at night, since you’ll have to use the flash which makes your image look harsh and unflattering. Natural light works best.
Pro tip: Avoid the midday hours when the sun is higher, which creates hard shadows and very bright reflections at the same time, and don’t look good. If you can, take your photos early in the morning or at sunset when the sun rays are softer.
One last thing...
Now that you know how to take beautiful photos, you have the perfect excuse to spend some quality time with your car! Drive it somewhere picturesque and update the photos of your listing (which you can do directly from the app).
The main picture is the most important, but since you’re already in the mood for photography, shoot some additional photos from other angles as well as the interior. These will give drivers a full picture of how your car looks, and hopefully, entice them to book your car for their next Getaround trip.