Auto Classifieds Photos
When it comes to selling your auto online it pays to make sure you do a good job with the photos you upload. A photo can tell 1000 words. Considering trading sites restrict the number of photos you can post. It's important to maximise the quality of the photos you present.
Here are some tips and pointers for making great photos to use for trading your auto online.
Location:
A suitable location is essential to get the best pictures. Look for an area with a relatively clean background. Avoid places where other cars, light poles, bins or other objects are part of your background. Clutter in the background will make your photos look messy and detract from the car's details. Find a spot with the most even background possible, preferably one that's not too bright. On a concrete or tarmac floor with a solid wall behind is ideal, but shots taken on open grass can be better - as long as the background is uncluttered. Generally speaking, keep detail out of the background.
Lighting:
When taking photos outside, the best results can be had when the car is parked out of direct sunlight. Direct sun will create too much contrast for the camera and your shots will either be too dark with bright highlights or too bright with no detail in the shadows. Bright sunlight also tends to highlight surface swirl marks and makes the car's colour look washed out and much worse than reality. Good results can be had by taking your shots on overcast days, or by shooting in an area of shade. Be careful not to allow bright reflections.
Flash:
The use of flash should be avoided where possible. I can create unintended glare and distort the final image. It will only tend to wash out parts of the car's colour and detail, while creating black shadows and an unattractive, unnatural look. If some flash is needed, fine, but check your photos straight away to make sure you haven't ended up with cars that look like rabbits in a spotlight. Modern digital cameras are now of such quality that even in quite modest light conditions you can obtain quite acceptable pictures.
Framing:
Try to zoom in or out until the car almost fills the screen, leaving a small area around it for balance. Whatever you do, at least one shot - the 'main' photo - should be of the entire car.
Some more hints and pointers tomorrow.
Here are some tips and pointers for making great photos to use for trading your auto online.
Location:
A suitable location is essential to get the best pictures. Look for an area with a relatively clean background. Avoid places where other cars, light poles, bins or other objects are part of your background. Clutter in the background will make your photos look messy and detract from the car's details. Find a spot with the most even background possible, preferably one that's not too bright. On a concrete or tarmac floor with a solid wall behind is ideal, but shots taken on open grass can be better - as long as the background is uncluttered. Generally speaking, keep detail out of the background.
Lighting:
When taking photos outside, the best results can be had when the car is parked out of direct sunlight. Direct sun will create too much contrast for the camera and your shots will either be too dark with bright highlights or too bright with no detail in the shadows. Bright sunlight also tends to highlight surface swirl marks and makes the car's colour look washed out and much worse than reality. Good results can be had by taking your shots on overcast days, or by shooting in an area of shade. Be careful not to allow bright reflections.
Flash:
The use of flash should be avoided where possible. I can create unintended glare and distort the final image. It will only tend to wash out parts of the car's colour and detail, while creating black shadows and an unattractive, unnatural look. If some flash is needed, fine, but check your photos straight away to make sure you haven't ended up with cars that look like rabbits in a spotlight. Modern digital cameras are now of such quality that even in quite modest light conditions you can obtain quite acceptable pictures.
Framing:
Try to zoom in or out until the car almost fills the screen, leaving a small area around it for balance. Whatever you do, at least one shot - the 'main' photo - should be of the entire car.
Some more hints and pointers tomorrow.
