Car Auction Photography Shot List
How to Use This List
Whether you're a seasoned collector or a first-time seller, the difference between a record-breaking hammer price and a "no-sale" often comes down to the quality of your gallery. Our Professional Online Auction Shot List takes the guesswork out of the process, providing a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap to capturing every crucial angle—from the perfect three-quarter hero shot to the specific mechanical details buyers demand.
Why this shot list matters:
- Builds Trust: Highlights the transparency buyers look for in online listings.
- Eliminates Mistakes: Ensures you don't have to pull the car back out of the garage because you forgot a VIN or odometer photo.
- Boosts Value: Professional-grade presentation leads to higher engagement and more aggressive bidding.
Walk Around
- Stay around waist level and shoot the front, rear, sides and four corners of the car.
- Same as the 8-point walk around as above, but with the car's convertible roof or targa top down.
Exterior
- If the car is outfitted with chrome, use these photos to highlight the condition of the chrome.
- Close up shots of the fenders (front and rear), doors, hood, roof and trunk.
- Front and rear emblems. Some vehicles will have extra badging on the fenders to look for.
- I'd recommend two shots, one of the tips from above, and one of the tips from below that could include the muffler as well.
- It's sadly time to highlight any imperfections in the paint, body panels, plastic, etc.
- I'll usually shoot a lot of detail with the lights off. Then I'll turn the lights on and shoot them again. Don't forget to have someone apply the brakes to get the brake lights.
- This shot should be used to show off perfect panel gaps. If there are panel issues with the car, save those for the "Exterior problem areas" shot.
- This is a catch all for any trim on the car, it could include door handles, gas cap, air inlets rearview mirrors, etc.
- Wheel wells can be difficult if the car is low. If the wells are in excellent condition, consider removing the wheels to get a perfect shot.
- We want to try and get each wheel and tire shot at exactly the same distance. Count how many steps back from the tire you are and do that for each one.
- Get an overview shot of each window pane on the car. If originality is important, take detailed shots of the glass etchings as well.
Interior
- This is a set of photos. First shoot the floor mats (in car or out of car), then shoot the carpet underneath.
- The center console between the seats. Capture the shifter, any controls and storage box if equipped.
- An overall view of the dashboard to highlight the condition. It's best to try and shoot down from the top of the headliner.
- Grab three different shots, one of the front jamb, rear jamb and the bottom sill plate.
- Pop open each door and shoot an overview of the panel. Don't forget to capture any controls or details on the panel.
- Grab a set of photos of the front seats and don't forget the seat backs.
- Depending on the cluster three shots should do it: vehicle off, key on and vehicle on.
- Two shots, one of the exterior of the glove box and one of the interior.
- Highlighting the headliner is an often missed shot. Get a wide overview of the headliner, then capture the details like sun visors, sunroof and any controls.
- If the car comes equipped with map or dome lights, capture them on and off.
- Seat wear and tear, carpet issues, dash cracks, etc.
- Get down low and get a good shot of the pedal box area.
- Capture the radio area. If the radio is in good working condition, capture it on as well.
- Grab overall and detail shots of the rear seat. If there is an armrest, don't forget to pull it down.
- Shoot the seat belts and the seat belt receivers.
- Capture any interesting details of the seat: stitching, patterns and embossed or stitched logos.
- A single shot of the steering wheel from the front seat. Push the seat back as far as possible. If there are controls on the steering wheel, get shots of those as well.
- Any switch or control from the steering wheel stalks to hazard buttons.
- Shoot two different photos for each door. Under the door and from the side showing the lock receiver.
- Shoot a series of photos from the driver and passenger side of the interior. Open the door and shoot from the same level as the steering wheel.
Trunk
- Make sure to clear out the trunk from any accessories. Shoot straight on and from the sides.
- Open the trunk lid and get a shot of the inside.
- If the spare is located in the trunk, pull the floor panel and shoot it top down.
- If possible, remove the spare tire to show the condition of the trunk floor.
Engine Bay And Mechanical
- If you've got any accessories or modifications to the engine, highlight them here.
- A wide overview of the entire engine bay. This shot can be taken from the front of the car, or hold the camera above the engine, shooting downward. Get a shot from the left and right side as well.
- Pick out some detailed areas of the engine bay for closeups: belts, valve covers, intake, etc.
- Open the hood, crouch down at the front of the car and shoot upwards towards the bottom of the hood.
- Any stickers or markings in the engine bay should be highlighted here. There's a separate section for VIN and engine stampings that will come later.
- Ideally you'd get at least 6-8 shots of the underbody of the car. Similar to the 8-point walkaround, take shots from the sides, front, rear and each quarter. If the car is unusually clean, or covered in rust, these shots are important.
Markings
- Some cars will have VIN stamping or stickers on the body panels. If available, these are worthwhile shots to verify the originality of the car.
- The location of the stamping is different for each car. Search online to see if your car has an engine stamping. If the engine is original to the car, this shot is important.
- If your car has a VIN stamping on the door or engine bay, shoot these up-close. Ensure the photo is readable so buyers can verify the VIN.
Included Items
- Includes everything that comes with car: books, keys, covers, spare parts, etc.
- If the car comes with a certificate of authenticity include it.
- Pictures of all documents that come with the car (original sales, services completed). If there are numerous documents, scanning with a cell phone may be easier.
