Guides
Used-car photography: a dealership checklist
A practical guide to framing, AI backgrounds, batch processing and reviewing vehicle details before publishing a used-car listing.
What makes a usable car photo?
Capture the whole vehicle from a consistent height, leaving space around the bumpers and wheels. Use soft daylight and avoid wide-angle distortion. A clean setting helps, but replacing the background cannot reliably restore a missing part of the car. Always keep the original file.
A listing needs more than an attractive lead image. Show the other sides, cabin, mileage and relevant wear. The photo set should describe the vehicle, not merely dress it up.
Use the same shooting sequence
A repeatable sequence exposes missing images before the car returns to the lot.
- Front and rear, straight and three-quarter views, then both sides.
- Dashboard, front seats, rear seats and boot; avoid personal information on screens.
- Wheels, tyres, important options and visible damage in separate shots.
- Check sharpness and complete bumpers before leaving the location.
Which image shape should you use?
Landscape 4:3 is a useful working format, not a universal marketplace requirement. Leave enough space for smaller website thumbnails without cutting off the car. Check the current specifications of each listing channel.
123CarStudio accepts JPG/JPEG, PNG and WebP up to 25 MiB and 40 megapixels per image. Export HEIC, DNG and RAW to JPG first. Use the crop control to adjust framing or retain the original aspect ratio when the complete frame matters.
How should you review a batch?
Select up to twelve images together, then check each crop and shot type. Upload and processing begin when you confirm processing. Keep one background across an exterior series and use the interior setting for cabin shots.
Compare every result against its original: body lines, paint, wheels, windows, lights, number plate, tow bar and damage. AI can change details despite preservation instructions. Do not approve an inaccurate image. A delivered image uses one credit; a technical failure does not. Regenerating after delivery uses another credit.
Measure the workflow, not just the credit price
During a trial, record the number of usable first results, review time and regenerations. Keep condition-revealing detail shots in the final listing. Background editing is not a substitute for representing the vehicle honestly.
For dealerships outside the Netherlands, confirm availability, invoicing and business terms with us before purchase. Adapt listing language and delivery specifications to the market where you advertise.
Related guides
- A CarShot alternative? Test with your own dealership photos
- A CarCutter alternative? Choose by workflow and scale