How to photograph a car for sale - 20 shots, light and your phone
Photos decide whether a buyer clicks your listing and whether they call. You need neither a camera nor a photographer - a phone, a clean car and an hour are enough. We show where to park the car, when to shoot, how to set up your phone, which 20 shots you cannot skip and what to do about the number plate and damage.
Why photos matter
Buyers scroll through dozens of listings and the main photo decides the click. The other photos replace the first viewing: the more a buyer sees at home, the fewer questions and the more serious the people who come.
Blurry, dark or incomplete photos look as if you are hiding something - and lower the price buyers will offer.
How many photos to upload and the limit on OZNA.SK: How many photos per listing
Before the shoot: prepare the car
Neither a photographer nor a good phone can save a dirty car. Preparation takes an hour and shows in the photos more than anything else.
- Wash the outside including the wheels, windows and door sills. Shoot only once it is dry.
- Vacuum, wipe the dashboard and clean the windows from the inside.
- Empty the boot, glovebox and cup holders - no personal items, chargers or air freshener on the mirror.
- Turn on the ignition and check that no warning light is on - it will be in the photo of the instrument cluster.
- Have the service book, keys and the second set of wheels ready if you sell them with the car.
Deep cleaning and full preparation before the sale: Car interior cleaning · How to sell a car fast
Location, background and light
Where and when you shoot matters more than what you shoot with.
Location
An empty car park, a quiet street or a yard - at least 3–5 metres of free space around the car. Not between other cars and not in a garage.
Background
Calm and uniform - a wall, greenery, an empty area. No bins, people or other cars. Watch out for adverts and signs behind the car too.
Light
Diffused light under clouds or in the morning and late afternoon works best. Harsh midday sun creates hard shadows and glare; in the dark, phone photos get noisy.
Reflections
Glossy paint mirrors the surroundings and you. Stand so that buildings do not reflect in the doors and your shadow does not fall on the car.
Weather and winter
Do not shoot in the rain or a wet car - drops look like stains. In winter, wash off the salt and clear snow from the roof and lights.
How to shoot with a phone
An ordinary phone is enough for listing photos. Settings and position make the difference:
Landscape
Listing sites show photos in landscape - the whole car fits and does not look small.
Main 1× lens
Ultra-wide mode (0.5×) distorts the shape of the car and digital zoom lowers quality. Walk closer or further instead.
From headlight height
Shoot the exterior crouching, roughly at headlight height - from eye level the car looks squat and distorted.
Grid and a level horizon
Turn on the grid in the camera and keep the horizon level. Tilted photos look careless.
HDR on
Helps when a dark interior and a bright sky are in one frame.
Clean lens
A greasy fingerprint blurs the whole photo. Wipe the lens before you start.
No portrait mode or filters
Highest resolution, normal photo mode. Blurred backgrounds and filters do not belong in a listing.
Editing photos Cropping, straightening and a little brightness are enough. No filters or retouching of damage - the buyer will see the car in person and notice the difference.
20 shots that sell
Shoot in this order and upload in the same order. The first photo is the main one.
Exterior
Front at a ¾ angle (main photo)
Front and side at once, wheels turned slightly towards you.
Rear at a ¾ angle
From the opposite side to the main photo.
Left side
The whole car, straight from the side.
Right side
The whole car, straight from the side.
Front head-on
Straight, from headlight height.
Rear head-on
Straight, including the exhaust and bumper.
Wheels and tyres
Rim and tread close up.
Headlights and paint close up
Show that they are in good shape.
Interior
Dashboard
The whole of it - from the open driver door or the back seat.
Instrument cluster with mileage
With the ignition on and no warning lights.
Front seats
From the open door.
Rear seats
The whole rear space.
Centre console and equipment
Navigation, climate control - what you mention in the text.
Door trims and headliner
Common wear spots.
Boot
Empty, optionally with the seats folded and the spare wheel.
Technical and details
Engine bay
Dry and clean.
Service book and keys
Plus repair and service invoices.
Second set of wheels
If it is part of the sale.
Damage
Each spot separately, close up and from a distance, so it is clear where it is.
Extra equipment
Tow bar, roof rack, EV charging cable.
For a pricier car add more details - OZNA.SK lets you upload up to 60 photos per listing.
The text that goes with the photos: How to write a car ad
Number plate (ŠPZ) and VIN in photos
Number plate (ŠPZ, EČV)
You do not have to cover it - the law does not require it. Many sellers cover it so that nobody misuses the photos. If you do, do it neatly - with a blur or a solid rectangle.
VIN
A photo of the VIN plate is not needed. Better to write the VIN in the listing text or send it to a serious buyer - they will check the car history with it.
Documents
On photos of the registration certificate (osvedčenie o evidencii) or service book, cover personal data - name, address and birth number (rodné číslo).
What buyers learn from the VIN: VIN check
Most common mistakes
- Ultra-wide lens - the car looks distorted and smaller than it is.
- Portrait photos - in the listing gallery the car is small with empty space on the sides.
- A dirty car or a full boot.
- Shooting in the dark, in a garage or in the rain - noise and blur.
- Other cars, bins and people in the frame.
- Your reflection or shadow on the paint.
- Filters and heavy editing - the buyer will see the difference at the viewing.
- Hidden damage - the buyer will find it and either walk away or haggle hard.
DIY or a photographer?
For most cars a phone is enough. A photographer makes sense where first impressions decide or when you lack time and a good location.
| Option | Indicative price | What you get | When it pays off |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY with a phone | 0 € | 20–40 photos in an hour | Most ordinary cars |
| Photographer for listing photos | about 60–150 € | About 20 edited photos within a few days | Pricier and newer cars, when you lack time or a good location |
| Professional shoot (studio, drone, video) | from 100 € per hour | Studio lighting, video, motion shots | Premium, sports and classic cars |
| Consignment sale at a car dealer | included in the commission | The dealer photographs and sells the car | When you do not want to sell yourself |
A photographer will not fix a dirty car - do the preparation either way.
Photographing a car in 7 steps
From a clean car to a finished listing:
Prepare the car
Wash, vacuum, empty the boot and compartments.
Pick the location and time
Free space around the car, a calm background, diffused light.
Set up your phone
Landscape, 1× lens, grid, clean lens.
Shoot the exterior
Start with the main ¾ photo, then the sides, front, rear and wheels.
Shoot the interior
Dashboard, mileage, seats, equipment and boot.
Shoot the technical parts, documents and damage
Engine, service book, keys and each damaged spot separately.
Choose and upload the photos
In the order of the list, main photo first.
Do you photograph cars?
Do you offer car photos for listings or professional car shoots? Add your service on OZNA.SK in the Photography and video (Fotografia a videonahrávanie) category. Listing is free.
FAQ about photographing a car
How many photos should a car listing have?
At least 15–20, for a pricier car 30 or more. On OZNA.SK you can upload up to 60 photos per listing for free.
Is a phone good enough for car photos?
Yes. Today's phones are enough - light, a clean car and a calm background matter more. Use the main 1× lens, not the ultra-wide.
When is the best light for photographing a car?
Under clouds or in the morning and late afternoon. Midday sun creates hard shadows and glare; in the dark, photos get noisy.
Should I cover the number plate (ŠPZ) in photos?
You do not have to, but you can - many sellers cover it so nobody misuses the photos. Do it neatly.
Should I photograph the VIN?
A photo of the VIN plate is not needed. Write the VIN in the listing text or send it to the buyer - they will check the car history with it.
Should I photograph damage too?
Yes, each spot separately and close up. Buyers will find it at the viewing anyway, and an honest listing earns more trust.
Which photo should be the main one?
The front of the car at a ¾ angle - you see both the front and the side. Shoot from headlight height against a calm background.
Can I edit the photos?
Only lightly - crop, straighten, brightness. No filters or retouching of damage; the buyer will see the car in person.
How much does a car photographer cost?
Listing photos cost about 60–150 €, a professional shoot from 100 € per hour. For an ordinary car a phone is usually enough.
Can I photograph a car in winter or in the rain?
Not in the rain - drops look like stains. In winter, wash off the salt, clear the snow and shoot on a bright day.
More car selling guides
How many photos per listing →
The 60-photo limit and why the number matters.
How to write a car ad →
Headline, description and text templates that sell.
How to sell a car fast →
The whole sale from preparing the car to the transfer.
Car interior cleaning →
How to clean the interior before the shoot and what it costs.
How much is my car worth →
What price to put in the listing.
VIN check →
The car history as an argument in your listing.
Good car photos cost preparation, not money: a clean car, free space, diffused light and a phone in landscape with the main lens. Take 20 shots in order from the main photo to the damage and hide nothing - the buyer will come to the viewing convinced, not surprised.
Published 23 Oct 2026 · Updated 23 Oct 2026
Informational article - confirm the price directly with the photographer.
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