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If your vehicle listings look inconsistent, your brand feels inconsistent.
One day your photos look bright, sharp, and professional. The next day they look dark, crooked, over-edited, or shot from random angles. This happens all the time — especially when multiple people or vendors are involved.
That’s why building a dealership photo style guide is one of the highest-impact moves you can make for your inventory marketing.
A style guide isn’t just for huge companies or fancy brands.
It’s what allows any dealership — from small independent stores to large dealer groups — to produce consistent, on-brand vehicle photos every single day.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to create a dealership photo style guide that your team can follow, enforce, and scale across every platform.
A dealership photo style guide is a clear set of rules and examples that define how every vehicle should be photographed and edited before going live online.
Think of it like a photography “playbook” for your dealership.
It covers:
✅ photo style (lot, studio, hybrid)
✅ shot list & required angles
✅ framing rules (distance, height, crop)
✅ background rules
✅ lighting standards
✅ editing standards (what’s allowed / not allowed)
✅ export rules (size, quality)
✅ photo order standards
✅ quality control checklist
This guide ensures that every listing looks like it came from the same dealership — regardless of:
Your inventory photos are more than “pictures.”
They are:
A strong dealership photo style guide helps you:
🚀 increase click-through rate
📩 improve lead quality
📅 increase appointment show rate
⭐ reduce negative reviews
⏱️ reduce re-shoots and re-editing
📣 strengthen dealership branding
In other words: it saves time AND makes more money.
Before you write any rules, pick your core look.
There are 3 common dealership photo styles:
Photos are taken on the dealership lot.
✅ Pros:
⚠️ Cons:
Photos use background removal and neutral replacement.
✅ Pros:
⚠️ Cons:
Lot photos + background cleanup / light replacement.
✅ Pros:
⚠️ Cons:
Pick ONE style as your standard.
A dealership that mixes styles looks disorganized.
Your style guide should describe your intended look.
Examples:
✅ natural brightness
✅ clean whites
✅ accurate paint color
✅ mild contrast
✅ professional but honest
Avoid heavy HDR or cinematic filters — they’re inconsistent and can feel misleading.
Your dealership photo style guide must define:
Exterior:
✅ Front 3/4 driver
✅ Front 3/4 passenger
✅ Straight front
✅ Straight rear
✅ Driver profile
✅ Passenger profile
Interior:
✅ Driver cockpit view
✅ Front seats
✅ Rear seats
✅ Dashboard + odometer
✅ Center console + infotainment
Detail:
✅ Wheels (front & rear)
✅ Tire tread
✅ Trunk/cargo area
✅ Engine bay
Condition:
✅ Any damage close-ups
If your team follows the same shot list, your listings instantly look more professional.
This is a secret brand weapon.
When photos are shot from different heights, the dealership looks inconsistent.
✅ hood height (about chest level)
✅ keep the same for every vehicle
✅ vehicle fills 70–80% of frame
✅ full wheels visible
✅ no bumper cut-offs
✅ keep horizon straight
✅ keep car centered
Consistency here creates “premium brand energy” instantly.
If you use lot photos, your style guide must define:
✅ where cars should be parked
✅ what background is acceptable
✅ what clutter must be removed
✅ no trash cans
✅ no cones unless required
✅ no other cars intruding
✅ no people walking behind car
✅ no messy equipment in frame
If you use studio background replacement:
✅ choose 1–2 approved backgrounds
✅ neutral tones only
✅ consistent ground shadows
✅ avoid fake luxury scenes
Your background should make the vehicle stand out — not distract.
Lighting inconsistency is one of the fastest ways photos look off-brand.
✅ shoot with soft daylight when possible
✅ avoid harsh noon sun (hard shadows)
✅ avoid direct backlighting
✅ avoid heavy indoor yellow lighting
If you must shoot indoors:
✅ use consistent lighting bays
✅ standardize white balance
Lighting is brand consistency.
Your dealership photo style guide must include a “what edits are allowed” list.
This protects your brand AND avoids buyer complaints.
To scale editing across multiple staff/vendors, you need presets.
Your guide should include:
✅ approved presets for “sunny,” “cloudy,” and “indoor”
✅ maximum saturation limit
✅ contrast range
✅ exposure target
✅ consistent sharpening
Presets eliminate randomness — and randomness is the enemy of branding.
Photo order is part of the dealership’s visual brand experience.
A clean photo flow increases time-on-page and trust.
This makes every listing feel structured and intentional.
Even great images can look bad if exported wrong.
Your guide should specify:
✅ JPG high quality
✅ 2000–3000px wide
✅ 80–90% quality setting
✅ consistent aspect ratio (3:2 or 4:3 for VDP)
This reduces compression issues on marketplaces.
A style guide without QC won’t stick.
Your dealership photo style guide should include QC rules like:
✅ photos sharp (no blur)
✅ angles correct
✅ hero photo consistent
✅ background clean
✅ lighting consistent
✅ color accurate
✅ required shots included
✅ damage documented
✅ correct photo order
Even checking 10–20% of listings per week can dramatically improve results.
The best style guides are:
Include:
✅ “good vs bad” examples
✅ screenshots
✅ a one-page cheat sheet
✅ QR code link to guide
A guide that is too long becomes ignored.
Here’s the rollout plan that works:
When team members see the guide improves workflow (less rework), they adopt it.
A dealership photo style guide is not just a document.
It’s a system.
And once you build it, you unlock:
✅ consistent inventory photos
✅ a stronger dealership brand
✅ better performance on every platform
✅ faster photo workflows
✅ higher buyer trust
If you want shoppers to feel confident instantly…
Start with the photos.
Because the truth is:
Your dealership brand is what your photos look like when nobody is explaining them. 💯🚗📸
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USB Type-C port for fast charging and data transfer.
MicroSD card slot for expandable storage.
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