I was just sent an article by a person who has my best interests in mind, my fiance. It was an article that originally appeared in Auto Dealer Today. I will cut and paste the article below. I will also highlight the parts that I like.
"Redline, an automotive solutions provider, recently completed a survey revealing the substantial impact of professional vehicle photography on consumer behavior and dealership success. According to the survey, 95% of consumers believe that professional-looking photographs of vehicles on a dealership's website significantly increase the perceived value of the vehicles.
The survey also found that 87% of consumers would click the vehicle listing showing a clear, well-lit, well-framed photo versus 13% for of a listing with a blurry, poorly lit or poorly framed photo. Also, 57% of car shoppers said they think a dealership featuring professional images would need to engage in less price negotiation. The perception indicates that high-quality images attract potential buyers and empower dealerships to maintain pricing integrity, leading to improved profit margins.
Moreover, 94% of respondents expressed a preference for clicking professional-looking photos first when browsing online inventories. The behavior underscores the critical role that visual appeal plays in capturing consumer attention in a competitive digital marketplace.
"Our survey demonstrates that professional vehicle photography is not just about aesthetics; it directly influences consumer trust, confidence, and ultimately, a dealership's bottom line," said Redline CEO Mike McGlade. "By investing in high-quality images, dealerships can enhance their online presence, attract more serious buyers, and achieve higher profit margins."
Redline surveyed 372 adults older than 18 years, including respondents who indicated they had performed online vehicle shopping in the past three years. The findings demonstrate that wisdom of adopting professional photography as a standard practice in the automotive retail industry. Clean, high-quality photos instill trust and confidence in buyers and streamline the sales process, leading to more efficient and profitable transactions."
So you can see why I enjoyed the article. Lot kids, sales reps, detail department can all take photos of cars. It's inexpensive, fast and convenient. Unfortunately todays buyers can tell when something is inexpensive, fast and convenient. You are selling a 10k to 150k vehicle. Shouldn't your pictures tell the story of value?