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How to Do Dealership Photography In House (Complete Guide)

How to Do in-house dealership photography

More dealerships are trying out in-house dealership photography to reduce outsourcing costs, speed up time to market, and maintain control over how their vehicles are presented online.

But in-house photography does not mean hiring a professional studio team. It means building a repeatable system that allows your existing staff to capture consistent, compliant, high-quality inventory photos using equipment you already have.

This guide breaks down what shooting your inventory in-house actually involves, what equipment you need, who should handle it, and how to create a workflow that holds up even when staff changes.

in-house dealership photographer
in-house dealership photography

Why Dealerships Bring Photography In-House

Dealerships typically move photography in-house for three reasons:

1. Reduce Outsourcing Costs

Paying per vehicle adds up quickly. In-house photography eliminates per-car vendor fees and gives the dealership control over scheduling and output volume.

2. Faster Time to Market

When inventory arrives, it can be photographed immediately instead of waiting on a third-party schedule. Faster uploads mean vehicles are visible online sooner.

3. Consistency Across Inventory

With a defined process, every vehicle follows the same photo standards. This improves brand presentation and buyer confidence.

The key is not hiring a great photographer. The key is building a consistent system.

What Equipment Is Required for In-House Dealership Photography?

In most cases, you do not need a professional studio setup.

A typical setup includes:

  • A smartphone, tablet, DSLR, or mirrorless camera

  • A stable internet connection for uploads

  • A defined shot list or capture process

  • Background control (either physical or digital)

  • A way to organize images by VIN or stock number

Many dealerships successfully use standard smartphones paired with structured capture workflows. The goal is not cinematic quality. The goal is clarity, consistency, and speed.

Photography equipment
In-house photorrapher

Who Handles In-House Dealership Photography?

In many dealerships, photography is handled by:

  • A lot porter

  • An inventory manager

  • A merchandising assistant

  • A dedicated in-house photographer

The role does not require formal photography training if the process is standardized. What matters most is:

  • Following the same angles and sequence

  • Maintaining consistent lighting practices

  • Uploading promptly

  • Ensuring every vehicle is photographed completely

When photography depends on one highly skilled individual, consistency often disappears when that person leaves. A documented workflow solves that problem.

What a Typical In-House Photography Workflow Looks Like

A basic in-house dealership photography workflow often looks like this:

  1. Vehicle arrives and is detailed

  2. Photos are captured following a defined shot list

  3. Images are uploaded and assigned by VIN or stock number

  4. Background adjustments or overlays are applied if needed

  5. Quality control checks for completeness

  6. Inventory is published online

When done correctly, this process can be completed in minutes per vehicle and repeated across rooftops or multiple locations.

Maintaining Consitency

How to Maintain Consistency Across Staff and Locations

Consistency is the hardest part of in-house dealership photography.

To maintain standards:

  • Use a fixed shot sequence

  • Define acceptable lighting conditions

  • Standardize background treatment

  • Document the process

  • Conduct simple quality checks

Dealerships that rely on “whoever is available” without a system often see photo quality decline over time. A defined workflow prevents that.

Common Mistakes in In-House Dealership Photography

  • Skipping angles to save time

  • Poor lighting or harsh shadows

  • Inconsistent backgrounds

  • Delayed uploads

  • No quality control review

Most problems do not come from equipment. They come from inconsistent execution.

When Outsourcing May Still Be the Right Choice

Outsourcing photography may make sense if:

  • You operate at very low volume

  • You want studio-level lighting on every unit

  • You lack available staff

  • You prefer not to manage the workflow internally

The right decision depends on your operational priorities.

How DealerVision.com Supports In-House Dealership Photography

DealerVision.com was built specifically to support in-house dealership photography workflows.

The platform helps standardize capture, apply background removal when needed, organize inventory by VIN, and publish photos and walkaround videos quickly as part of a repeatable process.

Rather than relying on individual skill, DealerVision.com supports a structured “shoot, upload, done” system designed for real dealership environments.

Frequently Asked Questions About In-House Dealership Photography

How long does it take to photograph a vehicle in-house?
Many dealerships complete capture in 10–15 minutes per vehicle once a workflow is established.

Do I need a professional camera?
No. Many dealerships use smartphones or tablets successfully when paired with a defined process.

Can in-house photography replace outsourcing completely?
In many cases, yes. It depends on volume, staffing, and presentation goals.

How do dealerships maintain consistency?
Through standardized shot lists, defined background rules, and simple quality control checks.