Learn to Take Epic Photos to Sell Your Boat Fast

A good boat listing requires great photos. People are visual and like to see what they are getting. Unfortunately, many listings contain outdated and poor quality pictures. Bad photos completely destroy your listing. Here are some tips for taking epic photos that will sell your boat.

1) Your Phone is Not a Camera: Invest in a good camera. Despite what the guy in the blue t-shirt told you at the Apple Store, your phone was never designed to take professional photographs. There are many DSLR cameras on the market for a reasonable price that will take the great pictures your listing deserves.

2) Know Your Camera: Most good cameras are pretty easy to figure out. Take the time to know all the settings and features. Having a thorough understanding of how your camera works will yield the best results as well as save you time and frustration. There are free tutorials on Youtube for just about every major camera brand and model.

3) Lighten Up A Lot: Lighting is key to a good photograph. The enemy of a good photo is bad lighting. If you’re photographing a small boat, avoid dim lighting, which will produce a “cave-like” effect and make the boat’s interior look smaller than it really is. Turn on all the lights you can find, open the blinds and let the light come pouring in from every direction.

4) Cut the Clutter & Claustrophobia: The idea of being cramped or confined into a small place is an overwhelming for a boat buyer. Photos showing only a half of a room or a portion of the bathroom shower will add no value to your listing and potentially scare off a buyer, and neither will photos of your salon showcasing your knick-knacks.

5) Accidental Selfies: Don’t be that guy in the mirror taking a picture. A buyer is probably not too interested in checking out your selfies. Take your picture at the right angle to avoid a “photobomb”. Also, make sure anything reflected in the mirror is photo-worthy and watch out for a glare

6) Set the Stage: Put some effort into staging your boat and making it relaxing and inviting. Buyers like to imagine themselves hanging out on the boat. Make the beds, set the table, add throw pillows to seating, put clean towels on the aft deck, and even add some fresh flowers as a dining table centerpiece.

7) Spin Her Around: Taking photos from just the dock or while standing in the same place will not show off your boat in all of her glory. Make sure to spin the boat around to get photos of various angles as well as move the boat away from the dock. When photographing the interior, take pictures from all angles to give the buyer the best visualization and idea of size.

8) Name Your Photos: Make browsing easy for prospects. Nothing is more annoying to a client than having to scroll through dozens of photos labeled “Photo 1” – “Photo 72” to find out what the galley looks like.