How to Choose a Dealership Photography Provider

Do it yourself, hire a local contractor, or go full-service?

Dealers usually choose between three ways to get inventory photographed, labeled and online. The right one depends on who you want doing the work on your lot and how much you want handled for you.

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Three ways to merchandise your inventory

Do-it-yourself photo app

Who does the lot work: Your own staff, with a phone app and an editing service.

Works best when: You have a dedicated photographer and steady staffing.

Local independent contractor

Who does the lot work: A local photographer or lot-service company.

Works best when: A reliable provider covers your area.

Full-service provider with its own software

Who does the lot work: The provider's own trained staff, on a set schedule.

Works best when: You want photos, labels and Buyers Guides done for you, with listings handled in the same system.

Questions to ask any provider

Who will be on my lot, and are they the provider's own staff?
How soon after a vehicle arrives are photos live on my website and listing sites?
Who prints and posts FTC Buyers Guides, and from what data?
What happens when my photographer quits or goes on vacation?
Is the provider part of my brand's factory program, such as GM iMR or JLR CPO?
Which listing sites, website providers and ad channels does it send my inventory to?
Can I do the work in-house and still get help when I need it?

How Dealer Specialties answers them

Dealer Specialties has merchandised vehicles for dealerships since 1989, and it works both ways. Our own trained local staff, called Lot Techs, come to your lot on a set schedule.* Dealers who prefer to work in-house use VinMotion® self-service software, and many combine the two, calling on Lot Techs for overflow or during staff turnover.*

Do it yourself, with our Lot Techs as backup

Dealer Specialties offers both do-it-yourself and full-service, on the same software. VinMotion® is proven do-it-yourself software your own team can run every day, from a phone, tablet or browser. When you get busy, short-staffed or between hires, our Lot Techs can surge in and run the same software for you,* then hand it back. Or hand it to us for good. No system change either way.

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* Lot Tech availability depends on your location. Dealer Specialties does not have Lot Techs in every area of the country, and coverage can change over time. Ask us about service in your market.

Speed

A vehicle takes about three minutes to shoot and process. Photos are in VinMotion® the same day and typically reach listing sites within hours, because our feeds run several times a day.

Labels and Buyers Guides

Lot Techs print and post window labels and FTC Buyers Guides from the same vehicle data as your listings, so the lot matches the website.

More than photos

DealerSpin360 360° walkarounds, LiveLot video, AI background removal on every photo in the set, and Dominion StoryBuilder® AI descriptions.

Factory programs

A GM iMR turnkey-approved inventory solutions provider and an Authorized Partner of the Jaguar Land Rover CPO Window Label Program.

Distribution

VinMotion® sends inventory to major marketplaces, Google Vehicle Listing Ads, ad agencies and website providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is full-service photography worth it compared with doing it ourselves?

It depends on staffing. If one person shooting every car would fall behind during busy weeks or turnover, a scheduled provider keeps inventory moving. If you have a dedicated photographer, in-house software may be enough, and Dealer Specialties offers that too.

Do I have to choose one approach?

No. Many Dealer Specialties dealers run VinMotion® themselves day to day and call on our Lot Techs to surge in during busy weeks or staff turnover, where we have Lot Techs in their area.

What does Dealer Specialties cost?

Pricing depends on the services you choose and your inventory volume. Dealer Specialties does not publish a rate card; request a quote and we will tailor it to your dealership.

See it on your inventory

Tell us how you handle merchandising today, and we'll show you what it looks like on your lot. Or call 800-647-8425.