With so many technological advancements in the automotive industry, buyers are not stuck at the vehicle’s exterior. Instead, they are ready to step inside the car virtually. This is possible through 360 car interior photography. It allows the dealer to present the car with complete interior and exterior features and specifications. It gives an immersive experience of examining the complete interior view of the car and builds confidence in the dealerships.
What is 360 Car Interior Photography?
360 car interior photography helps capture car interiors that can be rotated completely. This allows the consumer to view not just the car’s exterior but also the interiors. This 360 automotive imagery solution usually gives the viewer the experience of sitting in the driver’s seat. They can easily navigate the driving wheels and their features, as well as the dashboard, and then slowly rotate toward the front and back seat visuals. Therefore, they are realistic and exciting for the viewer.
A 360 virtual tour presents the car’s interior in a presentable and impeccable form, where every piece of interior and the texture of material are clearly visible and the colors of each element correspond to reality.
How Can 360 Car Interior Photography be Used?
Capturing a complete car interior is a task, but apart from that, we must know how to utilize them. There are many different 360 car interior photography platforms and websites where people search for them and gather information relating to the vehicles. Listed below are some of the channels where these 360 car interior photos can be integrated:
1) Blogs: Use these pictures in your blog posts if you wish to discuss a new model’s interior features. This facilitates the reader’s ability to picture the characteristics you are talking about.
2) Social Media Posts: Using these photos is a fantastic way of automotive social media marketing and grow your social media following, and build a robust online presence.
3) YouTube Videos: These 360 Car Interior Panoramic Photography can also be included in YouTube videos. A commentary in the film that describes each interior detail in the panoramic image can make a distinctive, guided tour of the car’s interior.
4) Online Showrooms: Since more customers are making purchases online, you can use these 360 photo booth to give them a showroom-like experience at home. Due to the lifelike visuals, customers will think they’re in a dealership showroom examining the automobile in person.
5) Background Images: Selecting a visually arresting background image for your website that will immediately draw in visitors from your target market is critical. Some car sellers utilize backdrop images of vehicles taken from the outside, but you can make yours stand out by using an interior 360-degree photo.
Importance of 360 Car Interior Photography
360 car photography provides high-quality images that make you feel like you are sitting behind the wheel. These images allow your target audience to see every inch of a vehicle’s interior which increases engagement and website traffic. Here are some more points as to why this photography is important:
1) Interactive Experience: 360-degree interior photographs are a fun interactive feature for online car shoppers. Possessing these pictures could enhance their entire internet buying experience.
2) Aids in Comprehending the Interior Design: If you use still photographs, customers might have to scroll through the 360-degree car gallery back and forth to figure out which aspects they are looking at and where they fit into the décor. On the other hand, a panoramic view puts the customer in control, making it easy for them to figure out where everything is in the car.
3) Assists with Pre-purchase Research: Before choosing which car to buy, car buyers usually invest hours in studying. They want to learn as much as they can about their alternatives during this research phase. By using these thorough, high-resolution photos, you can be confident that your target audience will have all the information they require to determine whether a car fits them.
4) Interior Representation: Still photographs usually have to accurately depict the interior of a car because the interior is a compact space with many characteristics. The inside may appear larger or smaller than in certain areas, or there may be problems with the lighting or reflections. You may prevent these issues by switching from traditional still photographs to 360-degree images.
5) Showcases Interior Feature: Using still photos alone makes capturing every aspect of a car’s interior difficult. However, since panoramic images capture the entire interior, every detail will be captured in the finished picture.
360 Car Interior Photography -Traditional VS. AI
With changing times and technology, interior photography has also evolved. The integration of AI is the digital transformation in the automotive industry. It has its perks, but despite that, traditional photography is the preferred method for dealerships. We have mentioned the features and advantages of conventional and AI photography methods that dealers should know.
| Basis | Traditional | Artificial Intelligence (AI) |
| Equipment | It requires a 360 camera and a tripod to capture the details effectively. | A smartphone with an AI software installed is needed. |
| Process | A professional photographer captures every detail manually and then uses 360 car interior photography software to stitch them together. | Individuals can use the software and generate images according to their preferences and requirements. |
| Pros | Offers more control over the final image quality. | It is faster, easier to use, and requires minimal equipment. |
| Cons | Can be time-consuming and requires specialized equipment and software. Stitching errors can occur, especially in complex car interiors with curves and reflections. | It may not offer the same control over the final image quality as traditional photography. AI stitching may not be perfect in all situations. |
Why Should You Use 360 Car Interior Photography?
Many car dealerships focus mainly on the exterior when showcasing a vehicle, but a 360 car view of the interior is just as important, if not more. So, why should you use 360 degree car interior photography instead of traditional still images? Here are some key reasons:
Provides an Interactive Experience
When shopping online, people love to interact with 360-degree interior photos. These images can make the online shopping experience more enjoyable and engaging.
Makes it Easier to Understand the Interior Layout
With still images, customers might have to flip through multiple photos to understand the layout of the car’s interior. But with a 360-degree view, they can explore the interior as if they’re sitting inside, making it easier to see where everything is located.
Creates a Competitive Edge
Using 360-degree images on your website, social media, and online listings can help your dealership stand out from the competition, which is crucial as the automotive industry becomes more competitive.
Helps Consumers with Pre-Purchase Research
Car buyers spend hours researching before deciding on a vehicle. High-resolution, detailed 360-degree images give them all the information they need about the interior, helping them decide if the car is right for them.
Serves as an Accurate Representation of the Interior
Still images can sometimes make parts of the interior look bigger or smaller than they are, and lighting or reflections can cause issues. 360-degree images avoid these problems, giving a more accurate view of the interior.
Captures All of the Interior Features
It’s tough to capture every feature of a car’s interior with still images alone. But with 360-degree images, every inch of the interior is shown, so no feature is left out.
Best 360 Car Interior Photography Tips
Flawless 360-degree car photography of an interior automobile involves more than just pointing and clicking. This section contains the secrets to achieving results comparable to those of professionals. We’ll provide you a toolkit full of practical tips that covers everything from camera settings and lighting to tactical image capture techniques.
The Ideal Setting
Placement is crucial even for interiors, where you can still view outside via the windows. To guarantee no distracting visuals, try to locate an appropriate spot or shoot in a studio. For 360 degree photography, an aperture of about F/4 works best to blur out any background coming in through the windows.
Cover As Much Ground As You Can
Make sure you draw attention to all of the car’s essential components, such as the seats, the tailgate, and all other parts. You can do this by carrying a list of standard items and determining whether you need anything special (such as cup holders, a center console, or charging plug points).
Turn On the Lights in Every Car Interior
For this, use a light bar and scrim. The sun can create hot spots and stark contrast in certain places during the day, which can cause uneven lighting in pictures of the inside of cars. A scrim can soften the dark regions and dilute some of the natural light from the sun. You can also utilize an Ice Light if you shoot in the dark. To focus the light where you want it, you may use it as a standard lamp or install it on a stand. Footwells have a lot of shadows, and light-reflecting windows are usually trouble spots. Thus, exercise caution when photographing such components.
Nighttime Images for Interior Car Photos
Modern cars make extensive use of LED accent lighting. Make the most of them to get a beautiful impact. Naturally, you must experiment with the best nighttime car photography camera settings.
Changing Up the Inside Pictures
Photos of cars’ interiors can take several forms. To catch different points, adjust the angle of your lens, just like you would for the outside. Sitting in the back seat, aim the driving wheel over the shoulder of the person in front. To add depth to the picture, get closer to the topic until the seat before you become blurry. Alternatively, squat in front of the driver’s side open door and point your upward target at the steering wheel. Your shot will seem more valiant.
Top 5 Car Interior Photography Software
We now know about the benefits and features of 360 car interior photography. However, this is only possible with a perfect automotive software solution. There are many software available, but not every software provides accurate 360 automotive walkaround. Here is the list of top 5 car interior photography software:
| Softwares | Description |
|---|---|
| Spyne | Spyne is a software-as-a-service platform provider that specializes in AI and computer vision. Its main goal is to use these cutting-edge technologies to automate image processing operations. |
| CloudPano | CloudPano 360° virtual tour software empowers you to create 360° virtual tours, which create a responsive and immersive view of the property. |
| Glo3D | Glo3D 360 Car Photography turns your smartphone into a professional studio for taking pictures of cars. We offer a robust end-to-end solution that enables you to record, modify, distribute, and include 360-degree virtual tours into your online storefronts, hence enhancing your online visibility. |
| Autopano Giga | Autopano Giga can handle gigapixel-sized panoramic photos, in addition to the Pro edition. The program is intended for a broad audience of amateur photographers, in addition to professional photographers interested in learning about virtual tours and panoramic photography. |
| PtGui | PTGui is a panorama photo stitching program for Windows and macOS developed by New House Internet Services. It features its own stitching and blending engine and is compatible with Panorama Tools. |
What is The Best Lens for Car Interior Photography?
When it comes to car interior photography, the right lens can make a huge difference in how your photos turn out. Here are the best lenses for car interior photography:
24-70mm F2.8
If you’re just starting and can only get one lens, the 24-70mm F2.8 is your best bet. At the 24mm setting, you can capture wide shots of the car’s interior, getting more details in the frame. At 70mm, you can zoom in to capture smaller, hard-to-reach areas. This lens is incredibly versatile and is great for both interior and exterior shots. It’s also perfect for rolling shots since you might not always be at the ideal distance for a fixed (prime) lens. The F2.8 aperture helps you get clear, focused photos, even in low light.
35mm F1.8
The 35mm F1.8 lens is another excellent choice, especially if you want something lightweight and easy to carry. This lens has a lower aperture of 1.8, which helps you focus on the finer details of the car’s interior. It’s a prime lens, meaning it doesn’t zoom, so you’ll need to move closer to your subject to fill the frame. But because it’s light and compact, it’s great for shooting around town or when you’re on the go.
70-200mm F2.8
For more specific situations, like photographing cars on a track or at a drag strip, the 70-200mm F2.8 lens is ideal. This lens lets you zoom in on distant subjects, capturing tight shots even when you’re far away. However, for car interiors, this lens might be a bit much unless you’re trying to capture specific details from a distance. It’s better to start with the 24-70mm or 35mm lens before adding this one to your collection.
How Spyne Can Help – 360 Car Interior Photography
Spyne AI combined digital imagery and automobile photography. In contrast, the AI platform for digital commerce makes it incredibly simple and reasonably priced to capture 360-degree images or movies. A few clicks will do this; additional hardware or expertise is not required. Here’s how to go about it:
1) Go around the car with your smartphone open and the car 360 view app running. Adhere to the 360 photoshoot guide to ensure your car image fits within the overlay drawing on the screen. The AI-powered solution will instantly confirm the image and alert you if it needs to be captured again.
2) The built-in AI editing capabilities will replace or adjust the background once you’ve taken a car walkaround from every angle and eliminate all extraneous features.
3) Several background options are available, including indoor and outdoor virtual studios.
4) This allows you to take 360-degree automobile photos using your smartphone. It may also help you move your cars from the lot to the internet in minutes.
5) Prospective automobile buyers find the dealership inventory listing more appealing and captivating when it features a 360-degree virtual showroom with inventive spinning vehicle views, which attracts more shoppers.
Conclusion
Although 360 car interior photography may not receive as many likes or shares as exterior car photography, it is still vital to online sales conversions. When your online retail channels have all the necessary information, buyers can virtually assess the car with accuracy. Together with AI-led photography platforms like the Spyne AI app, these tips and tricks will help you produce lead-converting, high-quality car interior photos that will win over more hearts.
