My recent blog post, “Aren’t Dealers Catfishing?” aimed to spark discussion and challenge conventional thinking. I was intrigued by the comments from some who claimed to experience no negative consequences from using fake backgrounds in vehicle photography.
For me, the issue transcends potential sales impacts. It’s about manipulating the reality of the vehicle’s presentation. As someone with over 28 years of experience in operating a lot photography service, I believe this manipulation is inherently misleading.
Consider Porsche North America. They explicitly prohibit the manipulation of backgrounds at all their North American factory stores. This policy clearly demonstrates a commitment to authenticity in vehicle presentation.
Why would Porsche enforce such a strict rule? In my opinion, it highlights a fundamental truth: dealerships that rely heavily on fake backgrounds may simply lack the dedication to proper photography techniques. They may neglect essential aspects like shooting from optimal angles and ensuring accurate color representation.
Furthermore, the reliance on third-party photography services often signifies a “band-aid” approach. “throwing money at a problem to make it go away” Instead of investing in in-house expertise and improving their photography processes, these dealerships outsource the problem, avoiding the necessary commitment to quality.
Based on my extensive experience, I firmly believe this observation holds true for many dealerships.
**Disclaimer:** This blog post expresses my personal opinions.
