Introduction

Best Photos for Auto Detailing Before/After Posts is your blueprint for capturing transformation—without fancy gear. You’ll learn repeatable angles, reflection control, natural lighting, and fast edits that highlight what customers care about: clarity, depth, and texture.

1) Why this works

• Comparability: Same angle, same height, same light—differences pop.
• Texture & reflection: Paint depth reads through highlights, not heavy filters.
• Trust: Honest framing and minimal overlays reduce skepticism and DMs about “editing.”

2) Before/After Style Guide (Keep It Honest)

• Use tripod height ~48–52 in for exterior panels; lock that for before & after.
• Open shade for both shots—avoid changing weather between takes.
• Include a tiny time/location note in caption; keep overlays minimal.
• Hide plates; remove personal items; keep wheels straight.

3) Phone & Camera Settings

4) Lighting & Time of Day

• Exterior: Open shade (building shadow) or thin overcast; golden hour for hero angles.
• Interior: Doors open, cabin lights off, bounce ambient light; avoid harsh hotspots.
• Avoid noon sun: It exaggerates swirls and kills color fidelity.

5) Angles & Framing — Exterior

1. Front 3/4 at 45° (hood reflections, headlights clarity)
2. Rear 3/4 at 45° (taillight lens clarity)
3. Driver door panel (swirl removal showcase)
4. Hood reflection test (skyline straight lines)
5. Roof sweep (water spot removal)
6. Wheel + tire (tread, bead, dressed sidewall)
7. Trim & plastic restoration close-up

6) Angles & Framing — Interior

1. Driver seat wide (steering, dash, bolsters)
2. Center console (dust, cupholders, piano black)
3. Infotainment screen (smear removal)
4. Carpet/floor mat (extraction pattern)
5. Seat stain removal macro (60–90° top-down)
6. Headliner (spot treatment)
7. Cargo/trunk (vac + plastics)

7) Close-Ups That Sell

• Swirl to gloss: 12–18 in from panel, angled to catch a light streak.
• Badge/lettering: Q-tip cleanup reveals edges—great micro-detail shot.
• Exhaust tips: Half/half progress then final after.
• Engine bay: Satin, not greasy shine—texture visible.

8) Staging & Prep Checklist

• Neutral backdrop (garage door, plain wall, empty lot)
• Remove clutter from seats/doors; straighten steering wheel
• Microfiber lens wipe; check smudges on phone lens
• Have “before” angles list handy to replicate for “after”

9) Reflection Control

• Use a CPL (circular polarizer) and rotate until glare softens.
• Move your body 6–18 in to shift reflections off problem areas.
• Choose backgrounds with clean verticals (fences, buildings) to showcase straight reflection lines.

10) Background & Location

• Plain, mid-tone surfaces (gray concrete, matte wall)
• Avoid visual clutter: signs, random people, trash bins
• Keep horizon lines level; don’t tilt the car

11) Color Accuracy & White Balance

• Set WB to Daylight/Cloudy vs Auto to keep before/after consistent.
• Use a gray card or a neutral area (tire) for WB sampling in edit.
• Avoid heavy saturation—let gloss and reflections do the talking.

12) Editing Workflow

13) File Naming, Crops & Side-by-Side Layouts

YYYY-MM-DD_Make-Model_Color_Angle_BEFORE.jpg
YYYY-MM-DD_Make-Model_Color_Angle_AFTER.jpg

Use identical crops and aspect ratios so improvements are instantly visible.

14) Captions, Overlays & Watermarks

Caption Blueprint

{Make/Model} • Paint Correction + Interior Deep Clean
Swirls out. Gloss in. Interior reset. 
Want the same result? Comment "DETAIL" or tap Book Now.

Overlay Rules

• Keep overlays small: service + location; avoid text walls.
• Watermark lower corner, ~30–40% opacity.
• Never cover the reflection lines you’re trying to showcase.

15) Export Sizes

16) A/B Testing & Analytics

1. Test hero angle: hood reflection vs driver door panel.
2. Carousel order: exterior first vs interior first.
3. Decision rule: promote the variant with higher saves + profile taps in 48h.

UTM tip: utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=detailing_before_after

17) Accessibility & Consent

• Blur plates and personal items; get permission for client cars.
• Add alt text: “Driver door panel, swirl removal before/after, black paint, open shade.”
• Avoid implying results that require paintwork; keep claims honest.