If you are looking for tips on taking a better photograph of your car, this article is for you. We cover everything from the best time of day to shooting your vehicle to the essential equipment you will need. You’ll also learn about what makes a photo stand out and how to make sure that every picture taken is of good quality.
Shoot at the right time of day
This is the most common mistake people make when capturing photos of cars. You can see you take photographs a few minutes after sunset (or before sunrise). It’s the best time. Use a tripod and get that perfect soft light on the car paint.
The golden hour is the most popular time for taking pictures because of the excellent light. Images taken during this time will have a cloudless sky in them with less light than they would otherwise, which creates a moodier atmosphere. This is especially true when shooting reflective objects like cars and metal beams at sunset or at dawn; some people even call these photos “Car Bombs” since many of them involve car shots brightly lit against a very dark background that gives an alluringly eerie appearance.
Take driving shots
One way to increase your chance of getting a fantastic shot is to shoot the car out of another moving vehicle. You can keep the speed at around 37 mph (60 km/h) but change up depending on preference, for instance, using a shutter speed of 1/100s or lower. This will create some motion blur and give your subject movement in the photo.
Do some auto repair photoshoot
Vehicle owners have many options when looking for a reputable repair shop; photos on your website can make all the difference. Adam Kushner, an owner of marketing company Business Actualization, explains that when consumers see pictures they resonate with instead of stock images from other shops, they’re more likely to trust you and your business over the competition.
If you’re photographing a technician using car equipment as part of our photography (for example, jump starter), make sure the cars and the bays are tidy, there aren’t any rags on the ground, and employees have clean uniforms and fresh gloves. We don’t want a model technician, but they must be professional for marketing purposes. Get your technicians used to being used in future marketing so that they can be comfortable with having their photos taken.
Pay attention to the color of the car
Photos of cars vary depending on the sunlight at a given time. Some colors tend to be less popular than others and may need more light, but some colors thrive in direct sunlight even when other photos might not look as good.
What settings should I use for car photography?
Use these settings for general photography and, in particular, shooting cars: focus on both the vehicle and background (“shallow depth of field”) and use low ISO, quick shutter speed.
How do you photograph car damage?
The best way to take pictures of cars is to always shoot from different angles. Look for reflective surfaces like zebra stripes that will help highlight dents. When producing closer shots, place a coin next to the most considerable dent before you snap the picture, so it has some size reference; this will make your damages clear and visible in any photograph. Finally, to get the most accurate representation of your car’s condition, always try taking a single shot with all of its damage shown clearly.
Can you take a picture of someone’s car?
It’s not a crime to take pictures in public. Or even record them, unless you’re taking pictures of someone disrobing or having an expectation of privacy, as the only time that would be considered illegal is if those actions were happening while in public areas.
How many photos does a mini session take?
The more time you spend shooting, the better chance you will have of capturing various images worthy of pleasing your artistic sensibilities. This means that for a 1-hour shoot, you should expect 40-50 photos to look through; whereas with 30 minutes on hand, expect around 20 pictures.
Where can I take pictures of my car?
If you’re shooting your own car on location, it can be anything from a high angle to a low angle. Many photographers like using low angles to make the vehicle seem imposing and dramatic, while others like approaching from the three-quarter view of the car’s front corner.