A photographer since 2008 and a published photography writer, I am currently a full-time car photographer based in Dorset/Somerset. Read-on as these car photography tips will help you improve your photography.
When you own a stand-out car or just enjoy capturing cars, chances are you’ll want to show your photos on Instagram, to friends, family and the occasional stranger you meet at the pub.
Perhaps you just want to sell your car and through better photos you’ll get more interest and possibly a better price for it too.
Ford Capri
So how can I make my car look good in pictures?
Car photography when I grew up featured on all teens’ bedroom walls, like a gateway drug turning many teenagers into motorheads. Many of us have in our youth hung a poster of a Ferrari F40 or Lamborghini Countach in our bedroom.
Car photography tips:
1 - Make it shine
This is quite an obvious one but it all starts with a clean car. So get that valeting kit out and get hoovering, cleaning and waxing. Make it shine.
2 - Plan according to the weather
Unless you’re going for that moody look, avoid bad weather, the rain and mud will ruin your efforts and won’t always result in good images.
Having said that, although not of a car, in the image below I made good use of the dark menacing clouds.
The same rules apply whether you shoot a car or a scooter.
A sunny day will work best, ideally with a blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Slightly overcast can work too, in fact an overcast day will diffuse the sunlight creating fewer harsh shadows. Avoid perfectly clear blue sky as it makes for a slightly boring image and quite harsh light.
3 - Choose your car shoot locations carefully
Locations matter greatly when it comes to car photography. Aim for a background which suits the car you are capturing and compliments it. For example a Land Rover Defender will call for an off-road location, a smart classic will be better suited in a smart looking location, maybe a grand country estate…
Land Rover Defender
Classic 1975 Porsche 914 Targa Top
Sometimes it pays off to do just the contrary and choose a background that’s a total opposite of where you’d expect to see such a vehicle. This creates a contrast and in photography contrasts can work very well. So imagine for example a smart Aston Martin placed in a derelict factory or building.
4 - Aim for the golden hour
What is considered golden hour? The golden hour is that moment early in the morning or late in the day when the sun rises or sets. The light is usually much kinder, it is more golden and less harsh than for example at midday. Avoid shooting at midday as this is when the sun is the strongest and highest, this creates harsh unflattering shadows.
1963 Volkswagen Splitscreen 13 window Deluxe
5 - A dedicated camera will take your photos to the next level
It really helps if you have a budding passion for shooting cars to move away from using a phone and invest in a more serious camera. Having said this, not everyone can afford more than a phone and this should never be a barrier to trying your hand at car photography.
Photography is a truly democratic art form, anyone can enjoy it with a camera phone.
It is better to shoot with a phone and carefully apply these car photography tips rather than owning a pricey camera and ignoring the pro tips. (“All the gear, no idea” springs to mind)
6 - Lens choice
If you’ve opted for a DSLR-type camera, avoid lenses that are too wide (e.g 24mm or below) as they distort your subject and make it look awkward, not as the designer intended. The ideal is anything between 35mm and 200mm, a favourite being the 90mm lens.
7 - Shoot all of it, don’t miss anything
It can be easy to get tunnel vision when shooting cars and miss important bits and details.
Attempt to gradually get closer as you shoot. Begin with the entire vehicle fitting within your frame, shoot the front, then move so you capture front and side, then the side, the side and back, then back etc… Circle around it and shoot all of it.
Once you’ve covered that, move closer and shoot slightly more in detail until you’ve exhausted all angles and details/features.
And don’t forget to shoot the interior and even the engine if it’s notable.
8 - Pay attention to angles and height
One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to lower yourself as you shoot. If you shoot a car from human eye level it will look small and weird, almost toy-like.
Think of the car (or motorbike) as a living thing and lower yourself not to forget to shoot at the car’s eye level which are its headlights.
This will make it look naturally beautiful and will immediately raise the quality of your photos.
I’m sure these car photography tips will help you make your car look good in photos!
Please revisit this blog as we will delve into more detail and share more advanced tips.
If you’d like to learn more about photography and how to take amazing photos, my book is available in all good bookshops.
Until next time,
Nico