Automotive photography can be seen as a niche in the photography industry. Therefore, many urgently need good tips to create professional photos.
Photographing cars can always get more interesting. When shooting car commercials, there are some aspects or guidelines that need to be considered in order to achieve the desired results. The secret to successful car photography is simple! Keep a few things in mind!
time
The time of day is extremely important when you want to photograph cars. Successful ads tend to show cars when the sun is barely visible, preferably a few minutes after sunset or a while before sunrise. The soft golden glow bounces off any surface, adding a healthy and glamorous vibe to the photo. The natural light also reduces post-processing time and makes your work more authentic!
Watch out for reflections
Car photography can be tricky as there can be unwanted reflections on the surface of the car afterwards. Therefore, when preparing for a photo shoot, be sure to choose an open space. The automobile’s lustrous exterior reflects its surroundings and conceals its design lines. Reflections and shadows on the outside can ruin the whole point of this product photography if they obstruct the car’s curves and design. It is therefore better to avoid areas with buildings and tall trees for such shootings.
And when your own reflection appears on the surface, it’s best to use a tripod and a timer.
color and background
Color and background must harmonize perfectly; otherwise your picture will not catch the eye. Each color or color reacts depending on the time of day or lighting. Direct sunlight is a big no-go! Most colors tend to hide their best qualities in direct sunlight; On the other hand, lighter colored cars can look stunning in the sunlight.
Depending on the color of your vehicle and the theme of your photoshoot, it’s important to choose a contrasting background. The sole purpose of the background should be to make the car stand out. Any objects that could serve as a distraction must be removed.
driving shots
The best car photos are the drive-by shots. Photographing a moving car from another moving car is one of the coolest and most exciting shots. Admittedly, it can be very dangerous!
Try shooting out your car window while driving at 60 kilos per hour (40 mph) with your shutter speed set to 1/100th of a second. This should record the movement on the road and the wheels. Reducing the shutter speed even more creates a blurry effect, which can also appear beautiful!
Another way to capture driving footage is to stop and let the car pass you. Use your lens to follow the passing car with a 125 second shutter speed. This method is easy and the pictures come out stunning! The effects will of course change depending on the speed of the car, so play around with that.
Night shots
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to take good photos in the dark. For car photography, we only need one additional instrument; a flashlight.
First you need to find a location that is pitch black. Street light, moonlight, billboards, etc. can ruin the photo, so be aware of other light sources. After you reach this point; Set up your tripod, set your ISO to 100 and the shutter speed should be 30 seconds at an aperture of f/9.
Now when the shutter opens, you need to shine your flashlight on the surface. Try to cover all sides of the car with the flashlight by walking around while the shutter opens. Experiment with the angles and sides, each photo has a different effect!
When you shoot for the car dealership and e-commerce website, post-processing is extremely beneficial, expensive and time-consuming. However, you can take advantage of our outsourcing photo editing services to reduce your time and cost.