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Tips on how to photograph cars

31st May 2021   /   5 minute read

Tips on how to photograph cars

Photographing cars is an exciting activity, but getting that perfect shot requires a bit of patience and a few tricks up your sleeve. In this article, you’ll find some tips that will get you well-equipped to achieve stunning car photography.

Pick the right time of the day for shooting

When shooting in natural light, the most common mistake is picking the wrong time of day. Lunch hour, for example, will have you dealing with direct light, resulting in photos filled with glare and harsh shadows. This will make retouching cars a complicated process, even for the more experienced photo editors.

One of the best moments for car photography is right after the sunset or a few minutes before. If you can’t do a professional outdoor shooting, take your photos with artificial lighting on a neutral background, and you can always add a transparent background in photoshop.
 

car photography tips bmw

Get some dynamic shots

One way to get a fantastic image is to shoot the car out of another moving vehicle. When attempting to do this, shutter speed settings (1/100s, for instance) should allow you to get a dynamic result - some movement on the road and wheels while keeping the focus on the car. 

car photography tips bmw

Pay attention to the background

The background needs to be suitable for the car color and the theme of the shooting. On the one hand, too many objects around will have people distracted, or worse, objects like garbage bins or power lines can kill your picture for good. On the other hand, choosing a background color that is too similar to the car will make your car disappear. 

If needed, you can permanently remove background in image editing or use a car background removal tool like Pixelpro.ai to get a transparent image. 

car photography tips bmw

Mind the reflections

Reflection is something you have to keep in mind at all times, especially if you’re photographing a new and shiny car. Trees, buildings, or even your reflections can spoil the design lines you’re trying to highlight in your car photography. So, always have a look around and check what reflects on the car’s surface.

One easy way to avoid this: put your camera on a tripod, set the timer, and run!

Remember that it’s not all about the car

The image doesn’t have to be entirely about the car. Some of the best car images let the environment do most of the work. If you shoot in the beautiful scenery, the potential customer can already start daydreaming about the adventures they could have driving that car. 

You can let the car interact with its surroundings, raise some dust or make a splash for an absolute wow factor. 

car photography splash

Make sure you have the right gear

The only gear you need is a camera and a car. You can take impressive photos with your smartphone, but if you want to get a professional result, you need a DSLR. A wide lens will help you capture the car and its environment, and a macro lens will help you take perfect shots of the details and interiors. If you want to get dynamic pictures, bring a tripod for long exposure car photography.

PRO TIP: Always shoot in RAW format to buy yourself some flexibility in image editing. 

car photography tips

To wrap it up…

Car photography and retouching cars can be complicated or intimidating. But keep these tips, you need a DSLR, and you’ll be ready to take some stunning shots. 

Are you a photographer and would like to save some time with photo retouching? 

You can easily remove the background of cars with an AI-based car background removal tool. PixelPro.ai is available for a free trial here.

Do you have any other car photography tips that you would like to share with us? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

 

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