How To Photograph Cars

Your ride is fast and clean and you think you're ready for the pages of your favorite car mag. Well, hold on their turbo. Before you send a note destined for the delete button, here are some tips to improve your chances.

1. READ & LEARN - If you think your car would go well in the pages of Hot Rod or Super Chevy, make sure of it first. Each magazine has a distinct style to the cars they feature. Some are high dollar customs. Other mags prefer cars with more performance. Some like a mix of both. So read through the mag you're thinking of carefully and take note of their personal style.

2. BE DIFFERENT - Any editor of any magazine has probably been around long enough to laid eyes on thousands of cars. Ford Roadsters and First-Gen Camaros are a dime a dozen (even if they are expensive dimes). So try to find some way to be unique. Is your car the ultimate "sleeper"? Does it have a great story behind it? Does it do the quarter-mile in 4.11 seconds while picking up the kids from school? Ok, that last one wasn't a safe idea, but you get the picture. Set yourself apart from the herd.

3. BIG CARSHOWS - The lion's share of automotive mags are based in Southern California. That's great if you live in San Diego or L.A., but sucks if you're in 99% of the rest of the U.S. So if there is a big car show anywhere within a few state lines that you've seen featured in the magazine before, pack the bags and get out of town. Make sure to get their early too. The editors are insanely busy at shows and don't have time to mess around. They want to shoot your car and move on.

4. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS - If you're sending your information via email or a letter, make sure you give as much detailed information as possible. Talk about all the mods on your. If you have legitimate dyno or track numbers, use them, but don't try to fool these guys because they will know BS when they hear it. Be thorough and truthful and a little flavor doesn't hurt either. Make it sound as compelling to them as they would their readers.

5. SEND PHOTOS - If you've practiced the photography tips on this page, you've probably done alright for yourself and you've got some nice clean shots to send. Don't just send a 3/4 front shot and a general engine shot. Get in and shoot the good parts of the engine, interior or chassis. The more you show, the better your chances of getting noticed.

This is only the beginning. Part

To make a strong impact, a lot of times people will shoot their cars full frame making the subject as large as possible. Those shots generally make good photos but if you want to add some more drama to the shot, use what photographers call The Rule of Thirds.

The idea is that instead of filling the frame with your subject, pull back a bit and then align your subject more to the left, right, top or bottom. By giving the subject space you actually provide more opportunity for the viewer to focus, drawing more attention to what you want them to see.

Using the figure on the left as reference, if you were shooting a angled front shot of your car facing from left to right, you might want to frame the shot so the center of the subject is aligned with one of the dots, filling 2/3rds of the frame on one side or the other. You might also consider framing more to the top or bottom as well, but you need to be selective when do this because when it comes to the foreground and background, you don't want to add anything distracting. For instance, if high in the background you have telephone wires in the sky but the asphalt is clear, then maybe you would push the car more toward the top of the frame to block out the mess and still give some drama to the shot.

Although the Rule of Thirds is one way to shoot, it's not the only way. You can create drama and interest, but it won't work for every shot. This rule is always an easy go-to device when looking for a great shot, but this rule is also definitely made to be broken. The best idea is always to take lots of photos until you find what works best for you and your subject.

Continued from Part 1 above, these are more tips to consider when trying to get your car in your favorite magazine.

6. HIGH RESOLUTION ONLY - When shooting digital, make sure to use the highest resolution possible. If you're not sure, go to a photo store or get on the internet and ask. Low resolution files are an instant death to any feature. Also, if you only have a print camera, try to use slide film. It's likely you'll get turned down, but better slides than prints.

7. GET OUT OF THE SHOT - Unless the magazine requests you be in the photo, DON'T! Nobody cares what you look like and you're just blocking the car. Remember, the car is the story, not your goofy mug. I say goofy only because most people have no idea how strange they look when posing.

8. YOUR GIRL AIN'T THAT HOT - Ok, that sounds really harsh, and your wife or girlfriend may be cute, but chances are she isn't magazine level of hotness. As above, she's probably posing weird and more than likely blocking the car. On top of that, most mags don't use girls in their book and even if your shots are good enough to be in the book, they likely won't want her in the photo. Sometimes mags will request shots of girls on cars. This is the ONLY time to put her against the car.

9. BE POLITE - Even if your car is the hottest thing since Courtney from Overhaulin', acting like it is will not get you in the book. If you built it from the ground up and are proud of it, cool, but don't come off as the next Foose or Trepanier. Also, don't bug them. If you sent an email or letter and you haven't heard from them in a couple months, maybe follow up with some new shots and see if maybe you can grab their attention again, but do not bug them, and don't expect a response ever. These guys are incredibly busy and have probably received dozens of similar emails every day since yours.

10. DON'T GET MAD, GET DRIVIN' - If you never hear from the magazine, don't take it personally. There are numerous reasons why they may have passed on your shots. Maybe they just shot a car similar to yours and don't want another. Maybe the photography wasn't as nice as they need. Maybe they're just overwhelmed. Whatever the reason, don't get upset. Instead, get in the car and go for a cruise or hang out with some hot rod buddies or go to car show. Or you could make some changes to the car and try again next year. Maybe you'll get lucky next time.

Recently, I was consulting some car mag editors when I came to the realization that some people learn better by figuring out what NOT to do. So here are some things when shooting. My apologies to the these unwilling participants from Flickr, but somebody has to say it. This will be a work in progress as I come across more examples.

HARSH LIGHT

Yes, your car will be brighter if you shoot in the midday sun, but the color balance will be all out of whack. The harsh light creates massive contrast that doesn't make for an appealing photo. Ideally, early morning or just before sundown are the best natural lighting conditions.

GROUND TEXTURES
There's a lot wrong with this photo, but the pattern on the ground is the biggest problem. For one, it distracts from the subject because it's so busy, but also, it's reflected in the paint, which looks terrible.

Whenever I cruise around different car enthusiast forums, I invariably run into at least a few people who have posted recent photos they've taken of their car in some kind of setting hoping to match what they see in the magazines. Some are good, others are just ok and most are downright bad, but with a few tips, you can turn mediocre into awesome just by making the right decisions.

The Setting
Many times I see people use cluttered settings like buildings or parking lots and even though it might seem interesting to start, ultimately the more elements you have in the background, the less emphasis you have on the subject. When searching for a location, look for buildings, trees, lots, etc. that have large swatches of solid color. Find a tall and wide brick wall or a small grouping of trees and then place the car relatively close the the background so the solid color fills the frame of the camera when shooting.

Also keep an eye out for extraneous items like telephone wires, signs or light poles, trash cans, lines on the street or anything that seems slight distracting. The cleaner the surroundings, the better.

Lighting
Bright sunlight is NOT your friend. The harsh light of the late morning or midday sun will leave the color of your car washed out with major reflective glare on any shiny curves. The shade of a large tree can work, but could leave spots of sunlight through the shadows and isn't ideal.

The best lighting for shooting cars is the time when the sun hasn't risen above the horizon or has already gone below the horizon yet there is still plenty of light to shoot. This can be a small window of opportunity depending on the time of year, so plan your shots according.

If you must shoot with the sun still in the sky, keep the sun at your back. A lot of people make the mistake of shooting with the sun behind the car, but this darkens the car and you lose detail. Sunsets are nice, but you don't want them in the photo with your car.

Posing The Subject
The king of all car photos is the 3/4 front, which means you're capturing both the front and the side of the car at the same time. This is by far the best way to capture the true presence of your vehicle. However, this isn't a guaranteed winner every time. To make it truly interesting, try moving around a bit, shooting low and high, showing more front or more side. Experiment for the best angle of your car. 3/4 rear can be equally dramatic so try for both.

Your Camera
As I've mentioned before, I am not a professional photographer, so I won't go into detail about all the ins and outs of camera settings, but there are a few tips I can lend. To start, you probably won't need to shoot at any faster shutter speed than ISO 100. Stay at that speed and let your camera adjust the aperture according to the light. If you're familiar with how these settings affect the shot, go crazy and experiment.

Lenses
If you're using an SLR camera, having a variety of lenses will help you out. Having a long 200mm or 300mm lens is best for static shots of the posed car. Using a big lens from a good distance gives the shot more depth.

When shooting details or going for a dramatic look, use a short wide angle lens. The closer you get, the more distortion you'll have in the shot, so make sure you use moderation. Lenses can be expensive and not everyone can afford more than one, but a zoom lens with wide range will do in a pinch.

Detail Shots
If you're shooting your engine, interior, wheels and brakes or the suspension, along with getting the all -inclusive shot, magazines like to focus on the small details that set the car apart. In the engine bay, take a tight shot on the aftermarket ignition or the aluminum and chrome pieces or braided lines. Maybe you've got a unique dash setup that begs for attention. It's your car, so focus on the parts you're proud of. Also remember to shoot in the shade because you don't want large blocks of sunlight ruining your shot.

Miscellaneous Notes
It's very common for novice shooters to fill the frame with the subject. This isn't an inherently bad idea, but you don't want to car too close to the edge of the photo because when you display them, you don't want to cut off a piece of the car. When in doubt, take a couple steps back. Also, remember the Rule of Thirds for adding drama.

When displaying the shots, bigger is better for full bodied shots. You want to accent the best aspects larger. Take a good look at your favorite magazine an see how use photo size to accent different aspects. Also consider putting a few shots together in one layout to add interest.

Final Thought
Some of these are hard rules you'll want to stick with. Others are open to interpretation. The best way to learn is to experiment because you may be surprised by the happy accidents.

You've had your car for a few years and you're ready for a new one, but selling a car can be a major ordeal and most will forgoe the process and instead trade in the car to the dealership even if it nets them less money in the long run. I don't know many secrets about selling a car quicker or for more money, but I can at least help you feature your car better.

The rules here are basically the same as the rest except you don't want to get too artistic in your shots, but you do want to set yourself apart because your Mustang or Lexus is going to be sitting next to dozens of similar cars. Here are a few tips to help out.

1. Shoot a 3/4 front shot showing more of the side of the car. You can get a little low or a little higher, but not too much. Be different, but not too different. We're talking about function over form.

2. In this circumstance, you CAN fill the frame with car because when they selling service features the car, the larger it looks the better. Just don't cut the car out of the frame.

3. Bright light is OK. Yeah, I said it, but we don't really care too much about glare in these shots, but rather show off the features of the car and light is the best way to do this. Make sure to keep the sun at your back. Also, brighter light works best for services that use black and white printing such as Auto Trader magazines.

4. When using an online service like Ebay or Craigslist, make sure you use feature some detail shots like the condition of the engine, the wheels, the interior, etc. Again, don't get too artistic, but make sure the shot shows exactly what you want people to look at. If a major selling point is your supercharger, shoot the complete engine but make sure you focus on the supercharger specifically. You can get in tighter in this circumstance.

5. Be honest and show the defects. If you have bad paint, a dent or rust, you may lose some profit, but make sure you bring it up early. If you don't include a shot of the rusty panel and someone shows up thinking there's nothing wrong, they'll be upset and you'll be out of that sale. Be authentic always.

Thanks to Flowski for giving me the idea for this module.

When shooting action shots while using a long lens (200mm or longer), be sure to use a shutter speed no slower than the focal length. For example if your shooting with a 200mm lens be sure to use a shutter speed of 200 or higher. This will ensure sharper photos with less blur from camera shake. If you must use a slower shutter speed than the focal length, try using a mono pod for added stability.
Nick Licata - Camaro Performers

For darker cars, shoot at the right time of day - right after the sun drops from the horizon or behind mountains and in the am before the sun comes up. Brighter cars will do better in full sunlight. Also, use different lenses to get a nice layout with a variety of looks.
Ed Fox - E d F o x . c o m