7 tips for spectacular car photography

Several decades ago, the motor car was king. Owning one was a status symbol—people would drive around for hours, showing off their new toy. 

Today, owning a car is standard. But while it may simply be a means of getting from A to B, for many, it is still their pride and joy. 

When it comes to car photography, whether modern or classic, shooting them can be a rich and rewarding experience. 

It can also be a good source of income for professional photographers. Many people hire a photographer to take beautiful, professional photographs of their car as a memory to treasure. Carmakers or dealerships always look for photographers to take photos for their brochures, website and marketing material. 

As well as commercial opportunities, there are numerous other reasons to engage in car photography—artistic reasons, nostalgia or just for pure enjoyment. 

Here are 7 tips for spectacular car photography, so you can capture the perfect shots for yourself or your clients. 

 

1. Have the right photography equipment

This doesn’t mean splashing out on the latest, greatest, and most expensive camera equipment. But you must ensure you have all the gear for the type of car photography you plan to do. 

If you are taking photos for yourself, you could get away with a budget DSLR or mirrorless camera, or even a high-quality smartphone. 

The latter may work for static shots of your car, but if you want to capture the car in motion, you will have problems with focusing and motion blur.

Also, you will have more noise in your picture in low light conditions or when shooting at night.

Ideally, you want a camera and lens that can shoot at fast shutter speeds and with fast, accurate autofocus ability, particularly with motion or action shots. 

Higher-end cameras and lenses will also perform better in low light and produce cleaner images with less noise. They will also focus more accurately. 

If you plan to shoot commercial car photography, especially for use in print magazines or billboards, then high-end gear is essential.

When it comes to lenses, a focal length range spanning wide-angle to medium telephoto will do. 24–70mm is a good range. 

A wide angle can add drama to your photo, so it is ideal for close-ups to accentuate the sleek design or give a sense of size and raw power in sports cars or SUVs. 

A longer telephoto is ideal for shooting from further away to include more background scenery. You can also choose a lens with a wide aperture to throw the background out of focus. 

Get a tripod for static shots, especially when shooting in low light or at night. Even during the day, shooting the vehicle when motionless on a tripod can help you refine and fix your compositions if needed. 

For action car photography shots, it’s better to shoot handheld. However, if you shoot with a long, heavy telephoto lens, consider using a monopod for extra stability. A monopod can also be useful for panning shots. 

Related: The 3 essential camera filters (and how to use them)

 

2. Avoid strong or direct light

Like with portrait photography, direct light is the worst when photographing cars. 

Not only do you have to deal with harsh shadows and washed-out colours, but cars are also reflective, so the surroundings will be mirrored all over the car’s beautiful paintwork. 

Instead, photograph the car ideally after sunset or before sunrise when there is no direct light, and it will be bathed in beautiful soft diffused light.

Alternatively, shoot car photography on an overcast or cloudy day or in the shade. Consider also using a large reflector for close-up shots to help eliminate any unwanted shadows.

 

3. Watch for reflections

Cars are like mirrors, especially new and shiny ones. When shooting car photography, always be watchful of reflections on the bodywork unless you plan to use it in some creative way. 

Try to avoid shooting in built-up areas or places surrounded by trees. Instead, take the car into a wide open space. 

If photographing the car only, you can take it to an open field or a large open car park. If you want a nice background, hunt out specific locations with stunning backdrops but a wide-open foreground. 

If you are photographing cars in the street, try to find angles that will eliminate any shadows or return at a better time of day. 

If you can, always approach the owner and ask for permission to photograph their car. You may find them more than willing, especially if you offer to send them copies of the photos. They may then be happy to move the car or take it to a better location. 

Related: 9 reflection photography ideas 

 

4. Capture the car’s best side

Just like photographing people, a car can have a particular look and also specific features that make it special. 

Spend time studying the car to determine its best angle, what makes it special, and what features you would like to accentuate in your image.

Just like a model would need makeup, ensure the car is given a good clean and polish inside and out beforehand. 

Unless you want to capture a certain look or tell a story, such as a 4x4 sprayed with mud as it ploughs easily across the muddy, mountainous terrain. 

Try to avoid any imperfections, dents or scratches when photographing old cars. Look for an angle which hides it. 

As a last resort, you can always use the magic of post-processing to airbrush it, but remember that means extra work in the digital darkroom. 

 

5. Shoot cars in motion

There is nothing more exhilarating than a car in motion. 

To freeze the action, you’ll need a fast shutter speed of around 1/1000th sec. So, use shutter priority and auto ISO to maintain a fast enough shutter speed, particularly in low light or changeable conditions. 

A camera and lens with fast autofocus are important here, too. Also, use continuous autofocus and shooting modes to track the car in motion. 

Freezing action, though, works in very specific conditions. If you freeze a car driving fast in a landscape, it will look like it is parked there. 

Freezing action works well in situations like off-road driving or rally cars. Capture them as they drive through muddy puddles and the mud and water spray up from the back wheels or a 4x4 skidding through snow, gravel or sand. 

To capture a sense of motion, use a slower shutter speed and either pan or shoot from another moving vehicle. The latter, of course, is much more difficult, and you must do so with extreme care. 

You will need someone else to drive the car while you take photos from the window. Ensure both you and your camera are securely fastened while taking the shot. 

Use a shutter speed of around 1/125 sec or a bit less to capture the motion blur of the road and background while keeping the car nice and sharp. 

If you want to give a sense of the car moving faster along the road surface, then use a slower shutter speed. For best results, the two cars should be travelling at the same speed, so plan and agree on the speed you will both travel at beforehand. 

Ensure you do this in a suitable location with little to no other traffic. If you can safely do so, then the faster the two cars travel, you can capture this fast motion effect with a shutter speed of around 1/125 sec. 

However, you can also drive slower but use a slower shutter speed, but then the two cars must travel at equal speeds to avoid motion blur on the car itself. It may take several attempts to get right.

For a safer and easier way to capture motion, try panning. This special technique can be done from a standing position and involves you shooting with a moderate shutter speed, but panning your camera from left to right following the car. 

Use a monopod here to help keep the camera level as you pan. This technique is not easy, and it’s important here to pan at the same speed that the car appears to be moving and to keep panning while the shutter is open. 

Never stop when you take the shot because the car will be blurred. The trick to panning is moving while the shutter is open at the same motion as the subject, keeping the subject sharp but adding motion blur to the background. 

Panning is often very hit-or-miss, so take lots of shots and try as many times as possible to increase the chances of getting that one great image.

Use burst mode to capture multiple shots during one pass, and experiment with various shutter speeds to see which works best. 

Related: A guide to getting the right shutter speed

 

6. Don’t forget the interior

The inside of a car is also something special and worth photographing, particularly with all the flashy, high-tech gadgets cars now have. 

However, even the older classic cars often have a very special character. Photographing the interior can be more difficult than the exterior, though. 

It’s a good idea to park the car in a well-lit area, or where direct light is involved, try to angle the car so you use the window as a light source and diffuser. 

You won’t be able to use a tripod here, so ensure you have a fast enough shutter speed to shoot handheld. A camera with high ISO capabilities will probably be needed.

 

7. Take every opportunity to practice car photography

So, practice the style and techniques you want to use outside. 

For action shots, go to rally driving or racing events. For panning, you can go to a nice spot in the countryside with a busy road and practise on the passing cars. 

For static shots, wander around your local area practising, or visit small villages nearby and photograph cars outside cottages or old pubs. 

Mastering car photography is like any genre of photography—the more you practice, the better you get.

 

Specialist photography insurance through Ripe

Car photography is extremely fun once you get to grips with it. But, it doesn't come without risks to your equipment, which is why you may want to protect your camera and accessories through specialist photography insurance. 

At Ripe, we arrange bespoke cover that can be tailored to fit your exact requirements, so you only ever pay for what you need. You can cover up to £60,000 of equipment for theft and accidental damage, so you can continue your shoots with peace of mind. 

Click here to learn more about specialist camera insurance, or hit the button below to get an online quote today.