Your restoration is complete and your classic car or truck is in the best condition of its life. Now is the perfect time to capture it’s soul for all of eternity.
Maybe the time has come for you and your prized possession to part ways and you need to portray to potential buyers why your car stands out in a crowd of competition.
Whatever your reasons, here are a few tips and techniques to get high-quality, eye-catching images of your classic collector.
1. Use a quality camera
Many smartphones today have pretty good cameras and catching a great shot with one is totally possible if you are in the right conditions (location and time of day). Your best chance of getting the best images however is with the use of a higher quality camera like a DSLR. These are the cameras you see professionals using at weddings and other photo shoots, but they are becoming very popular household items. I wouldn’t suggest going out and buying one just for this purpose. Ask friends or family members if they have one they could lend to you for an afternoon or help you take the pictures. If you can’t locate a DSLR from someone you know, you can always put an ad out on Craigslist for an amateur photographer. Many times local photographers are looking to build their own portfolios and classic cars make excellent subjects. You might be surprised how many would do it for free just for the opportunity to get some artistic photos for their own portfolio… if you are willing to share.
2. Photograph a clean car
It is amazing how many classic cars and trucks there are for sale online with images of a dirty or dull vehicle. Be sure your car is looking its best before heading out to take pictures. Give it a proper wax job, clean the interior and make sure there isn’t any junk in the trunk. We have an in depth article on how to get the perfect shine if you need some pointers there. You might want to take a damp cloth and wipe your leather interior down just before you snap a photo. It can really add a nice shine to the leather and other interior parts.
3. Pick the right time to photograph
If you are going to shoot outdoors in the daylight, then there are really two times per day that are ideal. Early in the morning just as the sun is rising can provide some interesting light for your subject. However, we find that cars look best in the light of sunset. There is about a half an hour before the sun sets that photographers refer to as the “golden hour”. It is best to pick a location where you will be facing east. Try not to shoot towards the sun. Instead shoot with the sun behind you and let the golden sunlight spill over your car.
Try to avoid taking pictures mid-day. The intense light from the sun can create a lot of unwanted reflections. If this is the only time available to you try to put your car in the shade. It will help reduce the harsh shines that a high noon sun will give off.
4. Use polarization
Inexpensive filters can be added to a camera lens to further reduce lens glare and reflections from your car. Some cameras even have such a feature built right in. Cars have a lot of shiny surfaces and a polarized filter works much like polarized sunglasses. They really help cut down on bright reflections that would otherwise create a distracting image. You want to capture the shine of your chrome and waxed body, but you want to be able to control the amount of the shine.
5. Show the details
Close ups of hood ornaments, trim, stitching and other small features of your ride make for great images. These pics can really help capture the essence of your car and show why it is special and unique. You might even want to photograph certain flaws you think an interested buyer should know about. Putting the flaws out there makes you look like an honest seller.
6. Location, location, location
Don’t just go out to your garage and take a picture of your car with a bunch of cluttered shelves behind it. Take your vehicle somewhere where the landscape compliments it and doesn’t distract. A field, forest or other simple landscape as your background will make a huge difference in the final image. Choose a place that will not compete with your car with lots of busy details. If you are in the city you might want to choose a solid brick wall as your background. Older industrial areas can often provide some great back drops as well. It all depends on the mood you are trying to set in your image. It is probably best to get a range of backgrounds if it is possible and you have the time.
7. Night Photography
Shooting your classic car or truck at night probably isn’t going to make the best images for selling your car, but it can provide some really cool aspects of your car for artistic purposes. One really cool technique to use is light painting. To accomplish this, you are going to need a camera that allows you to keep the shutter open for an extended period of time, typically 30 seconds or longer. You will also need to find a really dark location so street lights and other ambient city lights don’t interfere. The moon light can also cause issues so try to go on a night when the moon will have set early.
All you need to do is set your shutter open for an extended period of time. The longer the exposure time, the more light will be let into the camera. Then simply paint your car with light. You can use tools ranging from a simple flashlight to colored gels like red, green or blue to give the light a particular hue. This technique takes a little practice, but can produce some amazing effects. That’s the beauty of digital cameras. You can take as many pictures as you like and can see the results immediately.
These seven tips and techniques will certainly get you started in the right direction for taking high quality pictures. Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to share with us? We would like to hear about them. If you have any great pictures of your classic, please share them with us on the Wilson Auto Facebook page for all of our fans to enjoy.