There are lots of reasons you may want to take high quality pictures of your classic car or truck. Two of the most common reasons are to make a personal album to admire your ride in a fantastic setting or you need to sell it. Nothing creates interest in a car for sale like great pictures.
Regardless of your motives to photograph your street machine, if you want quality shots, there are some tips and techniques that will help you to get those perfect shots.
1. Don’t use your smartphone
While many smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras can take pretty good pictures, if you want high quality images you will need what is called a single lens reflex (SLR) camera. These can be either of the old school film type of camera or will more likely be digital. They look like the cameras that professionals use at weddings and sporting events. Their ability to change lenses, focus points and shutter speed puts them in a class above your phone. I wouldn’t suggest you go out and buy one just for this purpose as they come with a pretty hefty price tag. They are however becoming a more popular household item so ask your friends or family if they have one and can help you take some pictures. They are also available for rent online and at local camera shops. Worst case scenario you can always hire a photographer. You don’t need a high-end professional. You can easily find an amateur on Craigslist or offer your vehicle as subject matter to a local photography club or class.
2. Clean your car
I feel like this point should be a no-brainer, but nonetheless I have seen countless images of cars for sale that are dusty or have a dull wax job. Be sure to have your car or truck looking its best before heading out to a photo shoot. If your car has a few flaws that is alright too. If you are restoring your vehicle it will be nice to have high-quality memories of the vehicle’s original condition to contrast against future work. If you are selling the vehicle it can show the buyer you have nothing to hide.
3. Timing is everything
It doesn’t matter if you are shooting pictures of people, landscapes or cars. If you are shooting outdoors, then the “golden hours” are the best times of day to shoot. The golden hours occur just after sunrise and just before sunset. When the sun is low in the horizon the sunlight has a more golden appearance to it from being refracted through our atmosphere.
The worst time of day to shoot is at high noon. The intense sunlight creates too many reflections. If mid-day is the time frame you need then try to get your car into a shaded area to help avoid those reflections. Otherwise try to take pictures on a cloudy day.
4. Get polarized
There are inexpensive polarized lens filters that can be used to help reduce light reflections from your car. It works much the same way as polarized sun glasses reduce glare on your eyes. Many digital cameras also have a setting built right in to help combat polarization. When photographing a classic car, this is essential. Chrome, glass, and polished paint create shiny surfaces which can ruin a good shot if the reflections are too strong.
5. Focus on details
This point is crucial whether you are trying to sell the car or create a great personal portfolio.
Get in close on a hood ornament, emblem, stitching, dial, trim, or anything else. While you will obviously want photos of the entire car from multiple angles, you also want to capture the small things that make the car special.
6. Simple backgrounds
Snapping shots of your ride while it sits in the garage isn’t gonna cut it. You need to find a neutral background. Park your car in an open field, in front of a forest, a rock formation like the base of a cliff or any other background that creates a uniform colored backdrop. Brick walls and other big buildings are also commonly used and can give the image a more urban, industrial feel. It all depends on the mood you are trying to capture. Get a mixture of both if possible.
7. Photographing at night
This technique isn’t typically used for images intended to help sell a classic car. Shooting at night is intended for a more artistic rendering of your vehicle. You are definitely going to need an SLR camera for this one. For best results you need to find a really dark place to take a picture. Somewhere outside of the city away from street lights and any other man made light sources. You will also want to choose a night, or time of night, when the moon isn’t shining. The darker the area the better.
Now set your shutter speed between 20-30 seconds so that it will give a long exposure. The longer the exposure time, the more light will be let into the camera. When you click the shutter button to take the picture you can then paint your car with light from a flashlight for a super cool effect. This technique will take some practice shots to get your focus, the exposure time and the amount of light you use just right. A very short paint stroke of light can just highlight the curves. Shining the light from different angles will also produce different images. You can also use different colored lights to really increase the artistry. An all blue or all red flashlight can really produce some incredible pictures. Colored film diffusers are really inexpensive, but can create a very rich look. You will just have to play with it and get creative. It also really helps to have a digital camera so you can see the outcome of your pictures immediately.
With these seven tips and an SLR camera, you are well equipped to start taking some great shots of your classic car or truck. Do you have any great shots of your classic car or truck? Please upload them to our Wilson Auto Repair Facebook page for all of our fans to enjoy!