Car photo shoot ideas

15 Catchy Car Photoshoot Ideas to Realize in 2022

These car photoshoot ideas will come in handy if you need images for an ad in a car catalog, or you just want a beautiful post with your car for social networks. You don’t need to be a seasoned photographer or spend much money to bring these ideas to life.

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1. Shoot a Picture with Car Exterior

To capture a whole car, you should use a wide lens. Shoot from below for the best perspective. This position and angle allow you to showcase the entire object in the most advantageous way.

Focusing on some exterior details is one of the most popular car photoshoot ideas. This way, you can draw the viewer's attention to the logo on the front, rims, and other specific features. You can also use a car as a background prop or a background when taking a portrait of a model.

2. Choose an Unusual Pose for a Model

Don’t limit yourself to pictures of a person driving a car or simply sitting on the passenger seat. Experiment with different relaxed photography poses in and near a car. For example, a model may lie reclining on a seat or place the feet on the control panel.

Poses define the mood and character of the photoshoot. You can create anything from a car magazine advertisement to a very personal travel album.

3. Seat on the Trunk or Hood

Standing in front of a car isn’t the only outside pose. Try to be closer to the vehicle to get interesting and diversified shots. For example, you can sit on the hood or trunk. Plus, you can add accessories to match the car color or wear sunglasses.

4. Capture the Shadows on the Face in the Car

While driving, you can see a beautiful play of light and shadows on the face. Stop from time to time to take more portraits of a driver and get unique photos with shadows in your car.

You should set the lowest ISO to implement these car photo ideas as accurately as possible. Pay attention to the light sensitivity. This setting should be raised if you photograph at sunset. However, don't use too high values, otherwise, your pictures acquire noise.

5. Shoot during Golden Hour

Many experienced photographers believe that the golden hour is the best time of day to take pictures and bring your car photography ideas to life. Take your camera and go for a photo session before sunset or just after sunrise. Don’t repeat the mistake of some newbies and avoid taking photos on a very bright day. Otherwise, your models' faces will have harsh shadows.

Keep in mind that using the right equipment is also very important. Experts recommend taking photos with Canon EOS 6D or any other camera capable of collecting soft sunlight in a car. Thus, you’ll get great detailed pictures. To know the right time to shoot for sure, you should use such apps as Photo Ephemeris or GoldenHour.One.

6. Photograph Models from the Car

You can treat a car not only as a shooting spot but also as a support for a camera. For example, you can shoot through the front glass or ask a model to look into the car through the window.

7. Find Reflections

You can come up with offbeat car picture ideas based on the things you see while driving. Think about objects that can add meaning and stories to your photos. For example, side view and rearview mirrors are common on the road. Why not use them as a part of a scene? Ask a model to look into one of the mirrors and capture the moment. You should take pictures from outside the car or from the backseat. As a result, you will get creative and eye-catching portraits.

8. Shoot a Picnic with a Car in the Background

A picnic trip allows realizing lots of car photography ideas. This is a great time to take hundreds of cool photos with friends, family, and of course, your car. During a picnic, you can take lots of inviting and warm images. In addition to a car, you will need some props like bedspreads, baskets, as well as camping food, dishes and flowers.

9. Capture a Trip with Friends

If you are planning a long trip with friends or family, you should grab a chance to take some photos in a car. Just look through some friend picture ideas to get inspired.

Adding accessories associated with a trip by car can result in numerous cool images. For example, it can be a heated blanket, travel bags, and disposable tableware. Also, try different camera angles to capture the mood.

10. Take a Photo of the Couple in a Car

A photoshoot in a car can be very romantic. Take photos of a couple in the front seats: from the front through the windshield, from behind, or ask the heroes to turn around.

To take arresting couple pictures, you need to choose the right aperture settings. By blurring or compressing the background, you will get a deeper and sharper foreground. The f/2.0 aperture value works well if you are photographing subjects in the same focal area. It's also worth experimenting with couple poses.

11. Arrange a Photoshoot at the Petrol Station

Don't miss the opportunity to take some atmospheric photos while stopping to fuel your car on the road. For example, you can pose in front of a gas station next to the vehicle. Alternatively, you can fill up the car or talk to an employee.

12. Turn on Headlights in Darkness

You can take beautiful shots with the headlights on if you are driving at night. Don’t use Auto camera settings in this case. To get the most out of such car picture ideas, you need to have maximum control over all elements of the exposure triangle.

Set higher ISO, lower shutter speed, and wider aperture when taking pictures in low light conditions. Also, you may encounter some difficulties while holding a camera in your hands. Using a tripod is a great way out.

13. Take a Picture of a Car Wash

You can take unusual shots with a car not only during a trip. For example, there are many interesting car photography ideas and poses to implement while washing a vehicle. Water and foam are good props. You can go to a car wash for this or have some fun with your family in the backyard.

14. Involve Pets in the Photoshoot

Many dog owners love to take their pets on trips. You can also involve such a companion in a car photo session. For example, take a picture of a dog looking out of a car window or capture the animal in the reflection of a rearview mirror.

Besides, you can take some funny pictures. To do this, dress the animal in a cute suit and put it behind the wheel of the car and let people be passengers.

15. Capture Beautiful Scenery from a Car

During a long car trip, you will surely come across beautiful places and mesmerizing views. This is ideal for any photoshoot. Take some pics of a landscape from a car window or open the door.

Be attentive with aperture settings. Use the values from f/7.1 to f/13 for sharp images.

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8 Tips for Stunning Car Photography

Car photography is tons of fun – but it can also be very intimidating unless you know the tricks of the trade.

Fortunately, as a professional automobile photographer, I’ve developed plenty of techniques for creating top-notch photos of cars. And in this article, I’m going to share eight essential tips, including:

The best lighting for car photo shoots
Plenty of ideas for amazing car pictures
Common car photography mistakes to look out for
Much, much more!

So no matter your skill level, if you’re ready to learn how to photograph cars like a professional, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started.

1. Shoot at the right time of day

The most common mistake people make when shooting cars? Heading out during the middle of the day, when the light is harsh, unflattering, and just all-around bad. It’s a surefire way to end up with poor automobile shots, and it certainly isn’t going to impress your clients.

Instead, the best time to do car photography is a few minutes after sunset (or a few minutes before sunrise). The light is soft, there’s no direct sun, and you can capture a beautiful, almost ethereal, effect. Use a tripod – the light won’t be particularly strong, so a remote release is also a good idea – and get that perfect soft light on the paint.

Note that you can also shoot cars during the golden hours – an hour or two before sunset and an hour or two after sunrise – but be careful; the more direct the lighting, the harder it is to create a flattering image. For close-up images, consider using a reflector to deal with pesky shadows.

This photo was taken a few minutes before sunrise:

2. Be on the lookout for reflections

If you’re after professional car photos, you must carefully control what reflects in the car. One of the most important things you want to show in your car pictures is the design lines, yet reflections can spoil these lines very quickly. So before you capture a single photo, have a look around you, then look closely at the car and see what reflects off its surface.

You see, a car (especially a new, shiny one) is like a mirror. So if you shoot with buildings or trees in front of the car, they’ll reflect off its surface and appear in your photos. Instead, aim to have an open space behind you, like a field or an ocean. If you’re stuck in a location with busy surroundings, you can always try to change your perspective; by getting down low, you may be able to get rid of the distractions and instead come away with a sky reflection in the car (which looks way better; see the image at the end of this section).

Pro tip: Be very careful not to include your own reflection in the photo. If you’re struggling, it’s best to put the camera on a tripod, set the self-timer, and move out of the shot. Just look at this photo I took of a dark, shiny BMW 428i; behind me was nothing except the horizon. In fact, you can clearly see the horizon reflecting in the car:

3. Take driving shots

Here’s one of my favorite tips for creative car photography:

Shoot the car out of another moving car. (Please be super careful when doing this; make sure that both you and your camera are well-secured before even thinking about taking a photo.)

A moving car shot looks gorgeous, plus it conveys a beautiful sense of motion. This Audi S3 was shot before sunset; it was driving at 70 km/h (43 mph), and I used a shutter speed of 1/125s:

Unfortunately, you can’t just hop into your car, zoom along, and take some photos out the window. Instead, you’ll need to carefully select your speed, position, and settings. Here are my recommendations:

Get a driver, so that you’re in the passenger seat and free to concentrate on the photo shoot
Secure your camera to the inside of the car or your body using a strap
The two cars should match speeds, with your car slightly ahead and in the adjacent lane; 60 km/h (37 mph) is a good starting point, as you’ll get some nice movement on the road and on the wheels, but you won’t be going so fast the shoot becomes difficult
Set your camera to its continuous shooting mode and set your shutter speed to 1/100s or so. A little blur is good, as it communicates movement. You can even decrease the shutter speed further, though this will decrease your ratio of keepers to duds.
Shoot on low-traffic roads. You do not want to frustrate or distract other drivers with your photo shoot.

Because this type of shot involves so many (literally) moving parts, you’re going to come away with plenty of failed images. But if you use burst mode, you experiment with different shutter speeds, and you put in the hours, you’ll start to capture some genuinely stunning photos.

4. Pay attention to the color of the car

Different types of paint react differently to changing light. I know I said that you should avoid direct sunlight, and it is true, but you’ll occasionally find colors that handle direct sunlight really well.

Just look at this baby blue Beetle shot in the middle of the day:

So don’t be afraid to experiment with different lighting conditions. And always review your shots carefully afterward, making mental (or physical) notes about the color and how it looks.

Pro tip: If you want to jumpstart your understanding of lighting and car colors, head to a parking lot at different times of the day, then go around and (discreetly) take photos of cars. Obviously, you should use good judgment and be careful; don’t do a full car photo shoot while the owner stands and watches, and look out for cars driving around that might accidentally run you over.

5. Choose your background carefully

A beautiful background adds that perfect finishing touch to a car photo, while a bad and/or distracting background can instantly ruin the shot.

What counts as a good background? Anything non-distracting. Ideally, it should emphasize the main subject and even complement the car (and suit the theme).

Bad backgrounds, on the other hand, are distracting, they draw the eye, and they don’t make sense given the car color, shape, or theme. For instance, dustbins, power lines, and other cars can kill a picture. You can remove these in Photoshop sometimes, but it’s best to avoid them in the first place (plus, it’ll save you time in the long run).

For this Aston Martin shot, I used a simple background. The yellow paint matches the car’s color:

6. Pan for motion blur

I’ve already talked about shooting cars from a moving car. But if you want a beautiful motion blur effect and you don’t like the idea of photographing out a moving car window, why not try panning instead?

Simply stand next to the road and let the car drive past you. Follow the car with your lens in one smooth action and set the shutter speed to 1/125s. You will be amazed by how easy this is!

Of course, you’ll end up with plenty of failed shots, but the good ones will make it all worthwhile (and you can maximize the number of good images by using your camera’s burst mode and firing off a series of shots with every attempt). Also, you can try this technique after dark for some very interesting night car photography results.

This Ferrari was shot at 1/125s at 200mm. The car was driving roughly 37 mph (60 km/h):

7. Let the car interact with nature

Here’s another way to capture a photo that speaks to the viewer:

Don’t just park the car in a parking lot or along a road and snap some shots. Instead, make the car interact with its surroundings.

Examples of this could be a car creating dust or a 4×4 driving over an obstacle. Look at this Chevrolet Trailblazer climbing over a rock:

The car/rock combination emphasizes the ruggedness of the Trailblazer. Plus, by using a wide-angle lens and shooting from down low, I made the car loom, like it’s the king of the mountains.

Here’s another example, this one of a G-Class AMG drifting on loose sand:

Don’t you just love the movement it conveys? The whole photo is packed with energy.

8. Shoot at night

Night car photography might sound daunting, but you will be amazed by how easy and awesome it is! The biggest secret here is to find a spot where it’s completely dark; any streetlights or even a full moon could make life tricky.

Once you’ve found the right spot, set up your camera on a tripod. Set your ISO to 100, the shutter speed to 30 seconds, and the aperture to f/9.

When the shutter opens, take a strong constant light source and walk around the car, “painting” it with the light. A normal household flashlight works for this.

There are no rules here. Paint the car in different ways to get different effects, and you will be blown away by the results! Here are some examples of this technique:

This is an Opel Astra shot next to Table Mountain with Cape Town in the background. This is a Dodge Charger with the skyline of Detroit in the background. The photo took me no longer than five minutes to set up and capture.

Tips for taking better photos of cars: conclusion

Car photography may seem difficult, but with these handy tips, you’re well-equipped to take some stunning car photos of your own.

So pick your favorite technique from the article, get outside, and start shooting!

Do you have any additional car photography tips or favorite images you’ve taken of cars? Please share them in the comments below!

7 cool ideas on how to make a photo session with a car unforgettable

Reading time: 2 min.

Contents:

1. Company
2. Picnic
3. Colored smoke
4. Car and animals
5. Element - water!
6. For lovers of fashion and style
7. Iron horse
Thank you for your attention!
With love and care for your photos, Tekhnika Driving School

A photo shoot with is a great way to surprise your followers or keep the memory of buying your first car. In addition, such photos are often used for advertising in commercial activities.

Therefore, if you like creative ideas and cool pictures, this article is especially for you!

A big advantage of auto shooting is that you don't have to look for specific locations to get amazing photos.
The second advantage of is its versatility. Whether you are a man or a woman, this theme will suit both sexes and even couples!
The third point of is ease of movement. If you have several images with you, heavy paraphernalia and an endless stream of inspiration, the car will become not only part of the composition, but also an assistant in order to fold the necessary things or drive off to another place without any problems.

Thus, a photo session with a car is not only a convenient, but also a bright solution for your photo album or social media feed.

Let's not waste any more time and move on to the ideas themselves! Go!

1.

Company

Bachelorette party, stag party, birthday, travel? All this can be great to beat without leaving the car! Remember the clip "mom is love, come on"? This simple decision in terms of composition becomes interesting due to lively emotions and details. You can take your favorite animals into the salon, for example, or play a scene where the driver shows his new rights, and fellow travelers express emotions in this regard - joy or fear, you choose J This solution is also a great option for a family photo session. Simple and tasteful!

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2. Picnic

Option for friends, families or couples. Get out into nature and really go on a picnic + get a couple of cool photos! The car in this case is not the basis for the picture, but perfectly complements it in the background. In addition, you will be convenient to get to and almost no need to pose - just enjoy!

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3. Colored smoke

For lovers of bright and original solutions, a photo session with colored smoke bombs is suitable. Their price will not hit your pocket and will allow you to create something really memorable.

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4. Car and animals

They say that pets often look like their owners, and the same can be said about cars, which means ... that they can be combined! Cute and cozy or sassy and hot shots? You choose! Here are just a few examples...

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5. The element is water!

Smoke, nature and even animals have already been on our list, and for lovers of water themes, we offer to make a little more effort, but also get more results! You can find a body of water, use a water hose, or take advantage of past rain to get the most spectacular photos without much use of photo editors.

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6. For lovers of fashion and style

Do you have a gorgeous dress in your wardrobe that just has nowhere to wear? Get ready for the photo shoot! If the dress does not match the color of the car, this can be easily resolved with the help of color correction, the main thing is the mood and a sensitive photographer who is ready to correct the train dozens of times to get an amazing shot.

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7. Iron Horse

We often use this artistic comparison, but what if we do it in a photo session? Pictures with horses are a stunning sight in themselves, and when combined with a car, they doubly attract attention, as if two eras converged in one picture.
If you are a brave person and do not feel fear of large animals, such an event can sink into your soul for a long time!

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Verification code: VKDMCA3678

Thank you for your attention!

With love and care for your photos, Tekhnika Driving School

If you liked the article, share it with your friends!

Photo shoot in the car: how to play with space

Create spectacular car pictures by editing them in PhotoMASTER!

Download * trial version To learn more

For Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 and XP. Quick installation.

How to organize a photo shoot with a car

The author of the article: Evgenia Sokolova

11/10/2020

Do you have a long journey ahead or do you just want to decorate your social account with interesting and eye-catching pictures? A photo shoot with cars is a great way to diversify the road and hone your photography skills. In this article, we will talk about how to take photo shoots with cars and share photography ideas, as well as how to fix errors in the photo editing program.

How to take good selfies in the car

Shooting inside a car is quite a challenge. When you take a selfie in a car, the most you can capture in the frame is the face. Since the camera has to be placed close in a tight room, facial features may be distorted. Another problem is that it is difficult to be creative in a car.

Try to diversify your selfies, for example, set the camera to timer
and take a picture from the rear seat

For a successful photo shoot in the car, follow a few simple rules:

Change the shooting angle. Put the camera on the steering wheel, place it on the back seat or on the door.
Do not take pictures from above or below - this distorts facial features.
Use additional accessories to make your photo more creative: flowers, coffee cup, mobile phone, handbag or lipstick. You can even adopt a dog.

Use available accessories to make an original photo

Do not use the front camera - it visually pulls the face forward, like in a peephole.
Use the selfie stick to zoom out.
Never take photographs while the vehicle is in motion! It will take you off the road!

By following these little tips, you will be able to capture a beautiful shot even in such a limited shooting scene.

Make creative use of all space and vehicle details

Photographing people inside a car

When photographing other people inside the car, the same problems occur: blurry, poor lighting, perspective distortion in the frame due to incorrect camera position. Most of the flaws can be fixed in post-processing, but it's still better to think about solving these problems in advance.

Light source

Usually a photo session in a car is based on natural lighting. Open windows on both sides for soft diffused light. It is well suited, for example, for wedding shots. Position the model as close to the window as possible. Side light will emphasize the cheekbones and lines of the shoulders and neck.

Open windows and doors to let in additional light

Camera position

A close shot is a good choice for capturing a person's emotions in a photo. If you move the camera away, the posture plays a big role. The most advantageous angle is shooting from the side.

Shots taken from a side angle are best

When shooting from the back seat, advise the model to stand up slightly or lean forward with their whole body. Thus, the features of the face and body will be more proportional and harmonious.

To prevent camera shake that can occur due to small rooms, secure the camera. To do this, you can rest the elbow of the hand holding the camera on the car seat.

Camera settings

To have control over the quality of photographs and the result is more predictable, set the settings on the camera to manual mode. Select aperture priority mode and set f/3.5 or f/3.4. The camera will automatically select the optimal shutter speed.

Car Photography Ideas

It's quite difficult to come up with a creative idea for a car photoset. You can rely on who you are photographing: a photo shoot of a guy with a car can be different from a photo shoot with a girl. For example, men prefer to take pictures near the car in order to show the car in full. Girls often take selfies inside the cab of a car. Here are some ideas to help create original shots:

Retro chic

Retro cars against the backdrop of nature is a common topic for photo shoots among motorists. However, renting such cars is quite expensive, so you can look for an option among familiar motorists. The car should not even move, the main thing is that it looks presentable.

You can take a photo in a retro car and completely repeat the style of that time

Play with an old car in any way, there are plenty of options: you can dress in the fashion of that time or, conversely, play on the contrast and make a modern photoset.

Focus on the car

Make the car the main subject of your photo. Photographing a car can be different: close-up and super-close-up with a zoom on individual details, shots from afar from different angles, general shots. Play with the landscape around or blur the background to focus on the car.

Close-ups can create a spectacular image

Window view

Passing through beautiful places? Take a photo from the car window. It is unlikely that you will get excellent image quality, but you can easily take interesting shots for a blog or Instagram account.

Film what is happening outside the car window

Never take a photo yourself while driving - it is extremely dangerous. Also, do not lean out of the car window. Ask the driver to slightly reduce the movement - this way you will achieve a better image sharpness.

Act out scenes from your favorite movie

You can completely immerse yourself in the theme and create a cosplay of your favorite movies or computer games, or simply reproduce individual scenes. In this case, it is better to write down a short script in advance or prepare still frames from the film that you will repeat. It will be best if you choose something bright, for example, the idea of a photo shoot with a girl’s car can be based on the image of Harley Quinn from the movie “Suicide Squad”. For a guy, the simplest example is a promo for a James Bond movie.

Promotional shots for James Bond films - the easiest example to find an idea for a photoset

"Advertising" photos

You must have paid attention to photo advertising of premium class cars in magazines or on billboards. Usually they strongly emphasize the convenience or high status of the car. Try to be inspired by them and take pictures as if you are advertising your car. For example, a great option is a photo shoot in the trunk of a car, as in a retro Moskvich advertisement, or a spectacular pose near an open door.

Imagine that you are shooting for a car commercial

How to correct flaws in a picture

Unfortunately, sometimes a photo session with a car gives not very high quality images. This is especially true for shots taken inside the car. Do not worry and do not rush to get upset - you can easily fix almost any error on your computer. You only need to download the photo editor.

Let's look at the processing process using the example of the PhotoMASTER program. This is a handy photo editor that includes automated retouching features. As a result, you will spend just a few minutes editing. For example, to improve the lighting in the frame, you need to upload a photo and click "Automatic Enhancement". The program itself recognizes the shortcomings and selects the necessary settings.

Apply autocorrect for quick results

If you want to add sharpness to your photo, adjust the setting of the same name in the Enhancements section. You can also sharpen in the corresponding tab. Just move the slider next to the desired item and track the changes in the preview window until the result satisfies you.

Quickly fix blurry photos with sharpness settings

So, we talked about the nuances of auto shooting and suggested ideas for a photo shoot with a car. All you have to do is turn your ideas into reality.