Photographing Black Betty….the Subaru!

On a wonderful sunny evening earlier this month, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing this beauty - a Subaru Impreza! This really was the owners pride and joy, so it was a challenge to make this look as stunning as it did in real life!

Now I’ll admit, cars are not really my thing, I couldn’t tell you much about them! So when I was asked to photograph this I had to do some homework, below are a few tips that I found really helpful!

1) Shoot at the Right Time of Day

Midday is not your friend for this type of photography and yet it’s a mistake that many make. The light is usually harsh, unflattering and just really not great! A few minutes after sunset or a few minutes before sunrise is your time to shine, the light will be soft and beautiful, almost capturing an ethereal effect. 

You can shoot during the ‘golden hours’ (an hour or two before sunset or after sunrise) but the more direct lighting there is, the harder it is to create a flattering image. 

2) Look Out For Reflections

If you’re after professional car photos, you must carefully control what reflects in the car. I think you’ll agree that one of the most important things you want to show off about the car is the design lines, but reflections can really spoil these! So before you start going trigger happy with your camera, take a look around you, then look closely at the car and see what reflects off its surface.

A car (especially a new, shiny one) is like a mirror, so if you shoot in a location with buildings or trees in front of the car, they’ll reflect off its surface and appear in your photos. The best solution is to aim to have an open space behind you, such as a field or open clear water. 

However if you find yourself stuck in a location with busy surroundings, you can always try to change your perspective. Get down low, this can help to get rid of distractions and instead come away with a sky reflection in the car, which looks so much better.

One very useful tip: be very careful not to include your own reflection in the photo! I did this quite a few times, and didn’t realise until I was home and having a good look through all the photos. If you’re finding this a struggle, pop the camera on a tripod, set the self-timer or use a remote trigger, and move out of the shot.

3) The Colour of the Car is Important

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

On this occasion because the Subaru was a nice glossy black, it photographed really well a few minutes after sunset. I did try a few test shots before as the sun was going down and because there wasn’t a cloud in sight, the light was still too harsh. 

5) Choose Your Background Carefully

A beautiful clean background really sets your photos apart and adds that all important perfect finishing touch, while a bad and/or distracting background can instantly ruin the shot.

So, what counts as a good background? Well anything that isn’t a distraction. Ideally, it should emphasise and complement the car, and also suit the theme. 

On the other hand, bad backgrounds are distracting. They draw the eye away from the main focus (the car!) and they tend not to mix well with the car’s colour, shape, and theme. For example, dustbins, power lines, and other cars can really spoil the image. Sometimes these can be removed in post production, but that can be very time consuming, so it’s best to avoid them in the first place.

For my first real go at photographing a car, I really enjoyed it and it was good to try something a little out of my comfort zone. But most importantly, it was a good learning experience and something I can’t wait to try again!