Hi guys
I've been doing about a year of serious automotive shooting but I'm definitely not at the level I want to be yet (amateur compared to the rest of you here). I'm on a few facebook automotive photography groups and most of the photos I see, the cars are always super lit up and smooth (either metallic or glossy). I've been trying for the past 12 hours, navigating in between Lightroom and PS to edit my images but even with all of my guesses, I still can't get the quality that I want. What is it that I need to do to get that look? Do I need to take multiple exposures or is it a combination of layer masks and playing around with levels, curves, etc etc? Here are two of many of my sample photos. Thanks!
First post here
I suspect there are dozens of different approaches that different people may suggest, depending on their personal skill-set more than anything else. I am a thoroughly trained advertising photogrpaher who shot cars for Daimler Jaguarm For d and peugeot, a very long time ago, in the days of 10x8 transparency film, and so I am more likely to get it very close in camera, with lighting, then use photoshop to take it up a notch. Others may be able to use photoshop to magically take a not expertly lit shot and do amazing things with it. But for me that is black magic or mystical art of some kind.
Looking at the lower shot, the orange yellow machine, I would say it is really a snap shot more than a photograph. It lacks light in the lower areas including the wheels, which being black will soak up light anyway. The people in the sun beyond really make it look less like what I call a photograph and the brightness of the scene beynd draws ones eye from the car, which if shot well would be very very eye catching. Personally, I would not waste my time shooting cars in crowded sunny siituations as the result will always tend to look amateurish. That may sound negative but reverse engineer the words. I would only shoot in situations where I have control of the image and bright summer sun might not always be part of the mix of atributes I'd look for. If I had people in the shot, it would be becasue I had chosen who to include and how they should be dressed and any make up, then I would have them posed as I designed the shot. In short it is first a design process, then a photography process. Of course, there are no rules that can't be broken, but best learn the rules first, then learn how to use them well before trying to break them successfully.
Don't just look at car photos you like, but rather analyse them. Look at each part of the car, think about how the photographer made that part look like that. But also think about the design of the images and any supporting elements such as; locations, props, time of day, ambient light quality, and actors/models (wardrobe, makeup, poses and expresions etc).
I think you now have enough info to start moving forward. Cars are hard to shoot, so do not feel disappointed. Rather take your passion and really think, long before you get your camera out. Make the image in your head, on a piece of paper, perhaps by blending ideas taken from several other people's work. Search out locations, book friends as models if needed, and give them wardrobe instructions. Show them what you are aiming towards and get them excited beforehand, so they pull with you, rather than drag you to a stop.
Best of luck and let us see your next more considered work. I am sure you will be delighted with your speed of improvement, if you follow some of my guidance.
As Ian has said it really depends on what kind of image you want that will dictate the approach - would help to see examples of images you like to get an idea of exactly what you are aspiring to achieve - if it's the kind of images you see in advertising then a lot of that is a 3D render or is heavily retouched - to get that kind of perfect, polished look you need to really be highly skilled with photoshop -
For location shots - do you shoot on a tripod? If not you should, then take a few differerent exposures and choose overcast days or when the sun is low (and use a polariser)