Summary

Before car photography, make your vehicle shine, choose a perfect location, select the golden hour, consider the weather, and find inspiration. The car will appear the best.

Let’s be honest! Everyone wants to take the best car photos. Besides trusting the photographer, there are certain rules to capture the best shot. To make your car look its best in 2026, you have to focus on preparation, timing, and perspective.

Professional car photography emphasizes surface texture over flat color. So, you have to ensure the car looks good during the session. Here are the helpful tips you should follow:

Essential Tips to Follow to Make a Car Look Good During Photography

Here you go!

Make the Car Shine

It is essential to make your car shine for photography. When the vehicle is spotless, the photographer can highlight its design lines, curves, and color effectively. Plus, a properly cleaned car looks new and professional. For automotive advertising or listing, a sparkling car ensures that it is well-maintained. To make the vehicle shine:

Wash it thoroughly
Apply protection
Clean windows and rims
Use a car cover after cleaning

Plan According to the Weather

If you do not want a moody look, avoid bad weather during the car shoot. The rain and mud can ruin your efforts, and you cannot get the desired result.

When it comes to transportation photography, always choose a sunny day. It will work best. Just imagine an image of a vehicle with a blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Try to avoid clear blue sky, as it can make the photo slightly boring.

Select the Location Carefully

Locations matter when it comes to vehicle photography. So, before embarking on the photography, you have to choose a background that suits the car. The photographer can capture every detail of the vehicle precisely.

For example, a Land Rover Defender needs an off-road location. You can choose a smart-looking location, maybe a grand country estate. Sometimes you can consider the contrary. It means choosing a background that is the total opposite of where you actually expect to see a vehicle.

Choose the Golden Hour

What is golden hour? Well, it is the moment of early in the morning or late in the day when the sun rises or sets. But why do you select this time for professional vehicle photography? At that time, the sunlight is usually much kinder.

It is golden and soft, which is best for any photography. Avoid shooting at midday because at this time the sun is at its strongest. It creates harsh and unflattering shadows.

Find Inspiration

Automotive photography is not a simple photograph of a car. It is about capturing the lifestyle, freedom, and possibilities a vehicle represents. So, finding inspiration for the photoshoot is crucial.

You can get inspiration from Instagram, magazines, or other sources. You can also research automotive brands' current advertising and explore locations that match your vehicle's lifestyle or mood.

Wrapping Up!

Hopefully, the above-mentioned vehicle shoot tips will help you make your car look good in photos. Please visit our other blog posts if you want to learn more about commercial photography.

How to Make Your Car Look Good During Photography? Helpful Tips