Why are there so few car photographs?
Discussion
Had a decent couple of weeks.
Trio by munch997, on Flickr
Renato P1 by munch997, on Flickr
Mugen by munch997, on Flickr
LaF by munch997, on Flickr
Doors Up LaF 2 by munch997, on Flickr
918 by munch997, on Flickr]
27 by munch997, on Flickr
23 by munch997, on Flickr
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Trio by munch997, on FlickrRenato P1 by munch997, on FlickrMugen by munch997, on FlickrLaF by munch997, on FlickrDoors Up LaF 2 by munch997, on Flickr918 by munch997, on Flickr]27 by munch997, on Flickr23 by munch997, on Flickr16 by munch997, on Flickr4 by munch997, on Flickr6 by munch997, on Flickr
The answer to your question:
The reason why there are so few car photographers, is because is not easy to do it for money.
Regular people don't pay you to shoot his/her car, and most of the cars, are not in great shape.
And if you want to photograph cool cars, you will have to chase them a lot, like a dog. I tell you, is not easy to get a right car, in right conditions.
I do it for free and i still don't have so many nice cars to shoot.
And first of all, you need to know some composition, photography basics,know to work with a DSLR in any condition, know what you want from the picture, know the light behave, shadows, lines of the car.
Second, to be good in Photoshop.
Myself i work with photoshop for 10 years (and im just 24).
here are some recent shot of mine done at an car expo this weekend.
some details shots.
and those photos are not originally made by me, as a photographer, but are post-process by me, created from 3-4 separated shots and making an one composition.
and here is where 10 years of photoshop starts to show big time.
I wish you all good luck with your car photography.
Good light.
The reason why there are so few car photographers, is because is not easy to do it for money.
Regular people don't pay you to shoot his/her car, and most of the cars, are not in great shape.
And if you want to photograph cool cars, you will have to chase them a lot, like a dog. I tell you, is not easy to get a right car, in right conditions.
I do it for free and i still don't have so many nice cars to shoot.
And first of all, you need to know some composition, photography basics,know to work with a DSLR in any condition, know what you want from the picture, know the light behave, shadows, lines of the car.
Second, to be good in Photoshop.
Myself i work with photoshop for 10 years (and im just 24).
here are some recent shot of mine done at an car expo this weekend.
some details shots.
and those photos are not originally made by me, as a photographer, but are post-process by me, created from 3-4 separated shots and making an one composition.
and here is where 10 years of photoshop starts to show big time.
I wish you all good luck with your car photography.
Good light.
alexsphoto said:
The reason why there are so few car photographers, is because is not easy to do it for money.
THE OP said:
Why are there so few car photographs?
Think there may be a little lost in translation here; I suspect it is more difficult in Romania, I'm sure there are more magazines, agencies, and companies looking for this kind of work in the UK, Western Europe & US. But you are correct that it is very difficult to do it as a job - there are still very few jobs, and many people wanting to do it.Mult noroc, si nu uita sa incerci tot timpul lucruri noi!
alexsphoto said:
The reason why there are so few car photographers, is because is not easy to do it for money...
...I do it for free...
Although you have answered your own point. ...I do it for free...
Certainly my biggest problem is that I see probably 5 emails per week from people emailing my bosses and offering to shoot the cars for free!As above, few jobs and lots of people who want to do them.
Rogue86 said:
Although you have answered your own point. Certainly my biggest problem is that I see probably 5 emails per week from people emailing my bosses and offering to shoot the cars for free!
As above, few jobs and lots of people who want to do them.
Like most things, you get what you pay for.... Certainly my biggest problem is that I see probably 5 emails per week from people emailing my bosses and offering to shoot the cars for free!As above, few jobs and lots of people who want to do them.
That's the point, i do it for free for now, and i still don't have some decent cars to shoot for, to make a nice portfolio, imagine if i ask money.
And as for jobs, here in Romania we take everything from outside, already done, a few jobs are here,in this domain, and they are already occupied.
So i have to try my chances in Germany this Summer, hope i will get something, and i will stay there for good.
Good luck with your car photography.
And as for jobs, here in Romania we take everything from outside, already done, a few jobs are here,in this domain, and they are already occupied.
So i have to try my chances in Germany this Summer, hope i will get something, and i will stay there for good.
Good luck with your car photography.
alexe30 said:
That's the point, i do it for free for now, and i still don't have some decent cars to shoot for, to make a nice portfolio, imagine if i ask money.
It's not the car that needs to be decent, it's the photograph. Imagine if you showed an editor a really stunning picture of a FIAT Punto; that would demonstrate far more skill than a red Ferrari parked in a typical beauty spot.Yeah I couldnt agree more. Chances are if you do make it pro commercially, you'll start by shooting Toyota family cars as opposed to fire-breathing McLarens.
The problem is that it doesnt look quite so impressive online. So people tend to shoot supercars for free in order to build their portfolio/social media ranking which means there are always a base of people shooting nice cars for free, making commissions difficult to get unless its for an OEM or magazine.
The worst thing about shooting private cars IMO is that the owner can always a try a free shoot first because theres always someome willing to do it. Most people arent keen photographers and will just settle for anything thats well exposed and sharp, so they dont bother going with a paid shoot afterwards.
Its the photographers desperation thats made things this way and while we're all busy squabbling over scraps, 3D modellers have stepped in and replaced a lot of the commercial work!
The problem is that it doesnt look quite so impressive online. So people tend to shoot supercars for free in order to build their portfolio/social media ranking which means there are always a base of people shooting nice cars for free, making commissions difficult to get unless its for an OEM or magazine.
The worst thing about shooting private cars IMO is that the owner can always a try a free shoot first because theres always someome willing to do it. Most people arent keen photographers and will just settle for anything thats well exposed and sharp, so they dont bother going with a paid shoot afterwards.
Its the photographers desperation thats made things this way and while we're all busy squabbling over scraps, 3D modellers have stepped in and replaced a lot of the commercial work!
I don't mind shooting an Fiat Punto, yeah,i want to have my own studio, and shoot all kinds of cars, not just Ferrari and Lamborghini, expensive cars, but, at least, bring me a "brand new" look car, not a trashed car, what should i shoot? i can't do miracles, not even with photoshop.
Most of the regular people have cars in bad condition, so...that's why is so hard to shoot a decent car, even for free, you cant make a good portfolio with bad condition cars, not even with a Punto.
I shot last year an Mini Cooper that had the hole paint scratched and the front bumper was a paint mess, white dots all over, not to mention the scratched and bend rims lip, had to repair the rims to, make them look more decent, it was a work involved over 3 days on a single shot. INSANE.
AND IT WAS FOR FREE
Not very commercial post-process, but i didn't care very much.
To be honest, i would like to shoot the new Volkswagen passat 2015, i like how it looks outside and inside, i toked some shots with it at the car expo this weekend.
So, yeah, i shoot any kinds of cars, but not trashed cars, please
Most of the regular people have cars in bad condition, so...that's why is so hard to shoot a decent car, even for free, you cant make a good portfolio with bad condition cars, not even with a Punto.
I shot last year an Mini Cooper that had the hole paint scratched and the front bumper was a paint mess, white dots all over, not to mention the scratched and bend rims lip, had to repair the rims to, make them look more decent, it was a work involved over 3 days on a single shot. INSANE.
AND IT WAS FOR FREE
Not very commercial post-process, but i didn't care very much.
To be honest, i would like to shoot the new Volkswagen passat 2015, i like how it looks outside and inside, i toked some shots with it at the car expo this weekend.
So, yeah, i shoot any kinds of cars, but not trashed cars, please
TheRainMaker said:
Nice close-up.alexe30 said:
that's why is so hard to shoot a decent car, even for free, you cant make a good portfolio with bad condition cars, not even with a Punto.
Alex, respectfully, this attitude will prevent you from being a professional car photographer, or a professional photographer of any sort.Apply the same logic to being a portrait photographer - and saying you will only shoot good looking people. How would that work?
Taking a striking image of anything, regardless of subject, is much harder. Apply this to cars and it demonstrates your skill much more than shooting supercars will.
You need to refine your skills and style on any car you can get your hands on - picking out the details and quirks and using this experience to build a portfolio, rather than waiting and only shooting nice cars.
I don't want to be a professional car photographer. Mainly because a.) I'm not good enough, b.) turning hobbies into business doesn't work for me, and c.) I can't imagine many professional car photographers are making decent money doing it.
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