Car studio photography
Discussion
I have been approached by a magazine that I have done work for in the past.
They are offering me the chance to take some shots for them with studio lighting & a backdrop.
My problem is that I have no experience of studio set ups. They are willing to buy what will be needed so I can do more of this type of work for them in the future, but what will I need?
Obviously I have camera, flash, tripod etc, it is the studio set up I have no idea about.
They are offering me the chance to take some shots for them with studio lighting & a backdrop.
My problem is that I have no experience of studio set ups. They are willing to buy what will be needed so I can do more of this type of work for them in the future, but what will I need?
Obviously I have camera, flash, tripod etc, it is the studio set up I have no idea about.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
'Offering you the chance' doesn't sound good - is it a commission or a favour?
What kind of things will you be photographing? If it's cars as per the thread title then it could be a lot of kit...
Offered the chance as I normally do action & static shots for him, not studio.What kind of things will you be photographing? If it's cars as per the thread title then it could be a lot of kit...
It is not something he has done in the mag before either.
Edited by Black5 on Tuesday 20th November 19:54
As with all photography, it depends what shot you want as to what lighting you need.
1) Ask the commissioner what he is hoping to achieve, what emotion/mood does he want?
2) Then go through the mags and try to find what you think he is looking for, and check it with him.
3) Then you can work out a lot from the pics as to what and where lighting has been set.
Alternatively, if you have a free hand, put your emotion on the cars, then go back to step 2 above but with you as the arbiter.
Finally, if you are doing a full length body shot, you may need more than one light.
Don't turn down the idea of good quality tungsten and tubes, they are superb at creating mood, and a focussing lens may be another useful bit of kit.
The only difference between lighting static and capturing action is that you are in full control of the static, but you still adjust your camera to create the image you want.
Pity you are on the other side of the country!!!
1) Ask the commissioner what he is hoping to achieve, what emotion/mood does he want?
2) Then go through the mags and try to find what you think he is looking for, and check it with him.
3) Then you can work out a lot from the pics as to what and where lighting has been set.
Alternatively, if you have a free hand, put your emotion on the cars, then go back to step 2 above but with you as the arbiter.
Finally, if you are doing a full length body shot, you may need more than one light.
Don't turn down the idea of good quality tungsten and tubes, they are superb at creating mood, and a focussing lens may be another useful bit of kit.
The only difference between lighting static and capturing action is that you are in full control of the static, but you still adjust your camera to create the image you want.
Pity you are on the other side of the country!!!
Gingerbread Man said:
Off the top of my head I'd ask Megy and Trackdemon if they don't come along soon.
Megy checking in!Firstly, if they are willing to buy whatever is needed, are they looking to set up their own car friendly studio? There are several around already, email me and I can send you a list of the ones I know of already.
What sort of shots are you after, just static stuff against a white/grey/black background or something where you will design a set as a bacdrop and then use that?
A lot to think about and probably worth trying a studio or 2 as a first trial to see if they can do what you need of them.
This is the sort of thing he's after:
The kit / studio needs to be set up at various indoor locations.
I have a fair bit of time to sort this and experiment if I need to, as the first time I'll probably need this is Feb / March.
I am looking into borrowing some lights & background. I am thinking of using 3 lights. Right & left of camera and one behind the car and possibly the flash on the camera. Is this the sort of thing?
What set up have others used?
The kit / studio needs to be set up at various indoor locations.
I have a fair bit of time to sort this and experiment if I need to, as the first time I'll probably need this is Feb / March.
I am looking into borrowing some lights & background. I am thinking of using 3 lights. Right & left of camera and one behind the car and possibly the flash on the camera. Is this the sort of thing?
What set up have others used?
Here's one I took of my Noble in a studio last May. Mine were very amateur shots as I'd only just got my camera and so all the buttons and knobs were a bit new!!
Megy took some shots which are much better and show what can be done. However, I was pleased with this as a first ever studio shot!!!!
PS sorry about the size it was uploaded before I knew how to do it
Megy took some shots which are much better and show what can be done. However, I was pleased with this as a first ever studio shot!!!!
PS sorry about the size it was uploaded before I knew how to do it
As I understand it car photography isn't usually done by direct lighting, but instead lighting a surface or reflector, and then reflecting this in the car. The above examples show this in practice, and also demonstrate the need to pay special attention to the front corner.
If you're going to try this I'd suggest thinking about reflectors / 9' paper rolls, and some big tungsten lights. Here are some good examples of what can be achieved with relatively limited kit and some Photoshopping.
When I was at college we visited a studio where they were shooting the pics for the soon to be released Fiesta RS Turbo (that dates me), and they were shooting 10x8 using around twenty lights in a huge cove with a floating ceiling - you probably don't need to go that far.
If you're going to try this I'd suggest thinking about reflectors / 9' paper rolls, and some big tungsten lights. Here are some good examples of what can be achieved with relatively limited kit and some Photoshopping.
When I was at college we visited a studio where they were shooting the pics for the soon to be released Fiesta RS Turbo (that dates me), and they were shooting 10x8 using around twenty lights in a huge cove with a floating ceiling - you probably don't need to go that far.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
As I understand it car photography isn't usually done by direct lighting, but instead lighting a surface or reflector, and then reflecting this in the car. The above examples show this in practice, and also demonstrate the need to pay special attention to the front corner.
If you're going to try this I'd suggest thinking about reflectors / 9' paper rolls, and some big tungsten lights. Here are some good examples of what can be achieved with relatively limited kit and some Photoshopping.
When I was at college we visited a studio where they were shooting the pics for the soon to be released Fiesta RS Turbo (that dates me), and they were shooting 10x8 using around twenty lights in a huge cove with a floating ceiling - you probably don't need to go that far.
If those are professional GOOD examples then I'm even more pleased with my effort!! Lit as you say it should have been and intentionally slightly dark to add to the mystery of a grey car!! If you're going to try this I'd suggest thinking about reflectors / 9' paper rolls, and some big tungsten lights. Here are some good examples of what can be achieved with relatively limited kit and some Photoshopping.
When I was at college we visited a studio where they were shooting the pics for the soon to be released Fiesta RS Turbo (that dates me), and they were shooting 10x8 using around twenty lights in a huge cove with a floating ceiling - you probably don't need to go that far.
Bear in mind I am a very definite amateur 
Also not adjusted in any way eg photoshop at this stage!!
Edited by pbsaxman on Thursday 22 November 09:59
pbsaxman said:
Here's one I took of my Noble in a studio last May. Mine were very amateur shots as I'd only just got my camera and so all the buttons and knobs were a bit new!!
Megy took some shots which are much better and show what can be done. However, I was pleased with this as a first ever studio shot!!!!
PS sorry about the size it was uploaded before I knew how to do it
That would at Ariane Studios that I work at part time!!!!! Megy took some shots which are much better and show what can be done. However, I was pleased with this as a first ever studio shot!!!!
PS sorry about the size it was uploaded before I knew how to do it
And just so you know, your image is just as good as any others, with a bit of time spent on photoshop adjusting levels and tidying....
hope you dont mind but i used your image to show you...
Edited by finnyuk on Friday 23 November 09:52
finnyuk said:
pbsaxman said:
Here's one I took of my Noble in a studio last May. Mine were very amateur shots as I'd only just got my camera and so all the buttons and knobs were a bit new!!
Megy took some shots which are much better and show what can be done. However, I was pleased with this as a first ever studio shot!!!!
PS sorry about the size it was uploaded before I knew how to do it
That would at Ariane Studios that I work at part time!!!!! Megy took some shots which are much better and show what can be done. However, I was pleased with this as a first ever studio shot!!!!
PS sorry about the size it was uploaded before I knew how to do it
And just so you know, your image is just as good as any others, with a bit of time spent on photoshop adjusting levels and tidying....
hope you dont mind but i used your image to show you...
Edited by finnyuk on Friday 23 November 09:52
Dilema now is when I played in photoshop I prefered the original image for making into a large metallic print for my hall wall. Now having seen yours I'm not so sure. May just have to play again!!!PS Sorry for the slight thread hi jack here it wasn't intentional. All I was trying to do was show that even us rank amateurs can get a reasonable shot
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