A new video from Nissan that pulls together some car photography basics is another reminder of why it’s important to hire professionals.
The video, shot in Borrego Springs, Calif., zooms in on the set of a photo shoot for the 2013 Nissan Sentra. Nissan’s Tim Gallagher is overseeing the production and veteran photographer Bruce Benedict is explaining how he approaches automotive photography:
You start with a pretty car, and you put it in a pretty spot with pretty light — and then you go crazy, basically,” Benedict says with a smile.
His favorite shooting location? At the top of a mountain, about half an hour before sunrise.
As the crew works, the photo tips flow.
Some of the key ones:
- The best natural light comes an hour before sunrise or an hour before sunset.
- Many of the most interesting angles are from down low. So the pros wear kneepads and comfortable clothes — and they don’t mind getting dirty.
- The cleaner the car, the clearer the image. Benedict says he usually takes along a bottle of cleaner and some towels when he packs his gear.
- Avoid gray-sky backgrounds. That’s why Nissan was shooting in the Southern California badlands instead of say … Seattle.
It’s fun to watch Gallagher, Benedict and the others work, and it’s interesting to hear Gallagher say on the video that he often snaps just-for-fun pictures with his iPhone along the way.
But Gallagher is the first to admit that he’s always impressed when the photographers fire up their equipment — because they just don’t make apps that can simulate the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of a professional’s approach.
If you’re looking for pros, contact us.
