5 Mistakes Newbie Car Photographers Make

To err is human, and yes, every profession has mistakes. Photography is one profession where beginners make a lot of mistakes. After many years of learning, newbies usually get used to their mistakes and know how to avoid them.

Prior knowledge and careful observation play vital roles in overcoming mistakes in car photography. Cars are tempting, and the automobile industry is heavily dependent on such photographers to promote their cars. Cars are also a symbol of beauty and status to many. That is why Car photography has emerged as a booming business.

Top 5 Mistakes Newbie Car Photographers Make

This article is about the five biggest mistakes car photographers make as newbies and how to avoid them. If you don’t know how to fix mistakes, you will never be able to get that perfect shot. So we think these photography tips would be helpful for beginners.

1. Not using a tripod:

Car photography is shooting stationary cars. If you are ever shooting a standing vehicle, it is apt to use a tripod. Without a tripod, there are numerous chances of having a blurred shot. With a tripod, you will surely get a clean and sharp shot. As a newbie, you must shake off your camera while practicing to take that perfect shot. A tripod will always help you keep the camera steady. Another reason to use a tripod is light painting. You can place the camera on the tripod and walk around the car with lights.

This will create significant effects in the picture, giving you what you expect from the car picture. Also, if you want to click different exposures, you can do so only with a tripod. For a beginner like you, keeping your hands in one position for multiple shots is very difficult. So, it is essential to have a tripod for your camera. Invest in a good tripod and get those best clicks. Let the tripod do all the clicking instead of your hands. Once you get a good hold of the camera or after you are used to clicking for many years, you can always shoot on your own without the help of a tripod.

2. Using Flash:

One of the biggest mistakes a new photographer makes is using the flash. Flash photography needs excellent experience, and as you are a newbie, don’t use it. Using Flash to click cars especially needs a lot of practice. Cars generally give you good clicks in natural light, but you can always work on the shiny and reflective panels later. The reflective pads act as mirrors; if you use flash, they reflect off the car.

This won’t be very pleasant if you have selected a natural background with trees or more cars. You can use a polarizing filter instead of a flash. If you consider car photography a passion or profession, this is a must-buy investment. A circular polarizer is a must for car photography. Never buy a cheap polarizer, as it will ruin your images. Invest in a good polarizer that is known for car photography.

3. The right fit:

Another common mistake is fitting the entire car in the frame. While shooting a car, make sure you fit the whole car inside the frame. The most frustrating thing is if the bumper is not seen in an image. Also, make sure the area where the vehicle is parked is clean and neat. No garbage or litter should be around. This will ruin the overall image. If you are shooting at a car in an automobile event, ensure no cords and curled-up carpets are coming in the way of your clicks.

4. Noise:

Noise in car photography does not mean the horn sounds that come out of a car; it is the grains in an image. The noise or grains are also dependent on the camera. But a good DSLR can take noise-free images. Keep the camera at ISO 400 and try not to go above that, which will help you reduce noise or grains in your image. Adjusting your expensive DSLR to the wrong setting can cause grains and will eventually ruin the image. So be careful about the settings.

5. Wheels:

To click a car, giving a perfect view of the wheels is essential. The wheels have the company name or logo on them, which is necessary if you click the car to promote a business. Also, wheels are the most critical factor in car buying. So make sure the pictures you click give a clear view of the wheels. Ignoring the wheels is also a mistake that newbies commit while shooting cars, as it is at the base or lower part of the image. The wheels not only drive the car but will also drive your images to attractive instincts.

So, if you are a newbie, avoid these car photography mistakes. Your clicks are best used for photography business names. Popular photography business companies like Shutterstock, picturesque, etc., pick up the best pics, which will help you grow big in your car photography career.

The earlier you come out of the mistakes you commit, the faster you click the best cars. Whether it be natural images of vehicles or an event, the clicks will take you a long way as car photography is one of the most popular businesses in the automobile world. After all, the love for cars is captured through a photographer’s images.

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