How To Take Great Pictures Or make Video Clips Of Cars

By Bernard Kenol — Visual Creator

Capturing cars is more than just pointing the lens at a shiny object. Whether you're shooting a still image or rolling video, the goal is to make the car look its absolute best — powerful, elegant, or simply beautiful. Here are the key principles I follow every time I photograph a car.

Hyundai Elantra

Fuji X-T20, lens XC16-50 mm f3.5-5.6 OIS II - Setting : speed 1 seconde, 16.7 mm, ISO 400, f4, tripod use

1. Keep What Matters in Focus - Sharpness counts. I always make sure that the most important parts of the car — like the front grille, headlights, or brand emblem — are crisp and in focus. A good car photo invites the viewer to explore details. If it's blurry where it shouldn’t be, you lose that impact.

2. Control Your Depth of Field - Using the right depth of field helps guide the viewer’s eye. A shallow depth can isolate the car from the background, while a deeper focus works well when you want the environment — a racetrack, an urban street, or nature — to tell part of the story.

3. Avoid Bad Reflections - Cars are reflective surfaces, and that’s a blessing and a curse. I pay close attention to what reflects on the car’s body — trees, people, buildings, or even myself. Distracting reflections can ruin a clean shot, so I always change my position or angle until I get it right.

4. Nail the Exposure - Exposure can make or break the image. Cars often have shiny surfaces that trick the camera’s metering. I take time to balance highlights and shadows, keeping textures in the bodywork visible without blowing out the chrome or losing detail in darker areas.

5. Find the Right Angle - Angles are everything in car photography. A low angle can make a car look more powerful. A three-quarter front view usually highlights the shape best. I move around, shoot wide or tight, and explore creative compositions until I feel the car’s personality comes through.

Great car imagery is about intention. It’s not just about gear or location — it’s about seeing the car as a subject full of character and capturing it with care. Every line, reflection, and shadow tells part of the story. That’s the kind of visual storytelling I aim for in every shoot. If a car dealership of new models or preowned-cars is looking for a freelance photographer or videographer, I could efficiently do the job.