Most of what separates a snapshot from a portfolio frame happens before the shutter ever fires. Here are five things I do on every shoot, regardless of the car or the location.
One, detail the car like it is going on stage. Clean tires, dressed trim, no water spots. The camera sees everything the eye forgives.
Two, shoot the light, not the clock. Golden hour is a cliche because it works, but overcast skies and blue hour have their own language. Plan the session around the light you want, not the time that is convenient.
Three, get low and get close. A car photographed at eye level looks like a listing. Drop to the beltline, fill the frame, and let the shape do the work.
Four, protect the details. The cockpit, the badge, the stitching, the wheel, these are the frames that make an owner feel something. Budget time for them.
Five, leave room to breathe. Negative space is not wasted space. A confident frame knows what to leave out.
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