
Taking Better Photos of Your EVs – Introduction
Guest Contribution by Robert Farnum
Electric vehicles are not only for utility but are precious luxuries to be proud of. However, it’s hard to show all that magnificence in a photo. If you need help taking better photos of your EV, I’ve got you covered with pro tips straight from my experience.
We’ll talk about lighting, angle, capturing both moving and stationary electric cars, and beyond. Here’s how to take photos of your electric vehicle better than ever:
Setting Up The Location
A good location is crucial to EV automotive photography. However, randomly arriving at a location isn’t a foolproof plan. You will find distractions such as members of the public, and often security asking for permits.
The best advice is always to secure your locations in advance. Find out if there is any shooting fee in the place of your choice. Make sure to pay the fee to have security act as a friend, not a hindrance.
Basic Angles and Positions For EV Photos
Like people, vehicles also have photogenic angles, from where the car can look a thousand times sexier or muscular.
Here are the basic angles and positions to must know to capture beautiful photos of your EV:
Angle/Position | Description |
Front ¼ shot (Left/ Right) | 25% side view with dominant front |
Front ¾ shot (Left/ Right) | 75% side view along with front |
Direct Front | Straight on the front line |
Side Profile | 100% side view of the EV |
Back Shot | Straight down from behind the EV |
Back ¼ shot (Left/Right) | 25% side view with a rear shot |
Back ¾ shot (Left/Right) | 75% side view with a rear shot |
Top Shot | From a higher height down the center line of the EV |
Shooting EV Photos: Daylight vs. At Night Time
You want to make the best of all available natural lights during the day. Keep an eye out for the golden hour, clouds, and sunsets. Pair the moments with a good location, and your EV photos will be majestic.
Use the bokeh technique to blur out the background when needed. The aperture for bokeh should be f/2.8 or f/4. This gives you a high focus on your EV as the hero of the photo. Good DSLR cameras offer an advantage here, with high-quality image processors.
Taking photos at night requires a special setup for your equipment. Use manual focus and ISO as low as possible in your camera.
It is suggested to use aperture priority mood as it allows you direct control over the aperture. The aperture should be wide, around f/5 or lower. For a narrow aperture, use f/8.
The best locations at night are the ones with beautiful lights to shine on your EV. Streetlights, storefronts, or lighted decorations will provide good composure.
For long-exposure night shots, you will find a tripod handy. Set your exposure to 08 seconds for abstracts of light patterns. It will give you enough time to move around with a portable light around your EV. These pictures are best in bulb mode.
Taking EV Photos In Motion
EVs in motion bring out the life in the photos. There are multiple ways to do it. The first and the easiest is panning. For this, you stand on the side of the road still with a camera. The shutter speed should be 1/125, and the focus must be checked accordingly.
The EV should move at around 35-40 mph. When in sight, focus on your camera and take your shots. You will have natural in-camera motion blur around the EV.
Another option is driving shots. Grab two vehicles, one which you will be with the camera and the other that will be the subject. Here you will have to hang your camera outside your vehicle. In these cases, it would be best if you always had your camera latched to you.
Set the camera shutter speed at 1/80 or 1/100. Reducing it further will increase the noise in the photo. Follow the subject EV and take your photo. Best DSLR cameras will allow the body of the EV to shine through with visible motion in the wheels.
Interior Photos Of EV
When shooting interiors, you can go for two professional ways. One is to focus on specific features of your EV.
This means you focus on the steering, speedometer, radio, logos, side mirrors, etc. Taking the details into consideration makes the photo feel more personalized.
Another is to shoot through the interior towards the outside. For example, focus on the cool steering of your EV while glazing at a setting sun through the window.
Use foreground while taking interior shots to give them more depth. Take photos through the windshield to get a front view of the EV.
Make sure there is enough lighting inside the car to illuminate the cabin. You can use a studio light externally from outside the front window during nighttime shoots.
Pro Tips
- Use a CPL. Polarizers provide great light balance. Also, it helps keep unwanted objects out of the photo. Modify your polarizers accordingly, switching from landscape to portrait mode.
- Change your composition to different heights, positions, and distances. You are more likely to get better photos trying multiple compositions than a fixed few.
- Try to match the surroundings with your EV. Focus on the color and shape matchup for easy contrast and composition.
- Avoid taking photos of your EV from eye level.
- Make sure to face the rim of the wheels facing the camera.
Final Advice
Clicking the perfect EV photos takes a bit of practice. Rather than fearing bad shots, go out with your EV and camera equipment, and explore. Follow the basics and stay patient. Your next masterpiece may be just a click away! Good luck.
Images: Unsplash/ mynergi and dcbel.
Author Bio
Robert is a content writer who loves writing about modern consumer trends. He aims to provide readers with in-depth tips and advice on how to enhance their lifestyles.