Photograph your vehicle like a Pro

Are you crazy about cars or motorcycles and want to learn how to make the best pictures with your smartphone? Then read on ;)

Tip 1: Choose your own focus

Your smartphone camera focuses automatically in almost all cases. Not very handy, because it sometimes focuses at the wrong point. In difficult light conditions your smartphone camera also has trouble focusing, which takes time to get the right focus.

You can help your smartphone's camera by briefly tapping the screen on the spot you want to focus on. This gives the camera the ability to focus on it, which ensures the best pictures.

Tip 2: Flash off, light on

The smartphone camera flash is very hard and nobody looks better when using it. Rather turn it off by default. The newest iPhones 6s and 6s plus have got a new technique that lights up the screen when you take a selfie. It's a softer form of flash, but still it's not ideal. Sometimes you cannot avoid using it, but if it is not necessary: turn off the flash.

Tip 3: Keep your smartphone camera still!

Whatever camera you use, you notice that there is a slight delay between pressing and the moment the smartphone actually takes a picture. It's a slight delay, but I regularly see people taking photos that do not take that into account. They click and move their camera away.

During this movement, the photo is still being taken. Consequence: a blurry photo. Keep your camera in place for two seconds and then take it away. It will give you sharper photos.

Tip 4: Zoom in? Not done

With smartphone cameras, it is often only possible to zoom in digitally. Either way: the more you zoom in, the fewer pixels your photo captures. It delivers blurred photos with a lot of grain. Try to avoid zooming in.

And if you really can not get closer to your subject, zoom in as little as possible. Or do it afterwards so that you can as accurately as possible determine the extent to which you want to crop your photo.

Tip 5: Take multiple photos

The more photos you make, the greater the chances of a good one between them. Making pictures with a smartphone costs nothing but battery power. The pictures that are not beautiful, you will just throw away again.

Tip 6: Use the HDR function

If you have an HDR (High Dynamic Range) feature on your smartphone, use it. This increases the chances of a good photo. Your smartphone usually makes 3 images, 1 overexposed, 1 underexposed, and 1 normal. These are then layered so that you get better pictures.

Pro Tip: Use a higher ISO value and shutter speed in dark situations

On some smartphones, you can change settings. This allows you to adjust shutter speed and ISO value so that your smartphone performs better in dark situations. For example, you can photograph your car or motorcycle with the lighting on in the dark.

ISO: The higher your ISO value, the more light is absorbed by your camera. The only downside to a high ISO value is that you get more noise and grain, so it's better to work with a longer shutter time. This gives your camera more light. In this case, keep your camera still, or even better, use a tripod. Otherwise you get pretty grainy pictures.

Photograph your car: location, light and angle

Good camera settings are only half the job. What you put in front of the lens matters just as much. These basics work for any car or motorcycle, whatever phone you use.

Prepare the car

Wash the car before you shoot. Dirt, water spots and fingerprints stand out much more on a photo than in real life. Also clean the headlights and rear lights, because they are often the eye-catchers of the picture.

Choose a calm background

A busy background with other cars, bins or signs draws attention away from your vehicle. An empty car park, an industrial area in the weekend or a quiet country road work well. Leave some space around the car so you can still crop the photo afterwards instead of zooming in.

Mind the light

Harsh midday sun gives hard shadows and bright reflections on the paintwork. The soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset is much more flattering. On a cloudy day the light is even and reflections are limited, which is also fine for car photos.

Pick the right angle

• Three-quarter front view: stand at the front corner of the car, so you see the front and one side at the same time. This is the most used angle in car photography.
• Low angle: bring your phone down to about headlight height. The car looks more powerful than from standing height.
• Turn the wheels: steer the front wheels slightly so the rim faces the camera instead of the tyre tread.
• Details: also take close-ups of the lights, the rims or the interior. Get closer instead of zooming in.

Photographing your vehicle with the lights on

A car or motorcycle with its lights on at dusk makes a striking picture. Use the pro tip above: a longer shutter time, the lowest ISO value that still works and a tripod or a steady surface such as a wall. Shoot at dusk rather than in complete darkness, so the sky still has some colour and the shape of the car stays visible.

The colour of the light shows clearly on a photo. Halogen lamps give a yellowish light, while LED and xenon give a whiter light. If you want your lights to stand out, have a look at our LED lighting for cars, xenon kits or LED daytime running lights.

Riding a motorcycle? The same tips apply. Park the bike on its stand, turn the handlebar slightly and photograph it from a low three-quarter angle.