10 Automotive Photography Tips -- Lenses, Angles, Light Mixing & More!

Here are 10 tips for shooting professional-level car and bike photography. (Squarespace Coupon: KARL - bit.ly/SquareSpace-Code-KARL)
From cars to motorcycles, lighting considerations, angles, polarisation, space requirements, assistants, and more, I’m going to share my top 10 tips for automotive and car photography to help you get the best results.
As a product photographer, the technical aspects and principles of lighting for automotive are actually very similar to the products I usually shoot. You often have a mixture of gloss and matte surfaces along with difficult reflective curves; it’s all just on a much bigger scale.
Although many new car images are undertaken using CGI there is still a demand for real photography, especially for classic cars. Read more (with useful diagrams) bit.ly/10-Car-Photo-Tips
FREE Automotive Photography Tips
➡️ 10 Car Photography Tips: bit.ly/10-Car-Photo-Tips
➡️ Studio Car Photography: • How to Photograph Cars...
Specific Automotive Photography Education
➡️ How to shoot classic cars on a budget: bit.ly/Classic-Car-Photography
➡️ Professional Automotive Photography: bit.ly/Automotive-Photography
➡️ Motorcycle Photo Workshop: bit.ly/Motorcycle-Photography
➡️ Access ALL Classes & Workshops: bit.ly/karl-taylor-membership
Join the fun and follow us on Instagram - / visualeducationstudio

[@bp-blackshark]

And this is the difference between your youtube channel and other photography youtube channels: You want to give us the knowledge, how to do stuff...others are only advertising channels, which are showing you the latest and greatest photography gear and telling you, that you have to switch from one camera-brand to an other, if possible: one time per month, or so. You want stunning results! Regardless, if we would have the latest studioflash´s or only a single lightbulb. This is inspiration! The latest and greatest photography gear will be useless, if you don´t have any idea, what you are doing with it. Thumbs up...and a like!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thank you kindly.

[@GrymmsPlace]

Couldn't have said it better. Bringing the Knowledge, not just the Gear, to the channel.

[@p4inmaker]

I have to second this. I also really value how he gives us a list of specific things to consider, while still providing examples, rather than saying DO IT THIS WAY.

[@Shawns_snapshots]

Your free videos are better than other people's paid content. Consider me a future customer!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thank you.

[@poetcurious]

I always learn something useful from your videos. Even though I don’t plan to shoot cars particularly, the lighting ideas and techniques have got me wanting to experiment. Great content as always! Thank you! 👍🏼

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Great thanks

[@kilohotel6750]

I love those shots of the Mercedes. My neighbor has one and I always want to ask him if I could shoot it one day.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thank you.

[@andyvan5692]

thanks Karl, as there are not many how-to's of this, esp. on youtube, most are fashon, nude, or beauty, so nice one for the car nuts, or tool guys in all of us.

[@Govannonart]

I have no words. This video is simply AMAZING! I wanted to shoot cars, but I'm a bit of a chicken here. Maybe because it's too complex for me. But now, as I have my studio light on a battery, I can try to give it a shot on a parking lot, when it becomes warmer and the show melts down. Best regards from Mother Russia PS. It's still snowing and -10C in Russia

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thank you Nikolai and I'm so glad it's not -10c here!

[@kennypringle4580]

I can relate to your mentioning of being married, having kids, ……. no longer riding. I don’t ride anymore but I am a photographer. Just yesterday I had the thought “why not reach out to motorcycle owners offering to photograph their bikes.” I received one response within hours of posting it. I hope to get many more. It’ll be outdoors, probably with a 6 foot silver reflector rather than lighting. I’m excited about this new project in hopes I can get this going and make a few dollars from prints. Great video Karl.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Great idea. I love bikes so much I'm thinking of getting back into them.

[@kennypringle4580]

@@VisualEducationStudio well darn, …….. if you can get another motorcycle then so can I😀. We’d all love to know what you buy. My actual dream bike is a Kawasaki KLR 650 dual sport. I’ve had big custom S&S 88 Fat Boy bikes, BMW R1150RT, and a lot of off road dirt bikes. But I love the mid size dual sports. I’ll continue watching your videos my friend for the knowing I’ll get from them and because I just enjoy and admire YOU as a person.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

I'd be leaning towards an Aprilia RS660 for road/sports use and an Aprilia Tuareg for off road at the moment. Both well priced for what they deliver.

[@kennypringle4580]

@@VisualEducationStudio very good bikes 👍

[@TwoIndians]

excellent! thank you! Now all I need is a half million dollar studio! LOL thanks again

[@SSHK237]

Bless you Karl !! ... what a splendid upload! You just poured knowledge into our minds! Your way of teaching is highly inspirational!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Many thanks!

[@nachnamevorname5917]

Wow. Impressive man you are! Very good! Cordial greetings.

[@stellarspellar]

Your videos have inspired me to buy my very first studio strobe last week. It's been a lot of fun learning how to manipulate light. Thanks so much Karl.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thank you.

[@juhakivekas2175]

Very good vid, thank you. I once visited Rene Staud in his studio at Leonberg, Stuttgart. I did some car shooting myself, especially with light painting. I made some directional light sabres for that and they out good, especially when shot outside in the blue hour or later but not in full dark. I need to subscribe to this.

[@sondos006]

Thank you Karl, useful as always, I finally got back to automotive photography last month and it’s really helpful to get such great information from you, thanks again 💙✨🙏🏼

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Great to hear!

[@JayJanePhotography]

I never thought that cars could be or should be shot in a studio. Thanks for giving these tips! I'd love to try this, but our studio is on the second floor, so outdoor ambient light or nighttime light painting are so far, the best options.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thanks for commenting Jay & Jane. I've also been in that situation with previous studios so renting spaces is always an option :-)

[@NeufeldDesigns]

Great content and amazing production quality!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thanks.

[@demonsaint1296]

Caaal you are always on the money and a great help.

[@SG-yf6dk]

Really useful video. Thanks for this Karl !!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@radugheorghe2596]

This tutorial is absolutely wonderful, and I'm not even a car guy!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Cheers

[@clippingpathcreativeltd]

You are a rock!!! I really appreciate for sharing this video

[@IEGastaldo]

This was great! Thank you for sharing these videos!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@-szega]

4:25 If I would've seen this image in the wild I would've thought it's CG, because it looks so incredibly clean and the lighting is so smooth! Impressive!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thank you.

[@3BMEP]

Outstanding.

[@BrannAutoMedia]

All of these are great learning points that will definitely help me in the future with my car photography! Thanks so much!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Great to hear!

[@RS-Amsterdam]

I combined diving and bike riding in the past, taking a dive from the bike once in a while, but that is not advisable hehehe I have to give it to you, I go around for quite a while now and I also follow quite some advanced channels and many of them have videos about lighting but non of them are even close to half the quality of yours. Always full of great images to prove your point, great explanations and full of inspiration. Loved the Merc shots BTW Thanks for sharing all the goodies and knowledge !!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thanks RS and try not to dive off any bikes!

[@Jdikmen]

Lots of great points to consider!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Glad it was helpful John!

[@HasanAmin]

thank you, Karl, for the very helpful and informative video, keep going :)

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Cheers.

[@ED-on8to]

Thank you! 😃👍 This is brilliant!

[@wendsignstudio]

Yes, I agree with tip number 10. We need assistants who are skilled at work, smart, responsive, hardworking and of course beautiful, like Ashley ... which makes the toughest jobs lighter and more fun. :)

[@mattorrz759]

Great tips yet again Karl 👌👌

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Glad you like them!

[@andrewlunn]

Awesome

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Cheers

[@RoaD_RasH_]

thank you my teacher. you are perfect Karl.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

You are welcome

[@fotisstrongylos5291]

Great information Karl, thank you!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

My pleasure!

[@clippingpathcreativeltd]

Amazing ❤

[@orshanti]

good stuff! thanks Karl! :)

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Any time!

[@moealyasini2784]

I wish i lived in UK not USA to do anything and become a student working with Karl.. you are the BEST artist

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Hi Moe, if it's any consolation we don't have students working with us very often, only the occasional university student on work experience for 2 weeks.

[@moealyasini2784]

@@VisualEducationStudio haha thanks Karl.. always makes me happy to see a reply from you. You had a big impact on my career as a photographer starting in 2017 from being a beginner to making 6 figures and still learning from you. Not only learning but motivated to do better and exploring different areas of photography. Hopefully one day we will meet and i’ll ask you for Selfie :)

[@FromtheShires]

Superb video, thanks Karl.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Very welcome

[@Anomaly818]

Excellent work. Thank you by Karl 🚗+ 📸=🏎️ . 🛵+📸=🏍️

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Glad you enjoyed it Андрей

[@sndx6138]

Thank you for videos, it would be great if u write which lenses are used to the finished photos.

[@DaveMovold]

Great Stuff Karl ! I need to photograph my 1970 Cougar. :)

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Go for it!

[@nilntha]

Great information Thank you sir

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Welcome

[@leifbogeisler]

Great, thanks for you time

[@VisualEducationStudio]

thank you.

[@MilesVanderlooven]

Love these vids

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Cheers

[@faisall5377]

Thanks for your Tips❤

[@VisualEducationStudio]

No worries!

[@PrimeMatt]

The 2006 Fireblade is the best 👌🏼

[@AnujithRajasekharan]

Thankyou 🥰

[@VisualEducationStudio]

You’re welcome

[@dave_sanderson]

Excellent video thanks heaps. Where do I find the tutorial about making the light ceiling?

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thanks, you'll find it somewhere on our channel, it's another video to do with cars.

[@sundarAKintelart]

Nice.

[@jjbphoto_]

One of my favorite channel...Great stuff✊🏼🔥

[@VisualEducationStudio]

I appreciate that!

[@mickue]

Nice to have this equipment, space and etc...

[@VisualEducationStudio]

It sure is Michael! It all doubles up for workshops, broadcasting LIVE online events and producing photography education

[@mickue]

@@VisualEducationStudio your are a big inspiration!

[@starphotography2338]

Hi sir..... U r a Master Of Aad Photographer..

[@VisualEducationStudio]

So nice of you

[@DaveMovold]

Nice dive computer ! I own the same one :) Cheers From Canada.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thanks, yes Shearwater Perdix it's great.

[@naifalsaeedan5413]

OMG are you using Hasselblads to photograph cars ?? I wonder how much your set coast

[@ESSECIFILMPRO]

shared

[@RamiH]

6:40 , unless it is a Transformer :)

[@erikpannemans2865]

The best pro on youtube, the rest are "wanne bees" TOP!!

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Cheers

[@ChaosFerTheKids]

I wish that he would show the actual shots after the bts when he explains something. Especially with the light painting one. I don't understand the point of showing how to do something without seeing the final result.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

I'm pretty sure every final shot was shown at the start of the video or at other points through the video. If there was any that you think you missed then you can see them here - karltaylor.com

[@RafaelHEscobar]

As a photo-aficionado I was on the street a month ago making some long exposure shots at night on a bridge, and casually ended up in front of a supercar dealership. As the place was closed I placed myself in front of all the windows where some of these cars were visible the most and decided to pull my camera and make some captures. In the process, all the things you've mentioned in the video came to my mind (in a 'how if' manner) and then remembered a graphic designer who builds hyperrealistic renders of super cool concept supercars. Now I'm able to understand that light is everything no matter what, but I'm with you with the fact that live shooting is another whole experience... Thanks for the video and the knowledge! -Greeting from Colombia.

[@Stellicopter]

Tim Wallace sent me here.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Thanks Tim!

[@zuriazuria1156]

🍃🙏🙏❤ good luck sir🙏🍃

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Same to you

[@elephantgrass631]

Head and shoulders above Tony and Chelsea.

[@Sub7media]

Me watching this video without a studio 😢

[@kiss4luna]

wish there could be a tutorial about how to shoot military vehicles like tanks and fighters lol, just kidding.

[@daniyalnaqvi]

You are an ocean of knowledge, but your videos makes me realize that its useless for poor people to be a photographer.

[@ROASTEDREGIS]

sadly in real world you dont have so much gear or freedom. You have to be fast and know what you doing otherwise you wont fit in a 8h studio time and will end up paying for overtime. Specially with cars. Be aware of Calvert studios as the light tehcnician's do not allow you to touch things and later they add to invoice 300£ for every pressed button etc. Studio maybe sounds or look cool but I would recommend avoiding it as much as you can... unless customer have unlimited budget then it's a different story. As example it takes around a week of work in the studio to photograph lets say F1 car. But that's the English way doing things with no rush and cup of tea every 20 minutes

[@larrysmith6797]

Your wife thinks SCUBA is safer than motorcycling. Cute.

[@sennahsenna8289]

You appear 90% of the video, you could show more in practice, not just flash's. appear less.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Please visit our Education platform if you'd like to watch the shoots in full with detailed explanations.

[@sennahsenna8289]

@@VisualEducationStudio now I understand, you want to sell course. They praise you for not selling cameras, amazon links, but you sell courses. OK

[@VisualEducationStudio]

Yes that's right. Everybody knows that. We are recognised as a leader in professional level photography education, so of course we are going to promote our platform through providing some level of free information on youtube, why else would we do it? We're not here for the youtube revenue and we don't sell anything else (as you pointed it) we promote our platform everybody knows that, it's certainly not a secret. But we do put out a lot of great content that all people enjoy and then they can choose if they want to join us based on what they see. We also offer a come and go easy cancellation policy on our platform with a very low monthly price that provides people exceptional value for money compared to our competitors. And before you feel it necessary to make it known that you discovered something profound - yes I did turn this reply to your comment into an advertisement for our platform, thank you for that opportunity! But let me be clear we have nothing to hide, we deliver a great service with no extra bullshit and many people here will vouch for that.

[@metahduh4003]

People who shoot this type products don't need amateur advice for shooting. Do some location-shots.

[@VisualEducationStudio]

I sense a tone of cynicism in your comment? I say this because I vaguely remember your name popping up on our channel from time to time with similar negativity, which is fine as it looks interesting amongst all the other many positive peoples comments. In this instance let me address your meritless points; I mention one of the top car photographers at the end of the video to give people further inspiration and I was talking to him the other day. He explained that he has run many workshops where amateur photographers hire a studio and learn from him, this is because many amateurs want to learn this stuff as they choose to rent a studio themselves and a car and split the costs to spend a day shooting their favourite vehicles. Additionally the automotive section on our education website is very popular, especially the motorbikes which are manageable in a much smaller space but using the same techniques. This isn't amateur advice because I've been paid for my bike shoot work and it comes from years of experience, the bike shot I took of the KTM is better than the shots the factory took when it was released, the front shot of the Mercedes GT has been praised by other professional with professional car shooting experience. So Jan it seems (yet again) that your cynical comments are without merit and are simply an unfortunate ramification of your own perspective?