How to SHOOT + EDIT CAR PHOTOS! - Light Painting Technique

[@thechrishau]

What would be your dream car to light paint? Also if you’re into car photography. Drop your instagram accounts below!

[@rcastillophotos]

My dream car is Mini Cooper JCW!! Super into car photography. Instagram: rcastillophotos

[@dant-rex1727]

Mine would be a Civic Type R, Here's the other: @dantrex_fk8 I try but don't got much to work off of!

[@GWStudiosGB]

Dream car to light paint: Aston Martin Vantage 2017. IG: @george_watkins1

[@danielmarton2505]

An old NA MX-5 in a clean build 😍 All red, slammed down, stuff like that 😁 Or a Porsche gt3 or 911. Ahhh I have too many dreamcars 😂 I have just a few but: @martondani1

[@diegof.j.1228]

I would literally die (well actually not because then I wouldn't be able to shoot it) to shoot an Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale. IG: @diegofjorquera

[@Fairoz93]

I really stand behind the phrase: "you can learn so much from youtube". As a photographer myself, i was struggling to know how the hell are these photos so well lit! is it a magic light source or just alot of light sources. then ive come to the realisation... OF COURSE IT HAD TO BE THIS. Light painting!. Thanks for generously sharing this tutorial. You are helping the community!!

[@XTJ7]

Pro tip: hold the "ALT" or "OPTION" key while clicking on the mask and it will create it already inverted. Saves you extra clicks :)

[@LizziePeirce]

Guys Chris is the best and he’s a photo genius so if you disliked this video I will hunt you down BUT if you give it a like I will cyber hug you.

[@thechrishau]

Lizzie Peirce I liked my own video. Do I get a cyber hug now!

[@ajreves97]

Inside job lol. (Waves) hey Lizzie

[@CreativeCriminalsBangalore]

You can also set blend mode to your layers and then use layer mask and black brush to bring in or remove what you want. Example: get a sharp exposure of the headlight at 1/20. All you have to do next is to set the blend mode to lighten after placing the headlight layer on top of your main layer. Hope this helps.

[@sawyerhartman]

Super informative!! Miss u man, gotta get u out to hawaii ASAP!

[@thechrishau]

Thanks dude! Man Hawaii sounds amazing right now.

[@mimoreque1805]

HAHAHAHAHAHAAH I've named some: CLIENT_FINAL_ABSOLUTELY NO MORE CHANGES

[@MustafaAlNuaimi]

Hey Chris.. Thanks for the info... TIP: Hold Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) to invert the layer mask WHEN YOU CREATE THE MASK.

[@thechrishau]

Mustafa Al-Nuaimi heck ya! Noted. I am an old man when it comes to photoshop

[@KylesCaptures]

Wow, I've been doing light painting so wrong. I've been trying my best to run around and do your 8 shots in one shot. This is gonna be the next level now that I know how to do layers and mask in photoshop. I cant wait to try this!

[@ambermikkelsen3269]

As a photographer who's just starting out in car photography and becoming obsessed (send help plz 😅) this is awesome and super inspiring! Lol plus your commentary is hilarious! My dream car: 2020 Ford F250 Super Duty in gun metal grey 😎

[@marklaurin_]

2020 is your year ! The vids, content and personality are on point! Kudos Chris, kudos...

[@thechrishau]

Mark Laurin mark! This comment made my Day. Thank you!

[@ProlexMedia]

We did a similar technique in the past too for Audi! We actually used a Speedlight since we were splashing water against the car!

[@ryannatwick6698]

Okay, I have done some light painting for night shots of my car but I have never thought about stacking them. So stoked to give this a shot (or multiple shots all put together).

[@IamByzer]

This has to be the best light painting tutorial out. Love it. Informative and easy to follow. Can’t wait to go out and give it a shot

[@bapsd5135]

Being a car photographer myself that still needs to perfect my night photography skills, I found this video SUPER helpful! Thank you for sharing this! And my dream car to have in my "ice garage" would be a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R!

[@Creative7inc]

I've never stacked images before but am completely wowed by this technique! That final image came out amazing, and looks like a solid artwork piece. Definitely going to keep this in mind for future shoots!

[@thechrishau]

Thanks homie! :)

[@derfernerf]

Something I’ve been wanting to try for awhile, but haven’t gotten around to doing. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@thechrishau]

HECK YA go and make it happen!

[@darklikevader6596]

Great video I found setting your layer to lighten so you only paint in the light and not the shadows helped me alot

[@fredrik_soder]

Chris, you started of this video with a topic that I feel we need a good system for. File structure, file naming and organization. How do you do? Would love if you made a video about that!

[@mik3ymomo]

I do all mine in camera because I dont use photoshop, just Lightroom. It takes a few tries to get the coverage right and the exposure correct in camera for the time duration. It’s worked out decent enough for me. Your process is more efficient though.

[@drummer12films]

Been attempting light painting for a few months, just stumbled upon this video and follow along with you on PS. What an absolute time saver! Thank you so much. This is easily the best way to do this.

[@Runofthemillshop]

I never knew how to create this. I do a lot of car photography at night and this would be cool!

[@mrmtruckermax2]

Light painting is my absolute favorite to do. I like to shoot Milky-Way shots and light paint the foreground and other subject in the composition. I also have a different method of editing. But it's cool that we can come away with the same final product. Excellent tutorial. Thanks!!

[@LimitedSpectrum]

Duuuude! This got me SO EXCITED! I've been wanting to shoot my friend's Right-side-drive 1984 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR! I do a lot of light painting at the Los Angeles Arboretum, but no cars involved. This is gonna be.... ...LIT.

[@MothmanInHisChibiEra]

I have watched SO many light painting tutorials and this is the first one that actually really helped me get the editing part so THANK YOU! Also that’s my dream car too so if I watch this enough times for you to swing getting two, promise to send the second my way?? 😂

[@garthmalpas]

Chris thanks buddy you gave me a great idea!!! As soon as the government lets me out of my house I am going to set up a shoot like this. Cheers

[@bruno_mcd]

"I'm a little slower, 10 seconds works" Me too Chris, me too.

[@thechrishau]

hahah. YUP

[@alexanderblaszczyk1685]

Awesome Video i think i will try this ! Thanks for the inspiration! I think in my ice garage would be a dodge charger from 1969 and a dodge ram 1500 from 2019

[@mxrtyforeal]

Great video Chris! Corvette is my dream car :D

[@papaspresses]

I just found your video now that I edit the shots of my wife's car and mine (a Mazda2 and a 2009 Civic) in the underground parking. I use the same technique, but I use my smartphone as a lamp (using an app called pocket soft light), and my Canon M50 with a 50mm on a tripod. I'll tag you on Instagram when I post my photos on Instagram :)

[@tymaphoto]

I’ve been light painting cars for a couple years and saw some new techniques in here I’m excited to try. Thanks!

[@krammpeter]

Yooo Chris... ever since you cut your hair more of your personality is shinning bruh! I’m loving the 2020 content! I’ve found I’m watching your content more over a Peters! Keep it up man - this episode had me laughing 😂

[@PaulFeinberg]

My dream car is a DeLorean modified to be a replica of back to the future part 2. Would be so awesome to drive that around town. Nice video sweet tips!

[@scubaru4395]

The new desk setup/studio is lookin good!

[@DavidGrossman82]

Ok, I've watched 10 times this morning so far. I will get to seeing this video 1,000 times by the end of next week. I'll be a night time car photographer expert by the end of next week hahaha. That's a sick Mercedes!!!! I'll do my best to help watch as much as possible. Lol. Keep up the great videos.

[@thechrishau]

David Grossman you sir are a rockstar!

[@DavidGrossman82]

@@thechrishau hahaha thanks man, just a fan and fellow photographer who wants to see you accomplish your dreams and wishes. Lol.

[@shadowfoxvisuals]

*Wow that's actually really good! I didn't realize that you're gonna use the light painting to highlight the different parts! So smart one!*

[@thechrishau]

Paka Zealandia thats the secret sauce

[@shadowfoxvisuals]

@@thechrishau Haha glad you shere your recipe

[@justrawmedia5985]

Lighroom: Who am i? Me: You organize my photos to import into Photoshop for actual editing. LR : Oh mai gawd

[@rubenrudewig7217]

Did a lot of light painting already, but never though about this one! Really amazing! Dream car would be Model X :D

[@danielcalsada1308]

Love this car baised series please keep them coming..💯💯💯

[@thechrishau]

HECK YA

[@CalledCollectiveMedia]

Heck yeah awesome tutorial Chris! The people that didn't enjoy that are crazy! Definitely sick!

[@studioriz]

Hey Chris, Dope video! FYI thought I'd share an alternative workflow option with same result... In Lightroom you can select all the images, right click one of them in the selection pane go to Edit In>Open As Layers in Photoshop. In Photoshop you then can do Edit>Auto Align. Once you save the file in Photoshop it'll pop back up in Lightroom automatically. Will save you a bunch of time Exporting and Importing. :)

[@thechrishau]

Studio Riz thanks for this dude! You rock! I knew there was a faster way

[@studioriz]

@@thechrishau No worries! Happy to help :)

[@DanRaines]

That was great. You seemed so much more relaxed. Very cool. As always the tutorial was great as well. Well I own my dream car, but the crazy like never going to happen dream car is the new McLaren 765LT.

[@thechrishau]

Thanks homie! Go and rent it for a day!

[@DanRaines]

Chris Hau that is funny, first my pocket book would cry and then my wife would give me that look. So scary!!

[@topherkeen270]

Your new haircut is adorable. LOL Thanks for the video

[@whothetechknows]

Great tutorial. I just did my first light paint on a car and I needed help with your point on how to bring the images in as one group. Thank you for that! Looking forward to more great stuff!

[@eyzhuh_studios]

Honestly had to click on this because my dream car, mmmmmmm can’t wait for mine

[@coltonbushue]

My dream car is honestly my own car! Going to have to try this soon, I haven't light painted since I first started photography sadly!

[@thechrishau]

Colton Bushue boom! Stoked to see what you create and also what car you drive lol

[@coltonbushue]

Chris Hau I drive a built 2010 Camaro SS👀 impractical for photo/video work for sure, but I’ve been in love with them since I was a kid so here we are🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Palvader]

Thank you for the “how to” Chris, if I had a camera body, I would definitely try this! Also, I usually like a video within the first 10 seconds, so don’t tell me to “hit the like button”, as that would be un-liking the video!

[@thechrishau]

Peter Lindblom you sir are a hero

[@sniper_shot_photography]

While light painting is awesome, I'd like to draw everyone's attention to Larry Chen, the best automotive photographer ever. He has used this technique a few times, but rarely, and yet he still has success. I think it's a stretch to say that this is the most affective tip for car photos. I'm a firm believer against the same old boring 16-35mm shots of cars, even with light painting, I find these shots boring. Why are we're so afraid of using a telephoto or super- telephoto? That's what makes interesting car photos without having to use extensive photoshop, EVER! Ok, now that I've joined the KZbin rant club, I must say, I highly regard your work, please do not mistake this as me undermining your skill.

[@fotokorpus]

Great tutorial again, thanx Chris! You made me step up my photography and start making videos to showcase it. I know it's just a start, but i would apprieciate if you could check it out and maybe give some tips if im doing it right. Anyway, thanx for your content, and i'm looking for another one from you, Cheers!

[@Jamesmatthews]

Love this set up mate. New Office is doing bits 👌🏻👌🏻

[@thechrishau]

James Matthews frig I love British slang. Got me frothing over here

[@zcgaming9877]

Great tutorial again, thanx Chris!

[@EricvanVuuren]

Loving the desk as a backdrop to the LR capture... great video!

[@thechrishau]

Thanks homie!

[@ELuislopez]

Thank you so much for this video. I have been looking for ways to get higher quality photos of my truck and step up my game. This is such a pro tip. If you can if would help for me and other if you can make a daytime video, maybe showing different angles and perspective. Really helps. Thank you 👍🏻🔥😎

[@NicoleGlass]

So tempted to go light paint my Honda Fit now and make it look like the badass it isn't.

[@Gentle_Zephyr]

Please make full-screen tutorials of working in Ps and Lr so that it would be easier to watch them on mobile devices! Thanks!

[@jameshunter9940]

Awesome Tutorial..Gunna have to try that TOONight

[@thechrishau]

James Hunter dooo it

[@0xlilx0]

That's just amazing, the result is.. oh my!

[@jg_media9]

Dream car easily an F87 bimmer.. need that m2c in my life. Thanks for this!! Really enjoyed this video and definitely learned something new to try

[@michael_oconnor]

Chris!! If you name your projects and exports with the date, starting with year, month, then day, you can sort your projects by start date, no matter when you last saved, and your clients won't know how many revisions you've done on your exports! Hehehe

[@sarahhoover3271]

I’m going to try this tonight. Thanks for the video! Have you ever added in a person? I’m going to try combining a person into the car composite. Would love any advice!

[@tbgsport]

Great image, is there a reason you choose not to change the blend mode of each layer to lighten, I have always found this make that whole process much easier

[@TtoTheOmarse]

I wondered the same. Lighten / overlay / screen. Helps to not mask in dark areas from each layer.

[@kwash93]

Great info, dream car Lotus Evora

[@PeterKae]

I love the settle background lightning! You could learn a lot for my videos from these tuts ! Thanks sir 👊🏻🎥

[@ghost4240]

1. underscore looks cool 2. underscore is very much good space p.s. yes, grammar

[@sanjvxo]

Man this video is so good 🙏🏽👍🏽👌🏽👊🏽

[@thingsido6067]

I always wondered how they make those sweet car foto's, many thx for the tutorial Chris!!

[@PouyaLucky]

Hell ya ... Loved it ... Gonna go shoot ma ride ;) ... I did some trial and error about 2 years ago and will tag you on to get your feedback

[@shupingyin8082]

awesome tutorial, fun too

[@youtubeaddict1]

The vacuum rant was golden

[@thechrishau]

lolol. Thanks bruv

[@JussiAlexander]

"final please don't crash final-final.psd" 😀 sounds like something that I could see on my desktop

[@purple87ss]

Going to try to light paint my car in my profile pic(87 Buick Regal Turbo T) and feature it on my channel when I have a free evening. I'll tag you in IG post too. Thanks Chris!

[@purposedriven2006]

LOL.... thanks for sharing the file naming story... I thought I was the only one that happened to .... when you went through all the file names I was thinking bloat....

[@keshav1358]

Dude your videos are really informative. Keep posting more automotive resulted contents often it helps us a lot 💯

[@SnowWhiteMR2]

I love light painting. I should do more layers though. Great video!!

[@stevezafeiriou]

cool i do the same with the folders, dont feel alone

[@walo2k5]

Awesome stuff.... dream car 1989 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole

Sweeeeeet! Thanks for sharing your process on that type of shot.

[@aureycorreia]

Loved this vid. Thanks!

[@guerrillaoutdoors]

Sick video bro! I'll be doing this asap !

[@diegof.j.1228]

Very nice tutorial! I had heard before that many professional automotive shooters use light painting like this, but the way you explained it was extremely helpful and easy to understand :) I have a question though; for the final image, did you remove the light reflections on the car windows with clone stamp/content aware fill/etc. or did you just mask it from the base layer?

[@robertmellor105]

its simple to just mask it out with base layer, not sure what he did in this video itself but if you do a solo layer lighting the inside of the car you can even add interior details ;)

[@ALVINIUM1]

You're solid man...fun videos!

[@mauriceo1537]

Hey great video and phots I'm just getting into automotive night photografhy mostly using a 1.8 aperture lense for that. Does anybody have a reccomendation for keeping the whole car in focus with such a higher aperture?

[@martialbodiestv5041]

Dude! Thank you so much for sharing this technique with us!

[@paullavigne5299]

Always a great teacher. ! Thanks Chris.

[@jamiehackett4856]

I would love to photograph a black BMW M4 in the snow 👌

[@Medienmechaniker]

I can relate to that intro .. 😀

[@LuxuryRumble]

That was awesome video just you cut so much details

[@MartinTabanag]

love this video Chris! please do more product video and photo tutorials! really helps a lot

[@MrJay214tx]

Awesome tutorial! Gonna try this soon . Subscribed as well .

[@omribenbenisty]

07:10 you can right click and hit "edit in"--> "open as layers in photoshop"

[@jerrysrcu]

That worked for me much better, but is there a way to align them all using your method? My layers have a tiny misalignment. Thanks Man!

[@silv3rArrow]

@@jerrysrcu You can align them after they are in photoshop by the previous method. Select all of them, Edit -> Auto-align Layers. I usually leave it in Auto afterwards, does a good job if the images were stable enough.

[@jerrysrcu]

@@silv3rArrow Thanks a lot brother!

[@omribenbenisty]

@Jerry Ruiz exactly like @miguel afonso said

[@SuperEddyf]

That's very 'cool' Chris.. Okay.. I just saw it. Hope you have your G-Wagen by now. I'll give it a go this week. Many thanks.

[@FelixGA9]

Nice overview of the process. Here are some things you may want to consider. Car paint is designed to “pop” under sunlight. You may want to try painting with a hard light. You may also want to consider doing an overall base exposure of the car with one light. Your wheel definition is non existent because of the soft light. Try using two small hard lights and lighting wheels from the back and front. Having a piece of foamcore or 4x4 duve will allow you to shoot windows without odd reflections.

[@Javiihz]

nissan 350z, Always been my favorite car. Im so blessed to own it!

[@JoshThom]

Alright just saw the whole series of Gimli videos-- was just there last weekend! Cool stuff, Chris, cheers from Winnipeg :)

[@martyc4906]

I totally used to do the "Final, Final, Final" thing. Now I leave the master name alone and name the copies by date time and other notes that are helpful. That way, when I go back, I just look for the basic master name.

[@nitnelav3]

good strategy

[@kyletaggart]

Great video, great technique, would that be a photo you’d provide Mercedes Benz?

[@thechrishau]

hikyletaggart this photo was made for this tutorial. I’ll probably pass it along

[@SidsDrakon]

This was an awesome video... I am gonna try to do this... hopefully it comes out decent looking.

[@ElReySupr3me]

Would you use any other GM lens for car shoots? Or do you traditionally stick with the 24-70mm?

[@mnICEdur]

Haha, naming files! Epic!

[@enoch3656]

thanks man, so helpful！！！