I’m on Instagram

I also have an Instagram account (mostly posting Porsche photos), and when I scroll through my feed (if that’s what it’s called), I see so many beautifully shot photos of beloved cars. It’s really enjoyable and, above all, a great way to learn about photography.

I used to take car photos without thinking about composition at all, but since starting Instagram, I’ve developed the feeling that “If I’m going to take photos of my beloved car, I want them to look beautiful.” So I’ve become a bit more conscious about it.

With that in mind, today I want to share what I think are the key “tips for photographing your beloved car beautifully,” based on what I’ve researched and learned from my husband.

5 Key Tips

Here are five important points I think are essential when photographing your beloved car.

① Know the Scenery That Best Shows Off Your Car

Before shooting, it’s important to think about “what kind of scene will make my car look its absolute best.” Even among Porsches, the two-seater open-top Boxster and the luxury sedan Panamera suit very different backgrounds.

That said, “there’s no absolute right answer” because what makes your car look great depends on personal taste, sense, and even the body color.

For example, with the Porsches we have at home:

“The white Boxster with a red soft top suits natural scenery perfectly. The bright blue sky, the blue sea, and the green mountains make the pure white Boxster really stand out. On the other hand, the Night Blue Metallic Panamera, true to its name, looks great in dusk or slightly darker settings. Also, the Panamera suits urban scenery better than nature.”

This is the perspective we hold.

② Decide on Your Composition (Concept)

Rather than shooting aimlessly, think about what kind of composition you want, such as “I want to capture the contrast between the blue sea and the Boxster,” “I want to shoot the Panamera’s rear view in the most beautiful way,” or “I want to highlight the logo clearly.”

I believe photos taken with this kind of thought bring out the car’s charm much better.

③ Hone Your Photography Skills

Photography definitely involves technique. …Though I say this confidently, my husband often tells me things like “Why don’t you study how to take cooler shots?” and “What exactly are you trying to shoot!? (ﾟдﾟ)”… (-_-) Well, I’m not a professional photographer, but I hope to at least acquire the basic knowledge and skills to take decent photos.

Here are some points I’ve learned and try to keep in mind:

① Park with the tires slightly turned
Simply parking with the tires straight makes the photo feel very static, but turning the front tires slightly adds a dynamic feel instantly.

If you want a photo without a dynamic feel, parking with the tires straight is better.

② Use 2x zoom when shooting with an iPhone
Models like the iPhone X and iPhone 7/8 Plus have two rear lenses: a wide-angle (1x) and a telephoto (2x). Usually, you shoot with the wide-angle lens, but that means you have to get very close, which distorts the car’s shape due to perspective effects (the Boxster’s rear looks exaggeratedly raised).

So, switching from the wide-angle (1x) to the telephoto (2x) lens on the iPhone camera app and shooting from a bit farther away lets you capture the car’s shape more naturally. Also, the image quality doesn’t degrade at 2x zoom, which is great.

③ Tilt the camera slightly
Tilting the camera makes the ground appear diagonal, adding depth and making the car look like it’s speeding (lol). Of course, shooting straight is good too, but if you want to add a little flair, tilting the camera is a nice option.

④ Edit Your Photos

Photos taken with a phone are beautiful as-is, but often I feel “It would look better with a bit more saturation” or “Adding some highlights would really make it pop.”

For that, I use Google’s photo editing app Snapseed. It’s free but incredibly powerful, almost like Photoshop. I especially like the blur feature; blurring the background a bit really makes the car stand out and can even save photos that didn’t turn out perfectly (lol). Almost all my Instagram photos are edited with Snapseed.

⑤ Invest in a Good Camera

In the end… (lol) no matter how much I try with my iPhone or my somewhat old DSLR, it can’t compare to my husband’s Sony digital mirrorless camera, the “α7Ⅲ.”

→ [Reference Article] Stunning Beauty! My Husband Bought the Sony Digital Mirrorless Camera “α7Ⅲ.”

The focus locks instantly, the burst speed is fast, and even casual shots of tables and chairs come out beautifully. The background blur is amazing too. My husband says, “Even if your skills aren’t great, this camera alone can take incredibly beautiful photos.” (lol)

It can capture Mount Fuji from far away with a perspective that makes it look right in front of you,

and take sharp, distortion-free shots of the car…

If you’re serious about photography, there’s no substitute for a good camera.

Practice and Research Are Key

Another thing I believe is that “to improve your photography skills, you need to take lots of photos.” This applies to work or anything else — quality won’t improve without quantity. When it comes to photography, you just have to shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.

My husband’s car photos are always beautiful (when I post his photos on Instagram, they get about twice as many likes as mine (-_-)), and I think he’s probably taken tens of thousands of car photos by now.

Also, studying Instagram is helpful. Photos with lots of likes often have great image quality and composition. I want to keep improving my photography skills little by little from now on.