From vintage to luxury, almost everyone loves cars. To capture everything, from car culture to automotive progress, professional car photography has made itself an art of its own. Whether an individual is into cars for speed, looks, or modifications, a car photographer can help them fall into pits with beautiful machines.
However, capturing eye-catching and professional car photographs can be a struggle, which can be achieved by hiring a professional car photographer. Well, that is why car dealerships and retailers want to hire the best photographer in this industry. In this blog, we will discuss car photographers and how they can help your automobile business grow.
Who is a Car Photographer?
A car photographer is a professional who specializes in capturing high-quality automobile images for various promotional activities. Car manufacturers and retailers employ these professionals to click high-quality and appealing pictures of the vehicles, which they can use for promotions, branding, marketing, sales, etc.
In addition, car photographers can be seen in multiple events, such as racing events, magazine shoots, new vehicle launches, etc. They are responsible for clicking top-quality pictures of the car and highlighting the features to make it appealing to the brand’s customers.
What Are the Types of Car Photographers?
An automobile photographer can do multiple types of professional car photography to portray the cool features of a car. Here are the different types of car photographers you can hire for your dealership according to your requirements:
1. Commercial Car Photographer
A commercial car photographer is an expert in clicking pictures for vehicle advertisements, websites, brochures and promotional materials for car dealerships. The individual has a unique style of clicking high-quality and polished images to highlight the vehicles’ design, features and brand identity.
Moreover, they can take a 360-degree car view using their photography and/or editing skills and offer a comprehensive viewing experience to your dealerships.
2. Action and Motorsport Photographers
The motorsport and action photographer captures car images in motion during races or dynamic driving events. The style emphasizes speed, movement, and energy, often using panning techniques to create a sense of motion.
These photographers use high-speed cameras, long lenses, and panning shots to capture the action, freezing cars in motion or creating motion blur for a dynamic effect.
3. Event Photographers
Such photographers cover car shows, meetups, and gatherings for car enthusiasts. They have a candid and documentary style, capturing vehicles, the crowd, and the event’s atmosphere.
In addition, their common settings include car exhibitions, rallies, and festivals. They use wide-angle shots to show the scale of the event, engage with crowd interactions, and focus on detailed shots of unique or rare vehicles, highlighting their standout features.
4. Automotive Detail Photographers
Automotive detail photographers are the ones who highlight specific features or parts of a vehicle, such as the engine, rims, lights, or interior details, via their photography. Their style focuses on close-up shots to emphasize craftsmanship, texture, and intricate design elements.
They typically shoot in a studio or controlled outdoor environment to eliminate distractions and focus on details. In addition, these photographers use macro photography, controlled lighting, and careful composition to showcase the finest aspects of the vehicle’s components.
40 Influential, Famous, and Incredible Car Photographers to Follow in 2025.
“Creativity is just connecting dots”
This is a renowned quote by Steve Jobs. But to connect dots, we need to collect dots. And how can we do that? Simply by consuming information. That means if you want to become one of the best car photographers, you need to consume what they create. Then, connect the dots to produce something mind blowing.
So, here is a list of the 40 most incredible car photographers to consume in 2025:
1. Aaron Brimhall
Aaron is an excellent automobile photographer with a unique skill of freezing moments of motion. This helps him capture vehicular dynamism and the essence of speed and movement.
2. Steve Ketner
Steve is a versatile automobile photographer with cinematography and directing skills. His style is more nostalgic and vibrant, reminiscing the 80’s era.
3. The Car Creative
Car Creative is a well-known figure in automobile photography and videography. He is well known not only among car dealer photographers but also among manufacturers. His expertise lies in clicking images with detail and finesse.
4. Laurent Nivalle
Laurent is another photographer from the spirited city of Paris, France. His signature style is black and white with an aura of timelessness and depth. This awakens a sense of sophistication and nostalgia.
5. Amy Shore
Amy provides unique car photography services for ancient cars. She goes for an old-school European vibe that evokes warmth and helps her stand out.
6. Marcel Lech
High-performance race cars and sports cars are considered ravishingly beautiful by many. And this car photographer skillfully captures their essence with his action photography experience. Taking clear and sharp shots even at high-speed moments.
7. Easton Chang
Easton takes his car photography to the next level by merging real-life pictures with virtual backgrounds. This distinguishes his work significantly and blurs the line between reality and imagination.
8. George F. Williams
Photographs by George leave people with a thrilling experience as the cars appear to be leaping out of the picture. This infusion of warmth and contrast elevates visual impact.
9. Philip Löhmann
Philip is another supercar enthusiast who captures cars in diverse settings and locations. He has shots ranging from high-speed automobiles at serene beaches to race tracks.
10. Stephan Bauer
Stephan’s love for old-school charm helps him create shots with a 90s twist. His portfolio showcases images of vintage and sports cars with a nostalgic hit.
11. Jeff Ludes
Jeff is a unique car photographer who started his journey by documenting skateboards. Today he captures automotive shots for renowned manufacturers due to his storytelling skills.
12. Simon Puschmann
Puschmann is another unique photographer who has merged his love for automobile photography with traveling. He goes around the globe from Singapore to Chile and clicks picturesque car shots.
13. Derek Johnson
Derek started his career with professional baseball photography and ended up shooting automobiles. Now, he has leveraged his skills to create bold and vibrant imagery.
14. David Masemore
David showcases his affinity for sun-kissed shots in his car photography career. He juggles between Los Angeles and Tampa to get shots with a mix of sun, sand, and cars.
15. Anthony Dias
Antony has collaborated with many industry names like Mercedes, BMW, and Cadillac to click images. His skills have helped him become one of the most revered car photographers in Los Angeles.
16. Virgiliu Andone
Virgiliu is an automotive photographer, designer, and filmmaker. His portfolio is a mix of motion shots with deep precision and clarity.
17. Peter Aylward
Peter is a CGI and automotive photographer with an affinity for sports car shots. He also helps with retouching commercial pictures and creating CGI for architecture or advertising.
18. Alex B
Alex is another Los Angeles-based photographer who presents interior and exterior shots of sports cars. His work is mostly outdoors with the perfect touch of sunlight.
19. Brandon
Brandon’s portfolio showcases motion and static shots of race cars. His shots are vibrant and evoke a warm feeling in the viewer.
20. Jeremy Cliff
Jeremy is a Chicago-based automobile photographer who travels around the world to get shots. The modern vibe of his pictures has helped him partner with many top brands.
21. Agnieszka Doroszewicz
Agnieszka is a German automobile photographer with exceptional skills in motion shots. She uses lighting techniques and camera angles to provide artistic results.
22. Evano Gucciardo
Gucciardo started his photography journey with advertising agencies, clicking product and lifestyle shots for them. Further, he moved on to start a career in automobile photography as well. His work mostly revolves around sports cars with beautiful backdrops.
23. Tom Kahler
Tom decided to take his knowledge of driving a car to shoot cars. His passion and picturesque style have allowed him to work with top brands like Audi, Jaguar, and others.
24. Michal Karpa
Michal is a digital creator and photographer based in Poland. He captures everything related to cars, travel and gear. His work mostly exudes a classic feel with a touch of crazy.
25. Vasjen Katro
Vasjen is nothing like your traditional car photographers. He has used his film and digital skills to create imagery that challenges car photography norms. Creating a completely new niche that he leads.
26. Bartek Kolaczkowski
Bartek is a car photographer and videographer. You can often find him traveling around in his beloved Land Rover and posting shots.
27. Olgun Kordal
Olgun is a UK-based car photographer. His portfolio mostly revolves around motion shots of vintage and sports cars. You can also find a mini collection of stunt shots.
28. Chris Labrooy
Chris is an artist and designer who posts car shots with a shocking element. His unique ideas help him capture stunning images with a visual appeal.
29. Jonny Lau
Jonny is an automotive and lifestyle photographer based in Oxfordshire. He chases the essence of car passion by clicking motion shots of sports cars.
30. Drew Phillips Photography
Drew is one of the most influential photographers in the business. His expertise includes both motion and static shots at picturesque locations. It has allowed him to work with top brands like Lamborghini.
31. phPics Photography
Pascal is a petrol car enthusiast with exceptional skills in automobile photography and retouching. His love for cars is obvious from his sun kissed and clean car shots.
32. Sayem Reza
Sayem’s style screams mixed and mastered. His images focus on not just automotives but also the beauty of the landscape. Overall giving a warm fuzzy feeling to the viewer.
33. Thomas van Rooij
Thomas is a commercial car photographer. His portfolio showcases car in a clean and visually appealing setting.
34. Phillipp Rupprecht
Phillipp is a Munich based car photographer who shoots mostly on the roads. His style is modern and vibrant with a mix of contrast. He started his career at 16 and has climbed his way up.
35. Jack Schroeder
Jack is another automobile lover. His love for driving and photography is almost unbeatable. And it’s highly visible in his work of lifestyle and commercial automotive photography.
36. Richard Thompson III
Richard combines film, photo and visuals to create unique car imagery. He likes to add a funky touch to his photographs with patterns and graphics.
37. Daniel Zizka
Daniel is a Switzerland based car photographer. His passion lies in outdoor photography of cars with a vintage touch.
38. Frederic Schlosser
Fredric is a german photographer and award winner of germany’s best car photographer. His work has been often showcased in the top 10 in the world list.
39. Webb Bland
Webb bland is an automobile photographer, designer and retoucher. PR photography is also one of his many talents. Chrysler, Dodge, Audi and Jaguar are just some of the top brands he has collaborated with.
40. Nate Hassler
Nate is another sports car lover based in Los Angeles. His work revolves around automotive and auto racing car photography. Two words that best describe his work are dreamy and futuristic.
How Can You Capture Stunning Car Photos?
Capturing a stunning car photo for automobile photography is significant as it helps you grasp the potential buyers’ attention. Here are a few things you must focus on when capturing the best car photos for your dealership:
1. Check the Lighting
One of the crucial aspects of car dealership photography is the lighting, as it brings an immersive experience. When you click a photo of your vehicle inventory, you must try clicking it when you have access to the maximum amount of natural light.
Without proper lighting, you cannot click the best photograph, which will hamper the experience. Hence, you must ensure the lighting is adequate to get the best picture to upload to your dealership website.
2. Focus on Camera’s Settings
Another factor to focus on, when clicking stunning pictures, is to focus on car photography settings. When you get hired as a car photographer, ensure that you understand the client’s aesthetic requirements to get the best clicks. Moreover, you must ensure the ISO level is low to reduce the graininess, to get the best click of their inventory. You must also control the field depth by setting the aperture wide and boosting the shutter speed.
3. Stick to Your Vision
Many photographers stick to conventional shots, missing opportunities to create truly unique images. It is especially true for amateur car photographers, who often settle for the ordinary.
Hence, it is significant to trust creative instincts, push boundaries, and avoid relying on the usual approach. By sticking to this vision, you can capture something extraordinary that stands out from the rest and even defines the genre in a fresh, captivating way.
4. Take Pictures of the Interior
Usually, automotive dealer photographers capture amazing shots of cars – on highways, in parking lots, etc. – but ignore the interior. Highlighting the car’s interior is essential, especially if you aim to sell it quickly.
Potential buyers often want detailed views beyond exterior beauty. Hence, car interior photography offers a complete perspective and can significantly speed up the selling process, making your car more appealing to those interested in purchasing.
5. Avoid Clicking at Eye Level
One of the mistakes photographers make is shooting a car from eye level. It will only work for those already familiar with the vehicle. Nevertheless, you need different perspectives to showcase your car’s uniqueness, especially when selling.
For instance, you can opt for high or low-angle shots instead. In such scenarios, you can use a tripod or a stool to create a more dynamic view, giving the car an exciting and distinct appearance.
6. Use AI for Immersive Photography
As a car dealership owner, you may witness that professional car dealer photography can be expensive. For instance, you may need to hire a professional photographer and rent or own expensive studios. It may increase the cost and lead to a costly photoshoot.
You can avoid it using cutting-edge technologies, like AI and machine learning processes. Spyne offers photography solutions that you can use to get a 360-degree view and edit the photos according to your specific requirements, lowering the overall cost.
Why Do Car Dealerships Require Professional Photoshoots?
As a car dealership brand, you must opt for professional photoshoots to bring more credibility and attract more buyers. When a potential customer visits your website, a high-quality image makes them confident to trust the vehicle and dealership, leading to leads and sales.
When you hire a professional car photographer or opt for AI photography services, you can make your inventory more credible, attracting customers to check your website. A visual representation of your inventory will allow you to grow your brand exponentially and engage a wider audience group. For instance, having a 360-degree car view feature on your website is more beneficial than a static image, as the potential buyers can interact with the former.
In addition, professional car dealer photography supports your vehicle display page, making your website more unique and interactive. It can help you establish your brand in the automotive industry and generate more leads.
10 Mistakes to Avoid as a Car Photographer!
Being a car dealer photographer is an exciting niche that offers many opportunities. Over time you also get the opportunity to collaborate with some top brands. However, mistakes are a common part of this journey. Here are some to avoid at any cost:
1. Poor Camera Angles
The key role of a car photographer isn’t just to click pictures. But shoot them such that they create an appeal for the car and its features. Camera angles play an important role in doing so.
For instance, poor angles like front shots limit the car’s outline, depth, and shadows. Thus, you must avoid this blunder and find the angle that looks best.
2. Incorrect Camera Settings
Camera settings also have a huge impact on the result shots. If done right, it can give the best picture, however, even a little mistake can spoil the shoot. So, you must understand ISOs, aperture, and shutter setup for every condition.
Finding the right mix is what enhances images and takes them to the next level. Be it for static, motion, outdoor, or indoor shots.
3. Shifting Lights
Different lights have varied effects on the picture. When done right, the result is clear and sharp. However, shifting lights make the image fuzzy and unclear. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experiment. You still need to find what works best for you. The bottom line is, it shouldn’t deteriorate the quality in any way.
Additionally, you must always opt for reflectors when necessary. They can enhance the images.
4. ND Filters
An ND filter regulates the amount of light reaching the camera sensors at various wavelengths. That too without any colour alterations. It is useful during long exposure photography that involves light striking the camera for extended periods. Preventing any overexposure to obtain clear images.
5. Relying on Photoshop
Most photographers almost always use post-processing software to improve images. Particularly when shooting in RAW formats. And while RAW files do come out looking better than when shot. Post-processing doesn’t always give good results for all pictures. It is best when images are not shot to edit later.
6. Underusing Depth of Field
You must test your depth of field before going into lighting and set your viewing location. Doing so ensures the picture has high quality and doesn’t lose focus. In fact, when sharpening the entire car, concentrating on the front and closing the aperture can lose depth of field.
7. Adding elements that don’t complement the car
Adding a distracting background is a common mistake that many photographers make. But this deflects focus from the car destroying the whole purpose of the image. Thus, you should avoid such mistakes and ensure the automobile remains the key attraction. It is best to always add elements that complement the car and make it pop.
8. Shooting black and White Car
Black or White Cars can be a photography nightmare for many. White cars on one hand because when shot, it exposes too dark. On the other hand, black cars get exposed too bright. The trick to solve this is adjusting exposure. Under or over expose your shots depending on the case at hand.
9. Using the Wrong Gear
Having a proper kit for photography is like having a backbone. And it’s not about having expensive products. Rather products with good features and decent user reviews. Some items that photographers swear by in their kit are:
- Tripod
- Polarizer
- Remote Trigger
- Lenses
10. Not maintaining a theme
Capturing car images just for the sake of it is almost as good as not clicking any. Storytelling is an important element for a successful project. It is what piques viewer interest and forms a connection. And to do so you must maintain a constant theme in your project. Be it an 80s vintage feel or chic modern vibes, sticking to it is what makes your work stand out.
How Spyne Helps Car Dealer Photographers?
Spyne offers AI merchandising solutions to car dealerships to enhance their online visibility. It offers a powerful tool to improve the car photoshoot experience significantly. Moreover, you can use its advanced tools and capabilities to streamline your business process, enhance efficiency, and elevate the images of your inventory.
Spyne has a comprehensive range of products and solutions for car photographers, such as automated image editing, background removal, and retouching. It comes with modern-day technology, like AI and machine learning processes, to enhance your website’s online visibility.
In addition, Spyne solves the problems of car dealer photography by saving valuable time and effort. Through the help of its tools, you can make an ordinary photo shoot look exceptional. Moreover, the company offers seamless collaboration and sharing options, where you can showcase your dealership’s inventory to buyers, clients, online platforms, and colleagues. It has a user-friendly and intuitive website design, making it easy for you to access its AI tools and solutions.
Final Words
Gone are the days when automobile photography was only about capturing cars. However, Today automobile photographers don’t just need to click pictures but also tell a story through it. Such that it sparks emotions and creates connections with the viewers.
But this is only possible when the photographer highlights every intricate detail and dynamism of the car. And bridges the gap between commerce and creativity. Be it vintage classics or latest sports car, the imagery must be clear and sharp with a touch of personality.
Only then will you be able to sell pictures and earn a good automotive photographer salary. Spyne AI is your reliable companion for this. Here you simply need to upload your shots to create beautiful edits. Try it out now with the free demo.
