When you think about high-end things, a car comes to mind first. Cars don’t need regular photography because it won’t do them justice. Cars need photography centric to the automotive industry because a lousy photo of a luxury car won’t do it any justice. The best car photography in New York comes from people with deep experience, profound technical know-how, and a burst of artistic creativity to create photographs that are as eye-catching as the subjects so that every car comes out as buy-worthy. We have combined a list of ten of them so that you can have your dream car photoshoot soon.
Top 5 Photographers in New York City
1. Sean Klingelhoefer
When you think about an artist through and through, Sean Klingelhoefer comes to mind because he is fashionable, high-end, and has an eye for detail regarding commercial style. Whether shooting a car on a turntable while setting up the perfect light array or a car roaring down a sand hill in a safari, Sean is equipped to handle it easily. He is dedicated to the automotive industry but also has other types of photography to his name and is one of the best photographers for car photography in New York.
2. Mike Cutler
Mike Cutler is not just a photographer or a videographer but also functions as a production manager for a reputed firm called Catamount Access Television. This helps him view his projects from a different angle. Widely known for clicking pictures that look like a production still from a video, his editing is often cinematic or TV-ready.
3. Adam Lerner
Known for his editorial and lifestyle look in his automotive photographs, Adam Lerner has a way of lending them a natural feeling and an authenticity different from other glossy automotive ads. His work has a photojournalistic sense to every shoot. He started his photography journey by shooting with an old Pentax during his teenage years.
4. Scott Joshua Dere
Besides car photography New York, Scott Joshua Dere shoots travel and nature-related photos as well. He is one of the best photographers for brands that need an adventure-seeking photographer for their projects. He is the president of the PPGNY (Professional Photographers of Greater New York) with over 25 years of experience to his name.
5. Erik Fuller
Well-versed with slick high-definition styles that you’ll see in brand advertisements, Fuller shoots a lot of brand-centric and vintage car commercials. He edits these pictures in a way that screams of classic styling.
Locations for Shooting Cars in NYC
New York boasts some of the most iconic backdrops known to photographers for car merchandising. Be it industrial, architectural, or the skyline. However, getting the proper lighting and composition is a tough nut to crack while dodging cars, traffic cops, buses, and the cleaners. You are only left with one option: to pay the location fee. Let us look at the top car photography locations NYC you can go to to click that dreamy photo of your car without any permits or location fees.
Industry City
In the heart of Sunset Park, Industry City is a hub that is a mixture of both industrial architecture and modern design. Packed with one-way streets and great textures, it poses the perfect opportunity for direct and diffused lighting. The sprawling complex features a range of vibrant murals and outdoor spaces, breathing life into your photos that create a dynamic backdrop for cars whether you’re capturing the rusty appeal of a truck or the modernness that comes with a sports car, the Industry City delivers a visual punch to all your photos.
Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights offers one of the most beautiful backdrops for car photography in New York. It is widely known for its historic brownstones and cobblestone streets which exudes a charm perfect for modern or classic vehicles. Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a showstopper as it provides sweeping views of the Brooklyn Bridge. You can opt for this option if you want to capture cityscapes with your sleek car design.
DUMBO
DUMBO or Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass flaunts cobblestone streets, dramatic arches of the Manhattan Bridge and brick warehouses. This creates a stunning backdrop for a range of vehicles. The colliding of Washington and Water Street offers the renowned view of the Empire State Building framed by the bridge. If you are shooting a vintage car, the angles and textures provided by DUMBO will make sure to take your photography experience to a whole new level if you are looking for car photography locations NYC.
Whitney Museum
Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, the Whitney Museum offers a great backdrop for automotive photography. Its contemporary architecture, sleek backgrounds, sharp angles, and metallic surfaces go well with the sleek designs of modern cars. The outdoor terraces make you fall in love with the Hudson River and the city skyline. The museum is near the High Line, and the cobblestone streets offer unique textures to your photos.
Essential Gear for Car Photography in New York
1. Camera:
The first thing you should take with you is a camera, be it a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, which offers the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, manual control, and superior image quality. These features are crucial for great photos. When buying a camera, you should look out for high resolution, good low-light performance (high ISO), fast autofocus, and wide dynamic range.
2. Lenses:
Secondly, get that wide-angle lens (around 16-35mm), essential for capturing the entire car and the surroundings. A standard zoom lens measuring around 24-70mm is a versatile option for shots from wide angles to close-ups. Prime lenses (35-50mm)are excellent for getting that shallow depth of field and capturing detailed shots. Next comes the telephoto lens (70-200mm), which is crucial for getting close-up dynamic shots with a compressed perspective.
3. Tripod:
Next comes the tripod, which should be sturdy to capture sharp images in low-light conditions or when using slow shutter speeds. This is also very important when you are taking consistent shots from the same angle.
4. Lighting Equipment:
Lighting equipment such as reflectors should bounce light onto the car, filling in shadows or creating illumination. Next comes the flashes or speedlights essential for illuminating interiors and providing additional light when the lighting isn’t that great. LED light panels are used to light interior shots continuously. Lastly, you should take use of a polarizing filter, which will reduce glare and reflections on the car’s paint and windows.
Photography Techniques for Stunning Car Shots
1. Mastering Lighting:
- Shoot your images during the soft, warm light or the golden hour (the time shortly after the sunrise and before the sunset), creating beautiful highlights on the car’s surface while doing car photography in New York.
- Keep an eye on the overcast conditions like a cloudy sky, which will provide diffused, even lighting to your pictures while eliminating any shadows ruining them.
- Use reflectors that bounce light to fill in shadows or diffusers that soften harsh sunlight.
- Flashes and LED panels should be used in low lighting to perfect interior shots and highlight specific details.
2. Composition and Angles:
- Shoot from a low angle to make your car look more imposing.
- Experiment with different angles to put focus on the car’s lines and colors.
- Position the car off-center to create a more appealing composition.
- Capture close-up shots of the car’s details, like the wheels, headlights, and interior features.
3. Camera Settings:
- Either use a wide aperture to create a shallow depth of field and to make your car stand out from the background or use a narrow aperture to keep the entire background in focus.
- Use a fast shutter speed if you want to freeze motion while capturing moving cars. Use a slow shutter speed to create motion blur and convey a sense of speed.
- Keep the ISO as low as possible to minimize noise and maintain image quality.
- Use a polarising filter to reduce reflections off the glass of the car.
5. Post-Processing:
- Use editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to edit your photos and do car branding.
- Adjust the colors to make the pictures look more appealing.
- Retouch your car images to remove any distractions or imperfection from the background or the car.
Hiring a Professional Car Photography Company in New York
Hiring a professional car photography in New York requires a lot of research and comparison between the local companies. One should check their portfolios and client reviews and then contact the companies to discuss their needs and budget.
Firstly, use search engines or online directories to find car photography companies in the New York metropolitan area. Check platforms like social media for NYC car photography companies. Next, you can go through car photography in New York listicle blogs. Carefully assess the portfolio of each company and check for quality, style and experience. Check online reviews and testimonials to build trust and then get quotes from multiple companies to compare pricing.
Lastly, contact the companies that you’re interested in and explain all the requirements, including the car type, purpose of the photos, and your budget. Discuss for availability and whether or not they can travel to your location or if you need to bring your car to their studio. That’s it! Once you have chosen the company, review and sign a contract that outlines all the deliverables and payment term.
Car Photography for Dealerships & Auto Listings
High-quality car photography in New York is crucial for getting buyers to actually buy from you. Focus on capturing the vehicle’s features, details, and overall appeal, while also ensuring that the brand value is there. Here are some key aspects you should be on a look out for:
1. Equipment and Preparation:
A high-quality camera, tripod, and appropriate lenses go a long way when capturing professional results. Clean the car inside and out to showcase its best features. Now you must select the right location that provides the perfect backdrop and lighting. Lastly, check the weather conditions and choose a time that provides optimal lighting.
2. Photography Techniques:
Capture various angles and include a three-quarter exterior shot and interior view of the cockpit. Focus more on the features of the car that you wish to promote while being transparent about any flaws. Aim for the early morning to get that soft, natural light. Avoid any harsh sunlight or shadows that make it difficult to see details.
3. Post-Processing and Editing:
Implement basic editing to enhance your images. Choose one standout image to capture potential buyers’ attention while being transparent about any flaws rather than trying to hide them.
4. AI-Powered Solutions:
If you’re still a beginner in car photography, you can consider AI car photography studios, which are tools to help you create professional, high-quality car images with minimal effort. Spyne is an AI-powered virtual car photography studio that allows dealerships to create stunning catalogs and drive conversions and bring car photography in New York to the comfort of your homes with their car photo editing tool.
Conclusion
Capturing the essence of a car through car photography NYC is an art that requires creative vision as well as technical expertise. If you are a dealership looking to boose sales, the right photographer and location can make all the difference. New York City offers a unique canvas for automotive photography. By understanding essential gear and mastering photography techniques, you can ensure that your car photos are spectacular. From the golden hour’s soft glow to the dramatic angles of DUMBO’s architecture, every shot become notewotrhy. With the rise of AI-powered solutions like Spyne, even novices can achieve professional results, making car photography in New York accessible than ever. Ultimately, the goal is not just to capture the car’s physical features but also to evoke desire and emotion in the eyes of the viewer, transforming a photo into a powerful marketing tool or a memory.
