Automotive Photography:
What happens when you book a Shoot?
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
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So you want some photos. You've reached out to your photographer to book a shoot. What happens next? How do we go from concept to photograph? Come into the Hangar and we'll explore what happens when you book a gig with Hangar 53 Studios.
Planning
Of all the steps in creating a photograph, this one is my personal favorite. I'll send out a questionnaire to get a feel for what kind of images you're looking to get. As we go through your answers we enter this whole creative and collaborative phase. Are we going beachside? Or do you like the idea of an industrial background? Want dark and brooding? Bright and airy? Prefer interior shots? Did you just get new wheels and want to hightlight those? Have you detailed the engine bay just for this shoot? What's you're favorite part of the vehicle?
Time of day impacts the lighting. The location sets the scene. We're writing a script together. The goal is to create a photograph that is something more. Working with you to find out what you want out of a photo maximizes the return of the shoot day. Building a good plan makes the shoot day keeps the scene building and story telling efficient.
Execution
The day of. How stoked are you? When you pull in we're going to get right into it. Every little detail matters. Even down to having you pull a fraction of an inch forward so the wheels sit just so. It can make the difference between a bright reflection ruining a photo and a glare that compliments the contour of the body. I might end up looking a bit goofy every now and then. I guess it happens when you like to find different angles than we're used to seeing. Get high up, stay low down, get close, get far. More often than not, when I get into the groove I'll see something that sparks my creativity. Maybe the light filters through some tree leaves and casts an AWESOME shadow. Or there's a lightpost that just turned on as it started getting darker. If it's something we don't need to move the vehicle for, I'll roll with it and take advantage of the way a scene unfolds in front of me. If we do need the vehicle to move, I'll pitch it to you and see what you think. Like it? Let's GOOOO. Not interested? No worries, we're here for you.
As we move through the shoot I like to give previews of some of the photos. While the resolution isn't good on the camera screen, it gives a decent idea of what the photo will look like.
Delivery
The shoot day is over. I'm back at the Studio. Based on the feedback I got during the photoshoot I select the deliverable photos. Time to start the editing process. Here's where I dive into the essence of the photograph. Find details and accentuate them. Bring out the best parts of the image. Make the color pop. There's a personality and depth to a photograph that speaks to the viewer. These aren't snapshots, they are intentional. The way I edit is the same. If an adjustment is made, it is to achieve a very specific outcome.
Before long, everything is finished and ready for delivery! You get a notification on your phone. It's an e-mail from Hangar 53 Studios: You're Gallery is Ready! Log in, download, enjoy! I hope you are able to open that email with excitement. I hope you show everybody you know. I hope you can sit down and look at the photos you have and the whole experience comes back. I hope years down the road, at least one of these photos can be found by a family member and they say: "Dad remember this awesome truck?" or "Grandma had a MOTORCYCLE?!" I hope I can help you capture the memories that only a motor can bring.