Welcome to our Advertising photography section.

Taking photographs of cars is similar to most types of photography - you must focus attention on the subject, and you will need to be very selective of the background. If the background isn't right, the picture will not work. You will need to find a background that either compliments the car, or adds to the car, without completely distracting you from it.

The next step in taking images of cars is the different angles that will work. The first and one of the most popular angles to use is at a 45-degree angle to the front of the car. Make sure the wheels are facing the lens. The wheels can be attractive and will make a good focal point. At this angle you can shoot at eye level, low down or from above the car.

Reflections on surface of the car from trees and other objects will distract from the image but can be reduced by using a Circular Polarizing filter. The polarizing filter will also reduce any unwanted reflections on the windows.

Like any good photograph, it is essential that you set a mood with your subject. This can be achieved by using the elements of the weather or by showing motion in your image.

It is very hard to beat a great action shot of a car in motion. A popular technique that some photographers use for racing cars is called panning. Panning is a technique where the photographer stands still but moves the camera as the car passes by. This will keep the image sharp, and throw the background and foreground out of focus. Panning is certainly not easy to master but when done correctly can be very attractive.

Correct use of light is another important area. Try to shoot within an hour of sunrise or sunset; as this will give a warm soft look to car images. Try to avoid shadows that are too harsh. Don’t ever shoot if the sun is directly behind you, this will lead to strong shadows. Successful car photographers will shoot early in the morning and will have their own strobe units with them.

If the sun is high in the sky you will need to use a UV filter to reduce the glare from the surface.

The interior of most cars can also make interesting photographs. A macro lens will be handy for close up images of the dash. Different lenses can add to an image but can also take from it. If you are using a zoom lens the car may appear distorted in the final print.

With today’s digital photography most people will have a camera that is capable of taking large files. My advice would be to take all images in the highest JPEG resolution as possible. Images can always be cropped or edited in Photoshop later.

Remember that you do not need the entire car to be in the shot for your image to be successful. Close up images of different parts of the car make for great photography.