You do not need an expensive camera to take great photos of your BMW. Modern phones are excellent cameras, and a few simple techniques make a huge difference. Here are practical tips that work for any car.
Choose the right light
Light is the most important factor in car photography:
- Golden hour, the hour after sunrise and before sunset, gives soft, warm light that flatters paint and shapes.
- Overcast days are surprisingly good, because clouds act like a giant softbox and reduce harsh reflections.
- Midday sun creates hard reflections and dark shadows. If you must shoot at midday, look for open shade.
Metallic and dark colours show their best side in soft light, while bright colours can look great on a cloudy day.
Find a clean background
A busy background distracts from the car. Look for simple locations: an empty car park, a quiet industrial area, a wall with an interesting texture or an open landscape. Check for bins, signs and other cars behind your BMW before you take the picture. Always choose places where you are allowed to stop and photograph safely.
Get the angles right
- The front three-quarter view is the classic car photo. Stand at the front corner and turn the front wheels slightly so the rim faces the camera.
- Lower your phone. Shooting from about the height of the headlights makes the car look more powerful than shooting from eye level.
- Use the main lens. The ultra-wide lens on many phones distorts the shape of the car. Step back and use the standard lens or a slight zoom instead.
- Keep the phone level. Use the grid lines in the camera settings.
Details tell the story
Close-up photos of badges, wheels, lights, the interior and the engine bay show the character of the car. They are especially useful for build threads and for-sale listings.
Prepare the car
Clean the car before the shoot, including wheels and glass. Remove items from the dashboard and seats. A clean car looks better in every photo and shows that it is cared for.
Edit lightly
Small adjustments to brightness, contrast and straightness improve most photos. Avoid heavy filters that change the colour of the paint. Other owners want to see how the car really looks.
Respect privacy
Before posting, consider covering your number plate and avoid showing your home address. Then share your best shots in Photos & builds and tell us about your car.