Texas Based Automotive Photographer | Car Photography
Hey ya'll. My name is Aedan Petty and I am a photographer based out of San Antonio, Texas. I specialize in automotive photography.
The Vision
Every photographer has a vision. However, every photographer executes their vision a little bit differently. I visualize how I want a photo shoot to happen. I conceptualize the location, the lighting, and the position of the subject. There is tons of planning that happens behind the scenes before a photo shoot. I consider things like colors and shapes before choosing a location for any type of shoot. The time of day and weather is also crucial to setting the mood of the images, and also having the correct lighting for the subject. I hope to share my vision with all of you.
Automotive Photography
This is the category of photography that got me started. I would practice taking photos of my car, as well as some of my friends cars. I learned all of the best angles to shoot cars from, where to position them in a scene, and the best lighting to show off the angles and lines on the car. I have loved cars ever since I can remember. The car I grew up loving was the Corvette. This was the car that I would freak out about any time I saw one on the road. I never imagined that I would be able to turn this passion into a business, but here we are.
What Goes Into an Automotive Photo Shoot?
Automotive photography is not as straight forward as it may look. There are tons of factors that determine things such as the location, time of day, and the angles of the car that are captured. All of these factors must be well thought out before the day of the shoot.
The first factor I consider when planning for an automotive photo shoot is the type of vehicle. If the vehicle is a sports car, then I may look at where it is built, the style of the car, the lines, and the audience that the car is meant to appeal to. Often, sports cars are the easiest to determine locations for since they fit a wide variety of backgrounds. The factor that often determines my locations for sports cars is the color of the car.
If the vehicle is a classic car, then I look for a more vintage setting for the car. Classic trucks, for example, look great in more rugged environments with lots of metal and duller colors. If the vehicle is more modern, then a location with square shapes and straight lines can best suit the car.
Trucks are a mix. If the truck is built for show, then it may be best to shoot it in a more urban area with lots of open space surrounding the truck. Open fields are also great for show built trucks. If the truck is built for off-roading, then an offroad location with more elevation changes is better.
Time of day is very important for automotive photography. The position of the sun will determine what angles and lines are visible on the car in the photos. I prefer to shoot early in the morning, or later in the evening when the sun is at its lower points. Sunrise is great for calm images, while sunset can bring out wild colors in the sky that cause excitement.
The angles at which the photos are taken play a huge role in the overall look of the car in the photos. If the angle is too high, then the car might look elongated. If the angle is too low, then the front of the car may look distorted, and you may be able to see underneath the car. I always make sure that I consider the shape of the car when determining the angles I want to shoot it at. A more square shaped vehicle requires precision line ups on the quarter panels on the car, while a more rounded vehicle allows for a little bit more freedom with angles. An image can be far less appealing if something as simple as the angle at which the photo was taken of the car is off.
During every shoot, I look for special things about the car that really set it apart. I will ask the owner if there is anything they have done to the car that may go unnoticed to most people, but is special to them. Often, these detail shots are some of my clients favorite photos, as they showcase the different mods that they have chosen to put on their car to set them apart.
Automotive photography goes beyond parking a car, grabbing a camera, and walking around while snapping pics. There is tons of planning that goes on behind the scenes. Weather plays a huge role as well. If the weather looks to be opposing the mood that we want for the shoot, we reschedule. The location is one of the biggest parts of automotive photography. The scene tells a story about the car, it sets the mood, it complements the cars angles and lines. The minor position adjustments during the shoot may seem minor, but moving the car even a few inches over can drastically change the final images.
The first factor I consider when planning for an automotive photo shoot is the type of vehicle. If the vehicle is a sports car, then I may look at where it is built, the style of the car, the lines, and the audience that the car is meant to appeal to. Often, sports cars are the easiest to determine locations for since they fit a wide variety of backgrounds. The factor that often determines my locations for sports cars is the color of the car.
If the vehicle is a classic car, then I look for a more vintage setting for the car. Classic trucks, for example, look great in more rugged environments with lots of metal and duller colors. If the vehicle is more modern, then a location with square shapes and straight lines can best suit the car.
Trucks are a mix. If the truck is built for show, then it may be best to shoot it in a more urban area with lots of open space surrounding the truck. Open fields are also great for show built trucks. If the truck is built for off-roading, then an offroad location with more elevation changes is better.
Time of day is very important for automotive photography. The position of the sun will determine what angles and lines are visible on the car in the photos. I prefer to shoot early in the morning, or later in the evening when the sun is at its lower points. Sunrise is great for calm images, while sunset can bring out wild colors in the sky that cause excitement.
The angles at which the photos are taken play a huge role in the overall look of the car in the photos. If the angle is too high, then the car might look elongated. If the angle is too low, then the front of the car may look distorted, and you may be able to see underneath the car. I always make sure that I consider the shape of the car when determining the angles I want to shoot it at. A more square shaped vehicle requires precision line ups on the quarter panels on the car, while a more rounded vehicle allows for a little bit more freedom with angles. An image can be far less appealing if something as simple as the angle at which the photo was taken of the car is off.
During every shoot, I look for special things about the car that really set it apart. I will ask the owner if there is anything they have done to the car that may go unnoticed to most people, but is special to them. Often, these detail shots are some of my clients favorite photos, as they showcase the different mods that they have chosen to put on their car to set them apart.
Automotive photography goes beyond parking a car, grabbing a camera, and walking around while snapping pics. There is tons of planning that goes on behind the scenes. Weather plays a huge role as well. If the weather looks to be opposing the mood that we want for the shoot, we reschedule. The location is one of the biggest parts of automotive photography. The scene tells a story about the car, it sets the mood, it complements the cars angles and lines. The minor position adjustments during the shoot may seem minor, but moving the car even a few inches over can drastically change the final images.
