Generally speaking, car shows are a difficult place to shoot cars. Foot traffic, harsh lighting, close quarters etc make most anything other than general shots a realistic expectation. That doesn’t mean however that taking a little time to prepare prior to the event (and even when you’re there) won’t increase your chances of finding your ride in print, and quite possibly the opportunity for a closer look!
Here are a few tips (and tricks) to help your car stand out.
DO: Clean and detail your car. This should be a given but you’d be surprised how many really great cars get passed by because someone didn’t invest a little elbow grease into cleaning it.
Don’t: Forget the inside of the car. Look, we get it, most cars are driven to the event. Debris, grass, gravel, dust etc are to be expected. Know this and prepare for it. It only takes a few minutes once you’ve arrived.
DO: Speaking of interiors, open your windows! Anyone who is interested in your car will make the interior their second stop when checking it out. Let them see what’s inside!
Don’t: Ignore people who take a closer look.
DO: Raise the hood. This is the eye candy. A clean, well maintained engine compartment is a must. Unless the event is closed hood only, lift’em up!
This is the number one stop when checking out cars on the show field. The chances of someone proceeding to any other part of your ride decrease nearly 70% if your hood is closed.