Classic car photography - versatile and breathtaking

Vintage car photography is a versatile and breathtaking art form. With classic car photography, photographers can create images of old cars that are reminiscent of unique places or moments. Classic car photo shoots are a great way for both professional and amateur photographers to express their ideas. There are different styles that can be applied to classic car photography. These photographs are not only a beautiful memory of a car, but also of a unique event. Classic car photography can be a great challenge, but it also brings a lot of joy!

Old-timer photography - the different styles

Classic car photography, like any other type of photography, works with different styles. Depending on the style, a completely different mood can be breathed into the image produced. Thanks to the different styles, there are a variety of ways to design the classic car pictures from a classic car photo shoot during the shoot and afterwards. The artistic freedom doesn't stop when you press the shutter button, as the various image editing options allow for plenty of artistic freedom.

Old-timer photography - retro / vintage style

A suitable style for classic car photography is the retro or vintage style. Classic cars come from a bygone era, which is why the vintage style emphasises this once again. Photographing classic cars is therefore very suitable in places with less civilisation, such as roads with little traffic, which are located next to fields. The advantage here is that it looks as if the photo of the car is from the time of the classic car. A vintage-style car photo shoot is therefore a great way to show off your classic car and capture moments for eternity.

Old-timer photography - modern style

Vintage car photography can also be done in a modern style. In this case, it looks as if the classic car is a visitor from today. The contrast between the modern-day surroundings and the classic car from the past should stand out and catch the eye of the viewer. This is a technique that is often used in car photography, especially in the case of classic cars. In this way, not only is the classic car itself in the foreground, but the scenery of the picture also emphasises the special nature of the vehicle in the present day.

Oldtimer photography - famous automobile photographers

But the most unusual car and the most beautiful landscape as a backdrop are not enough if there is no talented automotive photographer to capture these spectacular motifs properly. For the self-taught car photographer, it's all about practising, practising, practising and perhaps getting a little inspiration from the great car photographers!

Classic car photography has produced many famous automotive photographers. They all share one thing: a passion for taking extraordinary photos of cars that take our breath away! Below we present three famous and successful automotive photographers.

René Staud

René Staud is one of the most successful automotive photographers and has shaped automotive photography like no other. The "Magicflash" lighting system he developed became the standard for the entire automotive photography industry. His customers include automotive groups and brands such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin.

George F. Williams

George F. Williams is a car photographer from London. He now travels all over the world to take pictures of cars. He is widely recognised for his unique and technical style of photographing cars in a recognisable way. His two decades of experience translates into captivating and dynamic images.

Kevin McCauley

Kevin McCauley is from Houston and has been photographing cars professionally for over a decade! His work has been recognised several times in various magazines such as "Road & Track", "Autoweek" and "Panorama". His clients include Jaguar, Mazda, Audi and McLaren. The photographer is known on social media under the name "capturingthemachine".

Old-timer photography - tips for your own photos

Have we sparked your interest in trying your hand at classic car photography? Then we'll give you a few tips to make your car photography as beautiful as possible!

1. Polish the classic car to be photographed before the photo shoot to show off the car better and to avoid retouching scratches in post-processing. Blacking the tyres also ensures a flawless appearance.
2. Make sure the lighting is good and the car is reflected. The latter can make the shape of the classic car look unnatural.
3. Choose a location where you will not be disturbed. This can be on a road with light traffic or in a hall.
4. Rain doesn't necessarily have to be bad. Great pictures can be taken in the rain due to the reflection of the spotlights on the ground. Feel free to experiment!
5. Try to remove distracting elements in the image either by choosing the angle when taking the photo or by post-processing the image.
6. Photograph your classic car from different directions to capture every angle.

Now you are well prepared for your own car photography and nothing stands in the way of your dream classic car photo shoot! The Niemöller Ersatzteile team wishes you lots of fun!