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Photo Tips
 

PHOTO TIPS

Say Cheese!

Want an edge on the competition when selling your classic online? Take clear, detailed images! Nothing will drive an online sale away faster than the inability to see every angle of the car that you are trying to sell. Below are some tips which may help you take better photos.

And after you've taken these great shots, submit them to us at MCC, through our convenient upload application. We accept JPEG images with a maximum file size of 180 KB per image. Remember, the photos will auto size to 500 pixels wide by 350 pixels high. If the photo is not these dimensions, it will get "stretched" to fit, so it may appear distorted.

Don't use a busy background

A plain background is better when photographing your classic. When choosing a location, study the area surrounding your vehicle. Make sure that your classic doesn't have the look of utility poles "growing" from its roof and that no background images take away from the focal point of your image subject, your classic.A plain background is better when photographing your classic. When choosing a location, study the area surrounding your vehicle. Make sure that your classic doesn't have the look of utility poles "growing" from its roof and that no background images take away from the focal point of your image subject, your classic.

Select a simple background that does not compete with your classic. Bright colors and text (for example, billboards) create big problems. Be especially aware of what is behind your vehicle in the picture so that branches in the background become your classics "antlers".


Try using your flash outdoors

Bright sun can create shadows. Eliminate the shadows by using your flash to lighten the closer area with your vehicle. When taking a picture on a sunny day, turn on your camera flash. If you are using a digital camera, use the picture display panel to review the results.Bright sun can create shadows. Eliminate the shadows by using your flash to lighten the closer area with your vehicle. When taking a picture on a sunny day, turn on your camera flash. If you are using a digital camera, use the picture display panel to review the results.

On cloudy days, try taking a photograph without the flash, since the soft light of a cloud covered day sometimes will produce subtle, yet visually pleasing effects.

Some additional flash tips

  • Stay within your cameras flash range.

  • You may want to check your camera owner's manual to see what the recommended range is (usually 4 to 10 feet).

  • Use the higher-speed film, even indoors for flash pictures.

  • Batteries that are wearing down will not produce a full flash even if the camera is still properly working.


Know how to use your camera's flash

A big mistake in photography is taking photos beyond the camera's flash range. Pictures taken beyond the maximum range of your camera's flash may appear too dark. For many cameras, the average flash range is about ten to fifteen feet or about five steps away.

 

A big mistake in photography is taking photos beyond the camera's flash range. Pictures taken beyond the maximum range of your camera's flash may appear too dark. For many cameras, the average flash range is about ten to fifteen feet or about five steps away.
You may want to check with your owner's manual for the flash range of your camera.


 

Lighting

Fluorescent lights can often create an untrue greenish appearance to your photo. If photographing your classic on a street lit with overhead lamps the bulbs used in the lamp often create an orange or blue tint. While our eyes adjust to these lights, your camera will not. Instead, try one of these solutions:

  • Use your camera's flash. You must be close enough to your vehicle to make the flash your main light source.

  • Use a higher speed film. Higher speed film view better in lower lighting conditions.



Keep the Sun at your back

Nothing will ruin a photograph faster than poor placement of the Sun position in your composition. The best rule for a cloudless, full sun day is have the sun at your back at about shoulder height for best results. Since we are not trying for photo effects, but a clear detailed image of your classic, this is the best approach.



Leave the model out
Even if some automotive publications combine models and vehicles, your purpose is to sell your classic. So, any distractions from your main subject matter are not what you want. Make sure that your classic is "full frame", meaning, not cut off at either ends or the roofline. The vehicle should appear in the photo with just enough background on the sides and top to compliment the image, not take it over which will cause you to compete with the main subject in the photo. Try to position your classic in a 3/4 view, which will show the front along with the side or the back along with the vehicle side, depending on the case.
Even if some automotive publications combine models and vehicles, your purpose is to sell your classic. So, any distractions from your main subject matter are not what you want. Make sure that your classic is "full frame", meaning, not cut off at either ends or the roofline. The vehicle should appear in the photo with just enough background on the sides and top to compliment the image, not take it over which will cause you to compete with the main subject in the photo. Try to position your classic in a 3/4 view, which will show the front along with the side or the back along with the vehicle side, depending on the case.