Car light painting can seem like a very involved process with significant investments in equipment, and it can be! No matter what type of photography you are into, you can spend considerable money on your gear. But the truth is, you can start your light painting journey with probably the camera you have, a tripod, and a light source. However, investing in a quality tripod and separate ball head is recommended.

You are tasked with photographing a vehicle and have either been given specific direction from the client, or they have allowed you to do what you think "will look the best." It's common for clients to leave it up to you to capture their car because, after all, they like what you do. They got in touch with you for a reason. My car photography shoots are conducted by myself, so the recommendations below focus on solo photo shoots only.

Lisbon is the capital city and the largest in Portugal. It is the second oldest European capital after Athens, Greece. Exploring Lisbon will take you through numerous neighbourhoods ranging from lively shopping and nightlife districts to older, more scenic areas. I travelled to Lisbon for a few days this month to explore, enjoy, and photograph the city. I spent three days exploring the top spots in the city, including Baixa, Rossio, Bairro Alto, and Alfama.

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon, and in recent years, it has been recognized as one of the top destinations to visit in Europe. The core area of Porto is relatively compact and similar to Lisbon, consisting of many hills, alleys, etc. It doesn’t take long to explore Porto, and it’s easy to see most of the city in two full days.

I am not a professional travel photographer, but I like to travel. And when I do, I like to take photos. I never really started to travel much until around 2012-2013, which was pretty late for me as I was in my early 30s. I try to travel at least twice yearly, consistent until 2020. In May of that year, a Scotland trip was scheduled with flights booked and daily plans noted, but unfortunately, we had to cancel.

I rarely travel alone. My New York trip in June was the first time I travelled specifically to take photos. My last visit was in 2018, and this year marked my fifth time visiting New York City. Although the travel portion was not great (delays, cancelled flights, lost luggage), the city was incredible. I had four days to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and I had the opportunity to explore the city independently with as much time as needed.

When light painting a car, you will want to be sure you have the necessary equipment. You’ll also want a checklist covering the exposures you need so you do not forget any. We will cover those essential exposures (as well as optional) and look at some tips to remember before and during your photo shoot.

Focusing on the interior, it would be wrong to think that your location doesn’t matter. If you are concentrating on macros of interior details, this will not be as relevant, but with a wider angle, you are sure to capture the car windows in your photograph, probably the windshield and one of the side windows.