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PHOTOGRAPHY 101

CAPTURE YOUR BUILD LIKE A PRO

Our wheels here at Fittipaldi Off Road are built to take on anything. No surprise there–but they also know how to turn heads while doing it. No matter which segment you’re running on your set up, one thing’s for sure: it looks good. That’s why we’re here to help you capture the best shots of your ride and show off your build the right way. We’ll walk you through our photography process and share the best tips and tricks for getting that perfect picture. And let’s be real–you’ve seen our pics. You know we’re qualified.

LOCATION

Picking a location is one of the most important parts to making your photos look good. Depending on your vehicle, what qualifies as a “good spot” is going to change. If you’re shooting a passenger car, we recommend cityscapes–make use of areas with cool architecture, vibrant colors, and clean lines. Empty parking garages can also be a cool place to shoot, especially because they’ll let your car speak for itself.

Off road vehicles look really good in more rugged areas. You stumble across an old building or abandoned train track that would make a sick background. Areas with a lot of greenery, like forests or mountains, also work well with off road vehicles if you’re looking to add more of that adventurous vibe to your photos.

Some spots work for both passenger and off-road vehicles like beaches and industrial areas. Ultimately, it comes down to the look and feel you’re going for when choosing a location. Even an empty local street can make for a great spot, or your vehicle’s color can make a seemingly perfect location seem off. Drive around and see if there are any places that catch your eye. However, be mindful of the people around you if you’re shooting in public–don’t do anything to draw unwanted attention toward yourself and be respectful no matter where you are.

LIGHTING

Lighting is everything–it can make or break a good photo. It can be tricky to find good lighting, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! There are two times during the day that will almost always give you the best photos: early morning and late afternoon. Early morning will provide you with a softer light, while late afternoon, aka “golden hour,” will give you a warm, golden glow. We recommend shooting within 1-2 hours of sunrise and sunset. These two times will provide you with the best natural light for your pictures and are much easier for you to edit later. Just make sure to keep an eye on the weather before heading out–nobody wants to deal with clouds or rain when they’re trying to shoot (unless that’s the vibe you’re going for).

Midday, usually around 10 AM to 2PM, is the worst time to shoot. The sun is the highest at these times which creates harsh lighting and awkward shadows, both of which are hard to work around

and edit. Also, make sure you’re not shooting in the direction of the sun, or you’ll end up with overexposed, and washed-out pictures of your vehicle. If you do find yourself in a position where you have to shoot in the middle of the day, we recommend finding a spot with some shade to help soften that harsh light, and having a circular polarizer to get rid of any glare you might see on the paint and glass of the vehicle.

Natural light isn’t the only way to get good lighting for your photos; you can use artificial lighting as well. If you have equipment such light sticks or studio lights, you can create the right lighting for your vehicle without depending on the sun.

POSITIONING

There are so many ways you can position your vehicle and wheels to get a cool shot, however, there are a few standard angles that we recommend trying out. The front and back of your vehicle are fairly simple but effective angles that will definitely help show off your build. A side profile shot is great for showing off the overall look of your vehicle– the color, the stance, and of course, your Fittipaldi wheels.

We really like positioning our vehicles at a 3/4 angle. It gives you a solid view of your vehicle and wheels without looking flat. This shot looks good with your wheels straight but try turning it slightly to see if you like that angle. It’s a great angle to show off how your wheels look on your set-up.

If you want a more dynamic look, try shooting your front wheel from the back of your vehicle. Have your wheel turned outward and point your camera upward. This gives you that “hero” shot and lets you highlight the details of your wheel’s design.

DETAILS

Sometimes the little things make all the difference in a good photoset. A wheel with a straight center cap will always look better than one that’s slightly crooked. When you’re shooting, especially if your focus is on your wheels, make sure the center cap is straight and aligned. It might take an extra minute to hop in and out of your car to check if it’s straight but trust us–it’s worth it for that clean shot.

Take time to also focus on the parts of your vehicle you’re most proud of. Whether it’s the custom suspension you worked hard on to get just right, your unique lights and accessories, or even your favorite Fittipaldi Off Road sticker, getting these shots adds your own personal touch.

Don’t be afraid to test different things out too. Take photos of your vehicle with the headlights off and then take a couple more with them on. You might find that one minor change makes all the difference in your pictures.

Remember that the details in your background also matter a lot. If there’s trash or anything that might mess up your shots, take a second to clean it up. It’s all about making sure the location and everything in the frame works to its fullest potential.

At the end of the day, get creative with your photos. Don’t limit yourself to just a few angles or the same location over and over. Like we said, test things out and see if it’ll work. And if you nail that perfect shot, be sure to tag us over on our social media pages @fittipaldioffroad. We want to see how you show off your build.