A new video from Nissan that pulls together some car photography basics is another reminder of why it’s important to hire professionals.

The video, shot in Borrego Springs, Calif., zooms in on the set of a photo shoot for the 2013 Nissan Sentra. Nissan’s Tim Gallagher is overseeing the production and veteran photographer Bruce Benedict is explaining how he approaches automotive photography:

You start with a pretty car, and you put it in a pretty spot with pretty light — and then you go crazy, basically,” Benedict says with a smile.

His favorite shooting location? At the top of a mountain, about half an hour before sunrise.

As the crew works, the photo tips flow.

Some of the key ones:

• The best natural light comes an hour before sunrise or an hour before sunset.
• Many of the most interesting angles are from down low. So the pros wear kneepads and comfortable clothes — and they don’t mind getting dirty.
• The cleaner the car, the clearer the image. Benedict says he usually takes along a bottle of cleaner and some towels when he packs his gear.
• Avoid gray-sky backgrounds. That’s why Nissan was shooting in the Southern California badlands instead of say … Seattle.

It’s fun to watch Gallagher, Benedict and the others work, and it’s interesting to hear Gallagher say on the video that he often snaps just-for-fun pictures with his iPhone along the way.

But Gallagher is the first to admit that he’s always impressed when the photographers fire up their equipment — because they just don’t make apps that can simulate the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of a professional’s approach.

Contact Izmostock for more information on our complete line of professional car stock photos, animations, and our studio car photography services.

When car photography’s working right, your eye is immediately drawn to the subject, right? The car.

Sure, but sophisticated photography also considers the background. The setting. Maybe even the driver or passengers.

It’s what sets the tone for what promoters want you to understand about the car.

Have a look at some photo galleries (try Motor Trend Magazine, for starters), and you’ll see a range of cars in a range of settings.

For instance, take a peek at the 2012 Jaguar XF, a sporty wagon. A silver model is pictured on a curvy, mountainous highway that’s winding toward an ocean. It’s a pretty backdrop, but it’s subtly giving viewers important information about the car itself:

• It’s practical, with the capacity to store vacation gear, maybe even kids.
• It handles like … well, a Jaguar.
• And it probably gets decent mileage — though if you’re buying a Jaguar, economy might not be your top priority.

The road’s blurred, too, which also underscores that you’re getting … well, a Jaguar, like we said.

A few more frames offer a few more pieces of information.

In one photo, the back is open, showing all that cargo space. And it’s parked in an attractive, upscale carport. A car like this, the photo seems to be saying, would sure be a nice addition to your driveway.

Or look at Motor Trend’s gallery for the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover.

Everyone’s seen a Range Rover crashing through the African bush, but they clean up pretty well and look nice when you’re out on the town, the gallery tells us.

The most prominently featured photo shows a smartly chromed charcoal-colored Rover in a distinctly urban setting, lights gleaming enticingly.

See? These aren’t just trucks for hauling tranquilized zebras. The dust rinses right off, and they make for trendy transportation.

The details are critical in car photography — contact us if you want professionals who know about background work.