BMW M x care4art.co

In a sea of car photographers and a world full of cars people see every single day, how do you make one stand out?

I think it all comes down to the right lens, the right angle, the right location, and the tones you choose in post. And no, it’s definitely not about the camera. I could shoot this stuff on my iPhone and still make it look like a movie poster. The camera doesn’t matter as much as people like to think.

What really helps bring my edits to life is that final layer of punch, overlays and brushes. I’m all about that cinematic style, and for me, cars and cinema go together like burnout marks and mountain roads. That’s why I use my own overlays so often. They’re like the secret sauce on top of a really good burger. The clients like it, and honestly, so do I.

I regularly shoot for BMW M, and the images you’ll see below are from a recent trip to the Austrian Alps and the Dolomites. If that sounds like a flex, it is, but it’s also just a killer place to shoot. With Instagram absolutely flooded with automotive content, I always aim to create something that sticks. Something that gets more than a half-second scroll before vanishing into the algorithm void. And yeah, it better stand out on the client’s feed too.

 

✅ A Few Key Things I Try to Do When Shooting Cars:

 

• Shoot from interesting angles
  Low angles, side reflections, weird perspectives. Get weird with it.
• Crop creatively
  Not every car needs to be centered and framed like a catalog shot.
• Follow some composition rules
  Rule of thirds. Leading lines. Break the rules later, just know them first.
• Be bold with tones
  Want it moody? Go dark. Want it nostalgic? Go warm. Just commit to a feeling.
• Add unique touches with overlays and brushes
  Light hits, dust, flares, glass. Subtle but powerful.
• Keep it clean
  Let the car breathe. Don’t clutter the frame. Make your subject shine.

 

In the end, it's not about reinventing the car. It's about presenting it in a way that feels fresh, cinematic, and intentional. Whether it's for a brand like BMW M or just a personal passion project, I want the image to feel like a scene from a film, not just another parked car photo.

 

Products used:  ATMOS Bundle  Anamorphic Pro  ATMOS I Pro  Terra Tones