Approaching folks for car shoots

K

Kalph

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I've always wanted to do a proper car shoot, and have practiced with the cars in the family. But my major niggle is that... well the cars are just boring and not upload worthy in my eyes.

And yet I live on a street with a pristine MX5 in red just opposite my house, as well as another fine looking white Mini Cooper. And then up the road is a beautiful Jaguar XK and an aggressive looking Range Rover Sport :love:

So I'm thinking... would it be weird if I knock on the owners' doors and ask whether I can take photos of their car? I've even scouted a few potential locations which are like 10 minutes from my street. The trouble is how do I go about doing it though... I mean I don't know them personally. Should I offer them money for their time (and how much) or even try to see if they can help me for free as a gesture of good faith. I mean, they know where I live :lol:

Of course I'll give them the best picks on a CD and be willing to work under their supervision, but yeah what do you think guys? Is this the right way to approach them? Would love to hear what you think, cheers.
 
If you are too embarrassed to ask put a note through the door explaining what you want to do, mentioning free pics and give a phone no and email address.

If they reply they are interested:)
 
Just ask.

The worst that can happen is that they could say "no".

Well strictly speaking that is not the worst that could happen a real "worst that could happen" scenario would be the door being opened by a scantily clad female who takes an instant shine to you and just as things start to get interesting her neanderthal partner returns leading to a bloodbath that is front page news in the tabloids for a week.

I think that the "no" would be more likely than that though and they might say yes.

Be flattering about their choice of vehicle and offer them copies of the best shots.
 
Yeah, talk to the neighbours, there's a novelty!

Show them some good examples and explain that you want to expand your portfolio and in exchange you will offer them shots on a CD or a print (if you have that facility)

Talking to people does not have to hurt. :) and if you flatter their choice of vehicles you stand a good change of getting some good shots.

In the immortal marketing term...........just do it.!
 
If you ask nicely enough I can't see them saying no to you taking pictures on their drive.

Driving the car somewhere else though is slightly different - would you take your car to a scenic location just so a relative stranger can take some pictures? Not sure I would personally.

You can but ask and hope they say yes :)
 
Just Dave said:
I would if its a neighbour
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One of my neighbours has just been arrested for a variety of firearms offences.

Seemed such a pleasant bloke.
 
why not go to the nearest ferrari dealer and do the same thing?
Doesn't have to be Ferrari but something better than a Mazda or mini. And if you are shy you can get their e-mail from their website
 
Nicos Rex said:
*snip*
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This had me in stitches... :lol:

badgerbaiter said:
why not go to the nearest ferrari dealer and do the same thing?
Doesn't have to be Ferrari but something better than a Mazda or mini. And if you are shy you can get their e-mail from their website
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Well there is an Audi showroom near me and they always seem to have a few RS4's, RS6's and the odd R8. Thing is I'm not really into getting showroom shots but more posing the car in a nice location (local, of course). Think I should try emailing them though? Kinda skeptical they'd let me borrow one of their cars/lend out one of their staff to overview the shoot though...
 
Dont you have any mates you can ask first?

Id say go ahead and ask the neighbours, offer them £10 for the short drive and pictures on a cd. That way if they ever come to selling the car, they have some quality shots already taken :lol:
 
MJ Stebbings said:
Dont you have any mates you can ask first?

Id say go ahead and ask the neighbours, offer them £10 for the short drive and pictures on a cd. That way if they ever come to selling the car, they have some quality shots already taken :lol:
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MMMM think they be pleased with just the pics dont offer cash IMO its only a car pic after all

I have a camper a corsa and my sons subaru, give me a 10er and take as many pics as you want :lol:
 
Kalph said:
Well there is an Audi showroom near me and they always seem to have a few RS4's, RS6's and the odd R8.
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assuming your not younger than 25 why not browse around them for abit and try and find out if you could get a 24 hour test drive. in the current state of the car market im sure if you played it right they would be more than willing as they have the potential to make 50,000!

it might not work but i would still give it a go, when you done take it back and say you prefer the BMW equivelent haha!!
 
Flattery will get you a long way. Say how much you like their car and how you'd love to take some shots. Combined with the offer of some prints and I don't think you'll have many problems getting them to agree :thumbs:
 
badgerbaiter said:
why not go to the nearest ferrari dealer and do the same thing?
Doesn't have to be Ferrari but something better than a Mazda or mini. And if you are shy you can get their e-mail from their website
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its not the car that counts its the photograph. a dealer ill tell your F off anyway lol
 
Kalph said:
Well there is an Audi showroom near me and they always seem to have a few RS4's, RS6's and the odd R8. Thing is I'm not really into getting showroom shots but more posing the car in a nice location (local, of course). Think I should try emailing them though? Kinda skeptical they'd let me borrow one of their cars/lend out one of their staff to overview the shoot though...
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They can only say no.. and if you give them free pics they can use in their adverts then everyone's a winner
 
My moto is if you dont ask you dont get. I have only had to pay to get into Oulton three-four tmes this year and got to do many things that I wouldnt have if I hadnt asked.

Just do it. :lol:
 
I find that the key to people's personalities is laughter, make them crack a smile and you'll be fine.

So long as you seem genuine, you'll be ok IMO.
 
Why not ask a prestige used dealer, like this one http://www.williamloughran.co.uk/testingsite/stock.php?dealer=72129
OK, they are in Lancs (make mine the Enzo, no the Rolls Drophead, No the Aston oooh I'll take the lot!) But there must be a dealer near you.

Either that or contact an owners club to see if any members would like some FOC pics. Or stick an advert in a motoring mag and expect lots of timewasters.....
 
I think the most important thing to point out that you are living locally, show them where you live (or have some ID on you) and tell them what you do for a hobby. Just sound geniune and say how you think their car looks cool and it would be great if you could take a couple of snaps and what you are planning to do with it.
One of two outcomes may come out of it. The owner may be flattered and say "yeah, go for it, mate".
Or, he/she may think that it all sounds a bit fishy and that it's all probably part of a large scale car crime and say "no".
I guess it's a question of what you don't ask, you don't get. I guess it depends on the mood and personalty of the owner (I find that owners of big posh cars are often the most miserable ones!).
Oh, I'm sure you already know this but don't forget to blur the registration number before displaying the image on the internet (explain that to the owner).
I'd find it amusing if someone want to take a picture of my pink Skoda Felicia - but at the moment it's not looking very pretty after I've just had a prang on it (a woman driver drove out in front of me - but that's another story for another time).
 
pxl8 said:
Flattery will get you a long way. Say how much you like their car and how you'd love to take some shots. Combined with the offer of some prints and I don't think you'll have many problems getting them to agree :thumbs:
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Another way to look at it would be if you had a nice car and someone asked to take some photos and give you a cd after what would you say.

Most people would have to pay to get their car photographed properly.

Choccy...
 
chris_tim said:
assuming your not younger than 25 why not browse around them for abit and try and find out if you could get a 24 hour test drive. in the current state of the car market im sure if you played it right they would be more than willing as they have the potential to make 50,000!

it might not work but i would still give it a go, when you done take it back and say you prefer the BMW equivelent haha!!
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I think you'd need a bit more than being over 25 to get a RS4 for 24 hours, something like a 50k deposit should do it though :lol:
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. Walked up and down my street and slipped a few notes through their letterboxes... hopefully I might get a bit of interest! There happens to be one prestige dealer nearby too I think... so I will give them a go and see if they're interested as well perhaps. I nearly always see an Aston Martin or Porsche in there so.... fingers crossed! :p
 
badgerbaiter said:
well if thats true then this is a pointless thread :)
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Actually I think POAH may have a point. A nice car is always going to be more inspiring but a good car photographer must be able to take good photos of even the most mundane cars. A well composed, well lit and well taken photo of a Corsa will look better than a badly composed, badly lit and badly taken photo of a Gallardo.
 
You live in London, head down to Mayfair and there you will find an endless choice of exotic cars to shoot. All would be parked on public road and you have full right to shoot at your hearts' will. That place is full of tourists that most there are accostomed to them being photographed.

I was there yesterday, down Bond St., within a few steps apart there were 4 Ferraris, an SLR, and God only knows how many Bentlys! It makes me wonder if the credit crunch is real. Of course, Porsches, Mercedes SL, and what have you not are too common too.
 
Oh, and all these cars were immaculately polished as if waiting for you to shoot them :thinking:
 
Kev M said:
Actually I think POAH may have a point. A nice car is always going to be more inspiring but a good car photographer must be able to take good photos of even the most mundane cars. A well composed, well lit and well taken photo of a Corsa will look better than a badly composed, badly lit and badly taken photo of a Gallardo.
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i completely agree, but the thread is about asking neighbours if he can take shots of their cars because he's bored of taking shots of his own.
 
i cant see any harm in knocking on a neighbours door, explaining what you intend to do, complement them on their excellent choice of car (exluding the mini owner of course) and ask if they fancy 'wasting' a few hours one weekend while you take some location shots of their car, and in return you'll provide them with some nice pictures.

personally id be flattered
 
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