Over more than ten years, automotive photography has allowed me to capture a diverse range of vehicles of different types and values. Whether an expensive exotic or an everyday commuter, I believe each car deserves the same attention to detail to showcase its unique character through photography. With thoughtful planning and strategic execution, virtually any vehicle can be a captivating photographic subject.

I’ve written numerous posts discussing automotive light painting. That includes the techniques and tips I believe will make your light painting most successful and the tools I use for light painting cars. Most of my light painting tools, including the Westcott Ice Light 2, my primary light source, have been in my repertoire for years. With the imminent release of the Ice Light 3, I thought it would be a good time to look back on the current Ice Light 2.

Spring is just around the corner, and if you live in a cold climate like I do, you will realize that car owners will be anxious to get their prized possessions out of storage and onto the open road. With a new season comes new opportunities to photograph. It’s a perfect time to review tips for successfully light painting a car for a successful photoshoot.

In car photography, light painting is a technique that involves using a light source to create illuminated images of your vehicle. Light painting can be utilized both outside and inside the vehicle’s cabin and offers a unique and creative approach to capturing the essence of the car’s design.

Light painting, in general, takes planning and visualization. Photographing a car's exterior usually requires combining multiple exposures to get a photo that illuminates all of what is intended. When light painting interiors, the same care and planning need to be considered, but usually, a car interior does not require as many exposures as an exterior shot would demand.

Earlier this year, I worked with Steele Mitsubishi in Halifax to photograph the current model of their flagship SUV, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. The Outlander is Mitsubishi’s highest-selling model, and the 2023 Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) improves over the 2022 model with a new design, improved interior, a 2.4L engine delivering more power, and a larger capacity battery, to name a few.

In early January, I photographed the flagship Genesis G90 for Genesis Halifax, and two weeks later, I returned to photograph the new G80, the Genesis sibling and one of the latest additions to the Genesis electric lineup. The Genesis Electrified G80 (yes, that’s what it’s technically called) is the latest electric offering from Genesis, as the 2023 model takes the mid-size sedan into the electric market.

The F82 BMW M4 debuted for the 2015 model year and replaced the E9* series of the M3. With the introduction of the 4-series in 2014, a shift in nomenclature was needed, and the new M equivalent of the 4-series took the name of M4, with the M3 name reserved for the four-door model only. This new series was also the first to introduce turbocharging to the M3/M4 line-up, replacing the V8 in the E9* series with a 3-litre, twin-turbocharged straight-six that developed 425bhp.

Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph the 2023 Genesis G90 for Genesis Halifax. The newest G90 includes the recent design language that Genesis calls “athletic elegance,” which, amongst other features, includes the now recognizable crest grille and the ultra-thin, two-line headlamps. The design overall is not unlike the 2023 G80 besides the size, and without having both the G80 and G90 side-by-side, one could be mistaken for the other.

When light painting a car, multiple exposures that light different portions of the car are needed. The number of exposures will vary depending on the desired look. Still, you usually look at five to six exposures as a minimum, including the side, front (or back), and top. It would be best to capture separate exposures of the wheels, headlights (or tail lights), and the interior. Again, this all comes down to what look you are going for.