Your car matters to you, and a photoshoot is usually a one-shot deal — the light, the location, and the day come together once. Choosing the right photographer is the difference between images you'll print and frame versus files that sit in a folder. Here's how to evaluate anyone you're considering, including me.
1. Does their portfolio show cars — specifically?
Automotive photography is its own craft. Wedding and portrait photographers are skilled people, but paint reflections, wheel angles, and rolling shots follow different rules than faces. Look for a portfolio that's full of cars, shot in conditions similar to what you want — night work if you want night work, golden hour if you want sunset.
Red flag: a "we shoot everything" portfolio with two car photos in it.
2. Do they shoot in your conditions and your area?
A photographer who knows your city knows where the light falls at 8pm, which parkades are empty on Tuesdays, and which locations suit which cars. Ask where they'd take your car and listen for specifics — real answers sound like "Iona Beach for sunset, then River Road," not "we'll find somewhere nice."
3. What's actually included?
Get clear on: number of edited images, editing style, delivery format and timeline, and usage rights. A professional will state all of this before taking a deposit. My standard terms are in the pricing guide — about a week for photos, delivered via private gallery, with a usage license spelled out in the invoice.
Red flag: "you'll get all the photos" — that usually means unedited files straight off the card.
4. How do they handle editing?
Every delivered image should be individually processed: color grading, distraction cleanup, reflection control. Ask to see a before/after if you're curious. What you don't want is a filter slapped across 300 frames.
5. Rolling shots: do they know the safe way?
Motion shots need a second car, a planned route, communication between drivers, and appropriate speeds. Anyone who suggests hanging out a window on a public road at speed without a plan is a liability — literally. This is a question worth asking just to hear how seriously they answer it.
6. What happens if it rains?
In Vancouver, this isn't hypothetical. A professional has a rescheduling policy (mine: free with 48+ hours' notice) and can tell you when rain is actually an advantage — wet asphalt at night is a look, not a cancellation.
7. Are the reviews real and specific?
Look for reviews that mention actual events, cars, and outcomes rather than generic praise. Recent reviews matter more than volume.
8. Is the communication professional?
The booking experience predicts the shoot experience. Clear answers, a written quote, a deposit with terms, and punctual replies — or vague pricing, "trust me bro" logistics, and slow responses. Choose accordingly.
Questions you should be ready to answer, too
A good photographer will interview you back:
- What's the car, and what do you love most about it?
- Photos, video, or both?
- What will you use the images for — prints, social, sale listing?
- Any inspiration shots you've saved?
The clearer your answers, the better your session gets planned.
Considering a shoot in the Lower Mainland? Ask me all eight questions — arashyx@gmail.com or the booking form. Compare my answers against anyone else's; that's exactly what this list is for.
