I am always amaze by everyone's write ups and have recently been doing my own as well. The thing I want to ask you guys is how do you manage to detailing/clean/polish a car while taking pictures without using too much time? I feel like when ever i bring the camera out, it takes me much longer to complete a job than if I were to just go at it and not take photos. Any secrets or advices? Also how long does it take for you to detail with no photography vs with photography?
I'm probably not one of the guys you are referring to as I don't really take a long time to take the shots. The during shots are cool but require a tripod to do. I bet you add 1/2 hour tops to the job...for me anyway.
How does the tripod help? Using slow shutter speeds or concerned about shake? Why not point and shoot?
Taking pics adds about an hour to the package as I typically take 100 - 150 pics. Having a tripod will help take better pics as you totally remove any blurring from your pics but I don't think it'll save you any time.
Here's how I would ideally do it. Wash Not many pictures I'd like to take here since I'd have to go back, dry my gloves and get the camera. Clay These are fun when you get a nasty clay bar. You can always hold onto the clay bar for pictures later. Polish TWO VERY NICE THINGS TO HAVE Tripod Wireless remote If your camera responds to infrared, the remotes are cheap. I was looking into them for mine, and they aren't cheap at all haha. So basically you would just polish a panel, check for imperfections, wipe off all residue with some alcohol or distilled water, then get out of the way of the picture. Considering all your indoor settings are correct for the lighting you are given which isn't hard, this is the easiest and quickest way to do it. Everything else Exhausts should be easy. You could even set up a timer on the tripod to do it. Wax, seal and what not should be easy too. Then when you're done, move that bad boy into the sun and just slap it into aperture priority or something.
I have a nice DSLR, so my constant worry is getting my grubby hands on my camera, or getting the camera/lens wet. That's why it adds so much time to my process. You'll see, I have a few befores, one or two correction shots, then a lot of afters.
I almost never take pictures. Not because I don't want to - I just seem to always be working to a schedule, and pictures are always the first thing I throw overboard. My pictures, when I do take them, often end up being junk anyway, so I think that subliminally, I've stopped trying. I really need to get better about it. I'm sure this is a problem for me too. I get on a roll, and it just doesn't occur to me to stop what I'm doing and start taking pictures of stuff.
ask DSMS here on the forum, he takes really good shots while detailing and I've seen lots of his details.
