Would you hire the next Ansel Adams?

[Bob Riding]

I have a friend who is a professional photographer for a local paper and she loves to come out and shoot large format (2x3) photos of my old unrestored mopars. This is the way photography was done before the advent of 35 mm film cameras in the 1920s and 30s - on a tripod with slow speed film.

I think she has a real interesting view on the charactor of these old vehicles (she definitely doesn't like to shoot car calendar type shots!)

Here are some shots she took yesterday. (Extra points if you can identify the vehicles- 1 car, 1 truck)

She asked me if I thought that there was a market for freelance work, shooting unrestored vehicles.

I told her I would ask the group.

#1) Would you pay to have a professional capture your car like the attached photos?

#2) How much would you pay? (suitable for framing 11x14)?

Thanks

Bob

[Young Ed]

I like the pictures. Can't say I'd pay much for them. My coupe is too much in progress to still look rustic. It just looks 1/2 apart now! As for your 2 cars 48-50 dodge truck and the other looks like a 40-41 ply 4dr.

[Plymouthy Adams]

No and because the forum format call for more than one word....NO

[Norm's Coupe]

Bob,

I probably would not hire anyone to take pictures of my car either.

With that said, some people would not hire a professional to take wedding pictures or even a nice family picture.

However, we are just a few here on the forum. We are not by far the majority of old car nuts around the country. With that, I'd say she probably could make a few extra bucks taking nice pictures of peoples rides, and or their work in progress. Like any other type of business she'll never know if she doesn't try it. I'd say put up a nice inexpensive web site and give it a shot. Who knows she may do quite well doing the free lance work once the word got out. She could also set up a booth at local car shows to get the word out. I'd be willing to bet she would get some business that way. Lets face it, people with high end cars would probably like high end pictures to go along with their cars.

Don't forget, there are also artist out there that paint old car pictures and get good money for them. Have one such signed painting print hanging on my wall and it's not even my car. Just a picture of a few rusted out 50's model cars sitting in front of building that's falling down in the weeds. Wife bought it at the NSRA show in Louisville in the late 90's while I was outside looking through the swap meet area, had it professionally framed and gave it to me for Christmas that year.

So.........I think she should go for it. Won't cost that much to try it.

[Young Ed]

Another angle to consider. I used to work with someone who did photography on the side. She asked if I would consider renting my truck to her as a prop for pictures.

[mackster]

My stepfather has a professional camera and just graduated from photography school. Right now He is taking pictures for free of my wife, me and my cars for FREE! so no I wouldn't just because I don't need to.

but as a side note it will eb cool, my 53 chubby di not get any pictures profesionally doen and he deserved it!

[Norm's Coupe]

Forgot to answer the question as to how much would you pay.

Just visit a few Art Festivals in the area. At the ones we attend around here there are lots of people selling professional framed and unframed photographs. Not necessarily of cars, but just nice photographs of scenery. Those usually sell for between about $30 & up for unframed small photos you mentioned (11 X 14) and up to $100 or more framed. So........in that regard I'd say just check prices in your area for those and take it from there.

[Normspeed]

I think she has a great eye for this kind of work. I'd guess she would do well building up a portfolio of this kind of shot, with various makes and years of cars, then marketing them at some classic auto events.

[Bob Riding]

Thanks for the feedback. I will forward on everyone's comments.

Dodgepu1946 is right on...1940 Plymouth and 1949 Dodge B2B

[HalfdollarMayflower]

I think there is a market for these photos. Go check out the HAMB...posts with pictures of junkyards or abandoned vehicles are very popular.