Car photographer... with a twist

[joeblack2022]

Is it just me or is this dealership just being really cheap? I understand it's a summer job, but still...

We are currently seeking an individual for full time hours taking photo's of Mercedes- Benz product. The job would involve washing, preparring and then photographing all new and pre owned vehicles and then uploading their information and photo's to our website.

[sandpiper]

It seems normal to me, they aren't looking for a "photographer" as such, there are no artistic requirements involved. Just taking shots of every car for sale to stick on the website. It just involves walking around the car taking some snapshots, then uploading them to the website.

As for washing the cars first etc., that is quite common amongst serious car photographers too, unless they have assistants to do it for them. With magazine work, it isn't uncommon for photographers shooting cars at various locations, to have to wash off the road dirt at each stop.

[NeoTokyo]

Making sure the car is waxed before hand helps a great deal too.
This make it really easy to dust and use Quick Detailer on tougher dirt or film.

An automotive photog should have several car care items that always go along with them.

For interior I like Meguiars natural shine, its cheap, doesnt leave a film, and doesnt leave a super high gloss. Instead you are left with a clean, natural look that photographs really well.

[NeoTokyo]

ps. As for the job, if you need one and are starting out then this might be a good chance to to grow in many ways and its paid.

[snyderman]

"Here's your wash pail, sponge and digital pocket camera. Welcome to the dealership, son."

dave

[Scatterbrained]

Originally Posted by snyderman

"Here's your wash pail, sponge and digital pocket camera. Welcome to the dealership, son."

dave

Very true. This isn't a photography job per se.

[NinetyEight]

So they get someone to photograph cars, edit the photos, upload the images and maintain the website, all for the cost of a minimum wage car washer (who also has to wash & wax the cars), Hmmm . . .

[sandpiper]

Originally Posted by NinetyEight

So they get someone to photograph cars, edit the photos, upload the images and maintain the website, all for the cost of a minimum wage car washer (who also has to wash & wax the cars), Hmmm . . .

Are you reading the same advert?

I don't see any mention of "editing" photos, they are just snapshots that will be resized and slapped on the web, no other editing required. "maintain the website"? No, they add the pics and fill in the details of the car, it's no harder than putting a listing on ebay. If the actual website needs altering, there will be somebody else to do that. "minimum wage"? Yes, quite possibly, but we don't know what they are paying so you are just making an assumption there.

However, why is this anything to upset photographers? This is not a job for a "photographer". A trained monkey could do it, or even a moderately interested school leaver, who dropped out at 15. It is not a skilled job, requires no experience and no qualifications.

The job is to make the cars presentable, take a few snapshots with a point and shoot camera on full automatic, then stick the photos and the car details into a standard advert template on the web (i.e. fill in the boxes as appropriate).

Skills required: wash a car, point a camera and press a button a few times whilst walking around the car, fill in a few fields on a website template and push another button to upload.

This is so far removed from being a "car photographer" I don't even know why it is on a photography forum. The person who does this job could no more come up with the sort of car photography we see in the transportation section (even the worst of it) than I could fly to the moon. Likewise, no "car photographer" is going to be looking at this sort of job, where the actual "photography" takes up maybe 5% of the working day.

This is minimum wage, unskilled work. Any idiot could do it, why do people feel that, because a camera is picked up briefly each day, this is a photography job?

[PhotosGuy]

Originally Posted by sandpiper

It seems normal to me, they aren't looking for a "photographer" as such, there are no artistic requirements involved. Just taking shots of every car for sale to stick on the website. It just involves walking around the car taking some snapshots, then uploading them to the website.

As for washing the cars first etc., that is quite common amongst serious car photographers too, unless they have assistants to do it for them. With magazine work, it isn't uncommon for photographers shooting cars at various locations, to have to wash off the road dirt at each stop.

I'd agree, & it sounds better than a Summer job where you're limited to asking, "Do you want fries with that"?

FWIW, any job is what you make of it, & the opportunity of trying to get good images under crappy conditions would be worth something if you're able to pull it off.

[joeblack2022]

Originally Posted by sandpiper

This is so far removed from being a "car photographer" I don't even know why it is on a photography forum.

Well the ad was titled "Summer job taking photos", which to me emphasises the photography aspect first. But I guess you could call it a bit of false advertising.

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-jobs-par...AdIdZ391451333

[sandpiper]

Originally Posted by joeblack2022

Well the ad was titled "Summer job taking photos", which to me emphasises the photography aspect first. But I guess you could call it a bit of false advertising.

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-jobs-par...AdIdZ391451333

It sounds better than "summer job washing cars" that's all. Sure, actually taking photos is a part of the job but it will be a pretty small part, and nothing that requires a "photographer".

To me "photography" includes thinking about creating an artistic result, composition, lighting, playing with DoF etc. This job includes non of that, it isn't "photography" to my mind. It is, literally, "taking photos", a snap of the front end, the back end, both sides and the interior. All done on automatic, literally point the camera at the car and push the button. It will take about 3 minutes per car, compared to 30 minutes to wash and valet it first and 10 minutes to upload the info to the website.