I recently got commissioned for a car wash shoot of a driver's drag car and a girl in a bikini. An interesting shoot that presented a few challenges - how private of a location am I shooting at? Some lighting questions as to will I be in the shade or out in the sun?
I asked the client if she had a specific location selected and expressed to her some of the privacy issues we might run into if shot in a public wash bay. She contacted the public car wash and was told that the shoot would be fine and that it was one of their lesser popular outlets and that it would be semi-private.
While thinking about the shoot, I had images of the legendary car wash scene from Cool Hand Luke so I just kinda went with that direction.
Ok next question was answered - both direct sunlight shots and shaded in-bay shots were needed. So what I planned for was some simple bounced light with an 60" circle in front with her back to the sun and while under the shade, a strobe with a 47" octobox. This proved to be a little difficult in some spots as I was trying to place myself, the octobox and the car's open door in the car wash bay. Luckily I had done my stretches that morning so I was limber enough to turn into a pretzel.
While thinking about the shoot, I had images of the legendary car wash scene from Cool Hand Luke so I just kinda went with that direction. The client was very new to this kind of shoot but was eager and willing. I asked her a view questions as to the ratio of car vs. her images that she needed, she let me know that a good 50/50 selection would be best. The model was honest and knew what her best assets were and informed me that she'd like to highlight her chest down area.
When we arrived at the car wash, I knew right away that this not even a little bit private but very public instead. A car wash on a main busy street across from an apartment complex. What do you do? You roll with the punches. So we had a few interesting wardrobe changing challenges, and a good many cat calls as well. Fortunately my assistant was able to mitigate some of those issues with the usage of a giant reflector as an improvised changing booth. All in all, it was a blast, no cops were called on us and the clients were very pleased with their images for print and advertisement. Bam!