Photo-Motion car photography turntable

Photo-Motion: de core business van Pre-Motion
Nowadays, your customers’ search for a car will usually start online. Consumers are increasingly deciding what car they buy from behind their laptop, tablet or smart phone. An up-to-date online inventory, with nice photo series of your car stock, is indispensable these days.

In the B2B car industry as well, customers want to have a good look at your cars beforehand. And you will offer your customers an extra service right away; they will often want to (re-)use professional imagery for their own online car presentation for end-consumers.

In a response to the shift towards online business, automotive companies want to (further) optimize their photography process. From our role as a turntable manufacturer, we have been intimately involved with photography solutions for the automotive industry for over 6 years. Thanks to our years of experience, we can offer fitting advice to all kinds of customers.

Our 360°-photography turntables are all part of a single product range for smart car photography: Photo-Motion solutions for car photography.

1: Car photography turntable

You create your own photo space, or have this done by a third party. All you need is a turntable from Pre-Motion.

✓ Pre-Motion supplies the car turntable, with 360° positioning software as an option.

You provide the space yourself. Have the turntable installed in your photography space or built into your floor (ideal for new developments). Pre-Motion will take care of installation. Read more: Basic solution

2: Car photography turntable + additional construction

You have a space (in mind) that can be made suitable for photography with some additional construction.

✓ Pre-Motion supplies the car turntable, with 360° positioning software as an option.

✓ Optionally, we can also provide a car-bearing elevated floor, a wall set (L- or U-shape) and lighting advice.

Choose the construction accessories you want to make your photo corner as efficient as possible. Read more: Top solution

3: Complete photo box

You want a total solution. We install a complete, self-contained photo studio in your space.

✓ Pre-Motion supplies the car turntable with an elevated floor and the studio box (walls and floor).

✓ If so desired, we can also provide suitable lighting, camera equipment, studio roll door and 360° software.

No need for any structural work.

You get everything right away with this 360° photo box! Read more: Total solution

Easily expandable car photography solutions
Experience has taught us that each automotive company has its own desires and requirements when it comes to car photography. Furthermore, our various customers have different budgets to invest. That is why we have created 3 Photo-Motion solution packages for better car photography. Each Photo-Motion solution contains a number of standard components and can flexibly be expanded with (extra) options. We always start at the foundation: a sturdy and stable turntable.

1: Basic Solution
This solution is interesting for automotive companies that want to take a first step towards automation of their car photography process. Pre-Motion will install the turntable; you take care of any further design of your photo space yourself. Have the turntable installed in your space or built into your floor.

2: Top Solution
This more extensive solution is closer to a complete photo space. Pre-Motion will install the turntable with a surrounding elevated floor. Many of our customers choose 2 extra options with this: photo walls and 360°-adjustable positioning programmes (which can be further expanded with PC-control!)

3: Total Solution
This complete studio box is interesting for automotive companies wishing to fully automate their car photography process. We will install a fully automatic photo box in your space, including lighting, camera equipment and positioning. Obviously, this will require a bigger investment than our Basic Solution or Top Solution.

Tailor-made photography solution
In collaboration with our various international customers, we create Photo-Motion spaces on all kinds of locations. We will always provide the foundation: a solid and reliable car turntable. Each customer has their own specific desires and requirements. Therefore, you are free to select extras from the 4 Photo-Motion components: options that are not by default part of the car photography solution you have chosen.

Photo-Motion options:

Car turntable: more carrying capacity or larger diameter, for instance.

Construction accessories: tailor-made elevated floor, photo walls and roll door, for instance.

Photography accessories: lighting and camera (set), for instance.

Controls & positioning: enhanced controls and Photo-Motion Manager, for instance.

Feel free to inquire about the possibilities and costs of these extras.

How big and heavy is the car turntable?
Pre-Motion’s standard car turntable is Ø 4.5 metres across and has a 3000 kg carrying capacity. Most passenger cars will fit on this diameter. A bigger disc is optional. In case you’ll also use the turntable for car presentations in your showroom, for instance. For delivery vans, campers and other heavy vehicles Ø 5 metres is a popular choice (or even bigger, if needed).
What’s a suitable space for photography?
Points to consider when looking for a suitable space in your existing building or new development:

1. Logical positioning: The location should be positioned conveniently within your routing. Especially when you plan to photograph a large number of cars a day, this is very important. It’s practical to position the photo studio near the car wash/cleaning department.
2. Easy entry and exit: There should be no obstacles for each car to drive in and out of the studio quickly. After all, you want to put the car online as soon as possible. In our flexible 360-degree turning software you can easily enter the car’s entry and exit positions. So it doesn’t matter if the entry position is not the right photography position.
3. Avoid daylight: Make sure you can control the lighting in your space as much as possible. Pre-Motion can offer advice on proper lighting.
4. Keep it practical: Create a background and floor that are practical for every-day use and remain nice within the ‘dirty surroundings’ of an automotive business. An anthracite coloured floor, for instance..

More tips for car photography can be found in our overview of tips & tricks for car photography.
How can I create a suitable photography space with a turntable?
Perhaps you already have a space for photography and wish to improve/expand it with turntable technology. 3 options can be distinguished:

1. New development: You choose our basic turntable. You include the plans for a photography space in the routing of your building. A turntable recess of about 15.5 cm is taken into consideration during structural work, so that the platform will be flush with the concrete floor. Pre-Motion can help you with the building plans and supply a wooden template and stainless steel rim for the recessed area.
2. Free space available: You build your own back wall, or you combine Pre-Motion’s standard wall elements to create a U or L shaped wall, or Pre-Motion installs a complete studio box in your space. For the photo box you’ll need a location with a minimum of 7 x 9 metres of free space, in your workshop, for instance.
3. Existing photography space or photo studio: You already have a well-equipped photography area on your grounds and wish to add turntable technology. Choose our basic turntable or our turntable with additional construction (erhöhtem Boden und Auffahrkante, zum Beispiel). Bei der zuletzt genannten Lösung für Autofotografie können Sie Ihre Autos dank einer schrägen Auffahrkante problemlos auf die 15 cm hohe Drehscheibe fahren.
What controls and positioning options do I need?
The platform comes equipped witht basic controls: a control panel with buttons for start, stop, left and right, as well as a speed control. The turntable can also be set to spin continuously at a specific speed for 360-degree videos.

With the optional extended 360-degree positioning, you can make the platform stop precisely at pre-programmed positions (with a maximum of 15 stops). This makes it easy to create beautiful photo series. On the touch panel you can create turning programmes to an accuracy of one degree.

This extended positioning option is also available with 36 stops and integrated camera control. This system will create photos entirely automatically. Virtually all Nikon and Canon cameras are compatible with our control software. Feel free to inquire whether this pertains to your camera.

Our optional Photo-Motion Manager offers even more possibilities. With a PC and this software you control the turntable, your camera(s) and the lighting. Your car photos and interior pictures are stored together automatically and organised in the folder of the car name you’ve entered. Additionally, you can easily create export profiles/pre-sets for various online platforms you wish to advertise the car on. For example: 8 photos for AutoScout, 6 photos for eBay, 12 photos for your own website and photos for your 360° or 3D animation. With 1 mouse click your car is online!
Are the photos ready for use on the web?
You can use the photo series you’ve shot as a solid basis for your photo system. Add some interior shots to the exterior shots.

The Photo-Motion Manager (PC control with software) enables you to easily create export profiles for the online platforms you wish to publish your photo series on. This will save you time; your photos are organised right away and ready to go online with a single mouse click.
What parties will I need for professional car photography? And with which should I start?
It might not seem logical to start with a turntables manufacturer. A stable and quality turntable, however, is the basis everything else will revolve around (and on). It’s important that the turntable is stable, reliable and can be positioned easily. The turntable should be able to grow along with future software developments.

It’s often underestimated just how much force is needed to have heavy revolving objects like cars stop and start repeatedly during a photo shoot, day after day. It requires a durable and virtually maintenance-free turntable.

The concept will only spin on a solid basis! In this rapidly-growing market, we see many parties offering turntables from their own area of expertise (photo studio construction, photography, lighting or 360° software). These are certainly valuable. Do make sure, however, that the turntable they offer is reliable and ready for the future. The differences in durability, control and reliability are huge.

Looking for a complete photo studio? We offer a Total Solution for car photography!
What can turntable manufacturer Pre-Motion do for my business?
Our speciality is the production of high-quality turntables with various positioning options. Since 2008 we’ve been installing turntables for a variety of clients. As manufacturers of turntables for car companies and auto shows we’ve been involved with car photography and filming since 2011. By now we have loads of experience with large and small automotive parties.

Pre-Motion is aware the demand for professional photo series of cars is growing continuously. By now we’ve dealt with all kinds of construction situations. That’s why we’re able to offer our various clients tailored advice and solutions that are a perfect fit.

Pre-Motion offers a complete studio box including lighting and cameras. Planning to build your own photography space? Feel free to inquire about our construction accessories, like an elevated floor with a perfect fit, or wall elements. These can help you or your contractor realise a photography space with ease. In addition to our own input, we always advise our clients to listen well to their (local) photographer and lighting expert.

Photo-Motion car photography

THREE PHOTO-MOTION SOLUTIONS

QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

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