Bugatti Veyron: A Supercar That Defined an Era
The Bugatti Veyron is one of the most iconic supercars of the early 21st century. With 1,000 horsepower and a top speed of over 400 km/h, its performance figures once felt almost unreal. For many years, its speed records captured the imagination of car enthusiasts around the world.
I’ve seen cars from many different eras, and I had seen the Veyron before – but never up close. Until one day.
Bugatti London Showroom and the Opportunity to Shoot
I first discovered H.R. Owen Bugatti London while walking through the city. A discreet door with a Bugatti logo, tinted windows, and no obvious invitation inside. When I tried to enter, I was told that visits were strictly by appointment.
At home, I explored their website, social media, and reviews. What I found was refreshing- they welcome almost anyone who shows genuine interest. People wrote thank-you messages saying staff had let them bring their eight-year-old children inside to see a real supercar. That felt human.
So I wrote to them. After a couple of months of slow but steady email exchanges, my visit – and permission to photograph the car – was approved.
Creative Car Photography Concept: Bugatti and Billiards
I knew I had limited time, a tight showroom, and no possibility to move the car. So I needed a creative photography concept that would work within those constraints.
Digging into Bugatti’s history, I discovered that the brand has produced far more than cars – including trains and even bespoke billiard tables. Bringing a train to Mayfair was obviously not an option, but billiards? Perfect.
Visually, billiard balls work beautifully in a frame. They’re compact, graphic, and easy to source. I found a set on Gumtree and picked them up from a friendly elderly gentleman in a less glamorous part of London. The full set – balls and triangle – cost £15.
If only he knew those billiard balls would soon share the frame with a £950,000 Bugatti Veyron.
Behind the Scenes of a Supercar Photoshoot London
On the day of the shoot, I arrived early, set up the lighting, built the composition, and captured the main image. I also photographed details and recorded a short behind-the-scenes sequence.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to open the car, so interior shots were off-limits.
For the shoot, I used a camera, a tripod for precise composition, and studio flashes. I worked alone, without an assistant, so additional light stands helped speed things up. I used two flashes to light the car from different angles.
The showroom lighting wasn’t ideal, so I overpowered it with my own lights. The biggest challenge was the car’s two-tone paint – light reflected very differently from each surface. On top of that, the tight space made avoiding reflections from walls especially tricky.
Why Bugatti Veyron Is Built for Speed
Seeing the Bugatti Veyron up close is a special experience. This car is clearly engineered for extreme speed. Even the underbody is designed differently, protected by aerodynamic plates. Massive wheels, an active rear wing, and the legendary W16 engine – everything feels purpose-built.
And that’s without even looking inside.
Hopefully, one day I’ll have the chance to photograph this engineering masterpiece in motion — on a race track or somewhere vast and empty, like the desert.
Creative Supercar Photography Beyond Bugatti
To finish, here are a few behind-the-scenes shots from the luxury car photography.
And it’s not only about the Bugatti Veyron. What about rare supercars like the Ferrari F40, Porsche 918, DeLorean, or Lotus Esprit? You can see those projects via the link below.
