Watch Photography in the Rain: Car Wrist Shots That Pop
How to turn a downpour into your personal mobile photo studio — with lessons straight from Hodinkee and Worn & Wound
It was one of those Pacific Northwest afternoons where the sky just gives up and unloads — the kind where rain doesn't fall so much as it sheets. You're sitting in your car, watching droplets race each other across the windshield… and you realize something:
This is the perfect moment for a killer watch photo.
Rainy-day car wrist shots have become a sub-genre in watch photography. You've seen them on Hodinkee, Worn & Wound, and enthusiast Instagram pages — moody, contrast-rich images where the watch glows against a backdrop of blurred raindrops and soft window light.
Here's exactly how to capture those dramatic, atmospheric images using nothing but your phone, your watch, and a rainy day.
1. Use the Car as a Soft-Light Studio
Your car is basically a giant softbox. Rain clouds diffuse the sunlight, and the windshield adds another layer of softening.
The result: zero harsh shadows, perfect for watch photography.
Position your wrist so the light flows across the dial from the side — usually from the driver or passenger window. This brings out brushing, chamfers, and dial texture.
2. Harness the Raindrop Bokeh
The rain is your background. Let the droplets blur into creamy, abstract bokeh by focusing on the watch and letting the background fall out of focus.
To maximize the effect:
- Get close to the watch (macro mode helps)
- Tap the watch on your screen to focus
- Move your background farther away to increase blur
Windshield + distance + raindrops = perfect mood.
3. Use Dark Clothing for Contrast
Rainy-day shots look best with contrast between wrist and dial.
Try wearing a dark hoodie, jacket, or shirt. The darker your wrist area, the more the dial pops — especially blues, silvers, and blacks.
4. Angle the Watch Slightly Toward the Light
Tilting the watch 5–15 degrees catches the soft natural light and reveals dial details — especially on textures like honeycomb, sunburst, or matte finishes.
Too flat = dull. Too angled = glare.
Find that sweet spot where the dial seems to glow.
5. Clean the Crystal (Yes, Even in the Rain)
Even the best shot is ruined by fingerprints or streaks.
Pro trick: use the inner hem of your hoodie or shirt to do one quick swipe before shooting. Even with rain around you, the inside fabric stays dry.
Bonus: Use Manual Exposure to Control Mood
On iPhone: tap the watch → slide your finger up/down to adjust exposure. On Android: same idea, tap to focus → exposure slider.
Lower exposure = moodier, richer colors
Raise exposure = bright, editorial look
Both work — just match the tone of your watch.
A Few Example Styles
Stormy Cinematic
Low exposure, strong contrast, deep blues
Clean Editorial
Bright tones, soft shadows
Film-Like
Slightly warm white balance + grain added in post
Try It With Your Seals Watch
Watches like the Model B Land // Sea look phenomenal in rainy-day car shots thanks to their combination of brushing, polished accents, and bold dial colors.
Next time the sky opens up, don't run inside — stay in the car, pull out your phone, and turn the storm into your own private studio.