If you find yourself in 2024 like me, group chats often become a part of our lives. One such active chat is with eleven of my car enthusiast friends. Most of them live in LA and regularly get together, whether it's for car-related activities or not. However, it's quite rare for all of us to be in the same place with our cars simultaneously. Recently, as some of us got new cars or planned to sell existing ones, we decided to set up a photoshoot to capture our fleet. And let me tell you, it was a decision we're extremely glad we made.

Planning the Photoshoot

Given our busy schedules, it took a long time to find a specific afternoon that would work for everyone. We planned the date two months in advance. My friend Nathan really deserves a shout-out as he played a crucial role in getting us organized. He had his Boxster ready at the front. Some friends had to rush directly from work, racing up Angeles Crest Highway to reach the photoshoot spot before sunset as there was no cell service there. My friend Cooper with the E90 M3 was out of town, but another friend drove it up to ensure it was part of the shot.

Dealing with Unforeseen Circumstances

Most of us in the group are either professional or amateur photographers. We had planned for a friend of a friend to bring a drone for the shoot. But unfortunately, that person backed out at the last minute. We thought, "Well, surely someone has a tripod in their car." But to our surprise, there wasn't one. The lead photo you see was taken by Ryan (the brown Macan GTS) with his camera while standing on Scott's shoulders (the purple E36 M3, which has since had an encounter with a rock wall on the same road).

The Final Shot and the Aftermath

Once we finally managed to get the perfect shot and the sun set shortly after, we couldn't believe we had pulled it off. It's a memory that will always bring a smile to our faces. Looking back on our car histories, this photoshoot will hold a special place. You should definitely consider doing the same with your friends. Have you already had fun photoshoots? If so, share them with us! Maybe I'll do a roundup of submissions if you all want to be featured on Jalopnik.