Keep the front end straight, not turned like we usually park them They had a pretty good article in American Iron a year or so ago. You might be able to check their archives for it

 

Put a hot chick in front of it

 

Don't be close enough that you can see your shadow or refection in the picture. Pay attention to back round, don't want trees growing out of bike someplace. Don't put anything in the backround that will take away from the bike unless it is a woman!

 

BSB is correct. That's how I do it.

 

Says the man with a background full of trees in his picture.

The background has just as much to do with "making the shot" as the foreground does.

 

A buddy of mine who is a commercial photographer would disagree with this statement. He's been in the business for about 30 years now and he's a "one shot one kill" kinda guy, even in the era of digital cameras. He looks for that perfect shot (or at least the shot he's looking for), sometimes waiting a long time for it, then he shoots it.

With that being said, your average camera newbie that leaves his camera set on auto most of the time, like me, your advice is spot-on.

 

Get a tripod and try not to use the flash! Like others have said....take a ton of pictures! I am by no means a professional, but I am a graphic artist which you have to take photo classes to graduate....and when I shoot pics of my bike, I bet I take atleast 100...and about 5-10 are good!

 

Cycle Source did a 4 issue series on photographing early last year, extremely helpful.

Mid afternoon is the worst time to shoot due to shadows. Put the camera on manual focus and make the background or other parts of the bike out of focus.

Some of the best advice I've gotten was going up to someone with a pro camera and ask them questions.

 

Make sure that the women are at least are always topless.

 

damn even more good tips, and it sucks about the cycle source mag. i used to read that **** all time but i can find it any more. i will try to find it on the internet