HOW TO TAKE THE PERFECT PICTURE OF A MOTORCYCLE FOR A CLASSIFIED AD

Whether you run a motorcycle dealership, have an inventory of motorcycle aftermarket parts, or create a unique brand of motorcycle luggage, the best way to guarantee your business is successful is via advertisements. In this modern age, it is not enough to hand out flyers or have your business shown off on a billboard. It also requires understanding how social media works and how to use it to your advantage when raising awareness about your motorcycle brand. One of the most recognizable pieces of media is photographs, specifically cool-looking photos of motorcycles.

Whenever you are online and browsing motorcycle-related websites, the first thing that will often catch your attention is the photos of motorcycles. Whether it is an overview of a model’s design, a rider on top of a motorcycle, or a motorcycle propped up in front of a stylish background, you often have a better opinion of online businesses that show off professional-looking images.

To give your business an online presence, a reliable way to start is by including a gallery of motorcycles on your company’s website. But if you have little experience taking photos or do not know any expert photographers, then it may be difficult to get the images you need. But rather than spend your budget reaching out and hiring photographers outside your organization, it is possible to take the time to learn the steps to take the perfect picture of a motorcycle for a classified ad.

Your choice of camera will depend on how far away and in what kind of environment you plan to take pictures of your motorcycle. Though getting the most recently released camera will ensure you can access the latest features and better-quality images, you are not required to purchase the more expensive versions. So long as the camera produces clear images with color and does not have grainy or blurred pixels, it should be adequate to suit your needs.

If your bike is propped in front of a beautiful backdrop, such as a mountain, open field, or highway, you should be fine with a digital camera. If you wish to take photos of a motorcycle passing by while riding at high speed, you will need a camera that can quickly focus, has a reactive sensor, and capture multiple frames per second.

Though it is possible to take photos using your phone’s camera, it is hard to keep the camera stable and take a clear full-view picture with its relatively tiny lens. Just make sure that there is enough memory to store multiple photos and

In general, make sure that your camera is capable of capturing images that at least have 12 to 20 megapixels.

Before you start photographing the motorcycle, you want to make sure that it looks presentable. Carefully inspect the motorcycle’s frame to see if there are any visible signs of damage. If there are, you can position the motorcycle at an angle so that the side facing the camera looks clean. If the damage is too severe and cannot be hidden, get replacement parts or get another motorcycle.

When cleaning up the motorcycle, make sure to use a sponge and brush to thoroughly get rid of any debris stuck to the chassis, chain, wheels, brakes, and other visible parts. During cleaning, take the opportunity to closely inspect all the vital components in case you come across any broken parts that need to be replaced.

When picking a time to hold a motorcycle photo shoot, it is best to hold it when there is as much natural light as possible. Since borrowing a studio or getting lighting equipment may be outside of your budget, you should take advantage of the available sunlight in the morning or afternoon.

If you plan to take your photographs outdoors, you should do so during the mid-morning or late afternoon when the sun is at an angle. During these hours, the sunlight is not as harsh and does not produce such an intense glare as during noontime. Harsh sunlight would cause uneven distribution of light and cast long shadows that would obscure the view of the motorcycle.

Also, try to avoid photographing your motorcycle at night since there would be few reliable light sources, and the background would be difficult to make out.

Try to pick a location with surroundings that will draw attention to the motorcycle’s look. The location should have enough room so the motorcycle will be centered while the background is visible behind. Examples of appropriate locations are long open fields, colorful walls, along the side of a road, or in front of a garage.

When scouting for a location, compare the colors of the area and the motorcycle’s chassis and frame. For example, if your motorcycle has dark and muted colors, try to pick a natural environment with bright colors, like a grassy field or a painted wall. The contrasting brightness in colors between the motorcycle and its surroundings will help make it easier to draw attention to the former.

To ensure your photographs look professional, you want to make sure everything captured in the images is supposed to be there. When picking a location, check that the area within view of your camera’s lens is free of any distractions that could divert attention away from the motorcycle. Common examples of distractions include other vehicles, landmarks, people, or animals. Try to move as many distractions out of the way, cordon off the area to prevent entry into the photo area, or adjust the angle where you are facing the motorcycle.

Keep in mind that you do not need a clear, cloudless day for there to be perfect photography conditions. It is still possible to capture clear images of the motorcycle even with a few clouds overhead. Just make sure it is not raining and that there is enough clearance for natural light.

If there is no cover and you have to photograph in harsh sunlight, position the camera so that the sun is behind and the motorcycle is in front. This should help reduce the brightness of the glare and ensure you can still capture a clear image of the entire motorcycle’s frame.

Never use the flash on your camera since the light would not adequately illuminate the motorcycle and the surrounding background. Plus, the sudden flash of light may cause the lighting to become disrupted and cause sharp light to reflect off the motorcycle’s chassis.

After you have cleaned the motorcycle, settled on a location, and set up the motorcycle, try to figure out the ideal angle and lighting to get the best possible images. Trying as many different approaches to show off every side of the motorcycle will help you determine the best way to capture as much of the motorcycle’s frame and features as possible.

You may find that you are not satisfied with the images that aim at a motorcycle from a certain angle, the lighting is too bright from one position, and you cannot keep the motorcycle centered from a specific side. This allows you to make changes to your approaches, adjusting the factors mentioned earlier to see what works and what does not.

After you have settled on the best methods to take photographs, take as many photos of the motorcycle as possible from varying distances and angles. Taking multiple photos from the same position may seem like a waste of memory space, but doing so will ensure that you have several high-quality images to choose from and can discard the ones with flaws that went unnoticed during the shoot.

Since consumers will want to examine every detail of the motorcycle, you will need to take photos from low and high angles from every possible side. Make sure that your gallery at least has several far and close-up shots that together provide a full picture of the motorcycle.

If the motorcycle you are showing off has unique features or characteristics that make it different from other models from multiple brands, make sure to take close-up shots of them from different angles.

Common examples of components, parts, or features that you could focus on are the engine, handlebars, seat, crash bars, fairings, luggage racks, sissy bars, sissy bar pads, wheels, instruments, and other accessories unique to the motorcycle. Make sure to include a short description with the photos explaining what makes them distinct.

Taking photographs of motorcycles to advertise your business is a popular and effective way to get more attention online. However, though cameras are readily available, it does take extensive planning and proper technique to capture high-quality images of motorcycles. Taking into account the condition of the motorcycle, the location, timing, and other factors that help show it in the most flattering light possible will help determine whether the photos will be successes or failures. If you make sure to follow the steps to take the perfect picture of a motorcycle, you will get authentic photographs that will help contribute to your company’s growing reputation.