Rossen Gargolov, a professional photographer in Germany, has been taking pictures for motorcycle magazines for 20 years. Before you take any photos he advises that you find the right place and a good position for the machine.
A place with a neutral background is ideal. Then you should take a few seconds to take a close look at your bike. Each motorcycle looks different: some machines look good from the front, some from the side, others from the back.
The light is also important. The best time to take a photo is either in the morning or the evening. "The earlier in the morning and the later in the evening, the more beautiful the photos will be," Gargolov says.
Morning light seems a bit whiter and cooler, evening light more yellow and warmer. "I would avoid harsh, midday light," the photographer says.
You don't need professional photo equipment either: "Modern smartphones now offer good photo quality."
Taking the photo in portrait mode is a good idea because the bike will be in focus while the background will be blurred. "That makes the motorcycle stand out," Gargolov says.
He advises against shots with a wide-angle lens, if your phone has one, because these will visually warp components of the machine. It's also better to do without a flash.
Daniel Wollstein, motorcyclist, photographer, and managing director of a photo agency in Germany, has been photographing motorcycles professionally for twelve years.
As a perspective, he recommends a three-quarter view from the front so that as much of the machine as possible can be photographed.
"It looks nice when the whole bike can be seen from the front wheel to the rear light and the light from the rear sweeps over the side of the machine," Wollstein says.
"The streaks of light mould all three-dimensional aspects of the motorcycle, making it looks closer and more alive."
For photos of cruising bikes he uses focal lengths as long as possible (between 80mm and 100mm) so as not to distort the proportions of individual components.
Sports and racing bikes he photographs with small focal lengths of between 35mm and 50mm in order to show small components such as headlights and handlebars to their best effect.
When photographing enduro bikes he takes them from the side using an 80mm lens so as to capture the large fuel tank and high seating position.
