Now I'm no photography expert, but I have been enthusiastic about photos as long as I remember, and am pleased when I manage to take a good photo!

Some time ago, when trying to improve the quality of my bike adverts, I looked into learning some basic tricks to take better bike photos.

This took me from taking pretty bad bike photos...

...to taking better bike photos

But I still wanted to improve, so I searched out a few more tips and tricks to make your bike look its best.

Again, I'm no authority on the subject, but here's what I learned.

1. Sometimes it's good to be a perfectionist

I'd always like to take ever better bike photos, and often see little mistakes that I could have improved.

Looking at my last "best" bike photo of which I'm quite proud, I'll see things I could have done better.

For example, in the Colnago Tecnos photo below the saddle height looks too low for the bike (actually it's the handlebars that are too high and at an incorrect angle, with brake levers tilted too high).

Now I can't look at this photo without wincing! (I must take a better set now that I've adjusted it...)

2. It's all about the details

The main secret to taking great bike photos are the details. And there's a lot of details!

It's fascinating to me how the tiny, individually imperceptible details add up to a whole that is elevated to the next level.

These details are the higher hanging fruit which lift a bike photo. Each of the following things will sound individually ridiculous, but add them all together... and I promise you'll have something special:

  • Biggie smalls: put the chain on the big chain ring, and smallest rear sprocket
  • Tyre position: when replacing tyres, line up the manufacturer logo on the opposite side to the valve stem
  • Peekaboo: hide the valve stem behind the fork/stays (can be tricky to keep them in position while leaning the bike on a wall)
  • Pedal cranks: line up the crank with the rear stay
  • No chimney: get the stem as low as possible, without a stack above it if possible
  • Trim the fat: get rid of bags, bottles, computers, aero bars etc.
  • Saddle position: should be perfectly level

3. Time of day

Whatever location and background you choose will be facing a particular direction. Meaning the shadows will head in a certain position, or the wall will cast a shadow on the bike, at a given time of day.

In general I prefer to avoid midday, and like to have some shadow contrasting the frame at an oblique angle, but this is just personal preference.

4. #nofilter

By all means if you're doing a wallpaper for your computer, tablet or phone, go for it, but I'm not a fan of filters on bike ads.

Better to keep it honest, and highlight the colours of the bike. Especially for an advert, show the bike in it's best light, but also don't hide the scuffs and knocks. It's best not to inadvertently waste someone's time by promising something better than reality.

5. Background

This is a really tricky one.

As you might have noticed, over the years I've tried various backgrounds, and tend to stick with my favourite wall. I can't believe I even have a favourite wall... this literally sounds like the most boring thing in the world "did I tell you about my favourite wall?". However, this particular wall has: texture, simplicity, neutral colour, is south facing (in the northern hemisphere) and is really close to where I (used to) live.

Since moving house I have not been able to find a better bike photo wall. I'm literally the guy wandering around my neighbourhood in search of a good wall... 🤦‍♂️😅

There are great photos of bikes against graffiti covered walls, but I generally find these backgrounds visually distracting and only use this occasionally for colour contrast.

There's also great photos of bikes against no wall at all, using the "friend lets go of the wheel and moves hand out of frame while you take some quick burst shots before they grab it again" technique. I've never tried this one myself...

Or some choose to prop the pedals against a rock or root (I'm really not a fan as a rock will scratch the pedal).

6. Practice makes perfect

In every photo in this post you'll see many little mistakes. In fact I don't think I've ever remembered my entire above checklist on any single photo. There's always some little thing I forget and then see once I've got home.

So just take more photos. You can only improve with practice.

And this is also a good excuse to buy more bicycles. If you needed one 😉

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