Bike Photography

[w108rna]

I folks.

I was wondering if i could trouble you to answer a simple question for me. Would you pay to have your pride and joy (Bike or Car that is), photographed in a professional studio, and if so, what price would you expect to pay? The pictures would appear on a white studio type background, and could then be made into a large poster print, place matt, Calender (if your lucky enough to have 12 toys) etc etc.

I know there are people who have profession photo's of themselves done, but would you do your vehicle. Especially interested if you have a customised/restored, one-off Bike/Car.

Thanks

Mark

[CK & AK]

Hi Mark,
Unfortunately, have never paid for this - have you tried submitting a snap/article to one of the bike mags about your bike?
This is how we got one of ours into streetfighter many years ago (kwak turbo), and also AKs drag car into a muscle car mag too.
The last time, the bike was 'spotted' (the tri-colour) soon after it went on the road - and we got an invite to get the photos done at a studio in Crawley for Streetfighter mag.
Made for an interesting day out (specially for the lads, as there was a 'page 3' girl draping herself over the bike..... :rolleyes: ) , and AK got a FOC copy of the mag, along with a whole sheaf of photos too.
You could always try the mags & see if their photographers might be available for a 'paying job' - they often seem to get the best angles etc

C:)

[w108rna]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually thinking of opening a photo studio where you can bring your Bike/Car down and have it photographed professionally. I know some people wouldn't think of this, hence wondering whether people who had invested alot of time and/or money would be interested???

Mark

[Byron Kauffman]

Hello Mark;

Over the last few years there have seen traveling photographers show up in Daytona for Bike Week. They set up a basic outdoor studio in a temporary location. They roll your bike onto a neutral color background and shoot digital photos. You pick the background you want from a catalog and it is added digitally. The photographer uses a large scale image printer to produce posters on the spot or can ship them to your address since you probably have no room to carry the print. I do not know what the charge is for the service.
A friend with a bike shop has one of the posters in his shop of a customers Honda 400 four. It looks good but obvious to me that it is a digital image with the background added. I am a commercial artist and photographer so I am probably a little too critical. Considering it gives the average person a chance to have a really decent photograph of thier bike there must be a market for the service. I think being right at a motorcycle event is probably the best way to get the impulse purchase.

[CK & AK]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually thinking of opening a photo studio where you can bring your Bike/Car down and have it photographed professionally. I know some people wouldn't think of this, hence wondering whether people who had invested alot of time and/or money would be interested???

Mark

oops! Sorry - thought you were wanting to get pics done:o

Good luck:)

[Scotty]

in this digital revolution i wouldnt be suprised that anyone mate doesnt have a 'top' camera to take images with.
if you have a studio id guess you wount just be limiting your services to motorvehicules but wedding cakes etc ?

id possibly pay for a good , realy good, poster sized print though

[Perryl]

I folks.

I was wondering if i could trouble you to answer a simple question for me. Would you pay to have your pride and joy (Bike or Car that is), photographed in a professional studio, and if so, what price would you expect to pay? The pictures would appear on a white studio type background, and could then be made into a large poster print, place matt, Calender (if your lucky enough to have 12 toys) etc etc.



Hi Mark,

I believe that someone already advertises this service in one of the bike mags. Could be either PB or TWO but can't remeber exactly.

Regards

Perry

[STIVH]

My neighbour and a good friend does this for a living for quite a few bike and car mags he is based in Altrincham and yes he also gets to meet some of those stunning female attachments that hover in the foreground. They are as a rule genuinely pleasant folk to photograph unlike some of the models he has to shoot for design mags.

He also photographs plates of food and other mundane items for all sorts of magazines and advertising articles.

My daughter also did some modeling work for a photograher in Newcastle who also specialised in vehicle photography at another site and he mainly did a lot of work for workshop type magazines (foreign and UK)aswell as also the odd glamour shoot however he had to use a massive wharehouse that was permanently freezing bloody cold even in the summer and he said the money was ****e!!.

[mrtony]

"Quote"
"A friend with a bike shop has one of the posters in his shop of a customers Honda 400 four. It looks good but obvious to me that it is a digital image with the background added. "

Hey Byron,a mate of mine is also a Photographer,digital and 35mm film,onsite and studio.
And believe me,if he drops a shot into a background,unless you know it aint meant to be there,like your bike on the Moon,it looks like it was meant to be!!
I've seen 5 shots he took morphed into 1 for an advertising campaign,you couldn't see the joins!
Some of these computer guys get these pics almost pixel perfect,but you'll have to pay.
Probably in the region of £6-800 for half a day,I guess that's why he doesn't do too many weddings!!

You may be able to get a printers to enlarge a good picture,but it needs to be real high quality digital or it will pixellate as it gets bigger.
A good 35mm one might be just as good for enlarging,either way you normally pay alot more for a one off.

[banditloon]

As a pro tog... This is something I've been thinking about doing. Concentrating on MX and BSB is ok, but (especially BSB) doesn't pay too good, and indoor work this time of year is quite nice.

One thing I have noticed in many years of owning bikes, those biker folks are a vain lot! They love pictures of there pride and joy!

Luckily I have the ideal location which I'm sitting in at the moment. Large warehouse, empty at weekends and big enough to fit bikes/cars/40ft trailers in! I have seen a few flyers around offering the services your thinking of at Rykas and Newlands Corner, and until I get home tonight, I can't remember how much they charge.

I spend half my time faffing with my bikes. Two weeks ago, I just woke up, grabbed the gear and disappeared off to London. Just to try and get some photo's at some of the landmarks with the Monster. Only got one, as I was too cold!!!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/banditloon/IMG_0007a.jpg

I liked it, just wish the bike had stayed clean long enough!!! As for plain backgrounds, well if you like the showroom broucher way, its ok, but I like to find a nice brick wall somewhere for a backdrop.

Oh well, something to think about in the afternoon now :D

[Lowsider]

Nowt wrong with digital images...... As with any bit of this new technology its the person using it that makes it good or not.

In my current job I have the pleasure of meeting many world class photographers and use Digital and use our products to print.

You may have guessed I work for a manufacturer of printers. To the Pro's we sell a specific range that are excellent for fine art reproductions and excellent photographic prints up to and including a unit that will print on to roll media (paper) that is 44" wide and 30 metres long.

These are what most large prints are now done on especially if they are small orders eg one offs....

[madgaz]

w108rna im also in cheshire so if you find any1 let me no i would love some pictures of mine

[w108rna]

I'm living in Essex now but moving back up north (hopefully) in the new year.

[Thumper]

Theres actually 3 places in Milton Keynes that do automotive photography in a studio. Their prices range from £75 for a book of 12 prints, to £150 for manipulated digital images up to £200 for a shoot with a model.

Overpriced in my opinion, then again I can do it myself :biggrin:

At the Ace Cafe earlier this year there was a guy with a marquee set up doing exactly the same thing as you suggest. You could have your bike photographed as is, or with some half nekked burd wriggling all over it. It cost £25 for either shot.