I have received a call from a client who hired another photographer to shoot some home fitness shots. The client has a fitness product that is used in the home. I think it is a video product. He was not pleased with the other photographer's work and called me.

In the past I have had trouble posting photographs here but I will try again.

Anyway, I have a pretty good idea how to improve the photos, but could use some suggestions to see if there is something I have not thought of.

Please don't tell me that I shouldn't take the job if I don't know what to do. That's very annoying and very common here. As I said, I have a good idea what to do, but I want to see if anyone has further suggestions.

The problems I see with these photos is that:

1 . The people aren't smiling

2. The black outfits on some of the models don't show any detail or contour and make the models look like a black blob.

3. In one photo the black furniture is behind the model and blends in with her black outfit and it looks like crap.

4. Some of the models are backlit and don't have enough light on their faces to compensate for the shadows.

5. One photo was shot with a flash off to the side and created a shadow on the wall and the flash doesn't seem to be modified by a diffuser like a softbox, making the light very harsh.

6. There are way too many background articles and they are too much in focus and detract from the main subject. The photos should look clean. These look cluttered.

7. There are no pictures from behind showing the screen as they are working out. The product is a video but you don't get to see the product on the screen.

Can you guys see anything that I have missed or do you have any suggestions on how I can improve the photos that I may not have thought of? Techniques that might work better? Equipment needed?