Introduction
Clothes are not just something we wear; they show who we are and what we like. They help us be different and have our style. If you own an online clothing store, the clothes you sell should be comfortable, stylish, and have choices.
It is essential to be careful about how you show your clothes in your store. The best way to do this is by taking great pictures of your clothes.
My cousin, Kate Lohar, an e-commerce store owner, wanted to attract customers to her clothing website. She realized the importance of high-quality product photos and invested in a professional photoshoot for her latest collection. The new images were eye-catching and helped her website see a massive boost in traffic and sales.
Are you interested to know about Clothing Photography? Well, if yes, follow the following guidelines to boost your sales.
Pre-plan for the clothing photography setup
Before taking photos of clothes, you must think about how you want to show them. You can either use people or mannequins to show the clothes on, or you can lay the clothes flat on a surface and take pictures. Using people or mannequins is better because it shows how the clothes look when someone is wearing them, but it costs more.
Laying the clothes flat is cheaper if you can not afford to use people or mannequins, but it could look better. When taking photos, do not just focus on the clothes; pay attention to the background.
Clothing photography equipment
To take good photos of clothing, you will need some equipment. The equipment you need will depend on how much money you want to spend. You can buy expensive gear if you wish for unique lights or displays or keep costs low by purchasing a few items. Here are the basic things you will need:
Camera:
You do not need an expensive camera to take good pictures of clothes. You can use your smartphone, like an iPhone or Android, to take great photos.
Tripod:
If you hold your camera by hand, it can make the picture shake. You can use a tripod that works with your camera to fix this. Tripods are affordable, easy to use, and help you take stable pictures.
Foam boards:
When you take pictures of clothes, sometimes the shadows make the image look too dark. A white foam board can reflect light and make the picture brighter.
Tape or clamps:
If you take pictures on a table, use tape or clamps to keep your clothes and foam boards in place.
Mannequin or model:
If you want to take lifestyle pictures of the clothes, you can ask a friend or family member to model the clothes for you. Or you can use a mannequin, which can cost around $80.
For flat-lay photography, you will need a table or flat surface. Place your clothes on the table and take the picture from above at a 90-degree angle to get a good shot.
Clothing Photography: 7 Steps to Getting the Perfect Shot
Taking photos of clothing for e-commerce purposes can be challenging, but with the proper preparation, equipment, and techniques, you can achieve high-quality results. Here are seven steps to help you get started:
Prepare your apparel
Before taking photos of your clothing, it is vital to ensure each item looks its best. To do this, examine each item closely, iron out any wrinkles, use a lint brush to remove dust, snip off any excess strings, and place it on a hanger or lay it out in the desired position. Taking the time to make these preparations beforehand will save you time and effort in the editing stage.
Set up your photography studio.
Your photography studio should have three key elements: a backdrop, lighting, and a camera. A white or light-colored background is ideal as it brings out the colors and minimizes distractions in your photos.
If you can put your studio in a room with plenty of natural light, you may not need to invest in artificial lighting. However, buying a lighting kit can be convenient if you have the budget.
Adjust lighting
The lighting for your clothing should be soft and even across each item. Diffusing the light with a softbox or umbrella at a 45-degree angle can help to achieve this.
Avoid placing the items too close to the backdrop, as this will create shadows in your photos. To get the exposure right, you can use your camera’s light meter if you use a DSLR.
Style the clothing
The way you style your clothing can have a significant impact on the final result. Several options include:
- A flat-lay approach.
- Hanging the items on a clothes hanger.
- Using human models.
- Using mannequins.
Set your camera
Familiarizing yourself with your camera’s settings is crucial for getting high-quality photos. Aperture controls focus and should be set above f-11 to ensure more aspects of your clothing are in focus.
ISO should be kept below 600-640; a tripod can be used to keep the ISO at 100 or 200 for optimal sharpness and clarity. White balance helps the camera interpret the color and should be set based on the type of light you are using or set to Auto.
Take the photo
Take photos of the items you want to sell on your online store. Make sure you take plenty of pictures of your products, by capturing them from various angles, such as straight on, at a 45-degree angle, and also from the side and the back.
If your products feature unique details, such as embroidery or beads, take close-up photos that show off these features fully. By doing so, your potential customers will get a clear and detailed view of the product.
Having multiple photos of each item is essential, as potential buyers will only purchase if they can fully see what the product looks like. Without clear and comprehensive images, you may have to deal with many returns from disappointed customers who received something different from what they expected.
Retouch and finalize
Once you have captured your photos, it is time to prepare them for your online store. Post-production processing aims to make your photos look professional and visually appealing.
You can hire a professional editor to handle the retouching process for you. This can be a cost and time-effective solution, especially if you need to become more familiar with product photo editing.
On the other hand, if you prefer to handle the editing process yourself, start by learning the basics of photo editing. Then, use an image editing app to improve your photos and make them suitable for sharing on all your sales and marketing channels.
Let’s take some beautiful clothing pictures today!
Capturing the beauty of your clothing items in photographs is a worthwhile pursuit. While having access to professional photography equipment or hiring experienced photographers can undoubtedly improve the quality of your images.
There are other ways to achieve visually stunning results. With a bit of practice and continuous learning, you can master the art of Clothing Photography and create your masterpiece. It is essential to remember that this is a journey, not a destination.
You may not achieve perfection with your first attempt, but with a dedication to practicing, learning, and enhancing your skills, you will gradually improve your results. Over time, you may even become a formidable competitor in E-Commerce photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a photo shoot studio for clothing photography?
To set up a photo shoot studio, arrange your photography equipment, prepare your clothing line, and position the lighting.
How do I style the clothes for a photoshoot?
When styling clothes for a photo shoot, choose the outfits you want to feature and arrange them visually appealingly. You can also accessorize and make any necessary adjustments to the clothing to create a polished look.
What is the best way to take pictures of t-shirts?
There are several ways to take pictures of t-shirts. You can hang them up and take photos, use a flat-lay setup, capture lifestyle shots of people wearing the shirts, or use t-shirt mockups to show off print-on-demand designs.
How do I take good pictures of clothes with an iPhone?
To take good pictures of clothes with an iPhone, find a spot near a window with natural light and place your clothing, whether flat or on a model, on a solid white background. You can always edit the photos using software to correct any imperfections.
What equipment is necessary for a clothing photography shoot?
Essential equipment for a clothing photography shoot includes a camera, lighting setup, a solid white background or backdrop, and any necessary props or accessories.
How do I edit the photos after a clothing photoshoot?
After a clothing photoshoot, you can edit the photos using software to adjust lighting, color, and other elements to achieve the desired look. You can also crop and resize the images for web use or printing.
Final Thoughts
Taking good photos of clothing takes practice. Do not worry if the images could be better at first. Instead, ensure you have the right equipment, such as lenses, lighting, backdrops, and accessories.
This equipment will help improve the quality of your final images. Pay attention to how you prepare, style, and set up each piece of equipment. It will help your clothes look their best in photos. Following the above guidelines, you can improve your Clothing Photography skills.
