Selling clothes online involves having photos that help convince your customers to buy the clothes. If you want to know how to take photos to sell clothes online, you have come to the ideal place because through this article I will try to guide you in the world of product photography, considering all the necessary aspects, from the materials you need, types of photos to sell clothes that abound in e-commerce to great tips and ideas to have the best photos to sell clothes.
So have your camera handy, a notebook and get ready to make the leap from selfie photographer to professional fashion and haute couture photographer. If possible!
Types of photos to sell clothes
Before starting, you need to know the types of photos to sell clothes most frequently used in e-commerce. That way you will know what you want to recreate and what goes best with your brand identity. Now I explain each of them.
With mannequin 🎎
The photos to sell clothes with a mannequin are all those images that you can find that have been made using a support underneath, whether they are realistic, abstract, headless, sports mannequins or using a sewing mannequin.
With model 💃
Whether they are friends, family or models hired especially for taking pictures, these types of photos are those taken with a person who shows how your products look on. They provide their own style and it is the closest thing to a fashion magazine image.
On flat bottom (flat lay) 💬
It’s called photography. flat lay to all those images taken on a flat background. This photographic style consists of placing a garment on a flat surface and taking the photo from above, that is, from above. It can be done on a white background, to avoid color contamination of the garment, or on a neutral background.
With “invisible” mannequin 👻
This style of photographs are those that present the product as if a transparent model or an “invisible mannequin” were wearing the clothes. Usually this effect is done in post-production, editing the outer image together with the inner one, in order to make the outer part of the garment join with the inner part.
What do you need to take photos of clothes to sell?
To take photos of clothes to sell you do not necessarily require a super professional stage or an ultra advanced camera, but you can do it with simple tools that you have at home or adapting some of them to have a better performance.
Basic elements to take photos of clothes to sell
- Lightning;
- Camera or mobile device with a camera;
- Background to take the photo;
- Photo tripod.
Optional items to take photos of clothes to sell
- Light box;
- Manikin;
- Model;
- clothes hooks
Depending on the type of clothing photo you want to take, these will be the elements that you must consider to make your shooting.
📷 Photographer tip: There are always cheap ways to do it! If you don’t have a big budget, you can improvise a photo studio with white cardboard, a lamp, tape and white cloth. You will see that the result will be great.
How to take photos to sell clothes?
Now that you know the different types of photos you could take and the necessary materials, the time has come for you to learn how to take photos to sell clothes, from the process of preparing and selecting clothes to the different considerations that you should have in each one of them. the styles. We hope that these tips will be very useful to you.
How to prepare the clothes to take a photo 👕
Before starting the photo session, it is necessary that you have prepared the clothes of which the photos will be taken. Follow these steps to have the pieces to be photographed ready:
1. Make the selection of pieces
Choose the garments to portray based on the attributes you want to portray. Is it the design of the garment? The fabric? The colors?. When you have selected the garments, hang them on clothes hooks to prevent the fabric from being damaged. Choosing garments in small sizes will help you have better control of the material and avoid unnecessary wrinkles or folds.
2. Iron them
The camera doesn’t lie. Remove folds and wrinkles with a steam iron. That way you will have better control of the garments and they will always look like they came out of a shop window.
3. Wash them (if necessary)
Each fabric has its peculiarities. If you will photograph clothes with very stiff materials or that at first sight may seem rigid, give them a wash and iron before taking a photo. That way the fabric will be in better condition and the photos will look more organic.
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How to prepare your studio to take photos of clothes 📷
Once you have the clothes ready, it is time to prepare the place where you will carry out the photo session. By following these steps you can have your photography studio ready for shooting in a matter of minutes.
1. Select the location
Not all of us have the advantage of having a professional studio at home or paying the rent for one. If you’re setting up your studio at home, make sure you pick a good location. You should choose a place with good lighting, spacious, that allows you to connect lamps or light boxes and where you can install different backgrounds and photographic composition elements, if you have planned it that way.
2. Gather your materials
Have everything at hand! Avoid wasting time or doing long sessions by having all the necessary materials for taking pictures close to you. From the garments, to the lamps, mannequins and other elements, everything must be in the same place. This way you will avoid delays and spending extra money for equipment rental or extra time for models.
3. Set up your studio
Having all the elements at hand, it only remains to assemble the set, order the clothes and place the lighting in the required direction to start the photo session. Let the fun begin!
How to take photos to sell clothes using mannequin 👗
Using a mannequin for taking photos has many advantages, such as styling quickly, it is relatively simple and it avoids the extra expense of paying models. Now I explain how to take photos to sell clothes using a mannequin.
1. Position the mannequin
Yes, choosing the location of the mannequin is important, since depending on the angle you choose, it will be the angles at which you can display your garments. Position him in front of the camera and try to take various angles when taking photos, some of the most important ones being front, back and sides.
2. Dress up the mannequin
Dress the mannequin with your clothes trying to make them look as they would on any person. You can use hooks or clips to form a waist or adjust the garment to the dimensions of the support. This will make your garments look more and highlight the cut or manufacture of the garments.
3. Fix the lighting
Once you have dressed the mannequin, adjust the lighting to favor the angles you will photograph, avoiding dimly lit sides or overexposure of the images when shooting the camera.
How to take photos to sell clothes recreating the “invisible” mannequin? 👻
To take the “invisible” mannequin photos you must take photos with a matte or white mannequin, to later replace it in post production. Be sure to capture the insides of the garments (such as the neckline or sleeves). You can do this by taking a photo of the garment inside out on the mannequin itself. Thus, with these two photographs, it will be possible to carry out the photographic edition and obtain the effect you want.
📷 Photographer tip: If your garment is in light colors, use a mannequin in dark colors. If it is dark clothes, opt for a white mannequin color or in light colors. This will help make editing easier.
How to take photos to sell clothes using model 👖
If you have the advantage of having the support of a model who can wear your clothes, taking pictures becomes relatively easier, however there are certain considerations that must be taken into account. Here I explain.
1. Position the model
If possible, before the photo session plan what images you require for your website, that way you will have in mind the angles to cover. Usually the necessary shots are front and back, sides and an extra photo as a suggestion of use, however you have unlimited creative possibilities in terms of the style you want to portray.
2. Fix the lighting
Depending on the model, its height, as well as the background you have, you will have to fix the lighting. You can lean on rings or light boxes to have a soft and diffused light. Fixing the lighting will help you avoid rework in the post-production of the images.
3. Take advantage of your resources
If you are dedicating yourself to a shooting photography, working with models, and doing this task professionally, it’s worth getting as much material as possible from this effort. By having models, you have the advantage of being able to combine it with videos and outdoor photography, which will add a distinctive character to your brand and you will be able to have material to promote your garments on social networks.
How to take photos to sell clothes on a plain background (flat lay) 👔
The photo on a plain background may seem simple, however it requires relevant production work to make everything look incredible. Here I explain some of the considerations you should take into account about taking photos to sell stylish clothes flat lay:
1. Assemble the background to take the photo
Setting the stage for taking photos is a relevant issue. You can choose a white background, a green background (if you want to replace it in post-production), or whatever you prefer, either with your brand colors or textures, like wood, stone, etc. Just take into account that the background should not chromatically contaminate the photographs, so you should adjust it according to the color and the garments you photograph.
2. Fix the lighting
Any professional photographer will tell you that it is not the same to capture images on a white background than on a colored background. So he considers the lighting the garments will need to avoid harsh shadows or reflections contaminating the shot. Remember that being on a flat background, the lighting must be adjusted to the angle at which you will take the photo.
3. Capture in various positions
Yes, not only is the front necessary when capturing photos of clothes with a flat background, but you can play with the composition of the image including elements related to the collection, suggestions for combinations or even adding significant elements of your brand such as stickers, logos on vinyl or products that are also available in your store.
✨Bonus: Funds to sell clothes
There are multiple types of funds to sell clothing. Here I list some of the most popular. Each one adds identity to your brand and gives you benefits when planning the photographic composition.
- Neutral;
- Color;
- Floral;
- With textures;
- With elements…
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