Apparel Photography – The Detailed Apparel Photography Guide

Apparel photography isn’t a hard nut to crack. So, fret not; go ahead and nail your first episode of apparel photography. Here I am showing  how to take apparel photography step by step:

Step 1- Sketch the Visual Style:

Think about how you want to visualize your product before photographing it. The visual style depends on where you will publish the image –

• If you publish on an e-commerce website or online shop, you must photograph using a white background. 
• You can capture flat-lay moods using a few props to publish on social media. 

Next comes the choice of texture, background and props based on clothes style. Finally, design a sketch based on the idea. 

Step 2- Choose the Visual Mood: 

Once you sketch the idea, you already know how to visualize the apparel using which mood. You can select any of the below moods to visualize your apparel product: 

• Model: Hiring a model is an expensive but superior way to visualize apparel products from any angle that flatters your clothing. It helps customers relate to your product with a higher degree of professionalism. If you have enough budget, you can hire a model. Otherwise, you can ask your friends or family members to be models for your product. 

• Mannequins: If you can’t manage the model, you can select the mannequin as an affordable, consistent, and easy alternative. The realistic human shape will also give a vibe of how it will look after wearing. While using a dummy, ensure the clothing items fit the mannequin. If it seems loose, you can tuck the outfit using a staple or a safety pin. Showing the mannequin if you smell distracting or cheapened the product, implement Ghost Mannequin Services for a professional touch.

 Effective Tip: Use a straight standing mannequin for your apparel product. Keep in touch with Cut Out Image to get Ghost Mannequin Services at an affordable price.

• Flat lay: Flat-lay photography captures photos from the above, placing the items flat on the surface. It is also called the bird’s-eye view that generates beautiful apparel product photos. It is the easiest and most cost-effective way, mostly seen on social media- Instagram and Pinterest. You can often use it on websites for clothing items like T-shirts, trousers, sweaters, jeans, socks, etc., to create a cool visual. To assemble the flat-lay view, lay a cardboard or white paper sheet on the ground and arrange your products with related accessories using a theme. Check out my another blog on “Flat Lay Clothing Photography” to get more information. 

Hanger: A cloth hanger will be fine to photograph your apparel product. Visualizing your product at eye level using a hanger is a simple and cost-saving technique. All you need is a hanger and the apparel product that you have to hang against a white background. Lightweight materials, like silk-made products, work best for this technique.

Step 3- Prepare the Apparel Product: You can achieve your goal and save editing time with good preparation. So, once you generate the idea and decide on the visual mood, it’s time to prepare the production line to get everything ready. To prepare the product, do the following before photographing- 

• Clean the product using detergent and liner Roller to ensure dust, debris and hair-free appearance.
• Iron or steam the apparel product to ensure there is no wrinkle. 
• Pay attention to the details.
• Remove the tag or labels from the apparel to avoid distracting viewers. If any remain by mistake, remove them using the image post-production. 

Using Photoshop, an expert can fix wrinkles, dust and strings. Still, I only recommend this if you have Photoshop knowledge.

Step 4 – Set Up Photography Studio: 

I suggest setting up an apparel photography studio in this step. Make sure the area or the studio is clean and organized to do photography accurately. You don’t need a large professional studio. You can use the home space with a backdrop, three-point lighting, a tripod, and a camera setup. If you have more budget, you can invest in a few more equipment for improved results. 

• Camera: Place the camera directly in front of the subject with the correct settings. Set it on the Tripod to ensure stable photos. Ensure the equipment is charged and extra memory is kept as backup. However, don’t forget to avail of Insurance for Photographers if you are a professional photographer to have financial back for any accident to your camera equipment.  
• Background: Use Solid Background Colors, mainly white, for e-commerce. Buying a seamless paper, tape it to your wall and curve it onto the ground to eradicate any folds. Don’t pick any rustic brick wall for a modern dress. Place the subject (mannequin/model/items) between the backdrop and camera. Ensure you don’t put the subject too close to the background to avoid unwanted shadows. 
• Lighting: Well-lit your studio room with proper lighting; otherwise, your photo will pay the price. Natural lighting is inexpensive but uncontrollable. You should also arrange for artificial lighting kits, including A light head, softbox or umbrella, C-stand, pocket wizard, etc. Before buying, research to find the best fit for you. Place the light source and softbox at a 45-degree angle to ensure soft and even lighting on the product. 

Step 5 – Check Your Camera Settings: 

A good camera with the correct craft differentiate an expert-created photo from a nonexpert. Compared with DSLR cameras, Mirrorless is the best, but you don’t need it if you can’t afford it. However, you can utilize your smartphone camera if you have less budget. Set the camera (Mirrorless/DSLR/Smartphone) on a tripod with the correct settings and face the item for a steady shot. Set the camera as below settings- 

• Aperture: Aperture focuses on keeping most parts of the subject in the whole picture. Apparel Photography requires a high f/stop above f-11.  
• Shutter Speed: Shutter speed directs the timeline of the shutter to stay open. During Apparel Photography, set it almost 1/125. 
• ISO Sensitivity: Higher ISO distracts with noise. So, to create a sharp and clear photo, set ISO between 100 and 200 range on a tripod. Extend the ISO range between 400-800, depending on the light source. 
• White Balance: Without White Balance, the camera will record a picture with a blue or orange filter. White balance interprets the color based on the light type. So, keeping it Auto and letting the camera fix is better. 

Step 6 – Start Photographing Apparel Products:

Now comes the main part of the game of Apparel Photography. 

• Place the camera on a tripod or hard surface if you don’t have a tripod. 
• Position the model or mannequin at the center of the camera frame, covering most of the canvas. 
• Don’t use digital zoom since it lowers image quality by cropping the image during capture. 
• After pressing the shutter, setting 2-second-timer mode will allow the camera to re-focus the subject.
• Show the product details- fabric, stitching, zips, buttons, embroidery, designs, etc. related to the apparel item. It will help answer customers’ queries.  
• Capture in raw format from different angles- front, back, 45 degrees, left, right as many as possible. Remember to capture close-up shots to show details of the product.  

Step 7 – Refine your captures: 

None can ensure a stunning photo with a single click. Even an experienced professional sits to refine the captures. So, after clicking, you should sit to improve the images and make them all look uniform for your online store. You must fix issues and implement apparel photography services based on the photo quality. 

As a novice, you might not generate the desired result but ruin the images. To get flawless results, you should hire a professional service provider. Moreover, it will save you time to focus on other things.

 Helpful Link: Need apparel product photography? Contact Cut Out Image for affordable service at Cut Out Image.