How to Create Striking Clothing Photography

July 2, 2023
6:00 pm
Industry Insights
Catalog Photography, Fashion Photography

Creating stunning Clothing Photography can be hugely rewarding, both creatively and financially. Whether designing clothes to sell online or creating content for a fashion blog, having a professional-looking photograph of them is essential in getting people interested. This article will explain what it takes to generate standout shots that make your garments shine!

Essential Equipment for Professional Clothing Photography

Regarding your Clothing Photography shoot, your chosen equipment heavily relies on your budget. You can keep costs down by investing in affordable items or splurging higher-end gear for unique lighting and displays. Let’s explore the essential equipment for your shoot.

Camera

As a new clothing retailer, you can easily manage photoshoots with a smartphone. Don’t worry about investing in an expensive DSLR camera – use whatever camera you have on hand, whether it’s a digital camera, a point-and-shoot, or your trusty smartphone.

Lighting

To capture stunning Clothing Photography, lighting is vital. Suppose you have the luxury of a room with ample natural light streaming through a window that can be your ideal shooting location. However, artificial lighting options, such as a softbox, are essential if natural light is limited or unavailable.

Stay calm with the plethora of photography lighting kits available online. Starting out, you don’t need to invest in LED lights and reflectors right away. It’s best to keep your setup simple and focus on mastering the basics behind the camera. Once you feel more confident, you can gradually introduce new elements to elevate your fashion shoots.

Tripod

Capture steady shots with ease using a tripod. Say goodbye to blurry images caused by camera shakes during your photo shoots. Attach your camera to the tripod, frame your subject, and snap away. Finding the perfect tripod for your specific camera is essential for optimal performance. Don’t compromise on quality and stability; choose a tripod compatible with your gear.

Backdrop

White backgrounds can bring a professional aesthetic to your Clothing Photography. Consider investing in a paper white sweep, a sizable roll of white paper that allows you to create clean and seamless backgrounds for your clothing shots. If the sweep is soiled, cut off the dirty section and roll out a fresh, pristine sheet.

Mannequins or models

While mannequins are a helpful tool for Clothing Photography, there is also an alternative option. You can ask friends or family members to model your clothing, creating a more personal touch.

Alternatively, a flat surface or table can be an excellent choice if you’re looking for a different approach. This is particularly popular for brands utilizing flat-lay photography, where the clothing is laid out on the surface and photographed from above at a 90-degree angle. With this option, you can showcase your clothing in a visually appealing and professional manner.

7 Steps for Stunning Clothing Photography

Get Ready for Perfect Clothing

Ensure your products shine in every image. Unfortunately, clothing can get wrinkled and worn during storage and transport. This is especially true for clothing samples that have traveled miles and may need to be more perfectly constructed.

Preparing your garments for Clothing Photography is a crucial first step, yet many photographers need to pay more attention to it and rely on editing software to fix issues. But here’s the truth: Photoshop is a challenging fix. It requires time and expertise, and excessive editing can compromise image quality.

Instead, aim to capture your garments in their best state possible and use Photoshop for final touches and color correction.

Inspect your product meticulously, inspecting every aspect both externally and internally. Are there any tags, stickers, or other identifying materials that need to be removed? Has the product developed wrinkles or creases while in storage? Utilize ironing or steaming techniques to restore its pristine appearance.

Additionally, ensure that any damages are repaired and any distractions are eliminated. You can efficiently remove dust or lose threads using lint rollers or adhesive tape.

Set up the Perfect Photo Studio

Creating a professional photo studio is easier than you think. With just a few essential items, you can transform any room into a space for stunning Clothing Photography. All you need is a camera, tripod, white wall, C-stand, duct tape, and natural light. And if you’re willing to invest a bit more, you can have even greater control over your shooting environment.

But first, make sure to clear away any clutter. A clean and organized space will allow you to do your best work.

Right Camera and Techniques

While your camera is essential for capturing stunning Clothing Photography, it’s not the only factor that contributes to your success. Make sure to spend on a camera with others. Instead, invest in a DSLR with manual exposure and aperture settings, or utilize your smartphone for an inexpensive alternative.

Ensure stability and consistency in your shots by using a tripod. This essential tool eliminates camera shakes and allows you to focus on other tasks. You don’t need to break the bank to get a good tripod, but using one is crucial.

Position your camera on the tripod to directly face the product. Avoid moving the camera during the shoot, and instead adjust the product for different angles. This approach saves time and keeps your shots consistent.

Professional Lighting

Natural window light is a fantastic option for Clothing Photography, providing high-quality illumination at a low cost. But what if you don’t have access to ample natural light? That’s where investing in an easy-to-use lighting kit comes in.

Artificial lighting equipment allows you to shoot anytime, regardless of the lighting conditions outside. This added versatility could significantly improve your efficiency, while consistent lighting helps you achieve a professional standard. For a single light setup, you’ll need a few key components: a light head, softbox, C-stand, battery pack, and pocket wizard.

The light head is the heart of your lighting setup, so it’s essential to choose wisely. A mono strobe light head, also known as moonlight, is a great starting point. Keep in mind that the light head may be one of the more expensive parts of your kit, so take the time to research and find the best option for your long-term needs.

A softbox is essential to create a soft and evenly lit appearance for your product. The C-stand will securely hold your light head and the softbox in place. And with the help of a pocket wizard, you can sync your camera with the light, transforming your light head into a powerful flash.

Invest in professional lighting equipment to take your apparel photography to new heights. Refrain from letting little natural light hold you back – with the right tools, you can easily capture stunning images.

White Backdrop

Use a white or light gray backdrop to enhance your photos with a clean and professional look. Quickly achieve this by using affordable and easily accessible seamless rolls of white paper from any photography supply store.

To ensure a smooth and shadow-free backdrop, sweep the roll to the floor in a curved shape and secure it with tape.

Use a stand to position your background wherever you like in the studio for maximum flexibility. If you’re on a tight budget, tape the seamless roll to the ceiling or a wall.

Place your product on a model or mannequin in the center of the backdrop and directly in front of your camera for the best results.

Enhance Your Lighting Setup

When it comes to lighting your product, positioning is vital. Place your product near a window for natural light to capture the soft, even lighting. If you prefer a moonlight setup, our bird’s-eye view diagram will guide you toward the ideal lighting arrangement.

Position a light source with a softbox or umbrella at a 45-degree angle to your product to achieve a soft and even lighting effect. Ensure your camera is directly in front of your subject to capture the best shot. If you notice shadows due to the product’s proximity to the background, simply move it further away to achieve a clean, white backdrop. Adjust your light source’s power to around half for optimal results.

Correct exposure is crucial for capturing the perfect image. Utilize your camera’s light meter in the viewfinder to properly expose your shot. However, using a strobe complicates things, as there is no lighting for the camera to read until the flash fires.

To address this, start with a shutter speed of 1/200 or below and an aperture of f-11 or higher. You can fine-tune your camera settings through test shots and adjustments to achieve optimal exposure and focus.

Lastly, give your light source time to recharge between flashes. Shooting too quickly may result in your light source not firing on time, depending on the strength of your battery pack.

Style your Products

Model

In the world of styling, having models is highly valued and appreciated. A live body allows customers to connect with your product and adds a significant level of professionalism. However, working with models can sometimes be a challenging and unpredictable endeavor. While models bring clothing to life, it is essential to note that hiring professionals can come with a hefty price tag.

Mannequins

Mannequins offer affordability, consistency, and ease of use, making them a great choice for styling your products.

To ensure a perfect fit, take the time to style your garments on the mannequin, adjusting and pinning until they look just right.

If you’re worried about the presence of a mannequin detracting from the appeal of your product, consider using the ghost mannequin technique in post-production. By taking a few additional shots of each product, you can remove the mannequin from your images and showcase a 3D representation that highlights the shape and fit of your product.

Flat Lay Technique

Flat Lay is arranging objects on a flat surface and capturing stunning photos from above. Also known as the bird’s-eye view, flat lay photography offers an excellent alternative to mannequins and models, allowing you to showcase your products in a visually appealing way that drives sales.

While commonly used for social media, the flat lay technique can elevate your website content. It is particularly effective for showcasing standard clothing items that people can envision themselves wearing, such as t-shirts, sweaters, blue jeans, sports pants, beanies, and socks.

For more intricate apparel like sports or outdoor gear, it may be necessary to utilize models or mannequins to demonstrate the fit. However, don’t hesitate to experiment with flat-lay photography for your products and witness its effectiveness firsthand.

Hanging Apparel

Utilize the power of hanging apparel to captivate customers and increase your sales. This budget-friendly and efficient technique allows you to showcase your products at eye level, grabbing attention and encouraging purchases.

With hanging apparel, you only need to turn your clothing on a hook against a wall or white background and snap a photo. It’s a quick, hassle-free way to capture professional-looking images highlighting your merchandise.

This method works incredibly well for lightweight materials such as silk, ensuring a wrinkle-free result.

Optimize Your Camera Settings

Achieving professional-looking images requires more than just editing skills. Master the fundamentals of ISO, aperture, and white balance to capture stunning photographs of your products.

ISO: Achieve Optimal Clarity and Sharpness

Remember to keep ISO settings within the range of 600-640. Higher ISOs introduce distracting noise and grain into your photographs, diminishing their quality. As the ISO increases, the noise becomes more pronounced, resulting in a loss of sharpness and softening of details. To counter this, consider using a tripod to maintain an ISO of 100 or 200, ensuring optimal clarity and sharpness in your shots.

Aperture: Control Focus

Aperture, the f-number on your camera settings, controls focus. With a more significant aperture number, like f-16 or f-2.8, more elements in your image will be fully in direction. To ensure every aspect of your products shines, set your aperture higher than f-11. Capture compelling and professional photos that showcase every detail with precision.

White Balance: Improve Your Photos

Have you ever been disappointed by a photo that had an odd blue or orange tint? It’s likely because the white balance was off. Different light sources have different temperatures, resulting in a color cast that confuses the camera’s interpretation of true white. But worry not; your white balance setting can quickly correct this issue.

Whether you’re shooting with tungsten, fluorescent, LED, or natural sunlight, you can set your white balance accordingly. Or, if you prefer, let your camera decide for you with the Auto setting. Just remember, neglecting white balance can lead to frustrating and time-consuming color correction in post-processing.

Snap the photo

Capture the perfect shot by following these simple steps. Direct your camera to the subject and focus by pressing the shutter release button halfway down. Once focused, take the photo. Throughout the shoot, adjust your camera settings to ensure optimal lighting.

Take photos from different angles to showcase your apparel, including the front, back, sides, and any unique details. Highlight any embroidery or bedazzle with close-up shots. These images will convey the value of your product to potential buyers.

Remember, the more images you have, the better. Increasing the number of photos per product on your website has been proven to boost sales. Multiple angles and detailed shots allow customers to trust and form accurate impressions of the product before making a purchase.

Enhance Your Product Images with Post-Production

After capturing your photos, finalizing them for the web is crucial. The aim of post-production processing is to elevate the professionalism of your images while maximizing their performance.

Outsourcing this task is a bright and efficient choice, as digital assets can be easily transferred, and significant time and cost savings can be achieved.

Alternatively, if you prefer to handle the process yourself, focusing on alignment, cropping, background removal, and color correction is essential. By ensuring a consistent and professional appearance, you can maintain the quality of your images. Keep a detailed record of your processes to establish standard specifications for shooting and editing.

Alignment

Achieve perfect alignment for your products by ensuring they are uniformly sized and centered within each image. It is essential to align all your products’ angles, corners, and edges to create a cohesive appearance. To quickly achieve precise alignment, leverage guidelines in a Photoshop template.

Cropping

Optimize your online shopping experience by ensuring consistent cropping of product images. Just like aligning elements, maintaining uniformity in cropping helps create a seamless browsing experience for your customers. You can quickly achieve a professional and visually appealing presentation by following guidelines for alignment and sizing images according to your website’s specifications.

Color

Capturing the true colors of certain hues like neons, reds, and pinks can be challenging when photographing them. But don’t worry! With a bit of adjustment in Photoshop, you can ensure your product images accurately represent vibrant colors.

Customer satisfaction is crucial, and accurate color representation is vital. Take a few extra minutes to ensure your garments’ colors are true to life. Doing so gives customers a clear idea of what they’ll receive when they order your product.

Photoshop offers various tools to tweak colors, so explore its offerings and find your favorite. Once you’ve fixed the colors, remember to convert your images to SRGB format. This way, your customers will see consistent and accurate colors across browsers, computer screens, and websites.

Creating striking clothing photography is a great way to showcase your products and attract possible buyers. With the proper techniques, tips, and tools, you can create stunning photographs that help you stand out in fashion. You can create stylish clothing shots for any occasion with the above simple steps.

See more»