The glamorous world of high fashion and clothing photography is a smorgasbord of beautiful garments draped across stunning Amazonian models, all captured as they sashay along the catwalk. In the real world though, most independent fashion retailers, vintage sellers and even designers still want to take first class images of their garments, but without the expense or ceremony of a full on fashion show.

Just taking a quick snap of a shirt on a hanger, or a pair of shoes on the floor, may not be captivating enough to inspire your would-be buyers. Clothing photography is notoriously difficult, and knowing how to make flat pieces of fabric come to life is a particular skill.

Product photography techniques vary wildly depending on the subject in front to them. When it comes to clothing photography, a professional product photographer will be able to transform otherwise dull looking images into an visual call to action.

Here are our top tips for taking great images of clothing that will really work for you:

Prepare your garment

Creased up clothing is never going to sell well. A small amount of effort before you start taking pictures, can make a big difference in the results you achieve. Just laying your item down and snapping away is not enough either, you need to think like a buyer and identify the most important elements of the image.

Make sure your item is freshly pressed and laundered and free from any tatty looking labels or personal name tags. If you are selling vintage items, try as best you can to patch up any holes or tears before you start photographing.

Set your scene

Whether are looking for professional clothing photographs of garments laying flat, or whether you are intending to hang them on a mannequin, you will need to prepare your studio first. Anything that is going to be photographed laying down should be displayed on a plain, light coloured background and shaped perfectly before any shots are taken.

Mannequin shots on the other hand, should be taken at just the right height to allow the garment to be viewed in its entirety, without being too far away. Also check that there is enough room in front of the mannequin for the camera to be positioned perpendicular to it for killer images.

Get your lighting right

Proper lighting of your garment is absolutely imperative if you want it to sell. Natural light is always good and a pleasure to work with, but as it changes during the day you will need to add artificial lighting to keep enhance your images and keep you look consistent.

A professional clothing photographer will be able to use the light to pick up the smallest of details, even on dark coloured clothing. Light heads, soft boxes and other professional studio lighting will be used to capture the product in a evenly lit and super appealing way.

Take plenty of images of any one garment

Your audience will want to be able to see a range of different images of the item before they commit to buy. In a shop, they can simply pick it up and inspect it for themselves. Online however, your customers will need more visual information before they decide to purchase your wares.

Photograph your garment from all angles, and zoom in to show the fabric, colour and any individual details.

Of course, the very best way to take interesting and detailed pictures of your inventory, is to have a professional product photographer take them for you. Speak to us today to see how we can help.

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