High-quality photographs of clothing products are a major part of the clothing photography for eCommerce business. This is because companies need to visually promote their products through photography. Even though product description plays an important role in buying behavior, the product image seals the deal on whether a customer buys the product.
Therefore, the field of clothing product photography is quickly becoming popular. You can pursue a career in this sector if you have professional-level photography skills. In this guide, you can learn everything you need to become a successful clothing product photographer.
Why Become a Clothing Product Photographer?
As a clothing product photographer, you can avail multiple opportunities to express your creativity. In addition to enhancing a product’s appeal with the right techniques, you can also encourage customers to make informed decisions when buying clothing items.
Moreover, this sector of product photography will also help you build connections and gain experience within various industries, such as eCommerce, retail, and fashion.
How to Do Clothing Product Photography?
Follow these steps to take exceptional clothing product photographs:
01. Prepare The Clothing Item
Before you start the photoshoot, make sure the clothing item is in pristine condition. The product should be free of wrinkles and undamaged. You also need to check it is not stained or covered in lint. If tags and stickers are still attached to the garment, remove them. Then put the clothes on a clear mannequin to properly show the cut and finish of the dress.
You can also use a model for the photoshoot. This allows customers to imagine how they will appear in the clothes. It’s best to play with models with varying body types to build appeal for all customers.
Another photography technique you can use is flat-lay photography. In this technique, you don’t need a mannequin or a model. Instead, you can carefully arrange the clothes and take the shot from directly above. Just make sure to remember these points:
- Keep the focal length above 35mm
- Avoid distortion in the corners
- Maintain consistency in the proportions of all items
02. Set Up the Studio
If you are not conducting the shoot in your personal studio, you have to set up everything from scratch. So, place your backdrop and fix your tripod and lighting system. Then, take testing pictures of your mannequin or model to check whether everything is set perfectly.
This will help you position the equipment just right. Setting up the studio beforehand will also save time later on. This can be extremely beneficial when you’re working on a professional photoshoot for a clothing brand.
03. Adjust the Lighting
For daytime photoshoots, set up the equipment near a large window to take full advantage of the sunlight. It will help you capture more colors, contrast, and depth in the picture. However, if you are using lighting equipment, position it toward the subject.
You should also use a second light to fill in the shadows. If that’s the case, place the second light between the mannequin and the backdrop to emphasize the details.
04. Style The Model/Mannequin
Styling clothes on models is difficult as everyone has a different body type. Therefore, ask your models to pose in a sitting position or lean against the wall. This will show how flattering the garments look on the model.
In comparison, mannequins are easier to style. You only have to pin the clothes to ensure they properly fit.
In case you are neither using models nor mannequins, hang the clothes on a hanger. Then place the hanger against a white background and take pictures at eye level. Lightweight materials, such as silk, are best for this method because they don’t wrinkle.
05. Showcase The Details
Your clothing product photographs should cover all the fine details of the product. For example, prints, embroidered designs, patterns, buttons, and laces. It is best to use different lenses and angles to showcase each detail of the clothing item. You can also take close-up shots of the details and feature them separately for the brand website/magazine.
06. Take the Photos
Now that everything is ready, it is time to click the shutter button and take pictures. In doing so, make sure that the focus remains on the subject. You should also check the results after taking the first few photos to see if you need to adjust lighting or angle.
07. Edit The Pictures
After the shoot, it is essential to edit the images and enhance the best features of the garment. You can adjust the contrast, shadow, texture, clarity, and saturation during editing to brighten the cloth colors and enhance the product edges. Some of the best editing tools include:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Lightroom
- Skylum Luminar AI
- ON1 Photo RAW Interface
- Corel PaintShop Pro
- GIMP
What Equipment Is Necessary for Taking Good Clothing Product Photographs?
Impeccable photographs depend on two things- technique and equipment quality. Therefore, it is essential to invest in quality equipment before starting out. Here are a few recommendations for clothing photographers.
Camera
You must have a high-resolution and sensor-sensitive camera to take highly aesthetic shots. Nowadays, most individuals use smartphone cameras to get better results.
Unfortunately, the quality level is still not comparable with DSLR, especially for taking professional-level flat lay clothing pictures. If you cannot afford an expensive camera, use a digital camera till you have a budget to invest in a DSLR.
Tripod
A tripod prevents the camera from shaking during the shoot. With this equipment, you don’t have to worry about blurry pictures. When shopping for a tripod, make sure to take your camera because tripods are not a one-size fit solution.
Therefore, you need to buy one that is perfect for your DSLR. Once you have it, attach your camera, frame the shot, and start clicking pictures.
Lighting Source
You can never take good photographs without excellent lighting. Daylight shots are not an issue if you have access to natural light. But you need a reliable light source for evening or late-night shoots.
So, invest in a spotlight to capture every single detail. You can also use modifiers, such as beauty dishes, to enhance your lighting.
Foam Boards/Reflectors
Foam boards and reflectors are used for reflecting and directing light toward a specific place. Use this equipment to prevent the shadows of the clothing products from negatively affecting the photoshoot.
Backdrop
A cluttered background will take the attention away from the clothing item. That is why you need to use a backdrop to ensure your product stands out and does not blend into the background. Instead of buying multiple colored backdrops, get a white one. It will sharpen the product color and patterns while making the editing easier.
How to Promote Online Clothing Photography Business ?
Once you have set up your cloths for photography business, promote it online through these marketing techniques:
Business Website:
Set up a photography business website to reach your clients through the search engine. The website should showcase your work to display your skills. You can further use SEO strategies to improve your rankings in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Page). This will help you introduce your photography business to potential clients.
However, when setting up your website, be sure to pick a domain that highlights your specialty as a clothing photographer. This initiative can increase your visibility in the search results.
Create Digital Portfolio:
Your potential clients will evaluate your photography skill and style by observing the portfolio. Therefore, create and upload the portfolio on your website and social media profiles.
Social Media Marketing:
As 91% of businesses depend on social media to gain clients, you should use these forums to connect with clients. Moreover, you can upload captivating photos and become a well-known name in your field.
Referral Marketing:
In referral marketing, you request your clients to post a review about your service on social media and recommend them to their friends and followers. Using this technique, you can access a bigger audience while easily gaining their trust.
How Much Does a Clothing Product Photographer Earn?
The average salary of a clothing product photographer ranges from $39,675 and $58,798. The final amount will be based on your skills and experience. However, if you’re just starting out, you can charge less for your services to improve your portfolio.
Wrapping Up
Clothing product photography is quickly becoming popular in the eCommerce industry. Businesses leverage visual images to encourage customers to buy clothing products.
However, traditional clothing brands also rely on photographs to sell their products. Considering this, there are numerous job opportunities in this industry, making it the perfect choice for emerging photographers.