Clothing photography: How to capture stunning product images

Ever scrolled through an online store and found yourself captivated by a stunning outfit? That’s the magic of top-notch clothing photography at work!

Capturing the essence of apparel through clothing photography can drastically elevate your brand's appeal and credibility, turning simple product listings into a compelling fashion experience.

This blog guides you in achieving picture-perfect shots that engage and drive sales. From the importance of lighting and styling to mastering post-editing techniques, we’ll walk you through every step of the process. Plus, we’ll introduce you to Gelato’s innovative platform to help you create customclothing products tailored for the perfect photo finish.

• The significance of high-quality clothing photography in boosting online sales and minimizing product returns.

• Focusing on key photography elements such as close-up shots, various viewpoints, and accurate color representation for effective clothing displays.

• Styling tips include garment preparation, selecting models or mannequins, and utilizing flat-lay photography and accessorized shots for enhanced product appeal.

• Leveraging Gelato's platform to create and photograph custom clothing products effortlessly for ecommerce success.

Clothing photography is the art of capturing images of apparel, ensuring the garments are presented in the best possible way. Photographing clothing plays a crucial role in ecommerce marketing, ensuring products look appealing and are accurately represented online. This involves techniques like lighting, composition, and styling to highlight every detail, thus influencing the customer's purchasing decision.

The impact of professional product images cannot be overstated. High-quality visuals have become the cornerstone of successful online clothing stores, often determining whether a product catches a prospective buyer's eye. How your clothing items are presented influences a customer's buying decision and builds trust in your brand.

Great visuals can boost sales and reduce returns

Crisp, well-lit, and clear images allow customers to see the details and quality of the garments, essentially bringing the in-store experience online. Stunning visuals drive sales and are also a powerful tool in reducing returns. Customers receiving products that match their online expectations lead to greater satisfaction and loyalty.

Gelato’s custom clothing products are designed to photograph beautifully

That's where Gelato steps in, offering custom clothing products that are designed to photograph beautifully. Our platform ensures your clothing looks its best, ready to captivate your audience and enhance your online store's appeal.

Capturing stunning photos is all about getting the lighting just right. Below, we explore how to set the right light for your photos.

Natural light vs. artificial light

Natural light is ideal for its soft and flattering qualities, best captured in the early morning or late afternoon. However, it’s inconsistent. Artificial lighting gives you full control to create consistent lighting conditions. It's ideal for indoor shoots if you want to highlight intricate details and colors accurately, ensuring your garments appear clear and appealing every time.

Soft, diffused lighting

This provides a flattering illumination, highlighting textures and colors without harsh shadows. Opt for softboxes or diffusers to achieve this effect, as they distribute light evenly across the garment. Keeping the light source close to the subject will capture every detail beautifully. Avoid direct and harsh lighting to maintain the natural look of the fabric, which proves crucial in showcasing your clothing.

Using reflectors and lightboxes

Reflectors and lightboxes are fantastic tools for eliminating unattractive shadows that could distort your clothing's features. Reflectors bounce light onto your subject, while lightboxes encase your garments in a soft glow. Consider using foam boards as an affordable alternative to expensive reflectors. These tools ensure your garments remain the center of attention, highlighting colors and fabrics beautifully.

Positioning your lights

Start with the main lighting equipment placed slightly above and to the side of your product, ideally at a 45-degree angle. This setup mimics natural light and offers flattering shadows. Use a fill light on the opposite side to soften these shadows. If backlighting is available, use it sparingly to highlight the product's contours. Adjust each light's angle to ensure illumination and capture the intricate details.

Attention to detail is necessary when photographing clothes. Let's explore the essential elements you must focus on to capture customer interest.

Close-up shots

Capturing close-up shots using clothing photography equipment is essential to reveal the quality, texture, and finer details of your products. Focus on elements like fabric texture, embroidery, and unique stitching to give customers a feel for the product without physically touching it. Highlight intricate details that set your clothing apart, like buttons, seams, and logos.

Front, back, and side views

These angles provide a comprehensive look at the garment, allowing potential customers to understand how it drapes and fits. Ensure that every detail, from seams to patterns, is clearly visible. Use a tripod to maintain consistent framing across shots and experiment with different heights and distances. This systematic approach enhances customer confidence, increasing the likelihood of sales conversion.

Movement and fit

Encourage models to twirl, jump, or walk, showcasing how the garment flows and fits various body types. This method helps customers visualize how the apparel looks and feels, enhancing their shopping experience. Capture multiple angles to portray fit accurately, especially for women's clothing where fit precision is crucial. A well-captured movement adds life to still images.

Color accuracy

Customers need to be sure that what they see online matches the product they receive. Utilize color-correct lighting and employ post-editing tools to adjust the color balance and hue. Always refer to a color card during shoots to maintain consistency. Inaccuracies can lead to returns and disappointed customers. Prioritize color fidelity to enhance buyer trust and satisfaction.

With all the other information in place, let's explore some styling tips to elevate your clothing product photography.

Iron and prepare your garments

Begin by checking for any wrinkles, lint, or imperfections. Armed with an iron or steamer, smooth out any creases to present crisp and clean garments. A lint roller will also be your best friend, removing any dust that could detract from the final image. Thorough preparation enhances product aesthetics and lends credibility to your online store’s professionalism. 

Use mannequins or models

Mannequins provide a consistent and cost-effective option, allowing customers to see how clothing fits and drapes. They ensure a uniform look across product images. However, models bring life and personality to clothing, showcasing natural movement and a more relatable fit. Consider your audience while deciding which approach highlights the best attributes of your garments. 

Lay-flat photography

By neatly arranging garments on a flat surface, you capture detailed textures and vivid colors while keeping a clean and minimalistic aesthetic. Flat-lay clothing photography is useful for showcasing casual or essential apparel such as t-shirts and pants. It allows imbuing creativity with props or coordinated accessories, offering a complete, styled look without needing a model.

Accessorizing and background choices

Think of using contrasting colors to make the products pop. When it comes to backgrounds, opt for neutral or solid-colored backdrops to let your garments take center stage, or consider a thematic setting that aligns with the clothing style. Utilize props to create a narrative that resonates with your brand, ensuring the focus remains on the product while adding visual interest and context.

The location matters just as much as the tools you use and the preparation you do beforehand. Here are some tips to help you choose the right location for your photos.

Natural light sources

Natural light is every photographer’s best friend for clothing photography. It provides a soft, flattering glow that enhances the texture and color of the garments. To maximize its potential, plan your shoot during the early morning or late afternoon for the warmest lighting. Positioning your setup near large windows can offer excellent illumination without harsh shadows.

Neutral backgrounds

A clean, classic white backdrop is often the go-to choice, as it reflects light evenly and enhances the garment's details. Besides white, light grays and pastels can also provide a soft, unobtrusive background that complements a wide range of colors. The goal is to create a balanced composition that draws attention to the clothing line itself, allowing its quality and features to shine.

Indoor vs. outdoor settings

Indoor shoots offer controlled lighting conditions and weather-independent scheduling, making them ideal for consistency. Outdoor settings, however, provide vibrant backgrounds and natural light, which can enhance the garment's texture and color. Casual or lifestyle brands may benefit from an outdoor atmosphere, while luxury or formal wear might look best in a harmonious studio setup.

Use a photography studio

Studios offer controlled lighting, which is essential for highlighting garment details. When choosing a studio, consider one with a versatile backdrop setup to enhance your fashion photos. It's also beneficial if the photo studio has lighting gear like softboxes or ring lights to emulate natural daylight. For those on a budget, a small room with a blank wall can be an effective makeshift studio.

Location themes

Consider what story you want to tell with your clothing and how the setting can support that narrative. The environment should enhance the visual story, whether it’s a rustic countryside for earthy tones or a sleek urban backdrop for modern styles. Using thematic props can further enrich your visuals, adding depth and interest. Changing themes can also refresh your brand image.

Space for mobility

A large room allows models to move naturally, which helps showcase clothing in various poses and perspectives. This fluidity is essential for illustrating how garments fit and move, thus creating more engaging product images. Prioritize locations that offer the space for mobility and flexibility to incorporate various elements such as props and backgrounds.

After capturing your images, it's time for some digital polishing to make them truly shine. Let's explore some editing tips below.

Adjusting exposure and contrast

Proper exposure ensures your product is visible and detailed while adjusting contrast emphasizes textures and patterns. Begin by using your camera's histogram to evaluate light distribution. Boost contrast subtly to make colors pop, but avoid overdoing it, as this can obscure finer garment details. Use software like Microsoft Photos to tweak brightness and contrast levels to achieve a balanced look.

Removing wrinkles or imperfections

Begin by steaming or ironing garments before shooting. If creases remain, post-processing is your best friend. Utilize editing programs like Adobe Photoshop to blend out wrinkles and retouch small imperfections. Be careful not to overdo it—maintain the clothing’s texture and character. Such tweaks present clothing in its best light and ensure the product looks authentic.

Color correction

Start by adjusting the color balance and hue to reflect the actual garment. Keep in mind that subtlety is key; avoid the temptation of oversaturating colors. Software like Microsoft Photos can help tweak contrast, clarity, saturation, and white balance. A well-executed color correction enhances the appeal of your clothing, ensuring your online customers see exactly what they're getting.

Optimizing image resolution for the web

Start by saving your images as high-quality JPEGs to achieve the best balance between resolution and file size. Compress the images before uploading them to your site to keep loading times fast. Use responsive image techniques to serve appropriately sized images to different devices, ensuring that your visuals look sharp and appealing across all screen sizes.

You’re ready to take on clothing photography, from setting up perfect lighting to crafting the ideal shoot location, ensuring your online store dazzles potential customers. But what if you could take your creativity even further? 

Gelato offers a smooth print on demand service, allowing you to design unique garments without worrying about inventory or logistical hurdles. With Gelato’s custom merchandise options, you can unleash your imagination to create clothes that truly stand out in the market. 

Once you're registered on our platform, simply choose from various apparel styles, from t-shirts to hoodies, and then upload your designs. Thanks to Gelato's global network, you can reach customers worldwide, ensuring that your unique clothing is seen and appreciated worldwide.

Transform your artistic vision into reality and captivate your customers with unique clothing lines.Sign up for Gelatotoday and take the first step towards your perfect photo shoot!

What is the best way to photograph clothes?

The best way to photograph clothes is by using natural or soft, diffused lighting to minimize harsh shadows. Style the garments impeccably, utilize mannequins or models, and ensure a neutral, clutter-free background.

What camera settings are best for clothing photography?

For stellar clothing photos, use manual or aperture priority mode on DSLR or mirrorless cameras. Opt for an aperture of f/8 to f/11 for sharp images. Set ISO between 100 and 400 to reduce noise, and use a shutter speed above 1/125 to capture crisp details.