title: "11 Common Mistakes in Apparel Photography" date: 2024-08-24 slug: /mistakes-in-apparel-photography word_count: 2300 images: 5
11 Common Mistakes in Apparel Photography
Table of Contents
- Top 11 Common Errors in Product Photography to Avoid
- How Photo Editing Services Can Help
- Quick Tips for Taking Great Fashion Product Images
- Image Editing Services by Pixel By Hand
- FAQ
At Pixel By Hand, we love DIY enthusiasts, especially those building their eCommerce sites from scratch. Small online retail businesses are truly inspiring — tight budgets and limited resources do not stop them from creating something brilliant.
In apparel photography, there are specific standards that customers have come to expect: professional-looking photos with consistent lighting, colour, and style. But when you are first starting out, it is easy to make mistakes that impact the quality of your photos and cost you sales.
DIY product photography can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. It often leads to unique photos that represent your brand well. However, if not done carefully, it can lead to some very common mistakes.
The good news is that not all mistakes are beyond repair. There is still hope for images that did not meet your expectations. For example, if you had a creative idea for a product photo background that did not turn out as planned, you can use our background removal services to fix it. Instead of discarding the photo, you can repurpose it for your catalogue or other marketing material.
But as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. So make sure you avoid these 11 common mistakes in apparel photography to take great photos from the start.
Start your free trial — send us a selection of your product images and we will show you how we can improve them, completely free of charge.
Top 11 Common Errors in Product Photography to Avoid
According to research, 21.8% of the world's population shops online, equating to 1.66 billion people. However, whilst there are plenty of potential buyers, they can be hard to convince — especially as new businesses emerge online every day. This makes having great product photos more essential than ever.
Product photography is important because it is one of the first things potential customers see when they encounter your product, whether on social media, your website, or an online marketplace. Your product photos are like a first impression — they need to be strong, clear, and eye-catching to persuade someone to buy.
1. Poor Lighting
If your product photos lack brightness and contrast, it is likely due to poor lighting. When taking pictures indoors, make use of natural light by setting up near a window. If shooting outdoors, late afternoon or early morning light is best to avoid harsh shadows. A reflector can bounce light back onto your subject and fill in any shadows.
2. Incorrect White Balance
White balance adjusts the colours in your photo to ensure whites appear white. If your white balance is off, your photo can appear yellow, blue, or even green. You can adjust white balance in your camera settings or during post-processing.
3. Photographing Reflections
If you are photographing reflective products such as jewellery or sunglasses, be careful of reflections and glare. To avoid this, angle your shot so the reflection is not in the frame, use a diffuser to soften the light, or shoot in a room with less ambient light.
4. Distracting Layouts
When setting up your product photo, be mindful of the background and any other elements in the frame. If it is cluttered or busy, it will detract from the product you are trying to sell. Stick to simple, clean backgrounds.
5. Unprepped Items
Before photographing your product, make sure it is clean and free of any dirt, dust, or fingerprints. This helps your product appear more polished and professional.
6. Blurred Images
Blurry photos are often the result of shaky hands or a moving subject. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady and use a timer or remote shutter release to avoid camera movement. For moving subjects, use a faster shutter speed to freeze the action.
7. Not Enough Photos Taken
When photographing a product, take multiple shots from different angles. This gives you more options to choose from and ensures you have a variety of photos available.
8. Lack of Scale
If you are selling a small item such as jewellery, include something in the photo for scale. This helps potential customers understand the size of the product and set their expectations correctly.
9. Missing the Post-Processing Step
Post-processing is an essential part of product photography. It allows you to make final adjustments before uploading images to your site — cropping, rotating, adjusting white balance, saturation, contrast, and removing imperfections.
10. Not Using the Correct Resolution
When sharing photos online, use an appropriate resolution so images load quickly. However, for print or other marketing purposes, you need a higher resolution. Make sure you are using the correct resolution for the intended use to avoid pixelation or blurriness.
11. Lack of Uniformity
If you sell multiple products, uniformity across your photos is important. Use the same background, lighting, and angles for each product. This creates a cohesive look that is easy on the eyes and makes it simple for customers to compare products.
Product photography plays a crucial role in marketing and selling your products. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can take product images that help you sell more.
How Photo Editing Services Can Help
Perhaps you have taken all the photos for your online store but are not quite happy with how they turned out. Maybe the lighting is off, or the background is too cluttered. This is where photo editing services can help.
A professional editor can make adjustments to improve the overall look and feel of your photos. They can also help with more complex tasks such as removing background objects or correcting perspectives.
Here are some techniques used in image editing that can turn a mediocre product photo into a great one:
Background Removal A busy background distracts from the product you are trying to sell. A professional editor can remove the background entirely or replace it with a solid colour. For clothing, a white background is commonly used as it makes colours pop and allows customers to see garment details clearly.
Image Cropping Cropping is a simple but effective way to improve composition. By removing extraneous elements from the edges of the frame, you focus the viewer's attention on the product. In fashion retail, photos are often cropped close to the model's body to show garment detail.
Colour Correction If the colours in your photo do not match reality, a professional editor can make adjustments. This is especially important if you sell products in multiple colours — each photo must accurately represent the available options. If a customer is looking for a blue shirt and the photo shows it as green, they will move on to another store.
Image Retouching If there are any imperfections in your product such as scratches or dents, a professional editor can remove them with image retouching, ensuring your product looks its best before going live.
Send us your images for a free sample edit — see how professional editing can transform your product photos, with no obligation.
Quick Tips for Taking Great Fashion Product Images
According to Justuno, visual content is considered by 93% of customers to be the most important factor in a purchase decision. This makes the quality of your product images more crucial than ever.
Great product images — especially for clothing and shoes — require not just a model but also good lighting, styling, and background. The focus should be on the product, not the model. Highlight the details, shape, and colours of the clothing so customers can fully grasp what they are purchasing.
1. Use Natural Light If possible, take your photos outdoors in natural light. If shooting indoors, find a room with plenty of windows and avoid using flash. For clothing and shoes, avoid direct sunlight as it creates harsh shadows and washes out colours.
2. Find the Right Background The background should be simple and uncluttered. A solid colour or plain white wall both work well. For shoes, a plain background keeps the focus on the product. For clothing, a white background makes colours pop and allows customers to see garment details.
3. Use Props Sparingly If using props, make sure they complement the product without taking attention away from it. In fashion, a few well-chosen accessories such as a bag or scarf can help customers visualise how they might style the clothing.
4. Get the Right Angle The angle can make a big difference. For shoes, shoot from slightly above and at an angle so the viewer can see details. For clothing, shoot from waist level or slightly above so customers can see how the garment fits.
5. Edit Your Photos Once you have taken your photos, edit them to ensure they look their best. This includes colour correction, exposure adjustment, and removing imperfections. If you are not confident in your editing skills, consider hiring professionals.
Image Editing Services by Pixel By Hand
At Pixel By Hand, we offer a range of image editing services to help you improve your product photos. Our team of professional editors can handle background removal, colour correction, image retouching, and more. With over 10 years of experience and 380+ clients, we know what works for fashion and apparel eCommerce.
If you are not happy with the photos you have, we can help you take them to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about our services and get a free quote.
FAQ
What is the most important thing in apparel photography? Consistency. Using the same lighting, background, and angles across all your product photos creates a professional, cohesive look that builds trust and makes it easy for customers to browse your catalogue.
Do I need a professional camera for product photography? Not necessarily. Many modern smartphones produce excellent results. What matters more is good lighting, a clean background, and proper post-processing. A tripod is a worthwhile investment regardless of the camera you use.
How can I fix product photos that have already been taken poorly? Professional image editing services can correct many common issues including poor lighting, wrong white balance, cluttered backgrounds, and colour inaccuracies. Background removal alone can dramatically improve a photo.
What background colour is best for clothing photography? White is the industry standard for eCommerce, as it makes colours accurate and keeps the focus on the garment. Most marketplaces like Amazon require a pure white background for main listing images.
How many product photos should I have per listing? Aim for at least 5-7 images per product: a front view, back view, side views, close-up details, and a lifestyle or on-model shot. More images give customers greater confidence in their purchase.