11 Common Mistakes in Apparel Photography

At Pixel by Hand, we greatly admire do-it-yourself enthusiasts, particularly those establishing their own e-commerce platforms from the ground up. This admiration is particularly profound for small businesses, especially those focused on online retail, as they often have to make do with a restricted budget and resources, including product photography.

In apparel photography, there are specific standards that customers have come to expect, such as professional-looking photos with consistent lighting, color, and style. But when you’re first starting out, it’s easy to make mistakes that can 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. But if not done carefully, it can also lead to some very common mistakes.

The good news is that not all mistakes can’t be salvaged. There’s still hope for images you feel like it didn’t meet your expectations. Let’s say, for example, you have a creative idea of a great product photo background that didn’t turn out as you would hoped it would, you can use our background removal services to take care of that for you. So instead of using it as a banner, you can reuse that product photo to expand your catalog or in any other marketing material.

But of course, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. So make sure you avoid the 11 common mistakes made in apparel photography so you can take great photos from the start!

• Top 10 Common errors in product photography to avoid
  • Poor lighting
  • Incorrect white balance
  • Photographing reflections
  • Distracting layouts
  • Unprepped items
  • Blurred images
  • Not enough photos taken
  • Lack of scale
  • Missing the post-processing step
  • Not using the correct resolution
  • Lack of uniformity
• How Photo Editing Services can help you
• Quick Tips to Taking Great Fashion Product Image

Top 10 Common errors in product photography to avoid

According to the studies, 21.8% of the world’s population shops online, which is equal to 1.66 billion people. However, while there are plenty of potential buyers, they can be pretty hard to convince, especially since many businesses emerge online every day. This makes having great product photos more essential.

Product photography is important because it’s one of the first things potential customers will see when they encounter your product, whether it’s 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 what you’re selling.

This is why we’ve put together a list of the top 11 common mistakes made in product photography so you can avoid them and take your photos to the next level!

1. Poor lighting

If your product photos are lacking in brightness and contrast, it could be due to poor lighting. When taking pictures indoors, make use of natural light by setting up near a window. If you’re shooting outdoors, late afternoon or early morning light is best to avoid harsh shadows. A reflector can be used so the light would bounce back onto your subject and fill in any shadows.

2. Incorrect white balance

White balance is the technique of adjusting the colors in your photo to make sure that the whites appear white. This is important because if your white balance is off, your photo can appear yellow, blue, or even green. You can adjust the white balance in your camera settings or in post-processing. 

3. Photographing reflections

If you’re photographing products that are reflective, such as jewelry or sunglasses, be careful of reflections and glare. To avoid this, you can angle your shot so that the reflection is not in the frame, use a diffuser to soften the light, or shoot in a room with less light so that there is less chance for reflections. 

4. Distracting layouts

When setting up your product photo, be mindful of the background and any other elements in the frame. If it’s cluttered or busy, it will take away from the product you’re trying to sell. Stick to simple, clean backgrounds and avoid anything that could be distracting to the viewer. 

5. Unprepped items

Before taking a photo of your product, make sure it is clean and free of any dirt, dust, or fingerprints. This will help 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 maintain steadiness with your camera and use a timer or remote shutter release to avoid any camera movement. If you’re dealing with a moving subject, such as a running person or pet, use a faster shutter speed to freeze the action. 

7. Not enough photos taken

When photographing a product, it’s important to take multiple shots from different angles. This will give you more options to choose from and ensure that you have a variety of photos to use. 

8. Lack of scale

If you’re selling a small item, such as a piece of jewelry, it’s important to include something in the photo for scale. This will help potential customers understand the size of the product and give them a better idea of what to expect. 

9. Missing the post-processing step

Post-processing is an important part of product photography, as it allows you to make final adjustments to your images before uploading them onto your site. In post-processing, you can crop and rotate your photo, adjust the white balance, saturation, and contrast, and even remove any imperfections. 

10. Not using the correct resolution

When sharing photos online, it’s important to use a low resolution so that the images load quickly. However, when printing photos or using them for other marketing purposes, you’ll need to use a high resolution. Make sure you’re using the correct resolution for the task at hand to avoid any pixelation or blurriness. 

11. Lack of uniformity

If you’re selling multiple products, it’s important to have uniformity in your photos. This means using the same background, lighting, and angles for each product. This will create a cohesive look that is easy on the eyes and makes it simple for potential customers to compare different products. 

Product photography plays a crucial role in marketing and selling your products. By following these expert tips, you can avoid making these common mistakes and take product images that will help you sell more!

How Photo Editing Services can help you

Let’s say you’ve taken all of the photos for your online store, but you’re not quite happy with the way 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 minor adjustments to your photos to improve the overall look and feel. They can also help you with more complex image editing tasks, such as removing background objects or correcting perspectives.

Here are some of the techniques used in image editing services that can help you turn a bad product photo into a great one.

Background Removal
If you have a busy background in your photo, it can be distracting to the viewer and take away from the product you’re trying to sell. A professional editor can remove the background entirely or replace it with a solid color that will complement your product.

For clothing, a white background is often used, as it makes the colors pop and allows potential customers to see the details of the garment. For other products, a simple, solid color background can be used to make your product stand out.

Image Cropping
Cropping is a simple but effective way to improve the composition of your photo. By removing extraneous objects from the edges of the frame, you can focus the viewer’s attention on the product.

In fashion retail, for example, it’s common to see photos that have been cropped close to the model’s body. This allows potential customers to see the garment in detail and get a sense of how it will look on them.

Color Correction
If the colors in your photo don’t quite match reality, a professional editor can make adjustments to bring them back into alignment. This is especially important if you’re selling products that come in multiple colors, as you want each photo to accurately represent the available options.

This is essentially important, especially for fashion online retailers as color correction can bring the colors in your photo back into alignment. If a customer is looking for a blue shirt and the photo shows it as green, they’re likely to move on to another store.

There are many other ways that photo editing services can improve your product photos. By working with a professional image editing service, you can be sure that your photos will represent your products in the best possible light.

Image Retouching
If there are any imperfections in your product, such as scratches or dents, a professional editor can remove them with image retouching. Image retouching ensures your product looks its best before putting it up for sale.

Quick Tips to Taking Great Fashion Product Image

According to Justuno, visual content is considered by 93% of customers to be the most important influencer in a purchase. This makes the image quality you’ll use to show how your products look more crucial than ever.

A great product image especially clothing and shoes require not just a model but also good lighting, styling, and background. The focus should be on the product not on the model. You need to highlight the details, shape, and colors of the clothing as you want your customers to fully grasp what they are purchasing.

We’ve listed down a few tips:

1. Use Natural Light
If possible, take your photos outdoors in natural light. This will give you the best results. If you’re taking photos indoors, try to find a room with lots of windows and avoid using flash.

For clothing and shoes, avoid taking photos in direct sunlight as this can create harsh shadows and wash out the colors.

2. Find the Right Background
The background of your photo should be simple and uncluttered. A solid color or a plain white wall are both good options. Avoid busy patterns or bright colors that will distract from the product.

For shoes and other footwear, a plain background is best so that the focus is on the product. You don’t want a busy background to distract from the details of the shoe.

For clothing, a white background is often used, as it makes the colors pop and allows potential customers to see the details of the garment.

3. Use Props Sparingly
If you’re using props in your photo, make sure they complement the product and don’t take away from it. A few well-chosen props can make a photo more interesting, but too many will be distracting.

In fashion, it’s common to see photos that include a few accessories, such as a bag or scarf. These items can help potential customers visualize how they might wear the clothing.

4. Get the Right Angle
The angle at which you take your photo can make a big difference in how the product looks. For shoes and other footwear, it’s best to take a photo from slightly above and at an angle, so that the viewer can see the details of the product.

For clothing, it’s often best to take a photo from waist-level or slightly above, so that potential customers can see how the garment fits close to the body. This allows them to get a sense of how it would look on them.

5. Edit Your Photos
Once you’ve taken your photos, it’s important to edit them to ensure they look their best. This includes things like color correction, exposure adjustment, and removing any imperfections. If you’re not confident in your photo editing skills, consider hiring the pros to do it for you.

By following these tips, you can take great product photos that will help you sell more products. Working with a professional image editor is also a great way to ensure your photos are looking their best.

Image Background Removal 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 perform background removal, color correction, image retouching, and more.

If you’re not happy with the photos you have of your products, we can help you take them to the next level. Contact us today or use the chatbox below to learn more about our services and get a free quote.