In today’s digital world, selling clothes online has become an incredibly popular way to make money. Whether you’re an established vintage clothes store that’s making the move online, or just starting up reselling awesome second-hand pieces, one thing is for sure – you’ll need good pictures. While selling clothes online can be a lucrative way to reach more people than a physical store ever could, taking the best pictures of your clothes is crucial to attract potential buyers. In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to take the best pictures of your clothes to sell online and get those buyers snapping them up.

1. Make sure your items look good

Second-hand and vintage clothes might need a bit of TLC before you post pictures of them online. We recommend getting new purchases cleaned and steamed to get rid of any marks and smooth any wrinkles out, and remember to fix any missing buttons or loose threads before taking photos. You want your items to look their best for potential buyers, but be honest about their condition. Vintage finds can be well-loved, which adds to their charm. Don’t try and hide this from buyers, as you’ll run the risk of a refund or bad reviews online.

2. Choose your camera

A good camera can make or break a photoshoot, no matter how great your clothes are. The quality of the images you take is critical when it comes to selling clothes online, and using a high-quality camera or smartphone can make a significant difference to the final result. If you have a good quality camera, definitely use it to take pictures of your clothes, but a recent smartphone with a high MP camera can also do the job perfectly well. Smartphones have the benefit of built-in editing tools, as well as a range of apps you can download to edit. We’ll talk about editing later, but don’t fear if you don’t have a top quality camera to shoot your clothes, as smartphones can be just as effective and potentially more convenient for your business. Taking pictures on your smartphone also makes it incredibly easy to share new pieces on social media, which can be an amazing free marketing tool (check out our blog on using Instagram for your relling business for some more tips on this).

3. Find the right background

When taking pictures of your clothes, it’s important to choose the right background. A clean and simple background such as a plain wall or a white sheet will make your clothes stand out, but this isn’t to say you can’t get creative. If funky sets are more your thing and work for your target audience, go for it! The one thing we’d recommend is consistency. This will make your photos look professional and can even market your brand as recognisable. While we’d avoid busy backgrounds that might distract buyers from the item you are selling, adding a little something that shows buyers your unique brand won’t hurt, and may even create a recognisable brand image.

4. Pick your shooting style

There are a few different photography styles you can use to shoot your clothes, so we’ll talk you through them to help choose the best option for your business. 

• Models 

Using a model can be a great idea, as this will give buyers a better idea of how the clothes fit and look when worn. This can help people actually visualize what the clothes will look like on them, which might lead to more sales. You don’t even have to hire a model, as you can always wear the clothes yourself or ask a willing friend to model them for you. We wouldn’t recommend using a mannequin unless it’s a fragile vintage piece, as this can seem a bit out-dated and is harder to imagine as a real person – we all know mannequins don’t have the most realistic sizings! 

• Flatlay

Flatlay is probably the easiest and most convenient way to shoot your clothes – simply lay your clothes down on a flat surface and take a picture from a right angle above. Most people have a white bedsheet lying around, and if it’s on your bed already, you’re in luck. As long as it’s clean and crease-free, you’ve already got the perfect background for your photos. You can even get creative by laying out outfits or bringing in props and accessories that tie the look together. The options are limitless with this quick and easy style you can achieve from home.

• Hanging

Another simple option is hanging your item up on a clothes hanger against a plain, clean wall. Requiring just a nail and great lighting, this style is easily achieved, and works especially well for longer items like dresses. On a clothes hanger, you can capture the flow of a skirt better than you can with it lying down. We’d recommend ensuring the clothes are hung straight on the hanger, so they aren’t wonky or trailing down, as this can look unprofessional and unappealing to a buyer.

5. Choose your lighting

Lighting is incredibly important for showing off your clothes as the gems they are. Dull and dark lighting can obscure some of your items’ best features, so make sure you pick a method that is bright and works for you. There are two options here that will depend on your budget and space, but both can work really well. Let us talk you through it.

First, we have natural lighting. Natural lighting is just daylight, which, of course, is free. It also looks authentic and avoids that sterile or overbearing feel you can get from harsh studio lights. The major issue with using natural lighting is that it changes over the course of the day, which is a problem when you’re looking for consistent photos that show your professionalism as a brand, and can also limit the amount of time per day you can dedicate to photography. You can control it to some extent by using a reflector, but it really comes down to whatever the sun decides to do that day. Depending on where you are in the world, this might not be the most reliable lighting source.

Your other option is staged or studio lighting. This can be an extra cost, but good quality lighting equipment will last you a long time and also give you more time throughout the day to shoot your clothes. The best part is that you can control studio lighting and therefore ensure your shoots remain professional and consistent. 

Both options can work well, so pick the lighting style that’s right for you. However, we would advise not mixing the two – remember, consistency is always your aim with photographing your clothes.

6. Take multiple shots from different angles

Lighting is incredibly important for showing off your clothes as the gems they are. Dull and dark lighting can obscure some of your items’ best features, so make sure you pick a method that is bright and works for you. There are two options here that will depend on your budget and space, but both can work really well. Let us talk you through it.

First, we have natural lighting. Natural lighting is just daylight, which, of course, is free. It also looks authentic and avoids that sterile or overbearing feel you can get from harsh studio lights. The major issue with using natural lighting is that it changes over the course of the day, which is a problem when you’re looking for consistent photos that show your professionalism as a brand, and can also limit the amount of time per day you can dedicate to photography. You can control it to some extent by using a reflector, but it really comes down to whatever the sun decides to do that day. Depending on where you are in the world, this might not be the most reliable lighting source.

Your other option is staged or studio lighting. This can be an extra cost, but good quality lighting equipment will last you a long time and also give you more time throughout the day to shoot your clothes. The best part is that you can control studio lighting and therefore ensure your shoots remain professional and consistent. 

Both options can work well, so pick the lighting style that’s right for you. However, we would advise not mixing the two – remember, consistency is always your aim with photographing your clothes.

7. Edit your pictures

After taking your pictures, it’s a good idea to edit them to enhance the colors and make them look more professional. Smartphone cameras have built-in editing tools, but also offer a plethora of apps like Snapseed and VSCO to help you make your images look their best. There are many photo editing tools available online that you can use to crop, adjust, and color correct your pictures if you’d rather edit from a computer screen. We’d recommend Canva and Designify, or even Adobe Photoshop if you’re experienced in editing and looking for the next step to showcase your items. You only want to edit to show off and augment your items, not change them all together. Don’t edit out any flaws, and keep your items looking realistic, as you don’t want any disappointed buyers.

In conclusion, taking high-quality pictures of your clothes is essential for selling them online and attracting buyers to your business. By following this guide, you can ensure that your pictures look professional and appealing to buyers. Remember to think like a buyer rather than a seller, and imagine what you would want to see online when visualizing clothes on you. Get some inspiration by visiting our website and browse what our trusted wholesalers are doing to show off their items. Good luck, and get snapping!