Quality fashion photography is achieved when light stylizes clothing. Still, figuring out how to do it can be confusing for many low-budget entrepreneurs. In this article, we will help you discover the different lighting options that exist to create perfect product images of fashion garments, and taking into account different budgets.
Lighting with Natural Light
Use the light from a window to create images with natural light. One of the easiest and most efficient montages for photographing clothes is the one created with a large window through which daylight enters. Below you can see this light assembly through this diagram from a bird's eye view.
It is important to have enough space for both the equipment you use and for yourself so that you can work in the most comfortable and safe way. There is nothing that hinders the photography process more than a messy studio. Once you have set up the studio, get into the habit of taking it apart and putting it all away in a specific order so you can quickly reinstall it.
To set up your studio, the first thing will be to find a large window where a lot of light enters, and that has an angle of 90 degrees in relation to the product. If the light enters aggressively then it is better to put a white cloth to help soften it and thus distribute the light evenly.
Second, create a background for your product. It doesn't have to be too wide, but you should leave enough space around your product to fill the frame. If you have nothing prepared to put in the background, you can use one of the following options:
A large white cloth or canvas that can be washed or reused.
Clean white walls.
large cardboard board or white paper. They are ideal for how cheap they are.
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You may also need support for the background. You can buy support for funds or make them yourself and save some money.
No matter which method you use, always remember to keep the background clean and white so that your product stands out without distractions of any kind and, therefore, your image masking service look clean and professional. This will help make the editing process more efficient.
To see in more detail how to create your studio on a low budget, read our article " DIY1: How to create a low-cost photo studio ".
One last recommendation, and a very useful one: use a tripod for your camera. Regardless of whether you use a mannequin or model to take photos, using a tripod will help make your images consistent from shot to shot, even when you rotate the product to take different angles. Likewise, tripods help to minimize camera movements or vibrations and to maximize the efficiency of your editing process, saving you time. Make sure you place the camera and tripod exactly in front of your background to use up all the space.
Now, it's your turn to test this montage in natural light. Remember, it does not matter how your study is, but to show the garments in the best possible, simple, and realistic way. If you still need a little more help understanding this setup, take a look below.
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Ready to try other options that require more flexibility in your budget? Keep reading and discover more ways to photograph your fashion clothes to sell.Single Mono Lighting
If you have the means we recommend that you rent or invest in an easy to use lighting kit. Having artificial lighting equipment will allow you to be more versatile when you have to take your photoshoot and you do not have enough natural light from your window. Below you can see what this assembly consists of with this bird's-eye diagram.
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Place a light source and umbrella at a 45-degree angle to the product so that the lighting on it is smooth and even. Keep your camera directly in front of the object and use a tripod if you prefer. Although it is not mandatory to use a tripod in a strobe or artificial light mount, it may be more efficient and consistent to leave your camera positioned and ready as you place each product to be photographed.
If you have placed the product too close to the bottom, you will surely create shadows. If this happens you can choose to move the product away from the background so that a clean white background is visible behind or change the background yourself in post-production, implementing a pure white background to the product.
The next thing will be to level the light at half its power. In our case, we have used strobe light with power settings from 1 to 5. If we set it to number 3, we will have enough light. We also recommend using the camera in manual mode, since in this way you will have more versatility and control over the results of your images, as you can manage the aperture, ISO, shutter speed, and other important settings to your liking, instead of relying on the automatic exposure functionality of the camera.
Manually exposing your image correctly is usually a matter of using the camera's light meter, which you can find in the camera's viewfinder, and adjusting its settings until it dials zero. It is not that easy when you use a strobe, because there is no lighting that the camera can read until the flash fires. However, a handheld light meter will help you measure light easily and accurately. By synchronizing it with the lighting system and placing it in front of the product, it will give you accurate information on light readings so you know what to expect.
If you don't have a light meter, start by setting the shutter speed to 1/200 or less, with an aperture of f / 11 or greater. From here, you will need to take test images and adjust the camera settings as you see that you achieve optimal exposure and focus.
As you take the photos, remember that the editing process can help you fix any lighting settings that you can't correct later in the session. However, getting a correct exposure during the photoshoot can save you a lot of time and work in the post-production process. Also, don't forget to properly sync the recharge between flashes, as shooting too fast between shots may cause the light source to not fire in time. Patience is the secret to achieving high-quality fashion product images.
Now is the time for you to try! See below for an example of this type of study.
If you think mono lighting is not enough, try the following setup, which is more advanced and can put some tension on a limited budget.
If you rent or invest in a lighting set, you need to make sure you get two light sources to maximize the versatility of your photography options. Having two flashes will also help in case of low light. There are many affordable options in two-light kits, it's just a matter of finding the one that best suits your needs. For now, let's talk about how to use two strobes together. Look at the following diagram to visualize it easier.
As you take the photos, remember that the editing process can help you fix any lighting settings that you can't correct later in the session. However, getting a correct exposure during the photoshoot can save you a lot of time and work in the post-production process. Also, don't forget to properly sync the recharge between flashes, as shooting too fast between shots may cause the light source to not fire in time. Patience is the secret to achieving high-quality fashion product images.
Now is the time for you to try! See below for an example of this type of study.
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If you think mono lighting is not enough, try the following setup, which is more advanced and can put some tension on a limited budget.
Dual Mono Lighting
If you rent or invest in a lighting set, you need to make sure you get two light sources to maximize the versatility of your photography options. Having two flashes will also help in case of low light. There are many affordable options in two-light kits, it's just a matter of finding the one that best suits your needs. For now, let's talk about how to use two strobes together. Look at the following diagram to visualize it easier.
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In the case of mounting with a single artificial light source, we recommended placing the light at a 45-degree angle relative to the product. In this case, we will start with this configuration and position the second light source slightly close to the product on the opposite side, also using a 45-degree angle to the product. This new light will be your "fill light". The two lights must be synchronized to fire at the same time.
Taking into account that the first light will be set to half power (for example 3 out of 5), you will place your second light at lower power than the first (for example 2 out of 5). Depending on the style you work in product photography, you may not want to completely fill the darkest part of the product with light, thereby creating shadows. However, some people find the color saturation extra positive by exposing both sides of the product evenly. If this is your case, you must illuminate the product on both sides and keep the lighting uniform.
Again, remember to correctly sync the recharge between flashes since if you shoot too fast between shots, one or both light sources will not fire at the same time.
This type of lighting mount also works using a reflector instead of the second light source. In this case, simply place the reflector panel, which you can create with feather cardboard, at a 90-degree angle to the product. The light from your first light source will bounce, filling the darker side to a lower level. However, if you have the means to use both lights, give it a try! You will see that the result is very professional and worth it.
Try creating this type of montage using the one you will see below as a guide.
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We are sure that if you use these three simple and efficient types of lighting assemblies, you will obtain professional and consistent images. It is important that the camera settings are also correct. Remember that quality images provide the customer with a satisfactory shopping experience, which will also generate greater loyalty to your business, better reviews, and, therefore, more sales.you may read more related article clipping paths in photoshop
