How to Take Good Photos of Clothes to Sell Online: A Complete Guide

In the bustling world of online fashion, your photos are your first—and often only—chance to convince buyers to click "Add to Cart." Blurry snaps, cluttered backgrounds, or poorly lit images can sink even the most stylish garments, while crisp, professional-quality photos can turn casual browsers into loyal customers. Whether you’re a small boutique owner, a reseller, or a DIY fashion entrepreneur, learning how to take pictures of clothes to sell isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about building trust, showcasing value, and boosting sales.

But here’s the good news: You don’t need a pricey studio setup or years of experience. With the right techniques, a smartphone or basic camera, and smart image editing tools, you can create stunning, scroll-stopping images that rival top e-commerce brands.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to take photos of clothes to sell like a pro—from lighting hacks and styling tricks to AI-powered editing shortcuts. Get ready to transform your product listings from "meh" to must-have—and watch your sales soar.

Preparation: Getting Ready for the Clothing Photography

Before you start taking pictures of clothes to sell, proper preparation is essential to ensure high-quality, professional-looking images. From selecting the right equipment to setting up an ideal shooting environment, these steps will help you capture clear and appealing product photos.

Choose the Right Equipment

A DSLR or mirrorless camera will give you the most control over settings like aperture and shutter speed. However, you don’t need an expensive DSLR to take great clothing photos—many modern smartphones come with high-resolution cameras capable of capturing sharp details.

Additionally, using the right accessories can significantly improve image quality. A tripod helps keep the camera steady, preventing blurry shots and maintaining consistency across different angles.

Lighting is just as important: natural light works best, but if it's not available, softbox lights or a ring light can help eliminate harsh shadows and evenly illuminate the clothing.

Prepare the Clothing

No matter how good your camera is, wrinkles, lint, or stains can ruin a product shot. Before taking photos, steam or iron the clothing to ensure a smooth, polished look. Use a lint roller to remove dust and small fibers, and inspect for any stains, loose threads, or imperfections that might stand out in high-resolution images. If you're photographing structured garments like jackets or dresses, consider using a mannequin or a live model to show their fit and shape more effectively.

Set Up the Background

The background plays a huge role in how your clothing is perceived. A simple, neutral background like white, gray, or beige helps the clothing stand out without distractions, making it easier for buyers to focus on the product.

If you want to add some creativity to your images, you can experiment with textured backgrounds, such as a wooden table, fabric backdrop, or brick wall. These can add depth and interest to your photos while keeping the focus on the clothing.

For a lifestyle-oriented look, consider shooting outdoors in a natural setting, like a park or against a clean urban backdrop. Just make sure the background remains uncluttered so that it complements rather than competes with the clothing.

If your background isn’t perfect during the shoot, you can easily remove or replace it later using Aiarty Image Matting. This AI-powered tool automatically removes backgrounds, allowing you to replace them with a clean white backdrop or a setting that complements your brand. Simply upload your image, and Aiarty will do the work for you, with options to fine-tune the edges for a natural, professional look. This is especially useful if you want a consistent background across all your clothing photos.

I've personally used Aiarty Image Matting to change the background of a clothing photo to pure white. It removed the original background precisely, and the result looked professional in just a few seconds.

Want to give it a try? Click the "Get Free License" button below to get your own free license for Aiarty Image Matting and start editing your photos today.

By carefully selecting your background during preparation, you’ll ensure your images look professional and appealing without needing excessive editing later.

With everything set up, it’s time to start the photoshoot!

Shooting: How to Take Professional Clothing Photos

Now that everything is set up and ready, it’s time to start shooting your clothing. Capturing high-quality product images involves more than just snapping pictures; you need to consider the angle, lighting, and styling to highlight the best features of the garment. Here’s how to take professional photos that will make your clothes stand out.

Choose the Right Shooting Style

Choosing the right shooting style for your clothing product photos is essential for presenting the garment in its best light. The style of your shots should match the type of clothing you're photographing, as well as the platform’s requirements. Here's how you can determine which shooting style works best for your clothing:

Flat Lay Shots

Flat lay photography is a popular style for smaller or more casual items like T-shirts, accessories, or scarves, as well as baby clothes like onesies, socks, or hats.

To capture the best flat lay shots, lay the clothing on a clean, flat surface such as a white sheet or table, and photograph the item directly from above. This method is particularly effective for highlighting patterns, textures, and small details, such as the stitching on a shirt or the design of a belt.

Flat lay shots are perfect for items where the fit and shape are less important but where the garment's texture, color, and design need to be showcased clearly. However, avoid overlapping or cluttering the items to ensure the focus stays on the product.

Mannequin or Model Shots

For garments like dresses, jackets, or other structured pieces, a mannequin or a live model is ideal for showing off the fit and shape of the clothing. Mannequins provide a stable, clear representation of how the garment fits, while models add a dynamic and more relatable aspect to the product photos.

When using a mannequin, ensure the garment is well fitted and neatly arranged to avoid wrinkles or stretching. Mannequins are especially useful for products like coats, blazers, and dresses, where the garment's structure and silhouette are key selling points.

If you opt for a live model, this adds a personal touch and allows buyers to visualize the garment in real life. Make sure the model is standing in a natural pose, with a neutral background to avoid distractions. For e-commerce platforms like Amazon, there are specific guidelines for model usage:

• Main images should be shot on a model, except for childrenswear, accessories, or transparent clothing.
• The model must be standing, not sitting, kneeling, leaning, or lying down.
• If the product is transparent, ensure that the model’s intimate areas are covered. Additionally, the model should wear clothes underneath the transparent item.
• For children’s clothing, avoid using models and instead show the product flat (no model).

Hanging Shots

If you don’t have access to a mannequin or model, hanging shots are an alternative for lighter garments such as scarves, silk shirts, or blouses. Hang the item neatly on a sturdy hanger and photograph against a clean background. This style works well for garments where showing the fabric's texture and drape is important but where fit is less critical.

Optimize Camera Settings

Capturing high-quality clothing photos isn’t just about the garments—it’s also about how you set up and position your camera. Adjusting the right settings ensures sharp, well-lit, and accurate images that showcase the details of your clothing.

Key Camera Settings for Clothing Photography

• Aperture (f-stop): Set your aperture between f/8 and f/11 to keep the entire garment in sharp focus. This ensures that fabric textures, stitching, and small details remain crisp.
• Shutter Speed: Use a shutter speed of 1/125s or faster to avoid motion blur, especially if photographing a model or capturing slight fabric movements.
• ISO: Keep the ISO low (100-400) to reduce noise and maintain image clarity. If shooting in lower light, increase the ISO slightly, but avoid going too high to prevent grainy images.
• White Balance: Adjust the white balance according to your light source (daylight, tungsten, or custom settings) to ensure the clothing’s colors remain true to life.
• Focus Mode: Use manual focus or single-point autofocus to emphasize key details like fabric texture, buttons, or stitching. Ensure the garment remains the sharpest element in the frame.

Additional Tips for the Best Shots

• Use a Tripod: Keeping the camera stable helps avoid blur and ensures consistent framing.
• Avoid Direct Flash: Flash can create harsh shadows and overexposed areas—opt for soft, diffused lighting instead.
• Test and Adjust: Before shooting a full batch of photos, take test shots and tweak your settings to achieve the best results.

By optimizing these camera settings, you’ll produce high-quality, professional-looking clothing photos that appeal to buyers and accurately represent your products.

Choose the Best Angles

Angles are just as important as camera settings. Experiment with front, back, and side views to present the full garment. For detailed shots, take close-ups of stitching, buttons, or unique design elements to highlight the fabric quality. For structured garments like coats or dresses, a three-quarter angle often provides the most flattering representation of the fit. If photographing flat-lay styles, ensure the clothing is arranged neatly and shot directly from above to maintain symmetry.

Focus on Details

The key to a professional clothing photo is capturing details that show off the quality of the garment. Close-ups of fabric textures, embroidery, buttons, or unique stitching can help buyers assess the quality of the material and craftsmanship. Pay attention to small features that make the item stand out, like the pattern on the fabric or any distinctive design elements.

Layering and accessories can also make a big difference. If you’re photographing an outfit that includes accessories like a belt or scarf, make sure to capture those items separately in close-up shots as well. This provides the buyer with a more complete view of the outfit.

Mastering Lighting for Perfect Clothing Photos

Lighting can make or break your photos. If you’re shooting indoors, natural light is your best friend. Set up your shoot near a window where the light is soft and diffused. Avoid shooting in direct sunlight, which can cause harsh shadows or overexposed areas. If you're shooting indoors and natural light isn’t enough, use a softbox light or a ring light to ensure your clothing is evenly lit.

One common mistake is overlooking the importance of shadows. Reflectors can help bounce light onto areas that might be too dark, ensuring the garment’s full details are visible. Remember, lighting should highlight the fabric and texture, not overwhelm it with glare or shadows.

Don't Forget to Photograph the Clothing Tags

In addition to capturing the garment itself, make sure to take clear, close-up shots of the clothing tags. This includes:

• Brand and Size: Ensure the brand logo and size information are clearly visible in the image. Customers often rely on this information to make purchase decisions.
• Material Composition: Highlight the fabric content (e.g., 100% cotton, polyester blend) to give potential buyers an idea of the garment’s quality and feel.
• Care Instructions: Many customers want to know how to care for their new clothes. A photo of the care instructions tag can help them understand washing and drying guidelines, which can influence their decision to buy.

For best results, photograph the tag in clear, well-lit conditions so all the text is legible. Use a macro lens or close-up shots to ensure that the small print is sharp and easily readable.

By paying attention to these key aspects, you’ll be able to take stunning clothing photos.

After the Shoot: Selecting and Editing Your Clothing Photos

After your photoshoot, it’s time to refine your images to ensure they are polished and meet e-commerce platform requirements. Proper editing not only makes your clothing product more appealing but also improves your search engine optimization (SEO) to increase visibility. Here’s how you can effectively edit your clothing photos for maximum impact.

Perform Basic Adjustments

You can adjust the brightness, contrast, and color balance to make sure the clothing’s colors appear true to life. Platforms like Amazon and eBay expect the product’s colors to be represented realistically. Additionally, you may need to correct the exposure to avoid images that are too dark or overexposed.

If the background is uneven or slightly tilted, use editing software to straighten the image and correct any distortions. A level, well-lit background ensures the product takes center stage and gives a clean, professional appearance.

For these basic adjustments, tools like Adobe Photoshop can help.

Remove Distractions

Sometimes, your clothing images may contain distractions like dust, lint, or wrinkles that are visible in the final photo. It’s crucial to remove these imperfections to maintain a clean and attractive product image. You can use Photoshop to remove any unwanted spots, dust, or small items in the background. If there are creases or folds in the clothing, tools like the healing brush in Photoshop can help smooth them out.

Moreover, make sure to remove any extra objects or accessories that don't belong in the frame, such as stray hangers, jewelry, or bags, unless they are part of the product listing. For a more polished look, you can also remove background clutter that might distract from the clothing.

Keep Platform Image Guidelines in Mind

When editing your clothing photos, it’s important to keep the specific image requirements of each platform in mind. Different e-commerce platforms have different rules regarding what can and can’t be included in your product images.

Here's a quick overview of some common guidelines:

Amazon:

• No text, pricing, or promotional material, such as "Best Seller," "Amazon’s Choice".
• Do not use Amazon logos or phrases like "Prime," "Alexa," or the Amazon Smile design.
• Swatch-only images: These are acceptable, but ensure there is no logo, pricing, or promotional text on the image.

eBay:

• No text, logos, or watermarks in product images.
• Avoid promotional elements: Make sure your images don’t include any promotional messages or distractions that could take attention away from the product.

Optimize Image for SEO

Optimizing your images for SEO is just as important as editing the visuals themselves. Proper image optimization will help your product appear in search results, driving more traffic to your listings.

• File Naming: Instead of generic filenames like “IMG1234.jpg,” rename your files to include relevant keywords. For example, use descriptive names like “red-dress-for-sale.jpg”. This helps search engines understand what the image represents and boosts visibility for relevant search terms.
• Image Dimensions: To ensure your images load quickly without sacrificing quality, resize them to 1000x1000px or larger. E-commerce platforms like Amazon and eBay recommend images that are large enough for users to zoom in but still optimized for fast loading.

Use Appropriate File Format and Compression

Finally, save your images in appropriate formats. JPEG is typically the best choice for product images due to its balance between high quality and file size. You can also use PNG for images with transparent backgrounds, though the file size can be larger. Use online tools like TinyPNG to compress your images without losing quality, which is essential for faster loading times on your listings.

References:

1. Image guidelines for clothing | Amazon
2. Depop seller photography guide
3. Picture policy | eBay
4. Shopify Help Center | Taking product photographs
5. The Poshmark Listing Photography Guide