Packshot scarves and scarves
Presenting textile products, various materials and weaves is no small feat for a product photographer or advertising agency. It is a kind of art in e-commerce, the desired goal of which should be to effectively influence the recipient with the help of an image.
Imitate touch with image. Shots of textiles that are missing from your store
A browsing of the store's website does not have the opportunity to touch the fabric, wrap a scarf or scarf around the neck, or check the weight of the material. It is the clothing packshots that have to do all the sales work. The power of photography cannot be underestimated. In this text, we will use as sample material photos straight from a professional product session of a sling model in 4 variants: purple, brown, blue and yellow. For the purposes of this article, we have prepared a list of three key shots that should be on the card of each product in this category.
Sling material dynamics – spatial draping
The most important product photo (most often it is the main photograph of the auction) is that it shows the product in its natural environment, but in its arrangement, the way it is wrapped, and how it will look when it is worn.
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The arrangement of the scarf in a rounded, spacious way, perfectly reflects the braid around the neck (the effect of removing clothing on a ghost mannequin).
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Thanks to this arrangement, the customer is able to estimate the volume of the fabric, how it wrinkles and how its edges fall.
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The intricate openwork pattern and frills are perfectly exposed and do not blend in with the surroundings due to the clean, white background behind the product.
Flat Lay wraps, i.e. a flatshot of the product and its geometry and cut
A potential customer must not be exposed to surprises related to the shape and size of the product. The draping itself does not contain information about the geometry of the sling. We do not know whether it is triangular, rectangular or square. It is best to fold flat into an aesthetic and repeatable triangle each time to communicate the actual condition of the cut. The flat lay photo shows the symmetry of the wrap, the clear finish of the edges and the overall proportions of the product.
Touch the scarf through the screen, i.e. macro product photos in packshots
The macro packshot of clothes is designed to show the essence of the fabric from which the clothing is made. Its purpose is not only to visualize the product, but above all it is an attempt to form an idea of the customer's tactile sensations that would accompany him when holding a specific material in his hands or the feeling of being worn. Strong close-ups of clothing are essential to showcase the intricate weaves of the fabric. The details of the wraps allow you to estimate the thickness of the yarn, the softness of the fibers and the precision of making tiny holes and patterns. Showing the three-dimensionality of the weave and the "fluffiness" of the thread in high magnification builds great confidence in quality and is often the final argument for purchase.
The golden rule: Repeatability of the collection
When presenting the same product in different color variants, absolute repeatability is key. Whether the customer is viewing the purple, brown, blue, or yellow version, the shape of the draping in the main photo must be almost identical. Such standardization makes the store look professional, and it is easier for the customer to make a decision about choosing their favorite color.
The price of a packshot – how does a product photographer calculate it?
The price of a packshot consists of many factors, such as the size of the order, i.e. the number of products, the number of photos per product, the type of product, the degree of time consumption and the customer's expectations as to the final vision.
Product is not equal to product, each is different even within one model. Of course, the task of a professional product photographer is to standardize the process of creating photos on the scale of not only the entire session, but between product sessions over the years. Before making an exact quote, it is best to take a few photos of the product sent by the customer. This will allow the product photographer to get acquainted with the product itself and, of course, with the expectations and needs of the customer. You should always stand up for the highest quality and explain to the customer what comes from what.
Technical Tips for Photographers: How to Capture the Soul of Knitwear?
Photographing clothes with such a clear, openwork structure requires more than just pressing the shutter button. The secret lies in properly manipulating the light and camera parameters.
1. Chiaroscuro Game (Side Lighting)
The main mistake of novice product photographers is to flood the product with strong, flat light from the front.
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To show the three-dimensionality of the knitted fabric and the intricate weave, you need to use directional light, preferably falling slightly from the side or at an angle (the so-called contour/side lighting).
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This will create microscopic shadows on the fibers, which the human eye perceives as texture and depth.
2. Depth of field (Aperture)
In e-commerce apparel photography, the product must be sharp from edge to edge.
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For draping or flat lay shots, use an aperture between f/8 and f/11 (or even f/16 depending on the lens). This will keep all the frills and edges sharp.
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For macro shots, you can slightly open the aperture to gently blur the background and focus the client's gaze on one perfectly sharp detail of the weave, but be careful not to let blur dominate the photo.
3. Color Management
There's nothing worse for a store than returns caused by "live color looks different."
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Colors such as mustard yellow, muted brown or deep, cool purple can cause huge problems for camera sensors.
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Be sure to use a color chart (e.g., ColorChecker) during your session and set a custom white balance. Thanks to this, you can be sure that the navy blue on the screen will not fall into black and the yellow will not become neon.
4. White purity and background separation
To get a perfectly clean background (RGB 255,255,255) without "burning" the edges of the wrap itself, remember to properly illuminate the background with an independent set of lamps. In the case of openwork scarves with numerous holes, the correct cutting of the product (grouting) requires great precision in post-production, and a contrasting, well-lit background at the stage of taking a photo will save the graphic designer many hours of work.
