topic Re: Selling clothes in Selling

Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 23:08:14 GMT

Hi all,

I've been wondering lately about how best to present clothes in photos. For the last year I've either just laid the item on a rug, or hung it up behind my door - but I'm not really satisfied with how the presentation turns out.

I'd like to get a dressmakers dummy/mannequin to display the clothes on properly, but it would be great to hear what you guys think. What do you find works for you? Do you think 'fancy' photos with a mannequin are better, or are door/floor photos ok? Which have you had the most success with?

Re: Selling clothes

lane-ends — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 23:20:19 GMT

Full bodied mannequins are good but are not flexible in sizing, and so are best suited for new items where you have a range of sizes available and so can choose a size that fits the mennequin the best.

Most common for one off items that are in an assortment of sizes is to have say 2-3 different sized half bodied form hangers, and pick the closest and back pin them. Use a drop sheet behind rather than a door etc.

You also have to take into account set up time. A fully adustable full mannequin, apart from being expensive, is going to take longer to set up per item, than a half body form.. Ok if you are setting up a few expensive items, but if you have a whole lot of lower margin items it is soon going to be too much effort.

Dont go pinning a size 20 dress on a size 8 mannequin, you will get complaints about misrepresentation

Re: Selling clothes

harley_babes_hoard — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:31:58 GMT

for the small amount you sell is buying a mannequin worthwhile? I would say the door is fine

Re: Selling clothes

egglesdtp — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:45:55 GMT

I won't consider buying clothes that have been photographed on the floor (rug or not).Or lying on a bed, as perspective is always skewed.

I use a half torso to photograph clothes I sell - and I don't pin larger sizes. Items that won't suit my mannequin (skirts and pants) I hang on clothes hangers.

I think it is more important to take photos from both sides, and include a closeup to show fabric (pattern and/or texture) as well as including measurements. I also ensure the background is as plain as possible (I use a cream blanket hung from curtain rails above a window) and photos are taken in natural but not direct daylight.

Re: Selling clothes

black*poppy — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:59:00 GMT

Wow eggs, you must miss out on a heap of bargains and beautiful peices! Oh well, one way is as good as any other to cut down on spending.

Re: Selling clothes

egglesdtp — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 02:40:24 GMT

@black*poppy wrote:
Wow eggs, you must miss out on a heap of bargains and beautiful peices! Oh well, one way is as good as any other to cut down on spending.

I'm desperately trying to downsize, so missing out on bargains laid out on the floor is a good thing.

Re: Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 03:11:48 GMT

Eggs - really interesting points, thanks.

Re: Selling clothes

black*poppy — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 03:16:25 GMT

The main things I put on the floor are trousers and skirts. I refuse to pull the mannequin apart for trousers and risk damaging her (she has to be taken off the stand to thread the legs over her feet). I can't seem to get a good result with hanging trousers either, they just look better on the floor.

Some skirts are the same too. I don't think they come up well on the mannequin because of the way she kicks her leg out, unless they are really long. Some skirts, like jersey, are too drapey to put on a hanger, but come up a treat on the floor.

I used to have a wooden floor before I moved, really miss that. All the clothes looked wonderful on the floor then, carpet is a bit bleh.

If you keep a lookout you can score a mannequin for under $100 delivered. I think the flesh coloured ones are the best because you can see light coloured clothes on them - I've been discussing with my partner for awhile now about re-spraying mine (he's got a spray booth). My other advice would be don't get one with a full made-up face and hair, or at least crop it out of your photos. They just look creepy.

Other than that, take a good look at how other sellers present their clothing, you can learn alot. Not having a mannequin doesn't mean you won't do well. A few prominent sellers just hang everything and do well, some that use mannequins look dreadful.

Re: Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 03:23:49 GMT

Harley babes - usually I list quite a bit more than I have this month. You're right, the door is fine for now, but if I start listing a lot more, I want the photos to look better than they do now.

Re: Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 03:24:56 GMT

Poppy - really good points, thanks 🙂

Re: Selling clothes

phorum_junkie* — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 09:56:36 GMT

I have three hollow back half body forms, children's, 'normal'. and plus size which I use for tops, dresses etc. I have a mesh screen fixed to the wall with a sheet in front and hang the forms in front of that. For skirts and pants I hang at the waist then pin the skirt/pants to the mesh : Not one of my best but you get the idea.

Re: Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:14:14 GMT

That's an interesting idea, thanks 🙂

Re: Selling clothes

kopenhagen5 — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:20:10 GMT

I was going to suggest the same.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hanging-Female-Mannequin-Skin-Colour-/181577455507?hash=item2a46dc1793

Re: Selling clothes

saarzi — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:46:46 GMT

In my opinion, hanging clothes on a door, or on the carpet or rug (especially if its dark or multicoloured), gives me the impression of, unprofessional, grotty/ dirty, seller couldnt care less, poor quality and clueless. Whether thats true or not, isnt really the point. It turns buyers off.

Youve posted in a post here before about this, and almost everyone recommended you have light coloured, clear, clean backgrounds. The peice of clothing needs to be the focus of the photo - not the old carpet or kitchen cupboard.

Dont you have a light coloured wall somewhere with a picture hook you can hang things on so they look a little better presented?

If you dont, and if I was you, I'd be ironing a clean white sheet, lying that on the floor, and arranging the clothes to be photographed on that. OR.. just crop out the door in MSPaint (or something) - see attached, your red dress.

The clothes you have on a clear background - like THIS one, look great. If you can get them all to look similar, theres no need for a mannequin.

Re: Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 21:11:42 GMT

Thanks for your advice saarzi 🙂

Re: Selling clothes

negron18 — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 01:16:48 GMT

there are quite a few good 2nd hand manequins that you can purchase. Either full body ones or half body ones for a cheap price Also with photoshop programs these days or even just using a white background or large white tablecloth on a large table makes it a bit more presentable if not using manequins.

Re: Selling clothes

lane-ends — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:20:18 GMT

If you want to photograph something flat use a board, propped up at say 45degrees or so against a table or chair etc. Peg a material backing sheet over this. Lay your item on it. The material will help stop it sliding down, and being at an angle you can take a photo closer to perpendicular to the item, this avoids that obvious angled floor shot.

You can use this same board and backing leaning close to vertical for hanger or body form shots too.

Then crop the photo so item takes up all the frame

Re: Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 21:21:01 GMT

Great idea! 🙂

Re: Selling clothes

jessicadazzler97 — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 21:22:46 GMT

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! 🙂

I think I'll be going with the door for now - a mannequin can come later. You've all been really helpful.

Re: Selling clothes

lane-ends — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 22:32:22 GMT

A sheet over the door would help, and it also prevents the paint gloss from affecting lighting exposure on camera.