How to Photograph Clothes?

[WTD]

I am soon going to be kicking off an online store for kids clothes, and when the stock is manufactured and delivered, I'm going to have to photograph it for the online store and for catalogues.

Now, I dont mind paying for a photographer to do this, but as I'll be expanding the range continually, I thought it would be a realatively simple thing (famous last words ) to keep in house..

I'd like a white background on each photo for ease of integration into the white background of the site.

a) how can this be achieved

b) what kit do I need..

Oh and as they are kids clothes, they won't be too large to get a full photo of...

Any help kindly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Steve

[stigmundfreud]

roll of white paper can do it if you want but nothing sells clothes better than them being worn

[WTD]

we are going to have them on proper infants as well but for detailed product shots I thought better to have them laid out flat..

Thanks, will have a play with a roll of white paper.

[andybuk99]

Shoot on a white background and then preferably get a clipping path made. Also check for moire on any fine detailed clothing.

[WTD]

how about lighting? any advice on that?

[stuthemong]

flat? hmm, I think most would look rubbish like that.

I'd get a medium sized light tent, a couple of halogen lamps with diffusers, a £1K digicam with lens CF card etc (Nikon D80/D200 canon 40D etc.. sort of range), and most importantly, some sort of torso/body model - you can get these with covered in a soft white cotton, and you put the clothes on them and spin them around.

With a light tent / 2 lights /OK digi cam / torso / photoshop you should be able to get very professional results for under 2K total outlay.

HTH

[WTD]

stuthemong said:

I'd get a medium sized light tent

Ok have been looking at these, will ship one in..

stuthemong said:

a couple of halogen lamps with diffusers

Cool good info thanks, halogen and diffuser, will get.

stuthemong said:

a £1K digicam with lens CF card etc (Nikon D80/D200 canon 40D etc.. sort of range)

Check

stuthemong said:

some sort of torso/body model

I was taking a look at these, aside from the mannequin shops being very very spooky places, the 'realistic faces' are laughable... But I digress.. would something like the smallest one here:
be appropriate do you think? I find it hard to imagine it looking good????

THanks for the post, really appreciate it!

[WTD]

or do you mean something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Baby-MANNEQUIN-Child-BENDABLE-...

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

To be honest, to get started, pay someone, there's nothing I find more off-putting than seeing dodgy in-house photos when shopping for something, I'll 99% of the time find somewhere else to buy from. After the initial set, get yourself on a decent photography course for what you want to be doing. You don't need an expensive DSLR, a pro-sumer model will do fine, if you know how to use it properly. Halogen lights are also going to make your products look bad, even adjusting for white balance IMHO.