Lingerie photography simply refers to the art of capturing the essence of lingerie by highlighting its features and details. And in the modern world, it also involves showcasing the benefits a person will have after wearing it.
That’s why e-commerce lingerie businesses are trying to leverage professional lingerie product photography today. It is essential to showcase their products online and attract customers with different product features.
Here, we took a deep dive into lingerie photography to give you all the insights into the industry. We will discuss the importance, the types, essential gear, a complete work process, advanced tips, and some ideas.
In short, you get a thorough guide on lingerie product photography. So, if you are an e-commerce shop owner, lingerie retailer manufacturer, or even a professional product photographer, stick till the end to get all your answers.
Importance of Lingerie Product Photography for Ecommerce
There are plenty of benefits for e-commerce businesses from relying on lingerie product photography. It’s not just about showing off the products online. In fact, 75% of customers rely on photos to make their decisions. Quality images become the key to impacting several decision-making factors. Such as –
Building Trust and Confidence
Since customers can’t experience the lingerie firsthand, high-quality photos become their eyes and hands. Clear, detailed images build trust by showcasing the craftsmanship and materials.
Visualizing Fit and Style
Lingerie is all about how it makes you feel and look. Great photos let customers envision themselves wearing the piece, helping them choose the right size and style for their body.
Boosting Sales Conversions
Compelling product photography is a silent salesperson. It can grab attention, pique interest, and convince customers to click “add to cart.” Studies show high-quality photos are a major factor influencing online purchasing decisions. In fact, 70% of businesses use professional photography to stay ahead of the competition.
Different types of lingerie product photography
While you can just take a camera and click a photo of lingerie, it’s not the perfect idea when you plan to sell it online or at least attract people to it. Here are the three main types that will help you tell the complete story of your lingerie.
Flat Lay
The flat lay is a classic technique for showcasing intricate details and patterns. Imagine your lingerie artfully arranged, perhaps on a crisp white backdrop or soft fabric bed. This style is ideal for:
- Highlighting intricate lace or embroidery. Zoom in on the details that make your lingerie unique.
- Presenting a variety of colors. Capture all the color options side-by-side in a visually appealing composition.
- Showcasing matching sets. Lay out a bra and panty set together for a cohesive look.
Model
There’s no better way to showcase lingerie through a photograph than a real person wearing it in model shots. It lets customers see the lingerie’s fit, shape, and overall look with a single picture. Here’s when model photography shines:
- Demonstrating comfort and support. Use dynamic poses to showcase how the lingerie moves with the body.
- Highlighting specific features. Focus on details like lift technology or seamless construction.
- Building trust and relatability. Choose models who represent your target audience and embody the brand’s style.
Lifestyle
Lingerie is something that a person will wear in their daily life. That’s why, if you can show the product used in daily life use cases, it can easily create that realism in the photo, engaging people even more. The various shots can be –
- Increase relatability. Show the lingerie being worn in relatable circumstances.
- Portray versatility. Using different poses and styles to showcase versatility
- Flaunt trendiness. Pairing up the lingerie with a variety of clothing for trendy looks
Lingerie Product Photography Essentials: Gear Guide for Professional Shots for Ecommerce
When you have to click professional lingerie photos to present them as products, you will at least require the following gear to make the photos look good. Here’s what you will need for some professional lingerie shots.
Camera
A camera is obviously the most basic need for taking photos. While many argue that you can take high-quality photos with modern smartphones, we recommend getting a professional camera for professional shots.
DSLR or Mirrorless: The first choice you have is between DSLR and Mirrorless cameras. Both types provide excellent image quality. With DSLR, you can save money and get better versatility regarding lens choices. However, mirrorless cameras provide portability and fast, continuous shooting.
In addition, you should consider getting a camera with a larger sensor that captures more light. This will eventually result in less noise and cleaner images, especially when working in a studio setting.
Lens
You have to choose the perfect kind of lens along with your camera. With lenses, you primarily get two choices for product photography. You can get either a macro lens or a prime lens. Zoom lenses don’t work that well for lingerie photography.
Macro Lens: A macro lens will be your best friend if you want to capture details like the embroidery design and stitching on your lingerie photos. These details also add great value to the photos by making them more reliable and trustworthy for customers.
Prime Lens: A prime lens, on the other hand, is all about superior image quality from a certain distance. Its fixed focal length is great for clicking high-definition portraits.
Lighting
You will always struggle to take high-quality photos without the right lighting gear. Usually, lingerie photography requires you to use studio lighting, which involves much more equipment than natural lighting. These include –
Softbox or Light Tent: Softboxes are perfect for diffusing the light and not creating too harsh of a lighting effect in a studio setup. This is crucial to get a flattering look on the lingerie fabrics.
As for light tents, you will benefit greatly from these if you are a beginner. They may not be as flexible for positioning as softboxes, but they still do the job for you.
Continuous Lighting: Continuous lighting gear like LED panels or fluorescent lights can give you a much better and softer lighting effect than traditional studio strobes. These lights allow you to see how the light falls on the subject before capturing the photo.
Reflectors: Natural lighting can sometimes create harsh shadows on photos. That’s where reflectors come into play. You simply get the light onto the reflector, which then bounces the light off to the subject, creating a softer lighting effect. The ideal reflectors for lingerie photography come in either white or silver.
Background
When it comes to highlighting the lingerie in your photos, you have to get a background with no distracting elements. The best solution is to go with a solid background with white, grey, or fabric backdrops in neutral tones.
Tripod
Even though getting a tripod is unnecessary, there’s no harm in having one, either. Having a tripod will give you the added stability you need to capture a perfectly still shot. Hence, you end up with photos that are crisp and sharp.
Editing Software
The last thing you will need besides the physical gear is basic photo editing software. Software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom can be a crucial tool to turn your mediocre or basic photos into something extraordinary if you have the right editing skills.
How to Photoshoot Lingerie Products Photo – Step-by-Step Guide
Below, we explain the steps for a perfect lingerie product photoshoot. These are the basic steps for taking proper professional lingerie photos for e-commerce businesses.
Step 1: Plan out your lingerie photoshoot
The journey starts with planning the photoshoot. You have to think about how you want to click the photo. Define the overall look and feel. Will it be elegant, playful, or sporty? Go with something that aligns with your target audience.
Don’t just work on the overall look. You should also get through a deep planning of the shots you want to include in the photoshoot. If using a model, consider their body type, skin tone, and overall fit with your brand image.
Step 2: Prepare for the photo shoot
After you finish all the planning, you should start preparing for the photoshoot according to the plan. Preparing for a lingerie photoshoot usually includes choosing pieces that represent your brand and target audience. Consider a variety of styles, colors, and fabrics for versatility.
Then, you must work on the props and a background that complements the lingerie and the desired look planned earlier. It’s best to opt for clean, simple backgrounds that won’t distract from the product.
Another critical preparation you have to focus on is the lighting. Using a soft, diffused light is ideal for lingerie photography. You can use natural light with diffusers or a studio lighting setup with softboxes.
Step 3: Setup for the photoshoot
Once you have prepared the surroundings, products, and props for the shoot, you have to dig into preparing the other elements.
First, you have to prepare your camera with the perfect settings based on the photoshoot environment. While the key settings depend on your lighting setup, you can follow some general settings, such as keeping the aperture f/8-f/11 for depth of field and keeping the ISO low to avoid grain.
Aside from the camera stuff, try steaming or ironing the lingerie carefully to ensure it is wrinkle-free and looks its best. If there’s a model, ensure they feel comfortable and confident. Provide clear instructions on posing and movement.
Step 4: Start taking photos
You can simply follow the plan and start clicking the photos you want to take after the preparation and setup. However, don’t stick strictly to the planning; this is the step in which you have to unleash your creativity.
Click the basic shots like flat lays, close-ups, and model shots, but also try to come up with creative shots from different angles while highlighting the lingerie in them.
Remember to capture the intricate details of the lingerie in some of your photos. Try to get everything done within the photoshoot and leave no room for possibilities. That’s the way you will have the perfect lingerie shots.
Step 5: Post-processing and editing the photos
Complete your lingerie photoshoot journey by editing the photos and elevating them to a new standard. First, work around the basic edits, such as brightness, contrast, and color balance adjustments.
Afterward, you can use selective editing tools to enhance specific areas, like smoothing backgrounds or brightening whites. Lastly, add subtle retouching to remove minor blemishes or imperfections. However, don’t overdo it because you would still want a natural look there.Â
And that’s how to take pictures of lingerie.
Tips for Successful Lingerie Product Photography
It’s time to learn some expert tips to elevate your lingerie photography. These tips come directly from lingerie photography experts. These are –
Choosing the right models or mannequins
If you have chosen a model or a mannequin for your photoshoot, choose the right one. You have to see if the model or the mannequin can represent the lingerie well enough and make it look even more appealing.
With models, it’s more about creating a connection through sensuality and expressions. Meanwhile, mannequins are about consistent poses and presentations across all lingerie products.
Focus on flat-lay
While models and mannequins are great for giving shape to lingerie, flat-lays best portray its raw look. They simply show customers what they will get when they open the package.
The Profoto product photography team has created a video guide on how to style and photograph underwear using a flat lay technique. Check it out for some great ideas!
Ensure Perfect Lighting
Use diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows. Softboxes or light tents are great options for this. You can also utilize natural light filtered through a sheer curtain for a softer effect.
A Clean Background is the Key
Opt for a clean, seamless background that won’t compete with the lingerie. White, light grey, or neutral beige are popular choices. Maintain consistency across all your product photos for a professional look.
Focus on details
Ensure your camera is set to capture sharp images that highlight the details of the lace, stitching, and embellishments.
Post-processing
The most important tip here is not to overdo the product photo post-processing or editing in your lingerie photos. Just go with the basic editing and highlight the lingerie details as much as possible. Above all, keep the photos looking natural.Â
Top 15 Lingerie Product Photography Ideas that Get Customer Attention
Enough with all the technicalities, steps, and tips. Here are some ideas to inspire you and start taking top-notch lingerie photos immediately.
1. Take Flat Lay
A classic and versatile shot. Lay the lingerie flat on a clean background to showcase its overall design and details.
2. Capture a Detailed Shot
Zoom in on the intricate details of the lingerie. It can be lacework, embroidery, or any other unique design element to highlight the tailoring quality of the lingerie.
3. Take a Group Shot
Showcase a collection of lingerie sets or different colors of the same design in a single frame.
4. Take Close-Up Shots
Get even closer to showcase features like buttons, clasps, or unique stitching. It’s better to use macro lenses for these shots as they showcase these elements.
5. Capture the Essence of Style
Spice up the photos with props, backgrounds, and different lighting effects that perfectly complement the lingerie style. A great example is using a soft, romantic vibe in a bridal lingerie shoot.
6. Showcase Specific Aspects of Lingerie
Focus on features like a plunging neckline or convertible straps with close-up shots or multiple angles.
7. Highlight Different Body Shapes
Consider using mannequins or models in various sizes to promote inclusivity and cater to a wider audience.
8. Capture Lingerie Reflections in Mirrors
Create a sense of depth and intrigue by incorporating mirrors into your photoshoot.
9. Shoot Lingerie with Modeling
Utilize models to showcase the fit, drape, and movement of the lingerie on a real body.
10. Use Ghost Mannequins
Making use of ghost mannequin editing can help you create a realistic lingerie photo look without actually having a mannequin as a distraction.
11. Get Creative with Lifestyle Lingerie Shoot
12. Take Front Side Views
Capture a classic front-on shot to provide a clear view of the entire lingerie piece.
13. Take Back Side Views
Don’t forget to show the back of the lingerie! This is important for designs with unique features or closures.
14. Shoot from a 45-degree Angle
This angle offers a more dynamic lingerie view, showcasing its shape and dimension.
15. Create Interactive 360-degree Photography
Take advantage of 360-degree photography and allow your customers to check the lingerie from all angles, with their desired control.
Conclusion
To conclude, the ultimate guide to lingerie product photography ideas can be the perfect starting point for elevating your lingerie photos. Whether you own an e-commerce store, retailer, or manufacturer or run a shop on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or Shopify, these tips will help you.
And if you are a product photographer trying to branch out, this guide is the perfect answer to that as well. In short, no matter what you do, as long as your work involves lingerie photography, you can utilize the ideas, tips and follow the guide to get effective results.
