In the fiercely competitive e-commerce landscape, showcasing products in an appealing and informative way is crucial. As online shopping continues to dominate the retail sector, businesses are constantly searching for innovative methods to highlight their offerings and stand out. Enter ghost mannequin photography – a technique revolutionizing the presentation of apparel and accessories online.

What is ghost mannequin photography? 

Ghost mannequin photography is more than just a trend – it’s a transformative approach that brings products to life. But what exactly does it entail?

At its core, ghost mannequin photography involves photographing an item on a mannequin and then digitally removing the mannequin during post-production using advanced image editing techniques. The final result is a product that appears to be floating freely, offering a three-dimensional effect. This technique allows customers to visualize the product’s fit and form without any distractions.

Some brands have successfully utilized ghost mannequin photography to increase their sales. Here are a few notable examples: 

– H&M uses ghost mannequin photography to create high-quality online product images. This technique allows customers to see the structure and details of the clothing without being distracted by the mannequin’s image. This enhances the product’s appeal and boosts sales.

– Nike uses ghost mannequin photography to professionally and meticulously present their sports products. These images allow customers to clearly see the design and material of the products, increasing the likelihood of purchase.

– Net-A-Porter, a high-end online fashion retailer, uses ghost mannequin photography to showcase their products. The sharp and sophisticated images help customers easily visualize the products, thereby boosting sales. 

Key benefits of ghost mannequin photography

In the realm of product photography, the ghost mannequin technique has carved out a unique niche. Let’s delve into the compelling benefits it offers.

Enhanced Visualization

By creating a 3D effect, ghost mannequin photography allows customers to see how an item will look when worn, enhancing their understanding of the product’s fit and shape.

Professional Appearance

Products displayed using this technique look polished and professional, which can improve the overall aesthetics of an e-commerce site and attract more customers.

Focus on the Product

Removing the mannequin eliminates distractions, ensuring that the focus remains solely on the product. This helps in highlighting important details and features. 

Increased Sales

High-quality, detailed images can lead to better customer engagement and higher conversion rates, as shoppers are more likely to purchase items they can clearly visualize.

Cost-Effective

Compared to hiring live models for every product, ghost mannequin photography can be a more cost-effective option while still providing a high-quality presentation.

Customer Confidence

Clear and detailed images help build customer trust and confidence in the product, reducing the likelihood of returns due to unmet expectations.

A step-by-step guide to ghost mannequin photography

Ghost mannequin photography is often seen as an advanced technique reserved for seasoned professionals. However, with the right approach and guidance, even beginners can achieve stunning results. So how to do ghost mannequin photography? Our step-by-step guide simplifies the process, ensuring you can master this technique with ease and elevate your product presentations to the next level.

• Mannequin Selection 

Choose a mannequin that closely resembles the size and shape of your target audience to ensure the product fits well and looks natural in photos. Opt for a mannequin with detachable parts, such as neck segments and various arm lengths, as this can significantly simplify the post-production process. However, if you don’t have such a mannequin, you can still achieve excellent results with some additional editing effort.

• Product preparation

Before placing the product on the mannequin, ensure it is clean, wrinkle-free, and in top condition. Use a steamer or iron if necessary.

• Dressing the mannequin

Dress the mannequin carefully with the product, making sure there are no visible tags or internal labels. Adjust the fit using pins, clips, or tape as needed. Remove any unnecessary mannequin parts that do not support the garment.

• Positioning and background

Position the mannequin against a clean background, preferably white or light grey. This simplifies post-production editing and prevents any unwanted color cast.

• Lighting setup

Utilize soft, diffused lighting to eliminate deep shadows. Ensure the light source illuminates the entire length of the product to avoid underexposure at either the top or bottom. Long strip softboxes or large LED panels work best for this. Be mindful of the lamps’ placement; positioning them directly in front of the camera can create a flat appearance, while angling them towards the sides adds depth and dimension to the shot.

• Camera settings and positioning

Position the camera at the middle height of the garment for a neutral perspective, ensuring it is level on a steady tripod. Set the white balance manually for accurate color reproduction. For even more precise color rendition, consider using a color checker card. Use manual settings to maintain consistent exposure throughout the entire photo session.

• Capture multiple angles

Capture the product from multiple angles, including side, front, and back views, to provide your customers with a thorough selection of images.

• Capture covered garment parts

Certain parts of the garment, such as the inner back, are often hidden when displayed on the mannequin. These areas need to be photographed separately and later photoshopped into the main product photo. After capturing the main shots, remove the garment from the mannequin, turn it inside out, and fit it back on the mannequin. This ensures consistent lighting and camera angles.

• Post-production

This is how the ghost mannequin effect is achieved. Begin by using photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop to eliminate the mannequin from the image. If you’re using Orbitvu, the mannequin can be removed automatically. This process will result in the product appearing to “float.”

In the next step, smoothly incorporate the separately photographed garment sections that were obscured by the mannequin into the main image.

As a final touch, it’s recommended to smooth out any unwanted wrinkles, adjust the shape as needed, and retouch any material or manufacturing imperfections.

If the post-production work feels too burdensome, consider outsourcing this aspect of the ghost mannequin process. 

Expert tips & tricks for perfecting ghost mannequin product photography

Creating the perfect ghost mannequin shot requires a blend of technique, equipment, and post-production skills. Here are some expert tips to enhance your ghost mannequin photography:

– Select an adjustable mannequin that matches the size and shape of your target demographic. This ensures the clothing fits better.

– Use soft, diffused lighting to minimize shadows and avoid issues with lamp positioning. A controlled studio environment provides consistent results.

– Capture the product from various angles to give customers a complete view. This includes front, back, sides, and close-ups of intricate details.

– A white or light grey background makes the product stand out, simplifies post-production editing, and prevents unwanted color casts.

– While editing is important, avoid overdoing it to keep the product looking natural. Aim for balance.

– Mark the positions for the mannequin, camera, and lighting to ensure consistency, especially when shooting multiple products.

– Keep your photo editing software up-to-date to take advantage of new features and tools.

Remove.pics – A tool that helps us improve image quality

Improving image quality plays a significant part in the technique of creating a ghost mannequin photography. A good image quality helps you have a beautiful, clear product photo, helping customers easily choose products and attracting customers. There is a very useful tool with many advantages such as fast, convenient, and especially completely free to help us improve image quality, which is Remove.pics. With Remove.pics, you don’t need to do anything complicated, just a few mouse clicks, and the AI will do all the rest.

Here are the steps to improve image quality with Remove.pics:

Step 1: Visit the website https://remove.pics/

Step 2: Choose “Enhance”

Step 3: Select and upload your image

Select and upload your image.

Step 4: Choose features according to your needs and let AI do the work.

Choose features according to your needs and let AI do the work.

Step 5: Download images completely free in high quality.

Download images

The digital age has transformed shopping, emphasizing the importance of visual appeal and product presentation. The ghost mannequin technique, which creates a “live” appearance for products, has become a leading method in e-commerce photography. Above, we have introduced to those interested in this technique the detailed steps on how to do ghost mannequin photography. 

Above, we have introduced to those interested in this technique the detailed steps on how to create a photo. Moreover, through this article, you have learned about a tool to increase image quality. This is not only helpful for creating a ghost mannequin photography for product advertising, but also for photo editing needs in everyday life.