At Natural Expressions Photography we pride ourselves in producing industry leading ghost mannequin imagery for businesses with small and large sku quantities. We pay close attention to the details and communicate with our clients before, during and after each shoot to ensure every item is shot to our client's expressed specifications.
Ghost Mannequin Post Production work sped up 999 times. Enjoy.
From consistent sizing, product placement, to accurate color, and styling – we ensure every detail is covered. The processes we have in place ensures we produce consistent ghost mannequin imagery regardless of batch, time, or place.
Give us a call at 817-320-8939. We’d love to hear from you.
Ghost Mannequin Photography: We Bring Apparel Products to Life
With Ghost Mannequin photography we help bring our customer’s one dimensional clothing to life by showcasing it on an invisible mannequin. This technique, also known as the 'invisible man' method, is widely used in clothing photography and fashion photography to present apparel in the most appealing way.
Our 3-D effect helps customers see themselves in your clothing, instantly giving them a sense of how it may look on them by creating a convincing mannequin illusion. Achieving this effect requires high quality photographs, ideally captured in a professional studio setting, to ensure seamless editing and the best visual results.
Ghost mannequin photography not only enhances the presentation of your products but also plays a significant role in boosting online sales by providing clear, attractive images that drive customer engagement.
Introduction to Apparel Photography
Apparel photography plays a pivotal role in the fashion industry, especially as more customers shop online and rely on visuals to make purchasing decisions. One of the most effective methods for showcasing clothing is the ghost mannequin technique, also known as the invisible mannequin effect. This approach involves photographing garments on a mannequin and then using advanced image editing to remove the mannequin, resulting in a product image that appears to float naturally and highlights the garment’s unique shape and fit. By mastering camera and lighting techniques, photographers can create product images that not only look professional but also help customers visualize how the clothing will look when worn. The ghost mannequin effect brings apparel to life, making it easier for shoppers to connect with your products and boosting the overall appeal of your online store.
WILL GHOST MANNEQUIN IMAGES WORK FOR ME?
If you’re new to ghost mannequin photography one of the main things you’ll want to know is that there are as many different mannequin sizes and poses as you can probably think of. Before your final shoot, it's important to take test shots to check lighting, positioning, and camera settings. Having an idea about the style and look you want is central to ensuring our studio produces ghost imagery with the results you want. For the best presentation, we customize the setup for each particular product, taking into account its unique features. Using a static pose for mannequins helps ensure clarity and makes editing easier. To achieve consistent results, it's also essential to have adequate shooting space and a dedicated studio shooting space to accommodate all necessary equipment and proper positioning.
Have questions about our ghost mannequin work? Text or give us a call at 817.320.8939.
Choosing the Right Equipment
Achieving the perfect ghost mannequin effect starts with selecting the right equipment. A high-quality camera, such as a DSLR paired with a telephoto zoom lens, is essential for capturing sharp, detailed images. To create a clean and distraction-free look, a white background—often achieved with a foam board—is recommended. Setting up your shoot in a studio environment with two studio lights and umbrellas ensures even, flattering lighting that brings out the best in your apparel. Stability is key, so using a tripod is highly recommended. Once the photos are taken, proper post production software like Adobe Photoshop is crucial for editing, refining, and perfecting the invisible mannequin images. By investing in the right tools and setup, you can consistently produce high quality images that meet the demanding standards of the fashion and e-commerce industries.
WHAT TYPE OF MANNEQUIN DO I NEED?
When selecting a photography studio to work with, make sure you ask what type of mannequins they have available; i.e. straight arm, athletic, unisex, or teen. You’ll want to select mannequin(s) that will allow you to showcase your clothes in a style that is most appealing and flattering to the clothes being displayed on them. If you are photographing models or mannequins with long hair, be sure to tie the hair up to avoid distractions and make editing easier. Using white mannequins is recommended, as their non-reflective surface and ability to blend into backgrounds help create a seamless look and facilitate post-production editing. Always ensure that mannequins and garments are photographed correctly to achieve the best results in post-production.
GHOST MANNEQUIN SIZES IN STUDIO
TEEN | 12yo MANNEQUIN 1
Straight Arms
Legs
Measurements:
Shoulder: 16 in.
Bust: 28.5 in
Waist: 24.5 in
Hip: 31 in
Height: 53.5 in, 4 ft 5.5 in
FEMALE MANNEQUIN 1
Bent Arms
Measurements:
Body height: 34 in.
Shoulder: 16 in.
Bust: 33.5 in.
Waist: 26 in.
Hip: 37 in.
Arm length: 25.5 in.
Base height: up to 35.5 in.
Base size: 15 x 15 in.
FEMALE MANNEQUIN 2
Straight Arms
Legs
Measurements:
Height: 64 in.
Neck: 13 in.
Shoulder: 15.4 in.
Bust: 32.9 in.
Waist: 26 in.
Hip: 36.2 in.
Base size: 15 x 15 x 2.5 in.
MALE MANNEQUIN 1
Athletic Build
Bent Arms
Measurements:
Body height: 39 in.
Shoulder: 22 in.
Bust: 40.5 in.
Waist: 31 in.
Hip: 41 in.
Arm length: 25.5 in.
Base height: up to 35.5 in.
Base size: 15 x 15 in.
MALE MANNEQUIN 2
Unisex Build
Straight Arms
Legs
Measurements
Height: 67 in, 5 ft 7 in
Shoulder: 20 in
Chest: 37 in
Hips: 36 in
Waist: 29.5 in
Weight: 50 lbs
GHOST MANNEQUIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Invisible ghost mannequin fees are dependent on the quantity and garment style.
10 items or less: $40 per image. 11 items or more: $35 per image.
Includes photographer session fee, digital photography, image processing, uploading web-ready images to a shared Google Drive folder.
Quantity discounts are applied to orders of 50 items or more.
LAY FLAT PHOTOGRAPHY
All apparel is steamed, and prepped for photography to ensure the highest quality.
All the images are taken on a white background and clipped to transparent unless specified by the customer.
High resolution, web ready images are reviewed and processed for color, clarity, and density.
Front, back, and detailed views available.
Rates start at $35 per view.
Discounted rates available for quantity orders of 26 or more.
After selecting the appropriate mannequin, the typical ghost mannequin workflow involves photographing two images: one mannequin shot with the garment on the mannequin, and one foam board shot using a white foam board placed inside the garment to capture the interior. This allows us to create foam board shots and a foam board product image, which are combined with the mannequin image in editing. Photographing the product inside out is important to capture interior details and achieve a realistic 3D effect. To minimize distortion and create high quality photographs, we use proper camera angles, lens selection, and lighting setup. The goal is to create product photos where the entire product appears to be floating freely on a clean background, using Photoshop magic.
In editing, we open the images in Photoshop, create layers for each element (such as the mannequin layer, foam board layer, shirt layer, and background layer), and organize them for precise compositing. The foam board image is carefully aligned behind the mannequin image, and the magic wand tool is used to select and remove the mannequin easily, especially when white backgrounds are used. For a different look, a colored background can be added by creating a new background layer. The brush tool and refine edge tool are used to mask slightly and refine the edges for a clean, professional result. We repeat previous steps for each product to ensure consistency across all product photos.
Throughout the process, we keep the layer file or Photoshop file with layers intact for future editing, and save finally after all adjustments are complete.
GHOST MANNEQUIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Invisible ghost mannequin fees are dependent on the quantity and garment style.
10 items or less: $40 per image. 11 items or more: $35 per image.
Our ghost mannequin service combines a mannequin image and a foam board image in post-production to create the invisible mannequin effect, ensuring the product appears natural and three-dimensional. We use a white foam board to capture internal views and create foam board shots, which are essential for a realistic 3D presentation.
Includes photographer session fee, digital photography, image processing, uploading web-ready images to a shared Google Drive folder. Quantity discounts are applied to orders of 50 items or more.
LAY FLAT PHOTOGRAPHY
All apparel is steamed, and prepped for photography to ensure the highest quality.
All the images are taken on a white background and clipped to transparent unless specified by the customer.
High resolution, web ready images are reviewed and processed for color, clarity, and density.
Front, back, and detailed views available.
Rates start at $35 per view.
Discounted rates available for quantity orders of 26 or more.
Benefits of High-Quality Images
High-quality images are a game-changer for online stores and e-commerce businesses. Utilizing the ghost mannequin technique allows you to create product images that showcase the unique shape and fit of each garment, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions. These high quality images not only enhance the visual appeal of your online store but also build trust and credibility with your audience. When shoppers can clearly see the details and craftsmanship of your products, they are more likely to engage, purchase, and return for future shopping. In a competitive e-commerce landscape, investing in professional ghost mannequin photography can set your brand apart, drive higher conversion rates, and foster long-term customer loyalty.