How to take better E-Com photography

While e-commerce might be one of the more “boring” sides of fashion photography, it shouldn’t be overlooked, especially when starting out. It’s one of the “easier” and most consistent source of income. All fashion brands need e-commerce photography of each of their items and should help with a more consistent stream of money. Which really helps someone like me, who gets stressed out a lot during the quiet periods. But how to take better e-com photography and make it more interesting / mix it up?

Prepare reference poses and choose an experienced model

For each shoot I do these days, I always do a “pose” ideas moodboard and either print it, have it on my ipad or phone. I’m constantly collecting these on my Pinterest and have a separate secret board for it, so any genre I do I just usually go through that board to pick some out. It’s especially useful for e-com if your model is not as experienced.

If you didn’t prepare any poses but need some quickly – go to any fashion website that aligns with the brand vision you are shooting for, and you can get tons of pose ideas if you very quickly scroll through their product pages.

Although as in e-com you have to usually shoot every item and outfit as quickly as possible, it’s ideal to find an experienced model who will very quickly switch up between poses all the time. That way you will know you are on target, there will be no pauses and you will get the best results as the model is sure of themselves.

Movement is key

My favorite type of e-com (as in other photography really too) is when it has movement in it. It feels like a moment, like something is going on – not just someone standing in clothes. So get the model to swing a bag, take a step, fix their hair, button up that jacket – and shoot while it’s happening.

Mix up the angles

A lot of e-com is shot quite straight on an traditionally – at the end of the day you have to see the clothing very clearly. However for at least some shots in an outfit, a quick lower or tilted angle can really mix things up. (If the brand allows that vibe.)

Change up the background, add set design

In this post I’m sharing two different collections, but both shot on the same day in the same studio. All we did is turn to the side and used a different background and a different model.

Also you can add some set design or props if it suits the brand, that can change everything up the most if shooting in a studio. You can see many examples of that in my other commercial posts on the blog.