Ghost Mannequin Photography: How to Shoot Clothes

Good ghost mannequin photography, also called invisible mannequin photography, starts with a clear source photo. You don't need a studio: a phone, a plain wall and even light are enough. This guide covers the setup that gives the most reliable results, and the mistakes that cause most bad ones.

Ghost Mannequin Photography Basics

1. One garment per photo. Two garments, or a garment half covered by another, confuse the result.
2. The whole garment in frame. Leave a little space around it. A cropped hem or sleeve can't be reconstructed.
3. Even, soft light. Daylight from a window or two lamps at 45° works well. Avoid a single harsh light that throws deep shadows.
4. Shoot straight on. Hold the camera at the height of the chest and parallel to the garment, not tilted up or down.
5. A plain background. A white or light gray wall or sheet. Busy backgrounds make edges harder to find.
6. Sharp and large enough. At least 800 px on the shortest side; any recent phone camera is fine. Tap to focus on the fabric.

On a mannequin

Mannequin

Ghost mannequin

Mannequin

Ghost mannequin

On a mannequin the garment already has its worn shape, so the AI has the least to invent about the body. The inside of the neck is hidden by the mannequin, though, and the AI has to draw it: it sometimes adds a neck label with made-up text. Take a second photo of the inside of the collar and add it in the tool under Extra photos: the reference can help the AI preserve the real label or plain collar interior. It is still a generated result, so check lettering, seams and fabric against both photos. Optional reference photos are available in single-image mode; batch mode uses the main photo only.

For choosing a mannequin, styling the garment on it and the full shot list, see mannequin photography for ecommerce.

• Use a light-colored mannequin without printed patterns; very dark or patterned bodies show through thin fabric.
• Button, zip and straighten the garment the way a customer would wear it.
• Photograph the back separately if you need a back view. Back views don't get an inner neck, because you wouldn't see one from behind.

The tool for this case is remove the mannequin from a photo: it takes out the torso, neck, arms and stand together.

On a hanger

• Hang the garment against a plain wall or door, not in front of other clothes.
• Use a wide, rounded hanger so the shoulders don't come to a point.
• Avoid clip hangers that pinch the fabric, and let the garment hang straight, not twisted.

On a hanger the inside of the neck is in the photo, so less has to be drawn. See remove a hanger from a photo for what the result looks like.

Hanger

Ghost mannequin

Hanger

Ghost mannequin

Laid flat

If you only have flat lay photos, you can still make a ghost mannequin image. The 3D shape is then drawn by the AI, so results vary more.

• Lay the garment on a plain surface, smooth and symmetrical.
• Shoot from directly above, with the phone parallel to the floor.
• Don't fold the sleeves under the body.

More on this case, with examples: flat lay to ghost mannequin.

Common mistakes

Before you publish

Compare every result with your product. The color, print, logo and shape should match your photo; the inside of the neck is drawn by the AI and can differ from your garment's real inside, including a label that isn't on your garment. Remove anything your garment doesn't have before you publish.

Once your photos are ready, upload them to the ghost mannequin generator. To choose between ghost mannequin and flat lay outputs, use the clothing photo editor. If you sell on Amazon, also read clothing product photo requirements for the main-image rules.