Famous Online Stores' Know-how for Using Fitting Models: Secrets to Perfect Fitting Photos

Famous Online Stores' Know-how for Using Fitting Models: Secrets to Perfect Fitting Photos

In online shopping platforms like Amazon, product images aren't just simple photos - they're key elements that determine purchases. Especially for clothing and accessory stores, the quality of fitting photos directly impacts sales. Today, I'll share the secret know-how of successful famous shopping malls for perfect fitting photos. Let's explore in detail how to maximize product value through professional fitting model photography.

 

What Successful Online Stores Have in Common - High-Quality Fitting Photos

As the online shopping market grows, competition is getting fiercer. So what do successful shopping malls have in common? It's "high-quality fitting photos." The top-selling stores consistently maintain professional product images.

Sales Comparison Based on Fitting Photo Quality
Sales Comparison Based on Fitting Photo Quality

Fitting photos go beyond simply showing products - they reflect brand identity and stimulate consumer purchase desire, serving as an important marketing tool. Especially for products where fit matters, like clothing or accessories, excellent fitting photos play a crucial role in reducing return rates and increasing customer satisfaction.

 

Good fitting photos don't happen by chance. They require systematic preparation and professional know-how. Now, let's explore how professional online stores utilize fitting models, step by step.

Professional Model Utilization Know-how Steps

 

Analysis of Famous Shopping Malls' Fitting Model Strategies

How do famous shopping malls utilize fitting models? The first noticeable characteristic is "consistency." Famous stores maintain consistent fitting photo styles that match their brand image.

 

Also, selecting models appropriate for the target customer base is important. Stores targeting teenagers tend to use young, trendy models, while those targeting 30-40 year-olds tend to use more mature, sophisticated models.

Analysis of Famous Shopping Malls' Fitting Model Strategies
From left: Lifework, Clabis, and SPAO fitting models

 

Famous shopping malls take the following strategic approaches:

 

  • Exclusive model systems: Some famous stores contract specific models exclusively to maintain brand image consistency.
  • Utilizing diverse body types: They employ models with various physical conditions considering consumers' diverse body types.
  • Providing detailed size information: They disclose details like the model's height, weight, and size worn to help consumers choose their size.
  • Building an advertising library: They build systematic image libraries for use across various marketing channels.

 

These strategies are not just about taking pretty pictures, but about increasing brand value through strategic and systematic approaches.

 

 

Pre-shoot Preparation: Concept Setting and Storyboard Creation

The first step to successful fitting photos is thorough preparation. Professional shopping malls don't shoot impulsively but go through the following preparation process:

 

  • Clear concept setting: Clearly establish shooting concepts considering product characteristics, target customers, and seasonal trends.
  • Storyboard creation: Plan in advance which poses and angles to shoot and create a storyboard.
  • Reference image collection: Collect images worth benchmarking for reference.
  • Shooting checklist creation: List necessary equipment, props, clothing, etc. to ensure nothing is missed.

 

Storyboard creation is especially necessary for efficient shooting. It provides clear direction to models and staff, and helps reduce shooting time. Just like sketching before creating a drawing, pre-planning is important for fitting photo shoots.

Example of a fitting model photo shoot storyboard
Example of a fitting model photo shoot storyboard

Also, setting concepts that match product characteristics is important. For casual clothes, natural everyday fit should be portrayed, while for elegant dresses, a formal atmosphere should be created - concepts should be set according to product characteristics.

 

 

Fitting Model Selection Criteria: Body Type, Mood, and Brand Image Alignment

Fitting model selection is a key factor that determines the success of fitting photos. Professional stores select models based on the following criteria:

 

  • Brand image alignment: The model's image should align with the brand's direction.
  • Body type suitability: Choose models with body types suitable for the clothing style being sold. For slim-fit clothing, lean models are used, while for oversized clothing, models with various body types are utilized.
  • Expressiveness: Rather than just outstanding appearance, models who can well express the product's characteristics are important.
  • Professionalism and experience: Experienced models lead to efficient shooting progress and high-quality results.

 

Recently, selecting models with diversity in mind has become a trend. By utilizing models of various races, body types, and age groups, deeper connections can be formed with more consumer segments. This goes beyond simple social responsibility to become an effective business strategy.

Fitting model diversity Source: American Eagle
Fitting model diversity Source: American Eagle

Another important consideration when selecting models is the possibility of long-term collaboration. To maintain a consistent brand image, working with the same models continuously can be advantageous. For this, the model's professionalism and reliability should also be considered.

 

 

The Importance of Styling: Accessories and Coordination

Styling plays a decisive role in perfect fitting photos. Even great products lose value if styling is sloppy. Professional shopping malls utilize the following styling know-how:

 

  • Total coordination: Pay attention to overall coordination, not just the product being sold. Properly utilize auxiliary items that highlight the product.
  • Accessory utilization: Add accent to styling with accessories like necklaces, earrings, watches, etc.
  • Reflecting seasonal trends: Show contemporary sense by reflecting current styling trends.
  • Suggesting various usage methods: Show versatility by styling one item in various ways.

 

Also, styling should consider product characteristics and target customer segments. Applying 40-something styling to products targeting 20-somethings would be awkward, right? Appropriate styling for the product and target is important.

 

Preparing props for styling is also important. Various items like bags, shoes, hats should be prepared in advance to respond flexibly during shooting. Such meticulous preparation creates the difference in professional fitting photos.

Source: JOORTI sheer bustier blouse with various styling
Source: JOORTI sheer bustier blouse with various styling

 

 

Shooting Environment Setup: Lighting, Background, Equipment Selection

No matter how good the model and concept, it's difficult to get good results if the shooting environment isn't supportive. Professional shopping malls' know-how for setting up shooting environments is as follows:

 

  • Lighting setup: Properly utilize natural light and artificial lighting to accurately express product color and texture. Accurate lighting setup is essential, especially for clothing where color reproduction is important.
  • Background selection: Choose backgrounds that make products stand out. Simple backgrounds increase focus on products, while specific backgrounds matching the concept enhance atmosphere.
  • Shooting equipment selection: Select high-quality cameras and appropriate lenses to accurately capture product details.
  • Studio vs. location: Studio shooting provides a stable environment, while location shooting can create various atmospheres. Choose according to product characteristics.

 

In the shooting environment setup, post-processing related to background removal should also be considered. If planning to remove backgrounds after shooting, it's good to use chroma key backgrounds to facilitate post-processing.

 

Also, documenting and standardizing shooting environment settings is important for consistent image quality. Recording lighting angles, camera settings, background distance, etc. allows maintaining the same quality in future shoots.

Shooting Environment Setup: Lighting, Background, Equipment Selection

 

 

Pose Guide: How to Direct Optimal Poses for Each Product

Poses that most effectively show product characteristics are the core of fitting photos. Professional shopping malls utilize the following pose directing know-how:

 

  • Product-emphasizing poses: Choose poses that highlight the product's core features. For example, back view poses showing the entire silhouette for backpacks, or side poses emphasizing silhouettes for dresses.
  • Natural movement induction: Poses with natural movement rather than rigid poses better show how products fit.
  • Multi-angle shooting: Shoot from various angles like front, side, back to show all aspects of the product.
  • Detail-emphasizing poses: Also shoot close-up poses that show product details well.

 

Smooth communication with the model is important for effective directing. Rather than vague instructions like "be natural," it's better to explain specific poses and atmosphere. Using reference images helps communicate desired poses more clearly.

Pose Guide: How to Direct Optimal Poses for Each Product
Backpack fitting model pose directing example

 

Creating a guide for optimal poses for each product makes shooting more efficient. It's good to set standard poses for items like t-shirts, pants, jackets and modify as needed.

 

 

Post-correction Work: Image Editing Techniques of Professionals

The final step for perfect fitting photos is post-correction work. Even with good shooting, professional post-correction work can enhance image completion. Professional shopping malls utilize the following post-correction know-how:

 

  • Color correction: Correct colors to be as close as possible to the actual product color. This is important in reducing returns due to color mismatches after purchase.
  • Background cleanup: Remove unnecessary elements from backgrounds or organize for uniformity. Sometimes backgrounds are completely removed through cutout work.
  • Natural correction: Natural correction rather than excessive editing is important. Too much correction can create discrepancies with actual products, reducing credibility.
  • Maintaining consistent style: Ensure all product images are corrected in a consistent style. This helps form a unified image for the shopping mall.

 

Professional shopping malls use professional editing tools like Photoshop, Lightroom, and sometimes utilize AI image generation technology for efficient post-correction work. Thumbnail images should also be considered during post-correction. The quality of thumbnails, which determine first impressions in product lists, directly affects click-through rates.

 

Post-correction Work: Image Editing Techniques of Professionals
Image editing techniques of professionals Actress 'Lee Si-young' before and after correction (Source: Jangup Newspaper)

 

Using actions or presets to increase post-correction efficiency is also a good method. Saving frequently used correction styles allows quick application of consistent styles.

 

 

Practical Fitting Photo Shooting Tips for Small Shopping Malls

While famous shopping malls' know-how has many lessons, small shopping malls may face realistic constraints. Let's look at practical fitting photo shooting tips for such small shopping malls.

 

  • Efficient equipment utilization: Even without expensive professional equipment, high-quality photos can be taken using smartphones and natural light. Window natural light can be an excellent lighting source.
  • DIY shooting sets: Simple DIY backgrounds and light reflectors can be created and utilized. White cloth or paper makes a good background, and a board with aluminum foil attached becomes an effective reflector.
  • Using acquaintances as models: If hiring professional models is difficult, acquaintances matching the brand image can be utilized as models. However, appropriate compensation and portrait rights contracts must be established.
  • Maintaining consistent shooting environments: Maintain consistency by shooting in the same place under the same conditions each time.
  • Using free/low-cost editing tools: If Photoshop is burdensome, free or low-cost editing tools like GIMP or Canva can be utilized.

Practical Fitting Photo Shooting Tips for Small Shopping MallsPractical Fitting Photo Shooting Tips for Small Shopping Malls
Fitting model consistent shooting environment maintenance. Source: Cienne Fitting model consistent 

 

For small shopping malls, emphasizing unique brand personality might be an effective strategy. Developing your own unique fitting photo style, differentiated from famous shopping malls, is also a good strategy.

 

If resources are limited, plan to get as much content as possible from one shoot. It's efficient to shoot fitting photos, SNS content, and detail page images all at once.

 

 

Alternative for Cost Reduction and Quality Maintenance: Introduction to Draph Art's AI Model Features

While fitting model photography is effective, it's a time and cost-intensive task. Recently, with the advancement of artificial intelligence technology, alternatives have emerged that can greatly reduce this burden - AI-based product photo generation services like Draph Art. Draph Art provides the following features, becoming an efficient alternative to fitting model photography:

 

Model Change feature: A function that changes mannequin photos into virtual AI models, allowing creation of fitting photos without actual model photography.

Alternative for Cost Reduction and Quality Maintenance: Introduction to Draph Art's AI Model Features

 

Model Creation feature: A function that generates virtual advertising models matching products, allowing creation of various concept models as needed.

Alternative for Cost Reduction and Quality Maintenance: Introduction to Draph Art's AI Model Features

 

Model Face Creation feature: A function that changes only the face in existing model photos, allowing creation of various images from a single shoot.

Alternative for Cost Reduction and Quality Maintenance: Introduction to Draph Art's AI Model Features

 

Also, using Draph Art's AI advertising creation technology can save over 90% of costs compared to professional shooting, and significantly reduce production time. The advantage is being able to secure abundant marketing materials by generating images with various backgrounds and concepts from a single image upload.

 

▶ Try Draph Art AI Advertising Features

 

Of course, AI technology isn't suitable for all situations. Strategies combining traditional shooting methods and AI technology are needed according to brand characteristics and goals. However, in modern shopping mall environments where time and cost efficiency are emphasized, AI technology can certainly be an attractive alternative.

 

 

Summary: Key Points for Successful Fitting Model Photos

We've explored professional shopping mall know-how for perfect fitting photos. Let's summarize the key points for successful fitting photos:

 

  • Thorough preparation: Clear concept setting and storyboard creation are the basics for successful fitting photos.
  • Selecting models matching the brand: Selecting models matching the brand image is essential for building consistent brand identity.
  • Professional styling: Maximize product value with professional styling that highlights products.
  • Optimal shooting environment: Optimizing shooting environments like lighting, background, equipment is a basic condition for high-quality images.
  • Effective pose directing: Effectively communicate product advantages with poses emphasizing product characteristics.
  • Professional post-correction: Professional post-correction work that maximizes product appeal while maintaining naturalness is important.
  • Balance between efficiency and quality: Efficient strategies are needed to achieve the best results despite budget and time constraints.

 

In today's increasingly competitive online shopping environment, high-quality fitting photos have become an important factor determining shopping mall success. Establish the optimal fitting photo strategy for your shopping mall by referring to the above know-how.

 

And if you prioritize time and cost efficiency, I recommend actively considering innovative alternatives using AI technology like Draph Art. As shopping mall operation paradigms change with technological advancement, it's important to secure competitiveness through new attempts and innovation.

 

I hope your shopping mall will pave the way to success with professional fitting photos. Thank you.