Photography style matters regardless of the product you sell for your brand. Ghost mannequins and flat lay are the two most popular fashion shooting styles in today’s visually-driven world. You can distinguish your brand identity from competitors using these photography techniques.
But how do you differentiate ghost mannequin Vs flat lay? These two photography styles differ in various aspects. It can be positioning, angle, and even physical elements. This article will highlight the core difference between these two photography styles. It will also cover which technique you should choose for your specific business.
What Is Ghost Mannequin Photography?
Ghost mannequin photography is a powerful technique. You first capture images of the garment or fashion product after putting it on a mannequin. Then, you remove the visible parts of the mannequin and merge multiple images seamlessly in the post-production.
This popular fashion shooting style enables customers to understand the real shape and size of the clothing or fashion item. It looks like an invisible person is wearing the product.
Advantages
- Consistent visual styles across all product images
- A clean and professional presentation
- Fully focused product visual without any distraction
- Static and dynamic poses to create visual interest
- Creates a realistic fit and structure
- Easy to set up with minimal cheap props
- More informative type visuals
Disadvantages
- A significant equipment investment
- Higher post-production cost
- More time-consuming
- Not ideal for luxury products
What Is Flat Lay Photography?
In flat-lay shooting style, the product is placed on a table or a flat surface. Then, a photographer captures the item directly above the surface or in a straight-on position. It creates a bird’s-eye view.
This type of still-life fashion shooting style gives a top-down perspective of the object. It offers a creative composition of the product. You can tell a compelling visual story through this top-down photography style.
Advantages
- Works well for detail-oriented shooting
- Showcases patterns and textures beautifully
- Allows for creative styling with complementary props
- Presents products in a neat and organized arrangement
- Perfect for a wide variety of products of different sizes
- Offers a lot of creativity and experimentation
- Easy to demonstrate any type of product
Disadvantages
- Requires precise positioning and styling
- Lack of showing items fit clearly
- Limited information about the product fit and size
- Difficult to showcase large items
Ghost Mannequin vs. Flat Lay: A Comparison
| Specifications | Ghost Mannequin | Flat Lay |
| Product View | 3D view | 2D view |
| Perspective | More professional | More creative |
| Versatility | Less | More |
| Styling | Easy, consistent styling | Complex consistent styling |
| Mannequin | A mannequin | A flat surface |
| Props | No needed | Creative props |
| Setup | A bit complex and expensive to setup | Easier and affordable to setup |
| Post-production Complexity | Complex | medium |
Product View
Ghost mannequin creates a 360-degree view or “3D floating” effect of the product. Its comprehensive view helps customers understand the product size and draping from different angles.
In contrast, flat-lay shooting style creates a two-dimensional view of the product. They lack visual depth as you showcase products from a single, fixed perspective.
Perspective
Invisible mannequin looks more professional due to a consistent and uniform style across all product listings. The clothing’s structure, design, and fit have a professional vibe. Customers can visualize how they will look after wearing the garment.
On the contrary, top-down photography is more about creativity than professionalism. The photographer must use aesthetically pleasing and engaging approaches to grab customers’ attention. You have full control over the composition. It enables you to utilize different themes to create compelling visual stories.
Versatility
Hollow-man photography is less versatile as the primary focus is only on the product. You can’t use it for diverse marketing or creative campaigns.
Conversely, knolling photography is highly versatile. You can utilize creative layouts and different themes to highlight unique stories.
Mannequin
You need a mannequin in ghost mannequin shooting style. Abstract mannequins and dress form mannequins are the two most popular choices. These versatile dummies can add a dramatic, artistic flair.
On the other hand, no mannequin is needed for flat-lay photography. Instead, you need a flat surface. It can be a reading or dining table, a bed, a couch cushion, or a floor.
Props
It is not necessary to use any props in the ghost mannequin style. You focus entirely on the apparel’s fit and structure. The product remains the clear focus point.
Contrarily, people use various creative props for flat-lay. It can be flowers, plants, art supplies, books, etc. These physical elements provide context and highlight the main product more appealingly.
Setup
It is a bit complex to set up an invisible mannequin. You need high-quality mannequins and a professional studio. A mannequin ranges from $200 to $1000. A basic studio setup can cost around $2,000-$3,000.
On the flip side, setting up a flat-lay shooting environment is affordable and easy. You don’t need a dedicated studio space. Some basic equipment can fulfil the purpose.
Post-production Complexity
You need advanced Photoshop skills to create a ghost mannequin effect. Achieving a pixel-perfect invisible mannequin look takes a lot of effort and time.
In contrast, flat-lay photographs need basic editing. They already have a simple composition. You just need to quickly retouch and enhance the core elements to create a professional look.
When to Choose Ghost Mannequin Photography?
- Fashion and clothing brands
- E-commerce product pages and catalogs
- Brands with complicated designs
- Most valuable or luxury brands
When to Choose Flat Lay Photography?
- Lifestyle, clothing, and creative brands
- Brands with a diverse range of product lines
- New small businesses or ventures
- Used for social media, lookbooks, catalogs, and blogs
Final Words
If you want to showcase your garment items online in a professional way, ghost mannequin photography is the best choice. In contrast, flat-lay shooting style is hard to beat if you want to add a creative and artistic flair to your products. Before finally using any specific style, ensure it aligns with your brand goal and helps you present your products in the best way. Now, you have a clear idea about ghost mannequin vs. flat lay photography style.
