[generalj]

Hi all,
We are having a debate with our website and would like any input My business partner wants real pictures for the website instead of proofs. As nice as I'm sure that will look I am just not convinced it is worth the money to make everything real. We are a fairly new business together so we are by no means wealthy. Would it look bad to have some real pictures and some proofs? Now all our designs are proofs which except for my time are free. We are about to basically start a new website so I would like to decide before I start from scratch to save time. Thanks for your help in advance
Jayme

 

[deepbluex]

You can post photoshop mockups of your shirts, but it puts you in a lower category than others. If you are ok with that, it's fine. No judgment - it's about matching your presentation with perceived value.

If you're printing original designs on cut & sew or even American Apparel blanks, then mockups would be a fatal mistake, but if you're selling 100 designs heat pressed onto cheap blanks, then mockups are fine.

Hi all,
We are having a debate with our website and would like any input My business partner wants real pictures for the website instead of proofs. As nice as I'm sure that will look I am just not convinced it is worth the money to make everything real. We are a fairly new business together so we are by no means wealthy. Would it look bad to have some real pictures and some proofs? Now all our designs are proofs which except for my time are free. We are about to basically start a new website so I would like to decide before I start from scratch to save time. Thanks for your help in advance
Jayme

 

[ZenWearOnline]

I have been using mock ups simply because I couldn't come up with enough reasons to pay models to wear my designs for pictures. Over some time, I have worked out a way to get some decent looking women to wear the shirts as models at a fairly low cost...well, let's say it's not definite but I'm pretty sure we can make it happen. If I can get people in my shirts for pictures, I am certainly going to go that way as it just makes the whole thing seem more...legitimate, for lack of a better word. Look at some of the sites with big sellers...most have live models and very artistic shots...you know the picture is about the shirt yet the picture itself is good to look at too.

So my idea was to ask around and I found a friend that knows some 20 something year old girls that are nice looking...they seem to be willing to model the shirts for a pretty low cost. What is the cost? They will get to keep the shirts they model. I also found someone who is real good with a camera, am amateur photographer. The price is right, I think I will make it happen.

So, why not ask around and see if you can come up with people that can do this at a lower cost as well? can't hurt to ask people you know.

 

[ScruffyJanitorr]

I use mocks and I'm like you tossing up whether or not to get real photos. If I do I'll probably just use myself as the model to save expensive and try find a amateur photographer or something. I think you should go for it if you can keep the cost low.

 

[SupportRA]

Hi,

What software are you using to make the mock ups? Also, where is the best place to get an exact image of the clothing to put it onto rather than a standard stock photo? I.e I'll be ordering some specific fit stringers and gym apparel but don't want to put mock ups of random clothing that doesn't actually look like the ones my customers will buy?

Hope that makes sense!

 

[NoXid]

Hi,

What software are you using to make the mock ups? Also, where is the best place to get an exact image of the clothing to put it onto rather than a standard stock photo? I.e I'll be ordering some specific fit stringers and gym apparel but don't want to put mock ups of random clothing that doesn't actually look like the ones my customers will buy?

Hope that makes sense!

Take a photo of the blanks yourself, or pay someone to. Once that is out of the way, you'll have the base images on which to put whatever art you want to whenever you want to. I think most people use PhotoShop. If you don't know how to use it, then you should revisit your options:

- Pay for photos of your designs on actual shirts (or buy the equip and learn how yourself).
- Pay for someone to mockup the designs (or buy the software and learn how to do it yourself).

It takes time to get good at stuff, and costs money to pay those who already are. Your choice

I tend toward the DIY end, myself. Uhm, yeah, so almost two years in and still not quite launched into business

 

[SupportRA]

Perfect! A close mate of mine is a photographer and has his own studio who I was going to use for the modelling photos but I'll start off with the clothes in that case.

On the other hand, I've seen some fitness wear companies put fully digital mockups of their designs up - How would I do that? To clarify, the image is fully digital - No photos and superimposed logos like this -

Thanks

 

[SunEmbroidery]

I'm not sure getting real photos is worth possible additional delay. I wouldn't let not having real photos hold up your web site. Since it sounds like you can use proofs fairly easily I would at least start with those while you decide about real photos. That will give you time to decide what images you want. That way when you spend for photos you'll spend wisely.

 

[SupportRA]

Totally agree - Thanks.

Any ideas on the digital stuff?