Invisible (Ghost) Mannequin Photography.

Garments photographed on a mannequin that is removed in retouching, so the clothing keeps its shape with no body showing.

Ghost mannequin photography in London. I shoot dresses, coats, shirts and knitwear front and back at Studio A in Kentish Town, then cut each garment out to white and shape it, so a whole range sits together as one shop, ready for your site and every marketplace.

£95per hour · studio and every image included

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Red double-breasted wool coat with a full skirt on an invisible mannequin, white background

Camel belted wrap coat with a fur collar and cuffs, invisible mannequin, white background

Royal blue satin evening gown with thin straps, shot on a white background

Navy silk kimono robe with a bold printed pattern and tie belt

Camel check button-down shirt shown on an invisible mannequin, white background

Model in a red belted dress and matching pillbox hat, warm beige backdrop

Model in a navy satin dress and hat, turning over her shoulder

Model in a short cream textured dress with a scalloped neckline

Close detail of a red dress sleeve with a buttoned cuff and belt

Model in a royal blue hooded coat, holding the hood to her face

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The approach

Every garment, the same way.

In a one-hour session we get through around 15 to 20 garments. Each one goes on the mannequin and is shot front and back if you need both.

You get every unretouched image the same day. Removing the mannequin and shaping each garment is retouching, also £95 an hour, with a three-day turnaround.

Why ghost mannequin

Ghost mannequin images sell the garment, not the model. Customers see the cut, the drape and the inside of the collar without a face or a pose pulling their attention, and a whole category page reads as one consistent shop. It’s the standard for ecommerce clothing because it shows shape honestly and keeps the focus on the product.

The hard part is consistency — the same neckline height, the same white and the same crop across a whole range. Sheer and see-through fabrics take longer to retouch, because the mannequin shows through and has to be removed by hand.

Pricing

One price, by the hour.

Shooting and retouching are both £95 an hour, so you know the cost before you book.

Shooting£95/ hour

Retouching£95/ hour

Studio AIncluded

Every imageIncluded

Unretouched images the same day. Retouched images within three working days, by WeTransfer.

Frequently asked questions

What is ghost mannequin photography?

Garments are photographed on a mannequin, and the mannequin is removed in retouching. The clothing keeps its shape with no body showing. It’s also called invisible mannequin photography.

How many garments can you shoot in a session?

Around 15 to 20 garments in a one-hour session, depending on how many need both a front and a back.

How much does it cost?

£95 an hour for the shoot, with Studio A and every image included. Retouching, which is where the mannequin is removed and each garment is shaped, is also £95 an hour.

When will I get my images?

Unretouched images the same day. Retouched images within three working days, sent by WeTransfer.

Should I steam the garments before I come?

Yes, please. You’re paying for studio time, so it’s cheaper to steam beforehand. There’s a small handheld steamer at the studio for creases that appear on the way.

How do I get to the studio?

Studio A is at 55–57 Holmes Road, Kentish Town, NW5 3AN. It’s a 10-minute walk from Tufnell Park (Northern line), 8 minutes from Kentish Town West Overground, and 3 minutes from the buses on Kentish Town Road. There’s no car access on Holmes Road on weekdays from 8am to 10am and 2pm to 4pm, so plan drop-offs outside those hours.

How do I pay?

On the day of the shoot, by cash, card or bank transfer.

More about

Invisible (Ghost) Mannequin Photography

Which garments suit ghost mannequin photography

Garments with some structure work best: shirts, blouses, jackets, coats, knitwear and dresses. The mannequin holds the shoulders, chest and waist in place, so the customer sees the real cut rather than a flat outline.

Bring samples that fit a standard mannequin. A piece that is too small pulls at the seams, and one that is too big slumps, and both take longer to fix in retouching. Very soft pieces such as slips and loose scarves can collapse on a form; a flat lay or an on-model shot may suit those better, and we can decide on the day.

What ghost mannequin retouching covers

Retouching is where a mannequin photo becomes an invisible mannequin image. The form is removed, the garment is cut out onto clean white, and the shape is evened up so sleeves, hems and plackets sit straight.

It can also fix small faults in the sample itself, such as a loose thread, a mark or a pucker in a seam, so a launch doesn’t wait on a fresh sample. Tell me which pieces need more than the standard clean-up when you send your list.

Ghost mannequin images for marketplaces and catalogues

Most marketplaces want the main product image on plain white, and a ghost mannequin cut-out gives them exactly that. The same files work for your own shop, a printed catalogue or a line sheet for stockists.

If you add stock every season, the new images have to match the old ones. Send me a few of your existing pictures before the shoot and I’ll match the crop, the mannequin height and the white, so a new arrival doesn’t stand out on the category page.

Ghost mannequin or on-model photography

The two do different jobs, and many clothing brands use both. The ghost image shows the shape and detail on a category page; an on-model shot shows how the piece moves and fits when it’s worn. Both can be shot at Studio A, so the whole range comes from one studio and one set of lights.