Any tips for photographing all black 'fits?

cindysmith

I was getting psyched to head into the retail battlefield for some holiday shopping the other day. I was cold, and didn't want to go shopping in the northern fringes of the DFW metroplex (at least not this close to Christmas) and I grabbed something that reflected my "please dont talk to me" mood: all black. Rick Owens sweater, leather leggings, black ankle boots. I couldn't get it to photograph well. The textures and details just didn't show up. I'm guessing the crap lighting in my RV has something do with it. Anybody got any tips on how to photograph an all black outfit so the details and textures show well? Or at least how to go about photographing the pieces individually to supplement a pic of the outfit so I can show what it really looked like?

Thanks for any tips/tricks/advice you wonderful folks can give to help me learn how to take pics of dark outfits

7 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from cindysmith

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I lighten the shadows afterward. It changes the color a bit, but you can see detail better

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

Thank you, Chewy! I'll try this from my laptop tomorrow, after I email the pics from my phone

7 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Deborah wears black frequently and mainly takes her photos outside - which allows for the details to be seen. Your outfit sounds fabulous!

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

No help here but I cannot wait to see the fit.

7 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Do you have a better camera to use or just your phone? In any case, I agree with Bijou that lots of natural light should help.

7 years ago

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Full daylight helps, but it works best if you stand in front of a dark background. The camera will pick up the lower contrast and adjust ISO and exposure.

I should take my own advice.

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

Thanks for all the tips! I'm going to give them a try, all of them.

Bijou & Astrid, I will try outside and see how that works--once it quits raining

Astrid, I think DH has a digital camera somewhere that I can try to dig up if I can't get my phone camera to do any better. The trick will be figuring out how to operate it. It's been buried for several years now.

Aproprio, I'll definitely try a darker background too

7 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

If you have an old point and shoot camera and a new phone the phone might be better. If it's an old DSLR you might have better results because you can play around with exposure and ISO, as Approprio suggested.

7 years ago

Traci

Veteran

I have a mirror on my bathroom door that is at a 90 degree angle to a south facing window. That southern light, coming from the side, really seems to do the best at catching the textures. Also, on the iphone, if I touch one of the darkest spots of my outfit, it will adjust the contrast to bring more detail to that area.

I'll try to show a pic of the same outfit in my normal mirror with a small, south facing window straight on, vs my larger bathroom south facing window to the side.

eta: Here's an example. It's not all black, but you can tell, especially in the shoes, how the side light really shows more detail.

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7 years ago

Bennett

Veteran

Wow, sounds like a very productive and successful "please don't talk to me" shopping mood!!!!! No helpful tips here, but can't wait to see the outfit!!!!!!

7 years ago

Bennett

Veteran

Traci, love the ruby patent loafers! Details, please??????

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

Traci, that actually could be helpful. In an rv (especially one that has been winterized with extra insulating material on the windows, there isn't side light, only overhead. I can temporarily removed some windows insulation and try that! Thanks!

7 years ago

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