ViyahVogue.

Kim Koodwin posted 4 months ago

Photo Guidelines

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How to Take Listing Photos That Get Bookings

Your photos are the first thing a borrower sees. On a platform like ViyahVogue, where outfits can’t be tried on before booking, great photos aren’t just helpful – they’re essential. Clear, well-lit, honest images build trust and dramatically increase your chances of getting booked.

Follow these guidelines to give your listing the best possible chance.

The Essential Three

Every listing must have at least three photos:

  1. The Full View – a front-facing, full-length shot of the outfit being worn
  2. The 360 – a back-facing, full-length shot
  3. The Detail – a close-up of the embroidery, beadwork, fabric texture or key embellishment

These three shots give borrowers the minimum information they need to make a confident booking decision. More photos are always better.

Wear the Outfit

Real photos of you wearing the outfit are strongly preferred over mannequins, hangers or stock images. Your first photo in particular should show the outfit being worn – not on a mannequin or hanger. Borrowers scroll through listings quickly and a candid, worn photo stops the scroll far more effectively than a mannequin shot. When borrowers can see how the outfit drapes, falls and fits on an actual person, they can much better judge whether it will work for them – particularly for bridal and groomwear where fit and proportion matter most.

If you include photos of another person wearing the outfit, make sure you have their permission. You can blur faces if preferred.

Lighting

Lighting is the single most important factor in a good listing photo. Poor lighting makes colours look wrong and hides the detail that makes your outfit special.

  • Use natural daylight wherever possible – stand facing a window or shoot outdoors in soft daylight
  • Avoid dark rooms, harsh shadows and yellow indoor lighting – these distort colours and flatten detail
  • Shoot on an overcast day outdoors if you can – soft, diffused light is ideal for capturing embroidery and embellishments accurately

Accurate colours are especially important for South Asian occasion wear, where the exact shade of red, gold or green can be the deciding factor for a borrower.

Background

Keep the background clean and simple so the outfit is the focus.

  • A plain wall or neutral indoor setting works well
  • A simple outdoor backdrop is fine
  • Avoid busy rooms, cluttered backgrounds and other people in the shot
  • No mirror selfies – they obscure part of the outfit and look unprofessional

Show the Full Outfit

Make sure all pieces of the outfit are visible in your photos.

  • For a lehenga – show the skirt, blouse and dupatta
  • For a sherwani – show the full kurta, churidar and dupatta or stole
  • For a salwar kameez – show all three pieces
  • Include side angles and back views where possible

Borrowers want to see the complete picture before they commit to booking.

Close-Ups

Include at least one close-up shot showing the detail work – embroidery, zardozi, beading, mirror work, fabric texture. This is often what makes your outfit stand out from others at a similar price point and is the detail borrowers zoom in to see.

Presentation

The outfit should be clean, ironed or steamed and neatly styled before you photograph it.

  • No heavy creases or visible storage marks
  • Accessories should be kept simple unless they’re included in the rental
  • Avoid heavy jackets or layers that cover the outfit

Be Honest About Condition

If there are any imperfections – a small stain, a missing bead, a repair – photograph them clearly. Include these alongside your main photos.

Honest photos build community trust. Borrowers who receive exactly what they expected are far more likely to leave good reviews and rebook from you in future.

Image Quality

  • Use a good quality phone camera or DSLR
  • Aim for a minimum resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels
  • Keep the image sharp, in focus and properly cropped
  • Do not use heavy filters – they alter colours and misrepresent the outfit
  • Keep the image upright – no tilted or rotated shots

Cultural and Occasion Accuracy

ViyahVogue is a marketplace for Sikh, Hindu and Muslim occasion wear across a range of events. Where possible, style and present your outfit in a way that reflects its intended use.

For bridal and formal wear, appropriate styling helps borrowers visualise wearing it for the right occasion. For modest wear, ensure the styling aligns with the expectations of the garment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Mirror selfies with your phone covering part of the outfit
  • Dark or dimly lit rooms
  • Busy or cluttered backgrounds
  • Group photos
  • Heavy filters that change the colour of the outfit
  • Blurry or pixelated images
  • Only uploading one photo
  • Screenshots of other people’s photos

Pre-Upload Checklist

Before you upload your photos, run through this checklist:

  • I am wearing the outfit in the photo
  • The full outfit is clearly visible – front view minimum
  • The background is clean and free of other people
  • The photo is taken in good lighting – natural light preferred
  • The image is sharp and not blurry or pixelated
  • The outfit is neatly presented – ironed, well fitted and styled properly
  • Colours in the photo match the real outfit – no heavy filters
  • I have photographed any imperfections clearly and included those photos

Optional but recommended:

  • Side and back views included
  • Close-up of embroidery, fabric or embellishments included
  • Multiple angles included

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