Ghost Mannequin vs. Flat Lay in Los Angeles: How to Choose for Your Next Drop

In Los Angeles—where high fashion meets an influencer-driven streetwear scene—one image style won’t fit every product or channel. The strongest catalogs use both: ghost mannequin for fit and structure, and flat lay for speed, sets, and storytelling. Use this guide to choose quickly and stay consistent.

Quick summary

• Choose ghost mannequin for a three-dimensional, body-like look that shows drape, neckline, and interior details—best for structured pieces such as jackets, blazers, dresses, and denim, as well as premium lines.
• Choose flat lay when speed, budget, or creative storytelling matters—great for T-shirts and other knits, accessories, pattern-led items, and social content.
• Best practice: Use ghost mannequin for the main product image on the product detail page; use flat lay for supporting shots, bundles, and social. Keep image proportions and margins unified so your grid looks seamless.

Ghost mannequin—what it is and where it shines

Ghost mannequin removes the mannequin in post-production, leaving a clean, “worn-on-body” presentation. It highlights silhouette, structure, and finishing details without a live model—ideal when fit drives the purchase and when you need consistent silhouettes across many products.

Strengths

• Realistic cues for fit and drape
• Premium, distraction-free look for product detail pages
• Clear front, back, and interior views (collars, linings, trims)

Watch-outs

• Requires precise mannequin sizing, symmetry, and disciplined retouching
• More styling and post-production effort than flat lay

Best for: blazers, tailored dresses, outerwear, denim, structured lingerie, formalwear, and full-figure pieces where shape matters.

Flat lay—what it is and where it wins

Flat lay is photographed from above on a table or set. It’s fast, graphic, and versatile—perfect for outfit stories, bundles, and pattern-first products.

Strengths

• Budget-friendly and quick at volume
• Great for sets, props, and color stories (social and email)
• Ideal for small goods and soft basics

Watch-outs

• Limited fit cues; can feel two-dimensional if styling isn’t tight
• Structured garments may lose shape without careful boarding or taping

Best for: T-shirts and other knits, leggings, kidswear basics, scarves, belts, hats, small accessories, and print-led items.

Typical entry-level costs in Los Angeles

• Flat lay: often starts around $23–$25 per image
• Ghost mannequin: commonly starts around $25–$35 per image

Final pricing depends on styling complexity (for example, sheer or reflective fabrics), number of angles, retouching depth, turnaround speed, and any lifestyle or on-model add-ons. Many Los Angeles providers also offer day rates for larger catalogs.

Side-by-side comparison

Factor	Ghost mannequin	Flat lay
Visual depth	Three-dimensional, body-like	Two-dimensional, graphic
Fit and interior details	Strong (neckline, lining, structure)	Limited
Speed and throughput	Moderate	Fast
Styling difficulty	Medium to high	Low to medium
Typical per-image cost	Medium	Lower
Best categories	Blazers, dresses, outerwear, denim, structured lingerie	Basics, accessories, pattern-led items, bundles
Turnaround options	Standard with rush available	Standard with rush available

Decision matrix (drop this into your brief)

If your garment…	Choose	Why
Has collars/lining or complex construction	Ghost mannequin	Three-dimensional shape and interior detail improve confidence
Is a basic knit or small accessory	Flat lay	Faster and lower cost at scale; easy to bundle
Is pattern-led (graphics or prints)	Flat lay	Overhead framing showcases the design
Needs multiple angles for clarity	Ghost mannequin	Interior plates and multi-view shots are straightforward
Lives on social media first	Flat lay	Props and sets tell the brand story quickly

Channel-by-channel guidance for Los Angeles brands

Your website’s product detail pages

• Main image: Ghost mannequin for structured tops, dresses, outerwear, and denim
• Supporting images: Flat lay for basics, accessories, and quick colorways
• Specification: Lock image proportions (for example, 4:5) and margins (for example, 5–7%) so both styles align in the grid

Marketplaces and wholesale portals

• Lead with the most informational image (often ghost mannequin for fit-critical items)
• Standardize background, margins, and file naming across both styles

Social and email

• Flat lay excels at lifestyle mood, bundles, and color stories
• Add a ghost mannequin crop for “shop now” slides that match the product detail page

Keep mixed styles cohesive (production rules)

Lighting
Use one lighting recipe for both sets. Whites and neutrals must match across ghost mannequin and flat lay.

Composition

• Ghost mannequin: vertical alignment, straight plackets, even hems
• Flat lay: boarded seams, ruler-measured crops, consistent negative space

Color control
Approve a master color per style; apply the same reference in retouching across both sets.

Texture discipline
Retouch to polish, not plastic—preserve believable fabric texture.

File naming and alt text

• Example file name: brand_stylecolor_view_background_v1.jpg
• Example alt text: “Women’s black crepe blazer — ghost mannequin, front view” / “Women’s black crepe blazer — flat lay, outfit bundle”

Shoot-day blueprint (Zeelum Los Angeles workflow)

1. Pre-production – Shot list by product; mannequin size map; finish standards (steam, de-lint, thread snips, label-hide rules); export specs (background, margins, image proportions, minimum long edge 3,000 pixels).
2. Capture – Ghost mannequin for main images on key products; flat lay for basics, accessories, and bundles; detail plates for interiors and trims.
3. Post-production – Composite interior plates (ghost mannequin); symmetry and edge cleanup; label hides per style guide; batch color checks against master references.
4. Delivery – Web-ready JPEGs (white or transparent background), consistent margins and proportions, marketplace-compliant naming; optional high-resolution masters (3,000-pixel long edge at 300 dpi) and layered files on request.

Two-week test plan (prove it with data)

Week 1 — Produce and publish

• Select twelve products (mix of structured and basics).
• For each, publish a version with a ghost mannequin main image and a version with a flat-lay main image.

Week 2 — Measure
Track: clicks from collection pages to product pages, zoom or expand rate, add-to-cart rate, conversion rate, production time per image, and number of retouching cycles.

Decide
Lock the winning main-image style by category (not brand-wide), then document the specification and repeat it.

Frequently asked questions

Will ghost mannequin reduce returns?

Often, yes—clearer shape and drape can set better expectations, especially on structured garments. Results vary by category and audience.

Can flat lay be the main image on the product page?

Absolutely—for basics, accessories, and print-led items. Keep crops and margins consistent with ghost mannequin images so your grid stays uniform.

Is ghost mannequin always more expensive?

Usually, because of mannequin fit, styling, and compositing. Entry pricing can be similar to flat lay, but complexity and extra angles drive the final total.

Do we need a stylist even without models?

Strongly recommended. Symmetry, neckline shaping, and clean hems are what make ghost mannequin look premium and flat lay look intentional.

Ready to choose—and execute—the right mix?

Book your shoot at Zeelum Los Angeles. We’ll set lighting, crops, and retouch rules once, then scale ghost mannequin and flat lay across drops so every product page and post looks on-brand.