Imagery, from flat lays to on-model e-commerce and campaign shoots, is one of the biggest ongoing costs in fashion e-commerce. This post covers what it costs, how AI lowers it, and how to estimate the saving for your own catalogue.
What product photography costs
Producing product imagery means booking models, a photographer, and a full crew for the day, along with a studio, hair and makeup, and retouching afterward. It also takes time, with weeks between planning a shoot and getting the images live. For a small brand, a simple campaign shoot can cost up to $10,000; for larger companies, a single campaign can reach tens or hundreds of thousands.
How AI lowers cost and adds scale
AI generates images from a single product photo, with no crew, studio, or shoot day. A product-page flat lay can come from one basic photo, even a garment on a hanger or laid on the floor. It can cut the cost of each image by up to 90%, and each one is ready far sooner.
It also helps a brand move faster: more products listed quicker, and changes handled without waiting for the next studio day, whether that is a new style, a color swap, or a campaign refresh. The same applies across flat lays, on-model e-commerce imagery, and on-model campaign imagery.
Does it work for a smaller catalogue?
Yes. AI lowers the cost of producing images whether a brand lists ten products or ten thousand.
How much can you save?
Savings depend on catalogue size, how often a brand drops, and its mix of image types. Mirror Mirror AI's Savings Calculator compares a brand's current image volume and spend against the cost of the same images with AI. Enter a store URL or the figures by hand, and it breaks the saving down across flat lays, e-commerce imagery, and campaigns, per year and per drop.
See how much you could save with Mirror Mirror AI.
About Mirror Mirror AI
Mirror Mirror AI is a marketplace for fashion brands and modeling agencies. Brands generate flat lays, on-model e-commerce and campaign imagery, and detail shots from their own product photos. On-model imagery uses licensed digital twins of real, agency-represented models, so every booking includes consent, fair compensation, and clear terms on how a model's likeness is used. Finished images are ready to download for e-commerce and campaign use. Learn more at Mirror Mirror AI.