How to take a good photo of the label

Short answer: A good photo of the label shows size, material and care instructions clearly, so that others can read it without guessing. Lay the item flat, use daylight, hold the phone straight above and check that the text is sharp before you pass the picture on.

Why the label is worth photographing

The label in your clothes holds details that are often important in an enquiry: size, material and how the garment should be washed. A good photo of it can settle many questions in advance. It is also an easy way to remember your size next time you choose.

Find the right label

Most items have a label at the neck or at the side seam, and some have two: one for the size and one for care. The label sits on the inside, so turn the garment inside out. Try to find both, and take a photo of each if they are separate.

Lay the garment flat and smooth

A crumpled label is hard to read. Lay the item on a table or the floor and smooth the label with your fingers. If it is tucked into a seam, you can gently pull it out without cutting into it. A smooth label gives sharper text in the photo.

Use daylight and skip the flash

The light makes a big difference. Take the photo by a window so that the text stands out clearly. Flash often creates a harsh glare on the label, so that small letters disappear. Shadows from your own hand or phone can also make it hard to read, so keep them away.

Hold the phone straight above the label

Hold the phone level and directly above the label so that the text does not look skewed. Move close enough to fill the picture, but not so close that the phone cannot focus. Tap the screen at the label so that focus sits there, and preferably take two photos.

Check that the text can be read

Zoom into the photo afterwards and see whether you can read the size and the care symbols yourself. If you cannot, take it again. It only takes seconds to do it properly. A blurry picture only leads to being asked to send a new one.

Photograph the whole item too

The label alone does not show which item it is. So take a photo of the whole item too, so that it is clear what the label sits in. If you have several that look alike, such as two bamboo hoodie for women pieces, you can mark which one belongs to which label.

Use the photo later

Save the photo in a folder on your phone, for example called clothing sizes. Then you can look up your size the next time you shop, and read the care instructions if they fade on the garment over time. Look at the bestsellers for women or the range for women when you choose again.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the label usually located?

Usually at the neck or at the side seam, on the inside. On some items the size and care instructions are on separate labels, so look in both places.

Should I use flash?

No, daylight works best. Flash can create a harsh glare on the label, so that small letters become hard to read. Take the photo by a window and without shadows.

What if the label is worn and hard to read?

Take the photo as well as you can and write what you know about the item, for example when you bought it. Customer service can often help from the order number.

You can find the full range at Copenhagen Bamboo.