Pressing & Presentation: Photo-Ready Inventory

A wrinkled item photographs poorly and signals "neglect" to buyers. Proper presentation is the final step before photos—and often the difference between a quick sale and a listing that sits.

This guide covers steaming, pressing, and styling your inventory for professional-looking photos without expensive equipment.

Steaming vs. Ironing

Garment Steamer (Recommended)

A garment steamer is the reseller's best friend. Advantages over traditional ironing:

Speed: Steam a shirt in 2-3 minutes vs. 10+ minutes ironing.

Safety: Less risk of scorching or shine marks on delicate fabrics.

Versatility: Works on hanging garments, structured items, and fabrics that can't be ironed.

Sanitizing: Steam kills bacteria and freshens fabric—useful for items you can't fully wash.

A basic standing steamer ($40-80) pays for itself quickly. Handheld travel steamers work for small operations but take longer.

When to Iron

Ironing creates crisp creases that steaming can't: dress shirt collars, cotton pants with sharp pleats, formal wear requiring structured lines. Use proper heat settings for fabric type and always test on hidden area first.

Fabric-Specific Notes

Cotton: Tolerates high heat. Steam or iron work. For stubborn wrinkles, light misting with water helps.

Linen: Wrinkles easily, but some texture is expected. Over-pressing looks unnatural. Light steaming is sufficient.

Silk: Use lowest steam setting. Keep steamer moving—don't hold in one spot. Never iron directly on silk; use pressing cloth.

Wool: Steam on low to medium. Hold steamer slightly away from fabric. Wool shouldn't get wet; the steam should just release wrinkles.

Synthetics (polyester, nylon): Low heat only. Synthetics can melt or develop shine marks. Quick, light passes.

Leather: Do NOT steam directly. The moisture damages leather. See leather care guide.

Quick Pre-Photo Checklist

Before every photo shoot, run through:

Lint roll: Remove pet hair, dust, and debris. Essential for dark colors.

Button check: All buttons secured, zippers zipped (or intentionally styled open).

Tag tuck: Interior tags tucked in, care labels not visible from front.

Collar/cuff check: Collars laying flat, cuffs aligned.

Hanger check: Using appropriate hanger (no wire hangers for photos—they distort shoulders).

Styling for Photos

Flat Lay

Best for: t-shirts, casual items, items that don't hold shape on hangers.

Smooth fabric completely flat. Fold or roll sleeves consistently. Use tissue paper underneath to prevent wrinkle transfer. Shoot directly overhead.

Hanger Shots

Best for: structured garments, jackets, dresses.

Use thick, quality hangers that match garment size. Stuff shoulders if needed for shape. Shoot at slight angle for dimension.

Mannequin/Form

Best for: dresses, fitted items, showing fit and drape.

Adjustable dress forms show items at their best but require investment. Budget alternative: invisible mannequin technique (photograph front, pin back, edit together).

Wrinkle Emergency Fixes

No steamer? Quick alternatives:

Bathroom steam: Hang item in bathroom while running hot shower. 15-20 minutes relaxes minor wrinkles.

Dryer method: Toss item in dryer with damp washcloth for 10-15 minutes on low heat. Not for delicates.

Spray bottle: Light misting with water, then hang. Wrinkles release as fabric dries.

The Time Investment

Presentation adds time per item, but the ROI is clear:

Professional-looking photos attract more clicks, command higher prices, and sell faster. A 3-minute steam investment on a $40 item is insignificant compared to listing a wrinkled item that sits for weeks.

Build presentation into your workflow—clean, steam, photograph, list. Assembly line efficiency.