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Bulk image retouching

Outsourcing vs. In-House Photo Retouching Services: Pros and Cons for Apparel and Fashion Brands

By David    October 12, 2023
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Outsourcing vs. In-House Photo Retouching Services: Pros and Cons for Apparel and Fashion Brands
fashion editing and retouching

When we speak of resources, the first thing that usually comes to mind is money. This is probably because it is the easiest to measure and it is also used to measure the value of other resources like time, energy, skill etc. However, it is important to have a balance when we approach the costing or pricing of resources. An option that seems inexpensive in terms of one resource, say money, may be costly in terms of another resource, say time.

This is the key point to keep in mind as we explore whether apparel and fashion brands should build an in-house team for photo cutout service or just outsource the task to experts. Each approach has its pros and cons, and the decision can significantly impact a brand’s efficiency, cost, and ultimately, its visual identity.

Understanding Bulk Image Retouching in the Fashion Industry

Here are some facts that underline the importance of photo clipping path service, especially for fashion and apparel brands. When asked, 90% of online shoppers stated that high-quality images form the top criteria, while making a purchase decision. For 67% of the consumers product images are more crucial than even product descriptions or the customer reviews! It is this attractiveness of visuals that makes content with images get 94% more total views than those without! Thus, images truly define a brand’s style and identity, making them not just necessary but also the cornerstone of a fashion brand’s success.

It is not surprising that 75% of global fashion e-commerce transactions involve images that have undergone High-End Photo Retouching Service. This fashion photo editing service is multi-faceted and includes colour correction, background removal, skin smoothing, wrinkle reduction, and more. With this background, let us explore the major pros and cons of outsourcing  the cloth photo editing service or having an in-house team.

The Pros of In-House Fashion Apparel Photo Editing

  1.  Brand Control and Consistency:
    It is the brand that carries the trust of the consumer, and therefore, that is the most valuable aspect for the apparel and fashion industry. It is the branding that separates a Chloe handbag from another bag made from the exact same materials and expertise! Maintaining a cohesive brand image thus becomes critical. The consistency of visuals across all platforms is vital for brand recognition and customer loyalty. In-house Fashion Apparel Photo Editing allows brands to have full control over the editing process, which ensures that every image aligns with their unique style and identity.

  2. Immediate Communication:
    In-house editors can easily access the photographers, design team members, and other critical stakeholders. This proximity also ensures faster communication, and reduces the chance of errors and miscommunication in the editing process. The chances of creative collaboration are also higher.

  3. Quality Assurance:
    Since the brand’s own editors understand the brand better, they know the standards and requirements. This helps them to maintain a high level of quality adherence and assurance. This increases the probability of the final product accurately representing the brand’s vision.
cloth photo editing

The Cons of In-House Fashion Apparel Photo Editing

  1. Higher Operational Costs:
    Maintaining an in-house Apparel Photo Editing team involves a lot of operational costs including salaries, benefits, equipment, and software expenses. For small and even medium sized fashion brands, these costs will be a significant burden.

  2. Workload Overflows or Underutilization:
    During peak seasons or when dealing with a high volume of images, in-house Apparel Photo Editing often gets overwhelmed. Brands often need to hire temporary staff to manage the overflow, which can add to the costs and complexity. It could also be a case of them not having sufficient work consistently to engage the in-house team.

  3. Limited Skill Diversity:
    It is very challenging for in-house teams to possess the same skill variety as editing professionals. External editors usually bring to the table a wider range of skills, experiences, and creativity, which is beneficial, especially for tasks that require specialised expertise.

The Pros of Outsourcing Fashion Apparel Photo Editing Services

  1. Cost-Effective Solutions:
    The overhead costs of hiring, training, and equipping an in-house bulk image retouching team can be substantial and can even grow exponentially, considering the fact that the average salary for a photo-editing manager is $66,000. Outsourcing allows brands to pay only for the services they use. They can also pay less for tasks that aren’t as complex instead of a steady salary. Studies show that outsourcing editing can reduce costs by up to 50%.

  2. Access to Specialised Skills:
    Depending on the skill set needed, outsourcing provides access to professional editors who are specialists in that field. High-end photo retouching editors are well-versed in industry standards and can enhance images with expertise and precision.

  3. Time Efficiency:
    Outsourcing can streamline the editing process, providing brands with faster turnaround times. In some cases, outsourced bulk image retouching services offer a 24-48 hour turnaround for images, allowing brands to keep up with the rapid pace of the industry.
Muby Tech | Outsourcing vs. In-House Photo Retouching Services: Pros and Cons for Apparel and Fashion Brands

The Cons of Outsourcing Bulk Image Retouching

  1. Loss of Control:
    One of the primary concerns when outsourcing photo editing services is the potential loss of control over the editing process if external editors do not fully understand the brand’s unique identity and style. Miscommunications can lead to discrepancies in the final product.

  2. Security and Confidentiality:
    Fashion brands can often deal with sensitive images which raises concerns about data security and confidentiality. There have been instances in the industry where data breaches have occurred, leading to compromised brand integrity and trust.

  3. Limited Revisions:
    Outsourcing services may offer revision options that are either limited or get costly. So, if brands find themselves in a situation where they need further edits, cost or time associated with revisions could become a problem.

Making the Right Choice for Your Brand

As an apparel and fashion brand, when you have to make the choice ultimately, it depends on your budget, brand identity, workload and team size.

Having said that, the trend towards outsourcing bulk image retouching & editing is evidently seen in the world today. And one look at the cons of outsourcing makes it clear why! The primary concern of loss of control over the editing process gets eliminated by identifying a well-established and expert outsourcing agency like Mubytech. Having built a brand itself, the team will surely be sensitive to the client’s brand identity and brand style.

Established agencies have robust confidentiality clauses and agreements in place to ensure that there is no integrity compromise. And at Mubytech, the experts do not rest till the client is satisfied. That is why we encourage clients to ‘try us once’ for High-End Photo Retouching Services because after that, you will not try anyone else again!

By MubyTech
Global Image Editing Partner

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