How to brief a tailor with screenshots and reference photos

Choosing good references

Screenshots from social media and brand websites are fine; just check that the whole garment is visible, not cropped at the knee or hidden under a dupatta. If a detail only shows in a video, pause it and screenshot the clearest moment. Then narrow down:

• Clear and well lit: a sharp photo where you can see the detail, not a tiny thumbnail or a dark party picture.
• Front and back: a back view matters for necklines, yokes and fastenings. If only the front exists, say so.
• Full length and close-up: one picture for the overall shape and length, another for the neckline, cuff or trim.
• A few, not dozens: three to six focused images are easier to follow than a whole mood board.
• Your own clothes count: a photo of a kurta you already own and love is often the best reference of all, because you already know how it looks and feels on you.

Mixing and labelling

Most people like parts of several designs. That is fine, as long as it is clear which part comes from where. Number your images and write a short line for each, for example:

• “Photo 1: the neckline and the piping round it.”
• “Photo 2: this sleeve shape, but three-quarter length.”
• “Photo 3: the overall length and the slits.”
• “Photo 4: the trousers only, ignore the top.”
• Crop, circle or arrow the detail on your phone before uploading. File names help too: “1-neckline.jpg” says far more than a camera’s default name.

What a photo cannot tell us

A catalogue picture is styled to sell. The model may be tall, the dress pinned at the back, the pose chosen to show off the flare, and the colours edited. Keep that in mind, especially for fit and length.

• Your measurements: a photo cannot give your sizes; those come from the size guide or a kameez that fits you.
• Length on you: a calf-length kameez on a tall model may reach your ankle. Give the length you want in centimetres or inches.
• Fabric behaviour: a design shown in crisp organza falls differently in soft lawn, so your fabric shapes the result.
• Embroidery and print: these belong to the fabric in the photo. A reference shows the cut; your fabric decides the rest.
• Fabric quantity: a full flare or long sleeves may need more than your pack contains.
• Colour: screens and filters change colours, so a reference photo is no guide to colour matching; daylight photos of your own fabric do that job.

Sending your brief

The stitching quote form has an upload box for fabric photos and reference images, and a design notes box for your numbered descriptions. Add your measurements, the date you need the outfit, and anything you are unsure about. If something in your references will not work with your fabric, we’ll say so in your written quote rather than guess. Keep a copy of your numbered photos and notes, so you can check the quote against them when it arrives.

Our guide to recreating a design from a catalogue photo goes deeper into working from brand pictures, and how to photograph fabric for a quote covers the fabric side. See how it works for the full process.