Sending a reference photo of embroidery you like

What to photograph or save

Two or three images usually tell us more than one:

• The whole garment: shows where the work sits and how much of the outfit it covers.
• A close-up: shows the motif, the thread and how densely it is worked.
• A side or angled view, if you have one: shows whether the work is flat or raised.
• Your own fabric: in daylight, so we can judge the two together. See how to photograph fabric for a quote.

Showing scale and colour

Scale is the detail most often lost in screenshots. If the embroidery is on something you own, lay a tape measure beside it. If it is an online image, tell us roughly how deep the band is or how wide the neckline panel looks against the wearer, for example about a hand’s width.

Colours shift on screens and in artificial light, so name them too: gold thread on navy, ivory on ivory, soft pink with green leaves. If you want a different colourway from the photo, say so clearly, since a design can look very different in tone-on-tone thread.

Say what you like about it

A reference photo often shows several things at once. Tell us which part caught your eye: the neckline shape, the motif, the spacing, the colour, or simply the overall richness. If you like the neckline but not the sleeve work, say that too. A simple marked-up screenshot, with a circle around the area you mean, removes guesswork.

Our general guide on briefing a tailor with screenshots covers whole outfits; for embroidery, the extra detail is about scale, density and placement.

No photo? Sketch it

Sometimes the embroidery you want only exists in your head. A rough drawing on paper, photographed in good light, is perfectly useful. Draw the outline of the neckline or sleeve, mark where the work should go and write the approximate width beside it. You do not need artistic skill; arrows and labels are enough.

You can also combine sources: the motif from one photo, the placement from another and the colours from your fabric. Just number the images and explain which detail comes from which, so nothing is mixed up when we read your notes.

Inspiration, not copies

Photos from brands, social media or a friend’s outfit are all fine as inspiration. We use them to understand the look you want, then plan work that suits your fabric and garment; we do not set out to replicate another label’s design. We also do not promise any named technique in advance, so describe the effect you like and we will tell you what is possible.

If the photo shows something very dense on a fabric that cannot carry it, we may suggest a lighter version or a different placement, and you decide before approving the quote.

Where to upload it

Every form has an optional inspiration upload. For an outfit we make, use the stitching quote form or send your own design; our custom embroidery service explains both routes. Customers in Australia can read how ordering works on the Australia fancy work page.