Invisible models

[sergio]

I want to make an editorial fashion photoshoot where the models in the pictures are completely invisible but their clothes aren't. So the volume of their bodies is only visible because of the clothes they have on. The difficult part of these images is of course to remove the model in PS but to be able to show the garments in the inside. Shoes are easy, but dresses and shirts aren't. I have several ideas on how to accomplish this, but I am trying to see if I can find an easier way to do it. I would greatly appreciate to receive some help from the bright minds that frequent these forums, in case somebody has already been confronted by a similar problem to solve. Thanks.

Sergio

[bill t.]

Search "green screen suits."  Kinda of inhibiting for some models, you need troopers on this shoot.

Use a tripod.

Shoot the green model + clothes.

Model steps out of scene.

Shoot a clean-plate background.

Photoshop, photoshop, photoshop.  CS5 masking is wonderful.

Or forget the green suit, but still shoot the clean-plate.  Hire a roomful of artistic high school dropouts to paint out the models.

[bill t.]

Oh, you want the inside too.  Don't know how other than to possibly shoot the models then have somebody hold up the empty clothes in the same location in the same light so you have a source to paint from in PS.  Or just rig the darned clothes with wire armatures, wadded up newspapers, etc, and have people hold them up in the scene, then paint out the holders from a clean-plate, ugh.

Edit: Hire bunraku puppet masters to hold the empty clothes.

[Wolfman]

As mentioned above, you can take a 2nd shot of the inside of the piece though tedious.... see sample:

[feppe]

OT, but I remember some stylists complaining years ago how mannequins had lost their heads, then their arms and legs. Now there are no mannequins at all. Just a pointless observation, although I'm sure there's a sociologist out there who has something to say about that.

[sergio]

Thought so. Thanks a lot anyway. 

[bill t.]

You tease us sir!     You need to share your solution so we can all say we thought of it, but forget to mention it.

Or shoot the model, have her hold position, somebody walks in with the appropriate inside piece and kind of drapes it across her body in roughly the right orientation.  Model walks away leaving the holder person and fabric.  Mask & shift your heart out.

Or, model the clothes as computer graphics in Maya and matte that in over real (or imagined) backgrounds.  Works for cars and toothpaste, why not support garments and pinafores?  Or whatever.  Starting next Thursday that will be the cheapest way to do almost any kind of product photography.