★ — BUSINESS
CGI vs photography in e-commerce.
Traditional product photography costs $5K–$50K per shoot, locks you to one model, ages out of fashion, and doesn't support virtual try-on. CGI models drive 30%+ conversion uplift in AB-tests and unlock new commerce surfaces.
The conversion data
Published case studies show 25–35% conversion lift on PDPs using CGI virtual models vs static photography. Reasons: 360° turnaround, multi-angle product display, fit-test on different body types, and consistent brand aesthetic across SKUs.
The cost math
A photography shoot for 50 SKUs: $25K–$50K. A virtual model commission: $1,650 (EquipVerse E-commerce Virtual Model). Adding a new SKU to the virtual model: ~$50–$200 in render time.
Year-1 break-even on switching to virtual models: 8–12 weeks.
When photography still wins
High-end editorial fashion still demands real models for hero campaign work. CGI makes sense for: bulk PDPs, consistent-brand-face DTC, virtual try-on, multi-cultural localisation (single model, multiple ethnicities), seasonal restyling without re-shooting.