A thermographic infrared apparatus and method for seeing, and thus measuring, a foot inside of a shoe. The apparatus includes one or more thermographic instruments aimed at a base for capturing one or more thermographic images or fields of view of a shoe on the base and thus the heat transferred to the shoe from the foot. The apparatus further includes a display mounted above the base and aimed at the eye level of a person standing on the base such that the person can determine from the thermographic image how well the shoe or shoes fit. The method includes one or more of the steps of taking a thermal infrared image of a shoe on a foot, taking a thermal infrared image of a foot having no shoe thereon, taking a thermal infrared image of a shoe having no foot therein, taking a thermal infrared image from a first direction, taking a thermal infrared image from a second direction to capture surfaces hidden from the first direction, and then comparing one or more of the thermal infrared images. Other imaging methods for determining proper fit of a shoe include low dose x-ray, backscattering x-ray, microwave, acoustic, radio, and ultrasound imaging methods.