In today’s digital marketplace, your product photos are often the first (and sometimes the only) chance to win over a customer.
If you’re a small business in Hastings or anywhere in East Sussex, you’re competing against brands with professional studios, stylists, and huge budgets.
The good news? You don’t need to match their budget — but you do need to avoid the most common product photography mistakes that can instantly turn buyers away.
At Picture My Product, we see these issues all the time when clients first come to us — and we know exactly how to fix them.
Nothing kills a sale faster than dark, shadowy, or overexposed images.
Bad lighting hides details, distorts colours, and makes products look cheap.
How to avoid it:
Use even, consistent lighting — no harsh shadows
Avoid mixing different light sources (like daylight + yellow bulbs)
For the most accurate results, a controlled studio setup is best
💡 At Picture My Product, all photography is done in our Hastings studio where lighting is perfectly balanced for clarity and colour accuracy.
Your product should be the star of the image — not the busy kitchen counter or wrinkled bedsheet it’s sitting on.
How to avoid it:
For e-commerce, stick to a clean white or neutral background
For styled shots, use simple, complementary props only
Keep consistency across your whole product range
One flat image rarely gives a customer enough confidence to buy. They want to see every detail before making a decision.
How to avoid it:
Show the product from multiple sides and angles
Include close-ups for texture, stitching, or fine details
For items like clothing or accessories, show scale in context
If your customer orders a “navy” scarf but receives something that looks black in real life, they’re more likely to return it — and less likely to shop with you again.
How to avoid it:
Shoot in lighting that doesn’t distort colours
Calibrate your camera and editing software for colour accuracy
Avoid heavy filters or over-editing
Small, pixelated, or slightly blurry photos scream “unprofessional” and make customers doubt product quality.
How to avoid it:
Always use high-resolution images so customers can zoom in
Keep images sharp with correct camera settings and a steady setup
Optimise file size without losing clarity for faster website load times
While DIY photography can work in the very early days, it’s hard to compete with the polish of professionally shot, studio-quality images.
At Picture My Product in Hastings, we:
✅ Use professional lighting setups for perfect clarity
✅ Photograph products against clean, consistent backgrounds
✅ Capture multiple angles and close-ups for full detail
✅ Deliver colour-accurate, high-resolution, ready-to-use files
And the best part?
You simply purchase your package online, drop your products at our Hastings office (or send them by courier), and we take care of the rest.
Your product photos are more than just images — they’re the first handshake with your customer. Avoid these common mistakes, and you’ll instantly boost trust, clicks, and sales.
If you’re ready to level up your product photography, see our packages here: picturemyproduct.co.uk
