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From the studio

Practical guides, independent brands, and the details that make a store yours.

7 October 2026

How to do a flat lay product photo from above

Overhead photos suit many products. Keep the phone parallel and steady, light it evenly, and style with restraint.

7 October 2026

How can I make Instagram highlight covers for free?

A simple way to make matching highlight covers on your phone with free design tools, using two colours, one font and plain icons.

7 October 2026

How to describe a new product that has no reviews yet

Without reviews to lean on, rely on specific details, helpful sizing guidance and honest limits, and never invent testimonials or ratings.

7 October 2026

How to crop product photos consistently across a catalogue

A catalogue looks professional when every product sits in the same place at the same size. A fixed frame, a margin and a centring rule get you there.

7 October 2026

How to count inventory in a small online business

A physical count compared against your records tells you what you really own, and this guide shows how to do it with a notebook or spreadsheet and no accounting knowledge.

7 October 2026

How to compare couriers without just looking at price

The cheapest courier can become the most expensive once returns, damages and angry customers are counted, so score each option on reliability, support and claims as well as cost.

7 October 2026

How do I get customers to share photos of my products?

Ask at the right moment, make it easy, and say thanks honestly, so happy customers share photos without feeling pressured.

7 October 2026

How do I get photo reviews of my products?

Customers send photos when you make it specific and easy, so ask a small, concrete question like how it fits or how it looks at home, and always ask permission before sharing.

7 October 2026

How can I work with micro-creators if I cannot pay fees?

A product-for-content swap works only when expectations are clear and fair; this post explains how to approach creators, what to offer and how to keep it respectful.

7 October 2026

How to choose props for product photos without stealing the focus

Use restraint, a matching palette and relevant objects so props support the product instead of competing with it.

7 October 2026

What to look for when choosing a courier for your products

Coverage, handling, support and COD handling matter more than a headline rate, so use this checklist to judge a courier against what your own parcels actually need.

7 October 2026

How do I move Instagram followers onto an email list?

Followers will share an email address only if you give them a clear reason; this post covers what to offer, where to place the sign-up, and how to keep it honest.

7 October 2026

How to write a one-page photo style guide for your brand

A one-page set of rules for background, props, angles and editing so every product photo looks like it belongs to the same shop.

7 October 2026

How to brighten product photos without making them look fake

Pushing the brightness slider makes whites glow and colours wash out. Work with exposure, highlights and shadows separately for a natural result.

7 October 2026

How to avoid sending the wrong item or size

A wrong colour or size reaching a customer costs you a return, a reshipment and some goodwill, so here is a simple label check and a two-step verify habit you can run at your packing table.

7 October 2026

How to avoid harsh shadows in product photos

Hard dark shadows come from small, close or direct light. Diffuse it, move it, fill it, and accept a soft shadow.

7 October 2026

How to avoid fingerprints and dust showing in product photos

Smudges and specks are invisible on a phone screen and obvious on a laptop. A few cleaning habits before you shoot save a lot of retakes.

7 October 2026

How do I ask a customer for permission to repost their photo?

A short, polite permission message and simple credit rules, because a tag on a post is not the same as a yes.

7 October 2026

When and how should I ask a customer for a review?

Ask once, after the parcel has actually arrived and the customer has had a day or two with the product, and keep the request short, polite and easy to act on.

7 October 2026

When is the right moment to ask for a customer's email?

Ask at checkout, after delivery or when someone shows interest, explain how you will use it, and keep the request light; consent rules are worth checking with a professional.

7 October 2026

How to ask a customer for a product review

A polite message sent a few days after delivery, with a clear reason and an easy next step, is the kindest way to ask a customer for a review.

7 October 2026

How to apologise properly for a shipping mistake

When you send the wrong item or the wrong address goes on a label, a good apology has three parts. Own it, fix it and offer a clear next step, without promising what you cannot give.

7 October 2026

How should I tell customers about festive shipping cut-offs?

Set your own order-by date with a buffer, then repeat it clearly in every place customers look; here is how to choose the date and where to say it.

7 October 2026

How to add captions to product videos for silent viewing

Captions let people follow your product video with the sound off or with hearing difficulty, and a short, readable text track is easy to add with free phone apps.