The funny thing about my work is that I often end up being a problem solver as much as a designer. Over the years, I’ve created hundreds of listing images, EBCs (now A+ and Premium A+), and Amazon Storefronts. And let’s be honest—rarely does a seller have everything perfectly prepared and ready to go.

Sometimes the product is just a factory sample, but the seller wants to move fast and start right away. Other times, all that’s available are low-resolution images because the original photographer or designer is no longer around.

Quite often, the product itself isn’t in its final form. It may arrive in an in-between stage, or just not looking its best. I’ve seen it all—missing logos, dented packaging from rough shipping, colors that need adjusting, rubber products that collect dust like magnets (yes, sometimes I literally have to wash and air-dry them under pressure just to make them presentable). I’ve even refilled cosmetic containers that leaked during transport, or added fillers so a product would look full and appealing in photos. On the flip side, there are moments when I need to damage the product—like cutting it open—so we can show a feature clearly.

Lifestyle photos are another challenge. Many clients don’t have them, so I create composites—photographing the product at the right angle and lighting to blend seamlessly with stock imagery.

Behind the scenes, there are dozens of hidden tricks that never show up in the final picture, but they take time, patience, and experience to get right.

One big advantage I bring is flexibility. Because I keep the product with me, I can always re-shoot it—even at the very last stage of design when I’m building the final listing or A+ content. And trust me, that’s usually when you realize a certain detail, angle, or composition is missing. If the photos are done elsewhere and handed off separately, that flexibility is gone—and as a designer, I can only work with what I’m given.