Old images are not automatically bad images. Before commissioning a refresh, check whether they still show the current product clearly and fit the places you use them. Replace a photograph for a reason, rather than because it has reached an arbitrary age.
Check accuracy first
- The packaging has changed. An outdated label can make a current product look like old stock.
- The supplied contents are unclear. Accessories, multipacks and optional extras need to be distinguishable.
- A variant is represented by the wrong image. Check colour, size and product mapping across the catalogue.
- The finish looks different from the sample. Review whether lighting, editing or compression has changed the apparent material or colour.
Check the unanswered questions
- Customers keep asking about size. A useful scale view or clearly labelled dimension graphic may solve more than another front photograph.
- Important construction is hidden. Show the fastening, compartment, connector or texture that affects the purchase.
- The use is hard to understand. A practical demonstration may be more helpful than a decorative scene.
Check the delivery
- Images break in the current layout. A desktop banner may not crop well on mobile, and small originals may not support a larger design.
- The range looks inconsistent. Camera height, product scale and background treatment can drift as images are added over time.
- The files are difficult to manage. Unclear naming and missing originals can lead to rejected or outdated versions being reused.
Turn the audit into a small brief
Create three groups: keep, correct and create. Some images only need a new export or crop. Others need retouching, a missing view or a new capture. Prioritise anything that misrepresents the product before spending on optional styling.
For new creative treatments, existing approved photographs may provide a useful starting point for compositing or PMP AI Studio. Review any changed output against the product before publication. Our website refresh guide helps organise the work around real page layouts.
