I use photoshop some of my photos’ backdrops. But it takes hours of time, working with layers and digital skill to get them right. Some of my results are better than others. 
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I totally get where you’re coming from. It’s true that I’m not a great photographer myself. I actually bought all the gear—lightboxes, reflectors, even a decent camera—thinking it would make my products shine. But in the end, I decided to stick with simplicity. I just photograph my items as they are, no soft lighting, no filters, no heavy editing.
Maybe that’s the wrong approach, I don’t know—but it feels more honest to me. It shows the real product, the way it would actually look in someone’s hands, not just on a screen.
So no, you’re not old or grumpy—I totally see your point. There’s something really valuable in showing what a customer will actually receive, especially in handmade work.
No I am not a fan of mock ups. I handmake each and every one of my items, then photograph them. I like to provide exactly what a customer has bought.
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It’s difficult when offering print-on-demand services. I think the main photo should be of an actual item, but then mock ups of what an item could look like with, say, specific wording - but state in the visual that it is a mocked-up image, which would be useful to a buyer. From a buyer’s point of view, if it is for something bespoke, then a mock-up is essential, although concede that this could be done by email (or whatever) to the buyer.
Having previously worked for a printers where I was involved in the dye sublimation process (printing onto mugs, photo panels, t-shirts, etc.), I can say that it certainly didn’t feel like a mass-produced effort, especially if a customer wanted one mug. I would have to play around with the image in a software programme to get the correct size, brightness and colour; print (in mirror image) onto special paper; cut the image to size and fit around the mug; heat the mug press and place the mug into the press; cool down the printed mug in water; wash and dry the mug; reprint again if I wasn’t happy with the colour or image transfer (which often happened); pack and post the mug. Felt like a hand-made process to me!
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That’s a really interesting explanation Ali. I have always been a bit doubtful about these items thinking it was a much less hands on process than it clearly is. I will look at them differently now. Thank you.
Just to confuse the issue… it can also be mass produced (think of mugs sold in supermarkets). The printers that I worked for had a 1-mug press, a 5-mug press, and a small ‘oven’ that could take 12 mugs (that we used for companies that wanted a small run of promo material). We never made more than 50 items - but each of them would still need to go through what I have previously explained. I am just assuming that other small printing companies would operate with a similar set up. Hobbycraft sells mug and heat presses, so dye sublimation is definitely on the up especially for the small entrepreneur.
However, to go back to the original point - I agree that original photography should be used, especially for the main photo, but that a print on demand person/business could use supplementary mock ups (and to state they are mock ups) to promote the possibilities of their items.