How-to · Etsy
Build a policy-compliant Etsy fashion listing from phone photography of the actual finished product. Etsy generally requires sellers to use their own original photos or video of the item buyers will receive, not AI renderings or stock photos. This guide plans a complete carousel of real product, detail, scale, and styling images and explains the narrow cases where computer-generated mockups may be used as additional images.
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Photograph the actual finished garment yourself on a hanger, mannequin, or as a clean flat-lay. Use this real product photo as image 1. Keep extra space around the item so Etsy's square, portrait, and landscape thumbnail crops do not cut it off; Etsy recommends a horizontal or landscape first image and at least 2,000 pixels where possible.
Take your own photos of the actual garment being worn, or commission a photographer and retain the necessary usage and likeness rights. Capture front, back, and side or movement views. Do not substitute AI-generated people or garment renderings for these product photos unless your listing falls within Etsy's explicit mockup exceptions.
Photograph two real close-ups of fabric, seams, labels, fastenings, or handmade details. Cropping your own high-resolution original is fine, but do not invent or regenerate details that are not present on the physical product.
Photograph the garment laid flat next to a tape measure or ruler and also provide exact measurements in the description. The image gives buyers useful scale context; track your own return reasons rather than assuming a universal reduction.
Photograph the real garment with complementary items you own or have permission to show. Keep the sold item unmistakable and make clear in the description which props are not included.
Photograph every colorway of the actual finished product. Etsy's general rule is that listing images show the item buyers will receive. Computer-generated mockups are allowed only in Etsy's stated exceptions, such as additional images for certain personalized/custom items; the first image must still show a finished example, and production-partner rules differ by product type.
Upload the strongest real product photo first, followed by additional angles, worn views, details, scale, styling context, packaging, and real colorways. Use the slots that add truthful buyer information; Etsy does not promise a ranking or conversion boost merely because every slot is filled. Preview the thumbnail crop before publishing.
The policy-compliant workflow uses your own phone photography and costs no Apiway credits. If your product qualifies for one of Etsy's limited computer-generated-mockup exceptions, verify the current Listing Image Requirements first and treat any eligible additional mockups as optional rather than replacements for required real-product photography.
Etsy's current Listing Image Requirements generally require your own original photos or video of the actual finished product, not renderings or stock photos. Limited mockup exceptions exist for certain personalized/custom and production-partner listings. Separately, seller-prompted AI creations offered as products must be disclosed. Review the current rules for your exact listing before uploading any generated image.
Amazon has specific pure-white main-image rules for many product categories, while Etsy focuses on original, accurate photos of the actual item and recommends a first photo that crops well across thumbnail shapes. Etsy does not require a warm-neutral background. Choose lighting and background that reproduce the product faithfully and check each marketplace's current requirements.
