Etsy photo guide
How to take product photos for Etsy
Etsy buyers can't pick up your work, so your photos do the job a market stall would: show the size, the texture, the finish and how the piece is used. The first photo matters most because it becomes your thumbnail in search, where it competes with dozens of similar items.
You don't need a studio. A window, a phone, a plain backdrop and a shot list get you most of the way. This guide covers the setup, the shots to take, Etsy's image rules and the mistakes that cost makers sales.
Quick answer
Shoot in soft window light on a plain background, make the first photo a clean, well-lit view of the whole item, then add close-ups, scale and in-use shots. Etsy recommends photos at least 2000 px on the shortest side, and you can add up to 20 photos per listing.
- Size: at least 2000 px on the shortest side
- First photo: at least 635 px wide and tall, or it shows lower in search
- Up to 20 photos and 2 videos per listing
- Formats: JPG, PNG or GIF; files under 1 MB upload fastest
Step by step
- 01
Set up soft, even light
Shoot next to a large window in daylight with overhead bulbs switched off, so warm and cool light don't mix and shift your colors. Put a sheet of white foam board on the side away from the window to lift the shadows. Avoid direct midday sun and your phone's flash: both create hard glare and dark shadows that hide detail.
- 02
Pick a background that suits your shop
A plain white or light neutral surface is the safest choice for the first photo because it keeps the thumbnail clean in search. For later photos, a simple textured surface such as wood, linen or stone can show the style of your shop. Keep the same backdrop across a listing so the gallery looks consistent.
- 03
Shoot the first photo for the thumbnail
Center the whole item with some space around it, because Etsy crops the first photo differently in search, on the listing and in the app. Shoot square or close to it so nothing important gets cut off, and check the thumbnail crop after you upload.
- 04
Add the supporting shots
Take the back and sides, a close-up of the texture or finish, a photo that shows scale (in a hand, worn, or next to a familiar object), and one in use. Handmade buyers look closely at materials and workmanship, so detail shots often decide the sale.
- 05
Edit lightly and export at the right size
Edit for brightness, straightness and white balance only. Filters and saturation boosts change how the item looks, and a buyer who receives a different color has a reason to complain. Export at 2000 px or more on the shortest side so the zoom view stays sharp, and keep each file reasonably small so uploads are quick.
- 06
Upload in the order a buyer looks
Put your clearest whole-item photo first, then detail, scale, in-use and packaging shots. You can use up to 20 photos, so use enough to answer the questions buyers would otherwise message you about.
The shots to take
| Shot | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Whole item, plain background | Your thumbnail in search; it has to read clearly at a small size. |
| Texture or finish close-up | Shows the workmanship that justifies a handmade price. |
| Scale shot | In a hand, worn or beside a familiar object, so buyers know the real size. |
| In-use or styled shot | Helps buyers picture the piece in their home or on them. |
| Variations | One photo per color or option, so buyers see exactly what they pick. |
| Packaging | Useful for gifts; shows what arrives at the door. |
Etsy photo rules
From Etsy's own help pages, checked October 12, 2026. Full dimensions for every image slot are on the Etsy image size page.
- Photos should be at least 2000 px on the shortest side; the first photo must be at least 635 px wide and tall to avoid showing lower in search.
- You can add up to 20 photos and 2 videos to a listing.
- Accepted formats are JPG, PNG and GIF.
- Etsy recommends photos that work at several crops, since listing photos appear across different pages and the app.
Common mistakes
A busy first photo
Save props and styled scenes for later photos; keep the thumbnail simple and bright.
No sense of scale
Add one photo with a hand, a person or a familiar object for size.
Yellow indoor light
Shoot by a window in daylight with the overhead lights off.
Small, blurry files
Export at 2000 px or more on the shortest side and focus on the most important detail.
Etsy photos by product type
Specific advice for the products that are hardest to photograph well.
Questions sellers ask
- What size should Etsy product photos be?
- Etsy recommends at least 2000 px on the shortest side. Your first photo must be at least 635 px wide and tall, or it can show lower in search results.
- How many photos can I add to an Etsy listing?
- Up to 20 photos and 2 videos per listing.
- Can I take Etsy product photos with my phone?
- Yes. A recent phone in good window light produces photos well above Etsy's recommended size. Light and background matter far more than the camera.
- Should the first Etsy photo have a white background?
- Etsy doesn't require it, but a plain, light background keeps the thumbnail clear in search. Styled backgrounds work well for the photos after it.
Sources: Etsy Help Center. Checked October 12, 2026.
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