Product Photography on Etsy
In online platforms, customers cannot physically see or touch the products; therefore, they make their purchasing decisions based on photos and videos. As e-commerce sellers, we must place a high priority on high-quality visuals.
You should analyze the top-selling competitors in your chosen categories and examine how they structure their photos and videos. For example, if you want to sell T-shirts, you must include photos of the items on models, a color chart showing the available options, and a size chart.
Below, I am sharing an example product listing for a color chart.
You can create a similar visual for your size chart.
I also strongly recommend adding a product video. Etsy shares that products with videos tend to sell more. In categories like T-shirts, you can upload a time-lapse video of the production process or, if possible, a video of the product being worn by a model.
If you are selling a customized product, explaining how the customer can personalize it through an image is very helpful. I am sharing another example below.
Using Mockups and Design Tools
For categories like T-shirts, you can create product images by purchasing designs and mockups. There are many digital sellers on platforms like Etsy and Creative Fabrica. You can buy these assets and use Canva to create your images. Canva offers many templates for colors and sizes, allowing you to build your product photos in minutes.
Etsy takes photography very seriously. Using someone else’s photos is strictly prohibited; you must create your own visuals.
The AI Revolution in Photography
In categories like jewelry, you cannot use mockups as easily as you do with T-shirts. Until 2026, we worked with professional product photographers to take photos with models for our jewelry items. However, with recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, we can now generate highly realistic product photos. This has allowed us to reduce our costs significantly.
In jewelry, we use at least 2–3 photos on a model and 2–3 concept (lifestyle) photos. Additionally, if there is customization involved, you must demonstrate it in the photos. Details like fonts, birthstones, or birth flowers must be clearly explained visually. If a customer proceeds with the wrong option due to a lack of clarity, you might have to resend the product, which would result in a significant loss.
It is also very beneficial to show how each variation looks, as seen in the photo below. I recommend using images like this.
You can also add photos showing the different chain types and lengths.
Guiding the Process
Since we have worked with photographers for a long time, we are now able to guide them effectively. You should show your photographer examples from successful Etsy shops and ask them to replicate that style. Similarly, when using AI, I recommend using these successful examples as your reference point.