When is it okay to use AI for product photos?
Using AI to generate or edit product photos makes it hard to know where the line is between helpful touch-ups and showing items that don't actually exist. This ambiguity leaves honest sellers worried about misleading customers when they use AI to make up for lacking a graphic designer or a proper photography space.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- This comes up 83.7× more often in r/Etsy than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Including self-taken photos alongside edited onesDid this help you?
- 2Limiting artificial intelligence usage to background cleaning, mockups, or minor visual elements while keeping the core product human-madeDid this help you?
- 3Reaching out to the seller privately via message instead of leaving a public critiqueDid this help you?
- 4Skipping the review entirelyDid this help you?
- 5Leaving a positive review accompanied by a real photo of the itemDid this help you?
- 6avoiding brands that use AI-generated adsDid this help you?
- 7using genuine and messy content insteadDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Seller used an AI enhanced photo, but the item itself is surprisingly really nice. Why did they even use AI?? Is it worth mentioning in a review/mentioning it to the seller if I'm actually happy with what I received?”source ↗
“I'm torn, because frankly I would NOT have bought it if it wasn't for that other person's review and photos because it looked fake as hell.”source ↗
“the fact they used it at all has soured it for me, but I also feel kinda bad giving them anything lower due to the listing because the item itself doesn't justify it.”source ↗
“I sell digital educational resources, and I sometimes use AI for some visual elements because I’m not a graphic designer.”source ↗
“I use artificial intelligence to edit some photos of the products I make because I don't have a dedicated space for photography.”source ↗
“However, I notice that some shops display product photos generated entirely by AI—showing products that don't actually exist. This bothers me.”source ↗
“People hate them. Personally, I avoid anyone using them. I want you to be genuine, even if it's messy.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 10How to actually use AI for IT work instead of just hype
- 7Where can I find real-world company AI policies and best practices?
- 8How to audit employee AI tools and browser extensions
- 3How to decide who gets access to workplace AI tools
- 26Why am I being forced to use AI at work?
- 6How to verify vendor AI claims