Product photo checklist: 10 checks before you list
Bad product photos cost clicks and cause returns. Run through these ten checks before a listing goes live. The first three can be checked automatically for a whole batch.
| # | Check | What to look for | AI check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The whole product is in frame | No handle, corner or edge cut off by the image border. | Built in |
| 2 | The background is plain | A clean, uncluttered background so the product is the only subject. Shadows are fine. | Built in |
| 3 | No added text or badges | No sale stickers, captions, watermarks or overlay graphics. Text printed on the product itself is fine. | Built in |
| 4 | It is sharp | Zoom in on the label or texture. Blur hides the details buyers want to see. | Write your own, or check by eye |
| 5 | The lighting is even | No harsh glare or deep shadows hiding part of the product. | Write your own, or check by eye |
| 6 | Colors are true | Compare the photo with the real item in daylight. Wrong colors cause returns. | Write your own, or check by eye |
| 7 | It is large enough | Zoom features often need about 1,000 px or more on the longest side. Check your platform’s minimum. | Write your own, or check by eye |
| 8 | The product fills the frame | Not a tiny object in a large empty space. | Write your own, or check by eye |
| 9 | The set is consistent | Same angle, background and scale across variants, so the listing looks deliberate. | Write your own, or check by eye |
| 10 | Nothing misleading | No props or accessories that look included when they are not. | Write your own, or check by eye |
Check a batch automatically
The product image checker runs checks 1–3 on Clef-Flash, plus one check you write yourself (for example “the whole handle is visible”). Each photo comes back as pass, fail or needs review, and you make the final call. Manual review and CSV export are free; AI checks use credits.
For example, we asked Clef-Flash “Is the whole product visible, with nothing cut off by the frame?” about this mug photo:
Probability of yes: 0.96
| Answer | Probability |
|---|---|
| Yes | 95.9% |
| No | 4.1% |
clef-flash · 824 input tokens
Write your own check
Describe one visible requirement in plain words. Good: “The product label faces the camera.” Too vague: “The photo looks professional.” Vague checks produce uncertain answers, which the checker marks as needs review.
FAQ
Does passing this checklist mean a marketplace will accept my photos?
No. Each marketplace publishes its own image rules and changes them. Use this list to catch common problems, then check the current policy of the marketplace you sell on.
Which checks can AI do?
Visible things: whether the whole product is in frame, whether the background is plain, whether there is added promo text or a watermark. Color accuracy, and whether the photo matches the real item, still need a person.
How do I check a whole batch?
Use the product image checker: choose your checks, drop in up to 20 photos, and export a CSV.