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GUIDE · PHOTOS

Showing flaws without killing the sale.

Photographed honestly, even an item with a stain sells. Hidden, it comes back.

kiki editorial team · Updated · 2 min read

Small stain on the cuff of a white shirt, with a coin next to it for scaleAI-generated
Flaw with scale
AI try-on image: a different item, a denim shirt worn, croppedAI try-on image
Example: overview, worn

In short

Flaws belong in the photos, not just in the text. A sharp close-up in daylight, an object for scale, and a mention in the description. AI may smooth out creases, but it must not remove stains, holes or pilling. A lawyer names removing damage as a case where AI images become misleading, and in England goods from a private seller must match their description.

  • Close-up plus scale
  • Mention it in the text
  • Never retouch it away

How do you photograph a flaw properly?

  1. Close and sharp.

    Point your phone at the spot, tap to focus, no zoom; move closer instead.

  2. In daylight.

    By a window you see stains in their true colour. Flash distorts them, and Vinted's photo tips also advise daylight without flash.

  3. Show the size.

    A finger, a coin or a tape measure next to it. “Small” means something different to everyone.

  4. Show where it is.

    An overview photo that shows where the flaw sits.

  5. Mention it in the text.

    “Small stain on the left cuff, about 5 mm, see photo 5.”

Can I remove flaws with AI?

No. Lawyer Jens K. Fusbahn, speaking to the German magazine Öko-Test, explicitly names removing damage as a case where AI images become a problem. In England, Citizens Advice explains that goods bought from a private seller must match their description. What Vinted says about photos and flaws is in the Catalogue Rules and the photo tips. Our recommendation: always show flaws. Creases don't count as flaws, so smoothing them out is fine.

The AI may

  • Smooth out creases
  • Remove the background
  • Show the fit on a body

The AI may not

  • Remove stains
  • Retouch pilling or holes
  • “Improve” colour or material

Frequently asked questions

Does an item with a flaw sell at all?

Yes, if the price matches the condition and the flaw is shown openly.

Should the flaw be in the cover photo?

Our recommendation: no. The first photo shows the whole item, which Vinted's photo tips advise too. The flaw gets its own photo further back.

What if I missed a flaw?

Offer a solution, such as a partial refund or taking it back. That protects your reviews.

What counts as a flaw?

Anything that would bother someone when unpacking it: stains, holes, pilling, discolouration, missing buttons, broken zips.

Sources

  1. Öko-Test (German-language): KI-Bilder auf Vinted & Co.: Sind KI-Tragebilder erlaubt? (13.08.2026, with a statement from Vinted and lawyer Jens K. Fusbahn)
  2. Vinted Help Centre: What photos you should upload
  3. Vinted Catalogue Rules
  4. Citizens Advice (England): Letter to complain about misdescribed goods bought from a private seller