diff --git a/.claude/settings.local.json b/.claude/settings.local.json
index 8ab32a3..d817368 100644
--- a/.claude/settings.local.json
+++ b/.claude/settings.local.json
@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@
       "Bash(git commit -m 'Feature: Add order tracking and shipping status updates *)",
       "Bash(git commit -m 'Feature: Royal Mail tracking integration \\(hybrid approach\\) *)",
       "Bash(git commit -m 'Fix: Refresh page after updating order tracking details *)",
-      "Bash(git commit -m 'Fix: Remove function prop from client component *)"
+      "Bash(git commit -m 'Fix: Remove function prop from client component *)",
+      "Bash(git commit -m 'Fix: Import revalidatePath from correct module *)",
+      "Bash(git commit -m 'Fix: Route photo requests to design canvas instead of approval upload *)"
     ]
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/admin/custom-requests/[id]/page.tsx b/src/app/admin/custom-requests/[id]/page.tsx
index 1258e48..006e523 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/custom-requests/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/admin/custom-requests/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -18,10 +18,8 @@ export default async function CustomRequestDetailPage({ params }: { params: { id
   const whatsappDigits = request.customerPhone ? request.customerPhone.replace(/\D/g, '') : null;
   const whatsappMessage = `Hi ${request.customerName}, thanks for sending over your photo for a ${request.product.name} — we're working on it!`;
 
-  const newProofParams = new URLSearchParams({
-    productId: request.productId,
-    customerName: request.customerName,
-    customerEmail: request.customerEmail,
+  const designParams = new URLSearchParams({
+    customPhoto: request.imageDataUrl,
   });
 
   return (
@@ -63,7 +61,7 @@ export default async function CustomRequestDetailPage({ params }: { params: { id
         <DownloadPhotoButton photoUrl={request.imageDataUrl} customerName={request.customerName} />
 
         <Link
-          href={`/admin/proofs/new?${newProofParams.toString()}`}
+          href={`/made-to-order/${request.product.slug}?${designParams.toString()}`}
           className="bg-clay px-6 py-3 text-sm font-medium text-paper hover:bg-clay-dark"
         >
           Start a design for this
diff --git a/src/app/made-to-order/[slug]/page.tsx b/src/app/made-to-order/[slug]/page.tsx
index 5b2e51e..2c479ee 100644
--- a/src/app/made-to-order/[slug]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/made-to-order/[slug]/page.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,13 @@ import ProductCard from '@/components/ProductCard';
 
 const DesignCanvas = dynamic(() => import('@/components/DesignCanvas'), { ssr: false });
 
-export default async function ProductDetailPage({ params }: { params: { slug: string } }) {
+export default async function ProductDetailPage({
+  params,
+  searchParams,
+}: {
+  params: { slug: string };
+  searchParams: { customPhoto?: string };
+}) {
   const activePromotions = await fetchActivePromotions();
 
   const row = await prisma.product.findUnique({ where: { slug: params.slug } });
@@ -23,7 +29,7 @@ export default async function ProductDetailPage({ params }: { params: { slug: st
 
   return (
     <div className="mx-auto max-w-6xl px-6 py-12">
-      <DesignCanvas product={product} />
+      <DesignCanvas product={product} customPhoto={searchParams.customPhoto} />
 
       {related.length > 0 && (
         <section className="mt-20 border-t border-line pt-12">
diff --git a/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx b/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
index b2d4f38..880a6f5 100644
--- a/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
@@ -494,6 +494,7 @@ export default function DesignCanvas({
   initialColor,
   initialSize,
   designId,
+  customPhoto,
 }: {
   product: ProductDTO;
   isAdminEditing?: boolean;
@@ -501,6 +502,7 @@ export default function DesignCanvas({
   initialColor?: string;
   initialSize?: string | null;
   designId?: string;
+  customPhoto?: string;
 }) {
   const [color, setColor] = useState(initialColor ?? product.colors[0]);
   const [size, setSize] = useState<string | null>(initialSize ?? (product.sizes[0] ?? null));
@@ -1112,6 +1114,11 @@ export default function DesignCanvas({
   };
 
   function renderPhoto(v: 'front' | 'back') {
+    // If a custom photo was provided (e.g., from a photo request), use it
+    if (customPhoto && v === 'front') {
+      return <img src={customPhoto} alt="Custom photo" className="h-full w-full object-cover" />;
+    }
+
     const colorPhoto = v === 'front' ? product.colorPhotos[color] : product.colorPhotosBack[color];
     if (colorPhoto) {
       return <img src={colorPhoto} alt={`${product.name} in ${color}`} className="h-full w-full object-cover" />;
@@ -1140,6 +1147,9 @@ export default function DesignCanvas({
   // Same resolution logic as renderPhoto, but returns raw data instead of JSX —
   // used when compositing the placement-reference image for the order record.
   function getPhotoInfo(v: 'front' | 'back'): { url: string; tint: boolean } | null {
+    // If a custom photo was provided (e.g., from a photo request), use it
+    if (customPhoto && v === 'front') return { url: customPhoto, tint: false };
+
     const colorPhoto = v === 'front' ? product.colorPhotos[color] : product.colorPhotosBack[color];
     if (colorPhoto) return { url: colorPhoto, tint: false };