diff --git a/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx b/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
index 880a6f5..465a8ef 100644
--- a/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
@@ -598,6 +598,24 @@ export default function DesignCanvas({
     }
   }, [product.id]);
 
+  // Add custom photo as an editable image element when provided
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (customPhoto && elementsFront.length === 0) {
+      const imageId = uuid();
+      const newImage: DesignElement = {
+        id: imageId,
+        type: 'image',
+        src: customPhoto,
+        x: DISPLAY / 4,
+        y: DISPLAY / 4,
+        width: DISPLAY / 2,
+        height: DISPLAY / 2,
+        rotation: 0,
+      };
+      setElementsFront([newImage]);
+    }
+  }, [customPhoto]);
+
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
     const el = canvasContainerRef.current;
     if (!el) return;
@@ -1114,11 +1132,6 @@ 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" />;
@@ -1147,9 +1160,6 @@ 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 };