Do I have to have a picture associated with an item
If you do not upload an image for products, a placeholder image will be displayed for the products in the Compact and Comfortable layout. If you don't need the products images, then you can choose the default layout.
Change layout
Login to Neartail > click on the form to open it > Edit page will be displayed > In the Neartail Edit page, click on the form title to select it > click on the settings gear icon next to the form title > Form settings page will be displayed > click Appearance > select the preferred layout and click Save.