E-commerce is exploding, and more and more people are buying online. And product images are the first thing people see when researching your products. This is no secret — you know this to be true. 

Your e-commerce store without great product images is like an incomplete PowerPoint presentation with no appeal.

After analyzing over 5321 e-commerce stores, we found that it’s not just the customers who will turn away from your site — so will search engines. You must take the time to create eye-catching, engaging images and give your customers a sense of value.

As an e-commerce store owner, if you are looking for more traffic, leads, and sales, you will love this guide which covers all our findings with actionable techniques for making your product images out of this world.

This guide will teach you what to look for when creating great e-commerce product images, along with tips and examples on effectively using product photos to increase conversions. 

Why Are Good Product images So Important?

Good product images drive sales. Many studies from MDVAdvertising and Meero suggest that photographs sell 50% more than text-only descriptions across the e-commerce industry.

We listed some major reasons why a good product image is vital for an e-commerce business’s success.

Quality product images grab attention.

A single image can be worth more than 1,000 words of copy.

Your customers are busy people, so give them something to notice! Their brains process information through pictures in just 13 milliseconds, making decisions based on what they see. 

Potential buyers will quickly lose interest in your store if your product images look unprofessional or amateurish.

Persuade undecided customers to purchase.

You can’t persuade people to buy something they don’t know exists.

The reason is simple. People are more likely to buy products that they can see in detail. Research shows that 75% of online shoppers rely on product photos when deciding on a potential purchase.

Your customers are also more likely to trust you if they get a detailed description of what the product does and how it works.

So, if you want to sell your products online, you must create detailed product images with high-quality photos that show your product’s features.

High-quality images increase conversion rates.

The importance of product images is often overlooked. Many e-commerce businesses still rely on low-quality images from their manufacturers, which can affect the success of their online stores. 

According to BigCommerce, “the use of high-quality product images improved revenue per visitor by 4%.”

The same study found that ” low-quality product images had the opposite effect, with revenue per visitor decreasing by 1%.”

And that’s not all — higher-quality images significantly impact customer satisfaction and trust. According to the same study, “customers who viewed high-quality product images were more than twice as likely to purchase than those who viewed low-quality photos.”

Builds trust and a positive brand image.

Customers who see beautiful, high-quality photos of your products know that you care about quality. The best way to build trust with potential buyers is to prove that you care about quality by showing them that you do!

A well-lit, high-quality product image can help build trust in potential customers and make them feel like they’re getting what they paid for. Poor-quality product photos can do the opposite.

Remember, if customers are disappointed by their first impression of your products, they may leave your store without making a purchase.

Good product images are powerful for SEO.

Good product images are a crucial element of your e-commerce SEO strategy. Quality product images help you rank higher in search results, improve user experience and increase your conversion rate.

You may think that the days of searching for products by image alone are over, but that’s not true — visual searches dominate Google Images and now account for 25% of all Google searches. The ability to identify items from pictures is still something we use every day. Whether it’s finding a particular book on Amazon or browsing through Pinterest for style inspiration.

If you want your products to sell well online and be found organically on a Google search, you must have good-quality images (SEO optimized) that accurately represent your products. 

9 Types Of Product Images

Product images are the most important element of your product listing.

There are several different types of product images that you can use when creating a listing for your product. Each one has its benefits. Here are 9 different types of product images you should try out:

Product Only Image

As the name suggests, this image only shows the product. It has no other elements like people, animals, or anything else. 

The key thing about this type of image is that it should be clear, crisp, and have a good background. If you want to show your product in its best light, try using an image with a plain white background. 

This will help your customers see the product clearly, making them more likely to click on it and make a purchase.

The Group Shot

The group shot is one of the most common types of product images. It shows multiple products in a single shot, and it’s often used to show a full range or collection of products. This type of image is quick and easy to create since you can simply arrange all your products on a table or desk and snap away.

Group shots can also show what other products go with a certain item. For example, if you’re selling a couch, you could include photos of it with other furniture in your store.

If you’re using this type of image for a product sale, make sure that each item is clearly visible and well-lit. Remember, the best product images show the product in its natural habitat. A group shot of a bunch of items can be helpful to buyers who want to see how products look together.

Lifestyle images

Lifestyle images are the most effective way to showcase your products because they show how people use them in real life. This type of image is more useful than a plain product shot because it helps customers determine whether they want to buy something or not.

Coupled with lifestyle photos, you can also include quotes from customers as a way to help build trust. This will give your audience an idea of how people feel about your product and why they love it so much.

Note that It’s important not to make your lifestyle image stand out too much. You want people to be drawn into the photo, not distracted by it. So don’t use too many design elements or choose an unusual background.

Usage inspiration images

Usage inspiration images show how a product can be used or worn. 

These photos show how a product might be used in real life. These are extremely helpful for customers who aren’t sure how a product would work in their home or business. For example, if you sell office chairs, a usage inspiration image might show one used at a desk by an employee working on something important.

These are great for fashion products and accessories like jewelry, bags, and hats.

Creation process shots

These photos show how something is made or created. Creation process shots may include photos showing materials being cut or assembled into finished products or videos showing people making something by hand.

It could show the farmer harvesting their produce, a factory worker assembling an item from start to finish, or even their packaging process. These shots not only help build trust with your customers but also helps them to own the product story.

Customer images

A customer image is an image of a customer wearing or using your product to help potential customers see themselves using the same item. These images can be taken from any angle and in any setting, as long as they’re not overly staged or artificial.

They’re also known as “real life” shots and are often taken by customers, either with their own camera or smartphone.

The advantage of using customer images is that viewers can see how your product fits into their lives. The disadvantage is that finding people willing to participate in this photo shoot may be challenging.

You can also use photos from social media or other websites if you have permission from the photographer or copyright holder beforehand.

Textural images

A textural image is a photo of an object that includes both the front and back sides. You can see the texture of the fabric, wood grain, or any other feature of your product.

This image works well for fashion items like clothing and accessories, furniture, and home decor pieces. You’re showing both sides gives consumers a better idea of what they’re buying, which is especially important when selling clothing online.

Compatibility images

A compatibility image is an image that shows how a product works with other products.

For example, if you’re selling headphones, you might include a compatibility image to show how they fit on different types of ears or heads.

To create this type of image, first, identify the types of compatibility that exist for your product. Then, find product images that show these types of compatibility and use them in your product images.

If you sell clothing, for example, you might include an image showing how your t-shirt fits different body types — slim, athletic, and so forth — and how it looks when worn with jeans or shorts from other brands.

Size proportion images

Size proportion images are another common style used in FBA listings. These photos feature multiple products placed next to each other so that buyers know what size each item is compared to others.

Size proportion images are a great way to display the size and scale of your product. The image shows the size of one product relative to another or how many products can fit into a box.

These images are handy for products that might be hard to visualize in 3D space. For example, if you’re selling office furniture, you might want to show how much room your desk takes up in a room and how many people can sit around it.

Why Great Product Photography Increases Conversions?

The answer is simple: because people buy with their eyes first! When someone visits your store or website and sees a poorly lit, blurry image of your product, chances are they won’t be impressed enough to make a purchase. On the other hand, if they see a beautifully lit image with crisp colors and clear details, it won’t take long before they start clicking ‘add to cart!’

According to Justuno, 93% of consumers consider visual content to be the key deciding factor in purchasing. Here are some reasons to create great product images for a better conversion rate:

Good product image tells a story

Great product photography tells a story about your product. It communicates what it’s like to own that product. It shows how happy people are while using it. It demonstrates the value of your brand and why people should choose it over others. All these things help convince people to buy from you instead of someone else — and that’s precisely what makes it so effective at increasing conversions!

Shows unique details

A product photo can tell a story about the product, but it can also say something about the company behind it.

Excellent product photography will show unique details of a product you wouldn’t usually see on other websites or stores. You can use this to differentiate yourself from competitors and show off that “wow factor” that makes customers want to buy from your store.

Good product image makes the product believable

If you had ever spent money on a product and felt disappointed when it arrived, you know that the image on the website can be a big part of that experience.

We’ve all been there: You find a great pair of shoes online for $50, only to get them in the mail and realize they aren’t even close to the same color you saw on your screen. Or perhaps you were so excited about your purchase that you rushed to open it, only to find out it didn’t fit right or wasn’t what you expected.

This is exactly why good product photography increases conversions — making your products believable. And if customers can believe in what we offer, they are more likely to buy from you over competitors who offer less compelling images.

Easily connects with your customer

Presenting a high-quality image of an item on your website gives off a sense of professionalism and reliability to potential customers who want to buy from you. 

People can see how good your products look before they even purchase them, which builds trust between both parties involved in the transaction. If they are happy with what they see, then there is no doubt that they will be satisfied with their purchase when it arrives at their location.

10 Effective Strategies for Improving Product Images

By now, you agree that product photography is an important aspect of selling on the Internet. 

The good news is that product photography doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. You can take professional-looking photos at home without breaking the bank with a bit of know-how and some basic equipment. 

Here are some strategies for improving product images:

1. Provide all necessary angles, including a front and side view.

You need to show your customers what they’re buying in great detail. That means covering all angles – front, back, top, bottom, and sides. Not only will this give your customer a better idea of what they’re getting, but it also allows you to showcase any unique features or benefits that might not be visible from just one angle.

2. Show shoppers product images for each color or style you offer.

If you offer variations of an item (for example, different colors or sizes), show them on your product pages, so shoppers don’t have to guess which one they want before checking out. This will help your customers make better decisions about what they want to buy before placing an order with you.

3. Upload high-resolution images that show fine details.

If you’re selling clothing and accessories, shoppers will want to know what they’re buying — and they’ll be more likely to buy if they know exactly what they’re getting. High-resolution images can be invaluable for this purpose because they show every detail of your product.

4. Allow the shopper to zoom in on any part of a product.

Zooming into an item allows shoppers to see the product in more detail, making it possible to determine whether the item is right for them. It also helps reduce customer returns and complaints since shoppers can see exactly what they’re buying before they complete their purchase.

If you’re selling products with intricate details or features, consider allowing shoppers to zoom in on those details or features. This can help your customer to make a more informed purchase decision. For example, you might have a product with intricate stitching around its edge. If shoppers can zoom in on that stitching, they’ll see precisely how well-crafted it is. That will help them determine whether or not they want to buy it.

5. Keep your branding and website consistent.

When it comes to product images, consistency is key. If you want your product to look professional and well-designed, you need to keep your branding and website consistent.

This means that all of the images on your site should be edited in the same way — they should have the same font, color scheme, and other design elements.

When people see that same consistent look and feel across all of their interactions with your brand, they’ll feel more comfortable spending money with you because they know what to expect from one purchase to the next. It also helps establish an emotional connection with them based on trust, which will help them become long-term customers.

6. Hire a professional product photographer or agency to capture your products.

The best way to ensure you get high-quality images of your products is to hire an experienced professional photographer or agency. They have the right equipment and know-how to get the job done right — and they’ll know how to make your products look as good as possible.

This is not as expensive as you might think — many photographers offer small-budget rates and even trade services in exchange for exposure on your site.

7. Use 360° viewing or high-resolution product videos.

Many companies have used 360° viewing and high-resolution product videos in the past year to showcase their products. These are two great ways for consumers to get a better look at a product before they buy it, which can be especially helpful if you sell an item that requires some assembly or has multiple parts. 

High-quality images are essential for conversion optimization, but they’re not enough on their own. If you add a video or 360° viewing to your site, make sure it’s easy for customers to find and use on their mobile devices.

8. Create product images using real customer social media content.

If you have a large social media following, the chances are that you’ve seen other retailers using this strategy to great effect. The idea is to take a customer’s social media-based photo of a product and use it as the basis for your product image.

For example, if someone has uploaded a photo of their new jeans on Instagram, you could add it to your website and use it as the basis for an image of your jeans. You don’t need to ask permission from the customer or pay them for the privilege. Just make sure you credit them at the bottom of your website, so they get credit for their contribution.

9. Make sure the size of your image files and the performance of your website is optimal.

The size of your image files can significantly impact their performance on your website. If they’re too big, they will slow down the page load time, and if they’re too small, they may look pixelated or blurry when viewed on a high-resolution monitor. 

An easy way to ensure that your images are optimized is to use an online tool such as Image Optimizer from Compress JPEG. This tool allows you to upload one or more images at once, reducing their file size without sacrificing quality.

10. Keep your images optimized for search engines.

Online shoppers are starting to rely more and more on search engines to find products. Google Image Search is a great way for consumers to discover new products or get ideas.

The problem is that most retailers don’t optimize their product images for search engines. This means they’re missing out on a huge opportunity to drive traffic to their site and increase sales.

There are some simple strategies you can use to optimize your product images for search engines such as Google Image Search:

• Include keywords in the image file name.
• Add alt tags to describe your product images.
• Make sure each product has its unique URL (as opposed to sharing a single URL across all products).
• Use descriptive filenames, including your brand name, product name, and model number (if applicable).

Tips for Taking Product Photography That Will Help You Sell More Products

A study by Adobe found that 38% of people will stop engaging with a website if the content/layout is unattractive. That’s why it’s so important for online businesses to invest in high-quality images that reflect their brand and products accurately.

Here are some tips for taking product photos that will help you sell more products:

Take pictures with your good camera or a good camera smartphone.

You’ll need a good DSLR camera to take great photos. Find one that fits your needs and budget, and use it regularly until you’re comfortable. 

If you have a DSLR camera, go for it! If not, find yourself a good smartphone that has a really good camera. A good smartphone can also work well as long as it has a manual mode so that you can adjust the settings manually (instead of using auto). A lot of smartphones these days come with pretty good cameras built in, so this shouldn’t be too hard for most people!

Shoot from a tripod for photo consistency.

A tripod is an essential piece of equipment for product photographers because it ensures that all of your photos will be taken at precisely the same angle and distance from the subject. This makes it much easier to compare images when selecting the best one to use in your post-processing work.

Use models that reflect your ideal customer.

If you’re selling products to women, use women as your models. If you’re selling products to men, use men as your models. The same goes for children and pets.

There are a few reasons why this is important:

Your target audience will identify more with the model they see on the page. So instead of seeing a generic person in a suit or t-shirt, they’ll see someone who looks like them and their friends — which helps you build trust and credibility with your customers.

This also helps you avoid fit-related objections (e.g., “I don’t look like that guy in the photo”). If the model looks like them, they’ll feel more comfortable buying the product because they think it will fit them too.

It makes it easier for people to imagine themselves wearing or using your product — which can help boost sales conversion rates.

Choose a background that will make your products stand out.

A white background will provide a clean backdrop for your products and make them stand out in your images. If you don’t have access to a white wall or similar surface, try using seamless paper instead — it’s less expensive than actual seamless background fabric but still creates a clean look for your photos!

Take photos with good natural or artificial light.

If you have a product that needs to be photographed in a way that highlights its features, you should consider taking the photo in natural light. Natural light is the best kind of light to use when taking pictures because it’s free and easy to set up. 

You can’t beat free if you’re trying to sell your product! Artificial light is also a good choice, but it can be more expensive than natural light. However, artificial lighting is definitely worth considering if you’re selling a high-end item and want to make your images look as professional as possible.

Make sure your photos are clear and show the product’s true color.

The colors you see on your computer screen or mobile device can be very different from how they look. If you’re selling something online, it’s critical to ensure that your photos accurately portray the colors of your product.

For example, let’s say you’re selling a pair of shoes online and want to show them off in the best possible light. If they’re red, they should be a bright red — not a duller shade of red or even a purple hue. The same goes for green, blue, and every other color under the sun.

Fill or bounce your light to soften shadows.

Shadows are a natural byproduct of shooting on location and can be very attractive in product photography. However, if you want to sell products, you’ll need to ensure the shadows don’t obscure too much information about the product. If your photos are too dark or have unflattering shadows, try bouncing or filling in the light source.

Also, glare can be a real problem when shooting on location, especially if your subject is reflective, like glassware or jewelry. You can avoid glare by using a polarizing filter over your lens or by moving yourself away from the light source, so it’s not reflecting off your subject directly toward the camera lens.

Use a sweep or portrait mode to emphasize the product.

You want your product to be the photo’s focal point when taking product photography. To do this, you can use one of two modes: sweep mode or portrait mode. 

• Sweep mode will allow you to take a photo in landscape format and then pan across it to focus on a specific part of your product. 
• Portrait mode will allow you to take a photo in portrait format and then zoom in on a specific part of your product.

If you’re taking photos of a product in a store, chances are good that you will want to use something like sweep or portrait mode to make the product look more attractive. This is because the camera will automatically adjust its focus and exposure settings, which will likely make your product look better than it does in reality.

Employ multiple angles, product views and zoom shots for each product.

The more angles you show your product, the better it will look. Not only does this allow you to deliver the product from different angles, but it also gives customers different options when they’re deciding which version of a product to purchase.

Many online stores only take one angle of each product they sell. This is a mistake because it makes your products look like they were taken by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

Your goal as an online seller is to present your products in the best possible light —showing them from all angles.

Tools and Resources You Need For Great Product Images 

While it’s true that great product images can make or break a sale, they can be time-consuming to create. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of tools and resources to help you get the best images possible.

What do you need for a product photography setup?

1. Camera – a DSLR camera is ideal for product photography, but you can also get good results with a smartphone.
2. Lighting – you’ll need at least one light source and probably want another as a fill light.
3. Stand or tripod – you need a way to keep your camera stable while you take pictures.
4. Black background – you can use a seamless roll of paper or foam board to achieve clean, professional-looking photos.
5. White background – this is useful for creating a high-contrast look and showing off jewelry.
6. Reflectors – the reflectors can help direct light where it’s needed most.
7. Complementary props – add small items to your photo to make it pop!

What is the easiest program to edit photos?

There are a lot of different options when it comes to editing your product images. Some people prefer Photoshop, while others use Lightroom or even GIMP. But what is the easiest program to edit photos?

Well, the answer depends on what you’re trying to do. If you just need a quick retouch, then any photo editor will do the job. However, if you have more advanced editing needs like color grading and advanced compositing, then you’ll want something more powerful, like Adobe Photoshop.

If you’re just looking for simple retouching and basic color correction, we recommend using PaintShop Pro X6 or Canva because they include all the basic tools needed for these edits. 

That said, there are plenty of other options available as well! If you’re willing to spend some time learning how each software works (and to find out which one best suits your needs), here is a list of some popular tools you should check out.

Software	Starting price	Payment plan
Canva	Free	Lifetime
Skylum Luminar 4	89€	Lifetime
Adobe Photoshop CC	23,79€	Monthly
Adobe Lightroom	11,89€	Monthly
Photopea	Free	–
Corel PaintShop Pro	89.99€	Lifetime
Corel AfterShot Pro	89.99€	Lifetime
GIMP	Free	–
Aurora HDR	99€	Lifetime
Capture One	24/349€	Monthly/Lifetime
RawTherapee	Free	–

What is the best image search site to find great images?

Searching for the perfect image can be a challenge. You want to find an image that represents your product accurately without being too generic or boring.

There are so many websites that offer free stock photos it can be hard to know where to start.

Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you and found some of the best sites for finding high-quality images that can be used in your designs and products.

Our top pick is StockSnap.io, which has a huge library of amazing pictures licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0). This means you can use them for whatever you want—even commercially—without worrying about copyright issues or fees. The images on this site are also high resolution, so they’ll look great when printed large or scaled-down small.

Another great option is RawPixel, which offers free stock photos with a Creative Commons license. You can access these photos by clicking “get credit” next to each image to see who owns it and how they’d like you to use it (if at all). It’s a good idea to check out the terms before using any of these images in your projects. Some photographers might not want their work used commercially without permission (especially if they sell something themselves).

Here are some of the best image search sites with an extensive library of stock photos that can be used for commercial purposes.

Pinterest

Pinterest has over 50 million users who share and repin millions of images every day. It’s like a giant virtual pinboard where people can post anything they find interesting or inspiring, from recipes to DIY projects and everything in between. You can search through their categories to find what you’re looking for or browse through their “Explore” tab to see what’s trending.

Unsplash

Unsplash is an online community where photographers offer high-resolution images under Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license terms. These images are free to use anywhere without attribution, so feel free to download them! The only thing they ask is that you credit the photographer when possible.

Pixabay

Pixabay offers high-resolution images that are again free to use commercially under the CC0 license agreement (which means they don’t require attribution). With over 1 million downloads each month, this site is one of the most popular options out there!

Pexels

Pexels is one of the most popular sources of free stock photos on the web and has a large community of photographers who upload their work every day. The site also includes video clips and music clips, which can be used in videos or commercials without having to pay any royalties or fees.

Burst 

Burst has more than 70 million stock photos, vectors, and videos available on its site. They even have a search function that allows you to filter by color and type—for example, if all your posts use blue as the main color, then you can search only for those pictures!

StockSnap

StockSnap has over a million images available in its database. The site is easy to navigate and contains an option to search by color or color palette if you’re looking for something specific.

RawPixel

RawPixel offers over 100,000 free stock photos in their collection and they’re all high resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels). The site also has some cool features like filters so you can narrow down your search results by color or style if desired.

Picjumbo

Picjumbo has over 1 million royalty-free images that are available for commercial use under various licenses depending on your needs (i.e., free or commercial). It also offers premium plans that give you access to higher-resolution photos and video clips at reasonable prices if you need something more professional than what’s available on this site alone (although they do offer plenty here too).

Freepik

Freepik is another good option if you want to find free stock photos and vectors that can be used in most projects. They have millions of images and a great search engine—they’ve got something for everyone!

Once you’ve identified which image search site works best for you, start searching for the types of images you want to use in your product descriptions. Look for images that are relevant to your products, with high-quality resolution and clear backgrounds. If there are multiple versions of an image available, choose the highest resolution version (you’ll be able to tell by looking at the size of file).

What are the best sources for product photography learning?

• Learning Product Photography
• Take stunning product photos with your phone
• Better Video With Your Smartphone