Elevate Your Store with Expert Tips for Shopify Product Images

Imagine walking into a store with terrible lighting, messy displays, and unappealing products. Would you stick around? Probably not. Now, imagine the same experience online. Except here, customers cannot touch, feel, or try your products; they rely entirely on what they see. In the digital world, your visuals are your storefront, your salesperson, and your first impression all at once.

For eCommerce brands, stunning product images are not just decoration. They distinguish between capturing attention and losing a potential customer in seconds. Even the most seamless and intuitive website will struggle to convert if its product images are dull or low-quality. If your visuals do not excite, your sales will not, either.

Today, let’s explore some essential tips to elevate your visuals and create images that showcase your products and drive conversions.

Why Do Product Images Matter?

• First impressions happen in a flash: In just 13 milliseconds, the human brain processes images. It means your customers form an opinion about your product before they even have time to read it. High-quality images make that first impression count, instantly conveying trust, professionalism, and quality. The right image can captivate a shopper in less time than it takes to blink.

• Optimized images can boost your search ranking: Adding Alt tags and detailed descriptions to your product images is like giving search engines a roadmap to your content. When someone searches for specific products, like “brown trail running shoes,” Google uses your image details to decide if your product should show up in search results. By optimizing your visuals, you increase your chances of appearing in relevant searches, bringing more organic traffic to your site.

• Stunning images drive sales and reduce returns: According to BusinessDasher, 75% of shoppers say that product images are a major influence on their purchase decisions. However, 22% of returns happened because the product didn’t match the image. High-quality images lead to fewer disappointments, fewer returns, and more satisfied customers.

• Shoppers need visuals to make decisions: A study by Shopify found that only 0.52% of customers are satisfied with just one image of a product. In addition, 33.16% of buyers want to see multiple images, while nearly 60% expect a 360-degree view to get the full scope of what they’re buying. Customers crave clarity; they want to see the product from every angle to feel confident in their choice. Giving them exactly what they want can be the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity.

5 Types of Product Images That Can Boost Conversions

Want to ensure your product images meet customer needs and drive conversions? The secret lies in variety! Each type of image serves a distinct purpose, and the most effective product pages leverage multiple image types to engage customers and boost sales.

Here are a few essential image styles to consider:

Lifestyle Images

Lifestyle images are designed to show your product in real-life scenarios, helping customers picture themselves using it. These images go beyond just displaying the product. They evoke a sense of how it fits into a lifestyle, aligning with the values and emotions your audience connects with.

By showing the product in action, lifestyle photos make your offering feel more relatable and desirable. They help customers envision how it could improve their lives, whether it’s through fitness, adventure, or daily routines, creating an emotional connection that can lead to higher engagement and sales.

Decathlon presents gloves in product images, paired with practical use cases, to help customers visualize how the product can be incorporated into their everyday lives.

Read More: The Ultimate Shopify Image Size Cheat Sheet

Customer Images

Customer-generated content adds a layer of authenticity to your brand. When customers share photos of themselves using your product, it serves as social proof, showing others that real people are enjoying it. These images offer a glimpse into how the product is used in everyday life, making it feel more genuine and trustworthy.

What makes customer images so compelling is that they come from actual buyers, often in natural settings, which helps potential customers see how the product fits into different lifestyles. These photos create a sense of relatability, allowing shoppers to imagine themselves using the product. Plus, as more customers share their experiences, it builds a community and reinforces the product's credibility.

Braxley Brands has a dedicated section under the “Add To Cart” button where customers can see real people using its products in daily life.

Textural Images

One of the biggest hurdles in eCommerce is that customers cannot physically touch the products before buying. In a store, they can feel the softness of a sweater, the grain of a leather bag, or the sturdiness of a chair. Online, that sensory experience is missing, unless you bring it to life through compelling textural images.

Textural images are close-up shots that highlight the fine details of a product, from fabric weaves and stitching to material finishes and surface textures. They help bridge the gap between digital and physical shopping, giving customers a better sense of quality, craftsmanship, and durability.

Moreover, high-resolution images with zoom functionality or additional close-up shots can make a significant impact. If the way a product looks and feels is a major selling point, textural images are essential in building trust and helping shoppers feel confident in their purchase.

BlackWolf uses textural images that showcase products from various angles, allowing customers to explore every detail and see the item from multiple perspectives.

Compatibility Images

Shoppers need to know if a product will work with what they already have. Compatibility images help by showing exactly how an item fits, connects, or functions, reducing confusion and the chances of returns.

For example, if someone is buying a headphone converter, they need to make sure it fits their device. A simple image showing the cable tip next to the correct charging port reassures them that they are making the right choice.

Headphone Zone ensures customers can confidently choose the right product by providing all the necessary compatibility details through product images.

If your product needs to work with another item like accessories, attachments, or replacement parts, compatibility images are a must. They make shopping easier, boost confidence, and help customers avoid mistakes.

Size Proportion Images

Size proportion images give shoppers a clear sense of how big or small an item is by comparing it to something familiar. These images are especially useful when there's a risk that customers might misjudge the product's actual size. Size proportion images remove any guesswork and help customers feel more confident in their purchase.

Cluse presents its watches on a wrist in size proportion images, giving shoppers a real-life sense of how the watch will look and fit.

How To Elevate Your Product Images to Drive More Sales

Here are some tips to make sure your ecommerce product images accurately represent your items and set the right expectations for your customers.

Use High-Quality Photos, Not Stock 

Let’s get the stock photo talk out of the way first. Many studies show that standard stock photos are often ignored. They tend to feel bland and can actually lower trust. 

For instance, if you’re using a generic photo of a smiling person holding a random bowl of soup, it’s time to ditch it. Replace that with a more authentic image of someone actually enjoying your product. You’ll likely see a boost in sales. 

And don't forget, the quality of your photos matters too. As the Norman Nielsen Group puts it, "Invest in good photo shoots: a great photographer can add a fortune to your website’s business value."

Emphasize on What Makes Your Product Stand Out

When selling similar items, it’s neccessary to make it clear what sets one product apart from the others. Your product images should highlight these unique features.

Take Goulet Pens, for example. This online stationery store offers fountain pens with 14k gold nibs designed for smooth writing. To emphasize this feature, Goulet Pens includes close-up or zoomed-in images that focus on the nib details.

Without such visuals, customers might struggle to understand what makes each pen different, which can lead to confusion or frustration. Simplifying this process with precise images reduces friction and makes the buying decision easier.

Read More: Shopify Product Images: A 10-minute Guide for Beginners

Make It Obvious Which Product the Image Represents

When it comes to shopping online, simplicity is key. A seamless experience encourages quick decisions, while any confusion might lead to hesitation or even a lost sale.

Your customers shouldn’t have to work hard to figure out what they’re looking at. For example, the product in your images should be immediately identifiable, leaving no room for doubt. Avoid making shoppers guess which item they're viewing; clarity should be instant and effortless.

Display the Product from Various Angles and Situations

When customers can only see a product from one angle, it can leave them uncertain about what they’re really getting. To build confidence, it’s vital to offer a variety of images that showcase the product from different angles. This way, customers can thoroughly evaluate the item and feel more comfortable making a purchase.

Mavi shines in this regard, as their product pages feature multiple images that present the product from every angle. By doing this, shoppers can fully appreciate the details and features of each item.

Providing detailed visuals, including context-rich images, gives customers all the information they need to make an informed decision. This approach not only improves their shopping experience but also increases the chances of a successful purchase.

Read More: The A-Z Guide to Creating Effective Shopify Product Pages 

Be Consistent

Consistency in product images is key to an effortless shopping experience. When products are displayed on different backgrounds or at varying angles, it becomes challenging for customers to compare them effectively.

Using the same background, angle, and context for all product photos makes it easier for shoppers to evaluate items quickly and make decisions without confusion. This uniformity across your product listings improves the browsing experience and streamlines comparisons.

Avoid Misleading Customers

It's easy to unintentionally confuse shoppers, like showcasing a shirt with a tie when only the shirt is available. In the buying journey, even the smallest doubt can stop someone from making a purchase.

However, there’s a flip side. Sometimes, a little extra touch can make all the difference in how a product is perceived. That’s why you should test what resonates most with your audience. Find what works and optimize accordingly!

Show Every Available Color or Style Option

Instead of just mentioning that a product comes in different colors or styles, show your customers exactly what they can choose from. Providing a photo for each color or variation, whether it’s red, blue, green, or different patterns, allows customers to see exactly what they’re getting.

Allbirds clearly separates its product variations, particularly by color, so customers can choose their desired items.

This applies to features like sleeve length or design differences as well. While physical stores might not have every option on display, online stores have the flexibility to showcase all variations, helping shoppers visualize their choices and making the decision-making process easier. Clear images of each style option reduce confusion and increase the likelihood of a purchase.

Watch Out for Image Sizes and Website Performance

Balancing image quality with page speed is crucial for your site’s success. It’s a constant tug-of-war between maintaining crisp visuals and keeping your site running smoothly. Slow-loading pages are a guaranteed traffic killer.

Your photographer might excel at capturing stunning images, but for site performance, it’s your developers and SEO experts who need to work closely with them. By collaborating, they can ensure the right balance between image resolution and load speed, so you don’t lose visitors due to a sluggish site.

It might seem like a small issue, but neglecting image optimization is a big no-no. The consequences? A significant drop in traffic, and no eCommerce manager wants that nightmare to become a reality.

Don’t Skip Image SEO Basics

Getting your images noticed is as important as getting your products noticed. If you neglect image SEO, your product photos might not show up in search engine results, meaning missed opportunities for traffic and sales.

Also, it’s not just for search engines; descriptive metadata helps visually impaired users understand what’s in your images. So be sure to add alt text, titles, and captions to improve both your search ranking and accessibility. It’s an easy win for both visibility and inclusivity.

Maximize the Impact of Your Ecommerce Product Images

Every page on your eCommerce site plays a crucial role in guiding customers towards a purchase. And when it comes to product pages, your images are the star of the show.

By following best practices for product images, you can help your customers understand exactly what they’re getting, reducing the chances of returns. But why not take it a step further? With GemPages, the most intuitive Shopify page builder, you can easily customize your product images to create a unique shopping experience. This means better conversions, fewer returns, and ultimately, a more successful online store.