Product photos that sell: a checklist for online stores
Online shoppers can't touch your products, so photos do the selling. The shots every product needs, how to show scale and detail, and common mistakes.
Good product photos answer the questions a shopper would ask in a shop: what does it look like from every side, how big is it, what is it made of, and what does it look like in use? Give every product several large, sharp photos on a clean background, at least one lifestyle or in-use shot, a close-up of the details, and something that shows scale. Make sure they load fast and look good on a phone.
- Several photos per product: front, back, side, detail and in use.
- Show scale: in a hand, on a person, or next to a familiar object.
- Consistent backgrounds and lighting make a store look trustworthy.
- Compress images so they stay sharp but load quickly.
The shots every product needs
- A clean main photo on a plain background, used in collections and search results.
- Other angles: back, side, top, so nothing is left to guess.
- A close-up of the material, texture or details.
- An in-use or lifestyle shot: the mug with coffee, the jacket on a person.
- A scale shot: in a hand or next to a familiar object.
- Each variant: every colour should have its own photo, so shoppers see what they're choosing.
Consistency builds trust
When every product in a collection has the same background, lighting and framing, the store looks professional and is easier to browse. Mixed styles (a studio shot next to a phone snapshot next to a supplier image) make a store look less trustworthy.
Make them work on phones
Most shoppers will see your photos on a small screen. Check that the product fills the frame, that swiping through photos works, and that zooming in shows real detail. Upload large enough images to stay sharp, but compress them so pages stay fast; our guide to speeding up your store covers how.
Common mistakes
- Only one photo per product.
- Supplier images that dozens of other stores also use.
- Photos so small or blurry that zooming shows nothing.
- No way to judge size.
- A variant chosen in the dropdown that doesn't change the photo.
Photos are one part of a product page that sells. See product page best practices for the rest, or run a free StorePeek check.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos should a product have?
Enough to answer every visual question: usually at least four or five, covering angles, details, scale and the product in use. Complex or expensive products deserve more.
White background or lifestyle photos?
Both. A clean main photo works best in collections and comparisons, and lifestyle photos help shoppers imagine owning the product.
Is product video worth it?
A short video can show size, movement and texture better than photos, especially for clothing and gadgets. Keep it short and make sure it doesn't slow the page down.