The Importance of Product Photography

Studies show that more than 65 percent of consumers value the product’s image quality more than any specific information found in the reviews or product description.

Photos are the majority of the experience of a product when you’re shopping online. High quality photos make a huge difference in consumer perception of the product.

When a customer goes into a retail store, they can pick up a product, feel it, turn it around. When the product is online, they can’t do any of that. Your product is represented by its photos, and this is how a customer experiences what you want them to feel about your product.

Why is product photography so important on Amazon?

Photography is what sells the product on Amazon. Just look at the numbers:

• The average shopper reads only 20% of the words on a web page, but will view every single product image.

• 63% of consumers say product images are more important to them than descriptions. 

• 53% of consumers say product images are more important to them than ratings or reviews.

When someone is scrolling through search results on Amazon, they’re going to click the picture that really grabs them. The main image is therefore particularly important, because it’s the beginning of the buyer’s experience of your product.

In summary, getting your product images right will give you a big advantage over the competition.

How many product photos should I have in my listing?

The goal of product images is to increase your conversion rate on Amazon. This is best achieved by making use of each and every product photo to answer the customer’s questions and persuade them to purchase.

Amazon allow you to post up to eight images per product ASIN, and this is also an ideal number that allows you to convey a great amount of information to the customer.

There are strict requirements for the main product image. The main image must only show the product on a white background, and also needs to be mobile-friendly for viewing on smaller screens. So the secondary images are vitally important to help facilitate the buying process.

What are the rules for the main Amazon product photo?

Amazon has strict guidelines for product images.

Amazon provides clear requirements, with additional rules for the main listing photo. This is because of the importance of the main image when customer search for products on a computer and on a mobile device. 

Summary of requirements for the main image:

1. You must photograph the product by itself on a white background

2. The product must fill 85% or more of the image area

3. Images must not be blurry, pixelated, have jagged edges, or be cropped by a frame edge

4. Images must accurately represent the product that’s being sold

5. Images must show only the product that’s for sale out of its packaging

Summary of what should not be on the main image:

1. Drawings or illustrations are not allowed

2. The photo must not show accessories or props that could confuse buyers

3. The photo must not include graphics, text, logos, watermarks or inset images added to the image

4. The photo must not show multiple views of the product

5. Apparel must not be shown on a visible mannequin, except for stockings or socks.

6. The product must not be on a colored background, or in a real setting (a lifestyle image)

Technical photo guidelines

Amazon has specific requirement for the technical standards of your product images.

Here are the key requirements to follow:

• TIFF (.tif/.tiff), JPEG (.jpeg/.jpg), GIF (.gif) and PNG (.png) format. JPEG is recommended.

• Image dimensions of at least 1000 x 1000 pixels.

• sRGB or CMYK color mode.

• File names must consist of the product identifier (Amazon ASIN, 13-digit ISBN, EAN, JAN, or UPC) followed by a period and the appropriate file extension. For example: B000123456.jpg or 0237425673485.tif.