Product imagery should help customers understand what they are buying. Clear, accurate images reduce uncertainty better than decorative stock photography.
Show the details customers need
Use clear photographs from useful angles and include close-ups of details that affect the purchase. Depending on the item, customers may need to see scale, material, connectors, labels, included accessories, packaging, or condition.
Keep images consistent and honest
Use similar framing and lighting across related products so customers can compare them. Editing can improve exposure and crop distractions, but should not change the item’s colour, shape, condition, or included parts in a misleading way.
Connect images to product information
Use descriptive alternative text that identifies the item or the specific view. Optimise image dimensions for thumbnails and product-detail pages, and ensure gallery controls work on touchscreens.
Store launch checklist
- Verify product names, variants, stock, shipping costs, taxes, and return conditions.
- Test successful, declined, and cancelled payments in the payment provider's test mode.
- Check confirmation emails, inventory updates, and staff notifications end to end.
- Show the final payable total before customers commit to payment.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not use misleading product images, hide unavoidable fees until the final step, or promise delivery times operations cannot meet. Document how staff handle refunds, failed payments, and out-of-stock orders.