polyvorm logo black
icon-burger
Polyvorm logo white
icon-cross
HomeAbout Us3D Product VisualisationProduct ConfiguratorProjectsStoriesContact
Nederlands
English
hello@polyvorm.nl

Which product visuals do I need to sell my product online?

You’ve developed a new product – maybe even your very first. After a long journey of research and design, the moment has finally arrived: the design is finalized, and the CAD model is ready. Now it’s time for the next step: production and sales. But to sell your product successfully online, you need visuals. Which images are essential to present your product in a convincing way?

photo collage of different product images
IntroStore vs OnlineQuality MattersDifferent PlatformsWhich Visuals?All VisualsConclusion

Imagine walking into a store, picking up a product, feeling its texture, turning it around, and inspecting it up close. You might even try it out. You get a clear sense of the product, helping you make an informed decision about whether or not to buy it.Online, things are different. Your customer can’t hold the product or view it from every angle. The threshold to purchase is higher, simply because there are more uncertainties. What’s the exact color? How does the material feel? How big is it compared to other objects? As a seller, it’s your job to answer those questions in advance.This is where strong product visuals make all the difference. They don’t just show what a product does — they help the customer truly understand how it looks and how it’s used. The better someone understands your product, the more likely they are to buy it — and the less likely they are to be disappointed or return it later.

Why quality is important

The customer can’t touch or examine it themselves — so the visuals define how your product is experienced. The sharper, more realistic, and more professional your images are, the better your product will come across.

Online, your product is only as good as the quality of your photos.

Are the photos blurry, dark, or low resolution? Then your product will seem less appealing, and potential buyers are more likely to drop off. But with clear, high-quality visuals, you build trust and make it easier for customers to decide. Great photos don’t just make your product look better — they help it sell better too.

Different platforms

The type of product visuals you need depends on where you’ll be using them. Each platform serves a different purpose and attracts a different kind of audience. The biggest differences are between your webshop and your social media.On your website or webshop, clarity is key. Customers want to see exactly what they’re buying — without distractions. That’s why clean product shots on a white background and detailed close-ups are essential. These images help showcase the shape, materials, and finish of your product.Social media is a different story. It’s all about inspiration and lifestyle. People scroll quickly and stop only when something catches their eye. This is where you want to show your product in context — in an interior setting, a styled studio setup, or being used in real life.

What images do you need for a good campaign?

To position your product effectively in the market, you need a mix of clean studio shots and atmospheric visuals. This allows you to promote your product across different platforms without constantly needing new images. In many of our projects, we work with the following types of visuals:

Render of the backside of a blue chair
Product shot of 4 mugs in packaging
product shot of the Rob Parry lounge chair in a studio enviroment

Product Shots

Crisp, clean visuals on a white background that show your product at its best. By presenting it from multiple angles and in different finishes or colors, you give customers exactly what they need to feel confident — clarity, professionalism, and trust in your product.

flat lay photo of cosmetic bottle with packaging
Render of Hale chair in studio environment
overview photo of a bottle with packaging

Product Plus

By using detail shots, different angles, and multiple products in one composition, you give your customer a more complete picture of your product. You’re not just showing what it looks like — you’re highlighting the features and finishes that make it unique. These studio visuals stand out more than standard product shots and add extra impact to your presentation.

Render of an retro interior setting with focus on a lounge chair
dark interior with a large TV and fireplace
Render of a chair hanging on a table with its armrests

Lifestyle

Experience plays a big role in selling a product. Lifestyle images show how the product is used and how it relates to other objects. By creating styled setups — for example, placing the product in a realistic interior or a clean studio setting — you give customers a better sense of how it fits into their world. It makes the product feel more relatable, tangible, and desirable.

Interior setting in studio environment with sofas and large ceiling lights
Promo shot of an air freshener with products around it
Rendering of the Wattsun battery pack in a studio environment

Hero Image

The image that sells! A hero image is the eye-catcher of your campaign — the first impression that counts. It’s the visual that draws in customers, holds their attention, and convinces them. Often used as a banner on your website, in ads, or on social media, it’s a carefully crafted, cleanly styled studio visual that fully reflects your brand’s look and vision. It’s all about impact, experience, and recognition — this is the image that tells your story.

Every type of product image

Within product photography, there are several types of visuals, each tailored to the kind of product and the purpose of the imagery. The previously mentioned product shots and product plus visuals don’t stand alone — they’re part of a broader range of product visuals. Below is an overview of the most common types of product imagery:

Product shot of 4 mugs in packaging

Product shot

The classic e-commerce image: the product on its own, against a white background. Often shown from multiple angles — front, side, and back — to give a complete and accurate view. These images focus purely on clarity and are essential for helping customers understand exactly what they’re buying.

product shot of the Rob Parry lounge chair in a studio enviroment

Detail shot

Close-ups that highlight specific features of the product — think textures, finishes, or unique functions that set it apart.

group photo in studio of 4 chairs

Groupshot

Several products in one image, often used for product series or to show different colors and variants at once.

Render of different colour bottles laying on photo studio floor

Flat Lay

A product or multiple products photographed lying down from a top-down view. Commonly used in fashion, accessories, and food photography.

studio photo of a sofa with big lights hanging above it.

Scale

Some products need extra context to make their size clear. By placing them next to familiar objects, the customer gets a better sense of the dimensions.

pack shot of a cosmetic brand

Packshot

An image of the product with a focus on the label and packaging. This helps give the customer a complete picture of what they’ll receive.

Render of Hale chair in bar setting

Studio Context

Shows how the product relates to other objects or how it’s used. This is usually done in a styled, minimal setting where interaction with other products is the main focus.

Light modern interior with a round table with 4 chairs

Lifestyle

The product in a realistic setting. This type of image helps customers visualize the product in their own lives.

Render of set of office seating system in a studio environment

Hero image

The image that sells. A hero image is a powerful, cleanly styled studio visual that perfectly aligns with your brand’s vision. Ideal as a banner or campaign image — designed for maximum impact and recognition.

exploded view of a ceiling light

Exploded view

A technical view where the product is ‘pulled apart’ to show all individual components. Often used for complex products or to clarify construction and materials.

Conclusion

Online sales succeed or fail based on the strength of your product visuals. In a physical store, customers can see, touch, and test a product — online, they rely entirely on what you choose to show. Poor or unclear images create doubt — and doubt means missed sales.A strong mix of clean studio shots and lifestyle visuals builds trust and makes the buying decision easier. With detailed close-ups and product shots, you give customers exactly the information they need to buy with confidence. Because online, the quality of your product is only as good as the quality of your visuals.

Back to stories
We work closely with our clients to perfectly present their products and powerfully convey the story behind them. We relish the challenge of solving complex projects and executing them to the highest standard. Our goal is to create the perfect image and to continually improve ourselves.

Nieuwsbrief

Schrijf je in voor onze nieuwsbrief en blijf op de hoogte van onze projecten, verhalen en andere interessante dingen waar we aan werken.

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Navigation
HomeAbout us3D Product VisualisationProduct configuratorProjectsStoriesContact
Projects
ModuplusPivot LightWattsunBE O BottleRob Parry
Location
Spoorstraat 30a
6511 AH Nijmegen
The Netherlands
Contact
hello@polyvorm.nl+ 31 (0) 24 202 2038
© 2024 Polyvorm