Hey, Let’s Talk Image Sizes
Hi, it’s me again — your product photographer based in China.
You’ve got great product photos — but are you sending the right size to the right place? Image dimensions matter more than most sellers realize: too small and buyers can’t zoom; too heavy and your pages load slowly.
Today, let’s put together a quick reference for product photo sizes across the platforms you actually sell on.
Why Size Matters
- Sharpness — platforms compress images, so start big to stay crisp.
- Zoom — Amazon lets buyers zoom when your image is large enough.
- Speed — oversized files slow your page down and hurt conversions.
- Rules — every platform has its own requirements and ratios.
The good news: you don’t need a different photo for every platform — you need the right versions of the same photo.
Amazon
Amazon is the strictest. The important numbers:
- Main images: at least 1600px on the longest side (2000px+ is even better for zoom).
- Ratio: roughly square works best, but the main image must fill the frame.
- Background: pure white (RGB 255,255,255) for the main image.
For the full rules, check my Amazon image requirements guide.
Shopify and Your Own Website
On your own store, you have freedom — but consistency and quality still rule:
- Product images: 1000–2000px is a safe range.
- Backgrounds: white works for a clean look; lifestyle shots add context.
- Consistency: uniform dimensions make your catalog look professional.
What makes these images good in the first place? My guide on good product photos is the place to start.
Social Media
- Instagram feed: square (1080×1080) is classic.
- Stories and Reels: vertical (1080×1920).
- Pinterest: tall images (e.g., 1000×1500) perform best.
- Facebook ads: 1080×1080 square or 1080×1350 vertical both work.
One good vertical photo can be cropped for most of these — I shared more tips in my article on product photography for Instagram.
A Clean Example
Here’s what a clean, flexible product image looks like — simple enough to work almost anywhere:
The Safe Rule: Shoot Big, Export Right
Here’s the simplest system that covers almost everything:
- Shoot and keep originals big — full resolution, always archived.
- Export platform versions — a 2000px master, a 1080px social set, and a compressed web set.
- Name files clearly — so you always find the right version.
- Reuse across platforms — I covered this workflow in my article on reusing product photos.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to obsess over every pixel — just follow the simple pattern: shoot big, keep the originals, and export the right size for each platform. Sharp, correctly-sized images make your whole store feel more professional.
If you’re unsure what sizes your platform needs, just ask — I’m happy to point you in the right direction. No pressure, just friendly advice.
Getting sizes right is step one; getting the images themselves right is step two — that is what our studio services cover. You can also see what a shoot costs on our price page.
If you sell on Etsy, sizing is only half the job — the image order matters too. See our Etsy product photography guide for a practical 7–8 image sequence.
Size is only one part of a Shopify image plan. See our Shopify product photography guide for the ideal gallery order and hero strategy.
