Hero image

A hero image is the primary, most prominent image on a page or in a marketing asset. In ecommerce, it's typically the first product image shoppers see—the one that has to stop the scroll and communicate value in an instant.

What makes a strong hero image

• Clear subject: The product should be immediately identifiable
• Visual impact: Something that captures attention quickly
• Brand alignment: Consistent with your overall visual identity
• Quality signals: Professional lighting, sharp focus, accurate colors
• Appropriate context: Studio or lifestyle depending on the platform

Hero image by context

The ideal hero image varies by where it appears:

• Amazon: Clean studio shot on white background
• Shopify: More flexibility—can be studio or lifestyle
• Instagram ads: Lifestyle imagery often performs better
• Homepage banners: Lifestyle or hero shots with brand styling

Testing hero images

Your hero image has outsized impact on performance. Test different options—studio vs lifestyle, different angles, different backgrounds—to find what converts best for your audience. Small improvements in hero image performance can significantly impact overall sales.

Creating hero images with AI

AI tools make it easy to generate multiple hero image options for testing. Create variations with different backgrounds, lighting styles, and compositions, then let performance data guide your decisions.