Great visuals do more than display a product. They trigger feelings, shape perception, and influence decisions. We track academic research and market data to understand how emotionalphotography affects performance.
RESEARCH STUDIES: WHAT SCIENCE TELLS US
Study / Source;Key Findings;Insight Highlight;Relevance
Effect of Emotion on Marketing Landing Page Conversion (ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/);Emotional messaging increases conversion rates in controlled experiments.;“Emotion increases measurable conversion.”;Confirms the power of emotional triggers in digital decision-making.
Product photography in product attractiveness perception & e-commerce decisions (ResearchGate - https://www.researchgate.net/ );Lighting, staging, and composition significantly affect buying decisions.;“Visual setup changes consumer behavior.”;Directly supports the importance of how products are photographed.
Increasing Conversions With Emotional Storytelling (CXL / GetUplift - https://cxl.com/blog/emotional-marketing-storytelling/);Case study: +96% uplift after emotional storytelling visuals were introduced.;“+96% conversion increase through emotional visuals.”;A strong practice case showing how emotional imagery drives results.
How product images influence conversion (Spyne / industry summary - https://www.spyne.ai/blogs/product-images-conversion-rate);High-quality images can boost conversions by up to 60%.;“Up to +60% conversion reported.”;Shows strong market validation from e-commerce performance examples.
The New Science of Customer Emotions (Harvard Business Review - https://hbr.org/2015/11/the-new-science-of-customer-emotions);Emotionally engaged customers are more inclined to buy and stay loyal.;“Emotion is a systematic purchase driver.”;Reinforces the strategic role of emotional resonance in brand success.
These industry reports further demonstrate how product imagery impacts consumer behavior in real-world commerce:
75% of online shoppers rely on product photos when making purchase decisions. - Retail Technology Review, 2022
9 out of 10 top-performing e-commerce sources highlight product photography as a conversion driver. - BusinessDIT, 2024
Product imagery is a key success factor in eCommerce growth strategies. - Shopify, 2024
Visual storytelling is among the top factors increasing product engagement. - Efelle Creative, 2018
Market data shows visual differentiation has high relevance in competitive verticals such as outdoor apparel. - Statista & Maximize Market Research, 2024
How This Translates for Your Business
Emotionally-driven photography doesn’t just show a product - it frames an experience.
Lighting, backdrop, shadows, and context influence perceived value and desirability.
Story-driven visuals increase time spent, emotional engagement, and intent to buy.
Emotional imagery is consistently linked to higher conversions and stronger loyalty.
In short: consumers don’t only buy what they see - they buy what they feel.
HOW WE BUILD ON THIS
We translate these insights into photography that triggers emotional resonance, aligns with customer motivations, and supports your brand’s performance goals. Our approach is guided by what works - not just creatively, but behaviourally.
WANT TO SEE THE IMPACT?
We benchmarked emotional product photography against neutral visuals and the results speak for themselves.
OUR OFFICES
GERMAN OFFICE
SPICE MEDIA PRODUCTION GMBH Ruppersdorfer Weg 23 23669 TIMMENDORFER STRAND, GERMANY