How to Launch Your Photo Gallery When You Have No Customer Photos Yet

You did it. You installed a user-generated content (UGC) app to boost trust and conversion. But there's one problem: your gallery is empty.

This is the classic "cold start problem"—the social proof paradox. To get photos, you need to show that people are already sharing photos. An empty gallery works against you. Instead of saying, "People buy this," it screams, "No one is here."

Many merchants, at this point, just wait. But what if you looked at it differently?

The Strategic Shift: From Collecting Reviews to Building a Brand

Your on-site gallery isn't just a place to passively collect reviews. It is a curated space for authentic stories about your product.

Instead of waiting for customers to start the conversation, start it yourself. As the brand owner, you get to set the tone and show what kind of content you value.

Transform your "empty" gallery into your "authentic lookbook."

The Practical Solution: "Seed" Your Gallery

"Seeding" is the process where you, the store owner, manually upload the first few authentic photos to make the gallery look alive and engaging from day one.

This isn't "faking it." It's curating. You are showing your product in the real-world context that sterile studio shots can never achieve.

Where to get photos for "seeding" right now:

• Influencer Content: Did you already pay for content on Instagram? Great! Stop leaving it just on social media. Upload it directly to the gallery on its corresponding product pages.

• "Team Picks" / Staff Photos: Ask your employees to take snapshots with your products in real life. This humanizes the brand and adds instant authenticity.

• Your Own "Lifestyle" Photos: Grab your phone. Take a picture of how that vase looks in your kitchen, or how that shirt pairs with jeans. Show the product "in the wild."

• Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Shots: Show photos from your manufacturing process or your packing station. This builds transparency and trust.

• Social Media Photos: If customers have already tagged you, write to them and ask for permission to feature their photos on your site.

How Customer Photo Uploader (CPU) Makes This Possible

Many apps only focus on the customer upload form. They don't solve the "cold start problem."

We designed CPU understanding that you need control. Our key feature—easy admin-side photo uploading—gives you full control over this process.

1. Go to your CPU admin panel.

2. Select "Upload Photo."

3. Choose the product(s) it relates to.

4. That's it. Your gallery is instantly alive.

Get the Flywheel Started

When you set a high bar for authenticity yourself, you inspire your customers to do the same.

A "seeded" gallery starts the flywheel. When new buyers see that other people are already sharing photos, they are far more likely to add their own.

You're not just passively waiting for a community. You are actively building one.