How to Create Lookbook in Shopify & HotSpot Product Tag

If you run a Shopify store that just showcases products and promotes, you will never be a winner. Yes, you may be able to continue your business with some profit, but it will not be scalable. Because great ecommerce brands don’t just show products, they tell a story and create emotional connections.

There are a lot of ways to tell a brand’s story in front of customers. And Lookbook is one of the best ways to help build trust and encourage customers to get the products from real lifestyle outfits.

Instead of scrolling endless products, visitors will love a visual journey that inspires them to explore, click, and buy.

Now the biggest challenge is how to create lookbook in Shopify that will allow product tagging for a shoppable experience. Right?

Don’t worry, it won’t require any coding or a fancy theme that charges thousands of dollars. After following this guide, you can create and publish a shoppable lookbook gallery within a few minutes.

Let’s build your first Lookbook gallery!

What is a Lookbook (Why It Matters)

Lookbooks have been around for a long time, even before online stores existed. Fashion magazines and newspaper inserts once published seasonal “look pages” curated outfits, styled scenes, and lifestyle spreads designed to inspire readers.

People didn’t just flip through them for clothes; they flipped through them for the feeling, the mood, the story behind each image. Today, that same storytelling has simply moved online, and Shopify merchants can recreate it more powerfully than ever.

A digital lookbook allows you to showcase your products in real-life scenarios, just like the old print versions, but with one significant difference: it’s interactive. Customers can explore every look, tap on items they love, and shop directly from the image.

This emotional experience is why lookbooks matter. They help shoppers imagine your products in their own lifestyle, and that connection often leads to faster, more confident buying decisions.

Why You Should Use Lookbook on Your Store

• Show products in real lifestyle settings, not just plain catalog photos.
• Inspire customers with “complete looks” instead of individual items.
• Increase time-on-page and user engagement.
• Make shopping easier with shoppable Hotspot Product Tags.
• Improve storytelling for seasonal launches, campaigns, and new collections.
• Reduce friction: customers can tap, view, and buy from the same image.
• Differentiate your brand with a premium, editorial-style experience.

Get Ready Before You Create Your Shoppable Lookbook

A great lookbook doesn’t start with uploading images and tagging products. It starts with a bit of planning, resonating the lookbook with target customers, storytelling, and more.

Before you jump into building your Shopify lookbook, take a moment to prepare all materials. This helps you create a clean, cohesive, and truly shoppable experience that feels effortless to your customers.

1. Choose the theme or story for a specific customer: First, define your target customer, then plan for the lookbook only for them. Don’t highlight everything in one photo gallery that confuses your target customers. A clear theme makes your images feel connected, rather than a random gallery.

2. Collect high-quality lifestyle images: Pick lifestyle images that photograph well and fit naturally together in a scene. From the model (or customer) to the background, everything should be perfect. So that it can inspire other audiences to Shop the Look.

3. Select products that you want to highlight: Don’t showcase all products of your store in one gallery. Keep your lookbook gallery clean, and keep focused on your ultimate goal without mixing them up.

4. Plan your hotspot tags placements: Decide which products you want to tag in which photos. A good rule: 2–3 tags per image keeps it clean and avoids clutter.

5. Keep mobile users in mind: Most Shopify visitors browse on their phones. Use images that are easy to view, and place hotspots where they won’t overlap important details.

When you have these pieces ready, building your Shoppable Lookbook becomes smooth and efficient. And the final result feels polished, professional, and conversion-ready.

How to Create a Lookbook in Shopify (Step-by-Step)

There are 3  main ways to create a lookbook gallery for your Shopify store, which allows direct buying options.

1. Adding custom code to your theme, but this process requires advanced coding knowledge and time.
2. Using a theme that has a lookbook gallery functionality. To use a theme with a lookbook option, you must pay $300-$500 to purchase it. Also, you have to redesign your entire store on the new theme, which requires time and a developer or technical skills.
3. Using a Lookbook gallery app. This is the most reliable option, offering easy setup, minimal cost, flexible layouts, and styles.

So, in this guide, I will show you the easiest way to create a lookbook gallery with flexible options using a Shopify app.

Step 1: Install Essential Grid Gallery Lookbook App

• Go to the Shopify App Store.
• Search for “Essential Grid Gallery”.
• Click on the “Install” button.
• Open your lookbook gallery app for Shopify.

Step 2: Choose a Template or Create from Blank

Now you are in the dashboard of the Essential Grid Gallery app. Here you will have 2 different options to create a lookbook:

• Start from Scratch.
• Use a Template.

Creating a Lookbook gallery from scratch is a bit difficult to set up, and maintaining a professional design. So, this is not recommended for beginners; only experts can go through it.

Personally, I prefer using a lookbook template offered by Essential Grid. Because there are multiple templates you can use. Just customize these templates and create your lookbook gallery.

Step 3: Install a Lookbook Template

Here you will find 80+ photos, videos, products, collections, blogs, and a lookbook gallery template. That’s why finding a Lookbok gallery template might be time-consuming. So:

• Select the “Lookbook” category templates from the app dashboard’s left-side menu.
• Hover over the template you have chosen for your store, where you can “View” the demo or “Install” it.
• Click on the “Install” icon to add the lookbook.
• Open the Template to “Edit Lookbook Gallery”.

Step 4: Edit Images & Product Hotspots

Now you are in the Gallery Edit area, where you can edit everything in the gallery. For example, you can change the gallery layout, image-loading style, animations, effects, skin style, and more.

• Look for “Pen/Edit Icon” in the gallery preview/editor area’s single media.
• Click on the Edit icon to replace the image and product.

Step 5: Replace the Image

• Click on the “choose image” to replace the demo image with the original lookbook image.
• Then click on the “Lookbook” tab for tagging products to the images.

Step 6: Add Hotspot Tags to Images

In the “Lookbook” tab, you will have 3 steps to make your image, which allows a shopping experience:

• Add/Select Products (you can search by name).
• Drag the hotspot on the product you want to sell.
• “Update & Refresh Grid” to view the updated lookbook gallery.

Step 7: Save the Gallery and Publish the Gallery

After replacing all images and adding hotspots to images, your job is almost done.

• Click on the “Save” button to save the entire gallery customization.
• Go to the “Naming” tab.
• Select the page where to publish this gallery. 
• Click on the “Publish Gallery” button.

It will redirect you to your Shopify theme editor.

Step 8: Save the App Block & Gallery ID on Theme Editor

• Ensure that you have the “Essential Grid Gallery” app block at the right position where you want to show the lookbook gallery.
• Then insert the Gallery ID in the field. To get the Gallery ID, look at step 7, under the ‘Naming’ tab, above the publish button, you can see the gallery ID.
• Click on the “Save”.

Preview of the Shoppable Lookbook on Live Store

Best Practice to Create Lookbook in Shopify

A well-planned Shopify Lookbook gallery helps you showcase products in inspiring real-life scenes. And these real-life inspiring photos turn UGC into shoppable moments. Following best practices ensures your lookbook feels clean, engaging, and easy for customers to explore.  especially when using Hotspot Product Tagging.

• Use high-quality lifestyle images with a clear theme.
• Keep 2–4 hotspots per image for a clean look.
• Maintain consistent lighting, colors, and styling.
• Optimize all images for mobile users.
• Use descriptive alt text for SEO.
• Test hotspot positions on both desktop and mobile.
• Add video media, not just photos, to make it more interactive.

FAQs

Can I Create a Lookbook Gallery Without a Shopify App?

Yes, you can make a basic version using images and a custom page. But you won’t get hotspots or “shop the look” features without an app. So, users can be inspired by seeing the gallery, but they won’t be able to purchase directly from the gallery.

How Many Images Should a Shopify Lookbook Have?

Most lookbooks work best with 10-20 images in the Shopify ecosystem. Less than 10 images may feel poor content or a lack of visuals in the lookbook. On the other hand, too many images may overwhelm your audience. So, you should balance both of them.

Are Shopify Lookbook Hotspots Mobile-Friendly?

Yes, if you choose a standard Shopify app that allows responsive settings for all devices, hotspots work on phones and tablets. Shopify app like Essential Grid Gallery allows advanced responsive options for multiple devices. Remember to make sure hotspot tags are big enough to tap and include alt text for screen readers.

Will a Lookbook Gallery Slow Down My Shopify Store?

Lookbook gallery can slow down your Shopify store only when you upload unoptimized images and load all of them at once. In the Essential Grid Gallery, you can enable lazy loading, load more, smart loading, infinite load, etc, to ensure the lookbook never slows down your Shopify store. 

Conclusion

Now we have reached the end of the guide “How to create lookbook in Shopify.” In this guide, I have shown you why a shoppable lookbook matters for your Shopify store and how to achieve it.

Using the Essential Grid Gallery app, you can easily create different styles of lookbook galleries in multiple layouts. And tagging products by hotspot to your lookbook can significantly improve your sales.

Lookbook in Shopify is one of the easiest ways to bring your products to life and inspire customers to explore more. Instead of browsing simple grids, shoppers get to experience real stories, real moments, and real styling ideas.

And when you add Hotspot Product Tagging, that inspiration becomes instantly shoppable. Customers can tap a tag, view the product, and buy it in just a few clicks.

With a bit of planning, high-quality images, and the right tools, you can build a lookbook that feels professional and drives real results.

Now that you know how to create a Shoppable Lookbook in Shopify, it’s the perfect time to try it on your own store. Start simple, tell your story, and watch how visuals boost your conversions.