diff --git a/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/extend-node-type.js.snap b/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/extend-node-type.js.snap
index 4732775d2ccca..048df67746359 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/extend-node-type.js.snap
+++ b/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/extend-node-type.js.snap
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Object {
 exports[`contentful extend node type resolveResize generates resized images using all options 1`] = `
 Object {
   "aspectRatio": 1.1278195488721805,
-  "base64": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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",
+  "base64": undefined,
   "height": 399,
   "src": "//images.contentful.com/ubriaw6jfhm1/10TkaLheGeQG6qQGqWYqUI/5421d3108cbb699561acabd594fa2cb0/ryugj83mqwa1asojwtwb.jpg?w=450&h=399&q=50&fit=fill",
   "width": 450,
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Object {
 exports[`contentful extend node type resolveResponsiveResolution generates responsive resolution data for images using all options 1`] = `
 Object {
   "aspectRatio": 1.1278195488721805,
-  "base64": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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",
+  "base64": undefined,
   "height": 399,
   "src": "//images.contentful.com/ubriaw6jfhm1/10TkaLheGeQG6qQGqWYqUI/5421d3108cbb699561acabd594fa2cb0/ryugj83mqwa1asojwtwb.jpg?w=450&h=399&q=50&fit=fill",
   "srcSet": "//images.contentful.com/ubriaw6jfhm1/10TkaLheGeQG6qQGqWYqUI/5421d3108cbb699561acabd594fa2cb0/ryugj83mqwa1asojwtwb.jpg?w=450&h=399&q=50&fit=fill 1x,
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ Object {
 exports[`contentful extend node type resolveResponsiveSizes generates responsive sizes data for images using all options 1`] = `
 Object {
   "aspectRatio": 0.75,
-  "base64": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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",
+  "base64": undefined,
   "sizes": "(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px",
   "src": "//images.contentful.com/ubriaw6jfhm1/10TkaLheGeQG6qQGqWYqUI/5421d3108cbb699561acabd594fa2cb0/ryugj83mqwa1asojwtwb.jpg?w=450&h=399&q=50",
   "srcSet": "//images.contentful.com/ubriaw6jfhm1/10TkaLheGeQG6qQGqWYqUI/5421d3108cbb699561acabd594fa2cb0/ryugj83mqwa1asojwtwb.jpg?w=113&h=100&q=50 113w,
diff --git a/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/extend-node-type.js b/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/extend-node-type.js
index 8df1edf9e67a1..cd25594d23562 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/extend-node-type.js
+++ b/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/__tests__/extend-node-type.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
 
   describe(`resolveResponsiveResolution`, () => {
     it(`generates responsive resolution data for images`, async () => {
-      const resp = await resolveResponsiveResolution(image, { width: 400 })
+      const resp = await resolveResponsiveResolution(image, { width: 400, withBase64: true })
       expect(resp.srcSet.length).toBeGreaterThan(1)
       expect(resp).toMatchSnapshot()
     })
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
         width: 450,
         height: 399,
         quality: 50,
+        withBase64: false,
       })
       expect(resp.srcSet.length).toBeGreaterThan(1)
       expect(resp).toMatchSnapshot()
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
     it(`If the height isn't specified it should be set keeping with the aspect ratio of the original image`, async () => {
       const resp = await resolveResponsiveResolution(image, {
         width: 450,
+        withBase64: true,
       })
       expect(resp.width).toBe(450)
       expect(resp.height).toBe(600)
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
       const resp = await resolveResponsiveResolution(image, {
         width: 450,
         height: 399,
+        withBase64: true,
       })
       expect(resp.width).toBe(450)
       expect(resp.height).toBe(399)
@@ -74,6 +77,7 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
       const resp = await resolveResponsiveResolution(image, {
         width: 450.1,
         height: 399.1,
+        withBase64: true,
       })
       expect(resp.width).toBe(450)
       expect(resp.height).toBe(399)
@@ -81,13 +85,14 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
     it(`handles null`, async () => {
       const resp = await resolveResponsiveResolution(nullFileImage, {
         width: 400,
+        withBase64: true,
       })
       expect(resp).toBe(null)
     })
   })
   describe(`resolveResponsiveSizes`, () => {
     it(`generates responsive size data for images`, async () => {
-      const resp = await resolveResponsiveSizes(image, { maxWidth: 400 })
+      const resp = await resolveResponsiveSizes(image, { maxWidth: 400, withBase64: true })
       expect(resp.srcSet.length).toBeGreaterThan(1)
       expect(resp).toMatchSnapshot()
     })
@@ -96,6 +101,7 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
         maxWidth: 450,
         maxHeight: 399,
         quality: 50,
+        withBase64: false,
       })
       expect(resp.srcSet.length).toBeGreaterThan(1)
       expect(resp).toMatchSnapshot()
@@ -103,13 +109,14 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
     it(`handles null`, async () => {
       const resp = await resolveResponsiveSizes(nullFileImage, {
         maxWidth: 400,
+        withBase64: true,
       })
       expect(resp).toBe(null)
     })
   })
   describe(`resolveResize`, () => {
     it(`generates resized images`, async () => {
-      const resp = await resolveResize(image, { width: 400 })
+      const resp = await resolveResize(image, { width: 400, withBase64: true })
       expect(resp).toMatchSnapshot()
     })
     it(`generates resized images using all options`, async () => {
@@ -117,11 +124,12 @@ describe(`contentful extend node type`, () => {
         width: 450,
         height: 399,
         quality: 50,
+        withBase64: false,
       })
       expect(resp).toMatchSnapshot()
     })
     it(`handles null`, async () => {
-      const resp = await resolveResize(nullFileImage, { width: 400 })
+      const resp = await resolveResize(nullFileImage, { width: 400, withBase64: true })
       expect(resp).toBe(null)
     })
   })
diff --git a/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/extend-node-type.js b/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/extend-node-type.js
index 40fc085fa4aa8..b6d1cc27a0be6 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/extend-node-type.js
+++ b/packages/gatsby-source-contentful/src/extend-node-type.js
@@ -82,26 +82,40 @@ const getBase64Image = (imgUrl, args = {}) => {
   })
 }
 
+const getBasicMeasurements = (image, args) => {
+  let aspectRatio
+  if (args.width && args.height) {
+    aspectRatio = args.width / args.height
+  } else {
+    aspectRatio =
+      image.file.details.image.width / image.file.details.image.height
+  }
+
+  return {
+    contentType: image.file.contentType,
+    aspectRatio,
+    width: image.file.details.image.width,
+    height: image.file.details.image.height,
+  }
+}
+
 const getBase64ImageAndBasicMeasurements = (image, args) =>
   new Promise(resolve => {
-    getBase64Image(image.file.url, args).then(base64Str => {
-      let aspectRatio
-      if (args.width && args.height) {
-        aspectRatio = args.width / args.height
-      } else {
-        aspectRatio =
-          image.file.details.image.width / image.file.details.image.height
-      }
+    const basicMeasurements = getBasicMeasurements(image, args)
+
+    if (!(args.withBase64 || args.base64)) {
+      resolve(basicMeasurements)
+      return
+    }
 
+    getBase64Image(image.file.url, args).then(base64Str => {
       resolve({
-        contentType: image.file.contentType,
+        ...basicMeasurements,
         base64Str,
-        aspectRatio,
-        width: image.file.details.image.width,
-        height: image.file.details.image.height,
       })
     })
   })
+
 const createUrl = (imgUrl, options = {}) => {
   // Convert to Contentful names and filter out undefined/null values.
   const args = _.pickBy(
@@ -367,6 +381,10 @@ exports.extendNodeType = ({ type }) => {
           type: ImageCropFocusType,
           defaultValue: null,
         },
+        withBase64: {
+          type: GraphQLBoolean,
+          defaultValue: true,
+        },
       },
       resolve(image, options, context) {
         return resolveResponsiveResolution(image, options)
@@ -409,6 +427,10 @@ exports.extendNodeType = ({ type }) => {
         sizes: {
           type: GraphQLString,
         },
+        withBase64: {
+          type: GraphQLBoolean,
+          defaultValue: true,
+        },
       },
       resolve(image, options, context) {
         return resolveResponsiveSizes(image, options)
@@ -450,6 +472,10 @@ exports.extendNodeType = ({ type }) => {
           type: ImageCropFocusType,
           defaultValue: null,
         },
+        withBase64: {
+          type: GraphQLBoolean,
+          defaultValue: true,
+        },
       },
       resolve(image, options, context) {
         return resolveResponsiveResolution(image, options)
@@ -493,6 +519,10 @@ exports.extendNodeType = ({ type }) => {
         sizes: {
           type: GraphQLString,
         },
+        withBase64: {
+          type: GraphQLBoolean,
+          defaultValue: true,
+        },
       },
       resolve(image, options, context) {
         return resolveResponsiveSizes(image, options)
@@ -539,6 +569,10 @@ exports.extendNodeType = ({ type }) => {
           type: ImageCropFocusType,
           defaultValue: null,
         },
+        withBase64: {
+          type: GraphQLBoolean,
+          defaultValue: true,
+        },
       },
       resolve(image, options, context) {
         return resolveResize(image, options)