diff --git a/packages/gatsby-image/README.md b/packages/gatsby-image/README.md
index 9ca5a9818fc92..c8b9448ad0bcc 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-image/README.md
+++ b/packages/gatsby-image/README.md
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ prop. e.g. `<Img fluid={fluid} />`
 | `placeholderClassName` | `string`            | A class that is passed to the placeholder `img` element                                                                     |
 | `backgroundColor`      | `string` / `bool`   | Set a colored background placeholder. If true, uses "lightgray" for the color. You can also pass in any valid color string. |
 | `onLoad`               | `func`              | A callback that is called when the full-size image has loaded.                                                              |
+| `onStartLoad`          | `func`              | A callback that is called when the full-size image starts loading, it gets the parameter { wasCached: boolean } provided.   |
 | `onError`              | `func`              | A callback that is called when the image fails to load.                                                                     |
 | `Tag`                  | `string`            | Which HTML tag to use for wrapping elements. Defaults to `div`.                                                             |
 | `critical`             | `bool`              | Opt-out of lazy-loading behavior. Defaults to `false`.                                                                      |
diff --git a/packages/gatsby-image/index.d.ts b/packages/gatsby-image/index.d.ts
index 7309346218bfe..c2252b03c162b 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-image/index.d.ts
+++ b/packages/gatsby-image/index.d.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,48 @@
-import * as React from "react";
+import * as React from "react"
+
+interface FixedObject {
+  width: number
+  height: number
+  src: string
+  srcSet: string
+  base64?: string
+  tracedSVG?: string
+  srcWebp?: string
+  srcSetWebp?: string
+}
+
+interface FluidObject {
+  aspectRatio: number
+  src: string
+  srcSet: string
+  sizes: string
+  base64: string
+  tracedSVG: string
+  srcWebp: string
+  srcSetWebp: string
+}
 
 interface GatsbyImageProps {
-  resolutions?: object;
-  sizes?: object;
-  fixed?: object;
-  fluid?: object;
-  fadeIn?: boolean;
-  title?: string;
-  alt?: string;
-  className?: string | object;
-  critical?: boolean;
-  style?: object;
-  imgStyle?: object;
-  placeholderStyle?: object;
-  backgroundColor?: string | boolean;
-  onLoad?: (event: any) => void;
-  onError?: (event: any) => void;
-  Tag?: string;
+  resolutions?: FixedObject
+  sizes?: FluidObject
+  fixed?: FixedObject
+  fluid?: FluidObject
+  fadeIn?: boolean
+  title?: string
+  alt?: string
+  className?: string | object
+  critical?: boolean
+  style?: object
+  imgStyle?: object
+  placeholderStyle: object
+  backgroundColor?: string | boolean
+  onLoad?: () => void
+  onStartLoad?: (param: { wasCached: boolean }) => void
+  onError?: (event: any) => void
+  Tag?: string
 }
 
-export default class GatsbyImage extends React.Component<GatsbyImageProps, any> {}
+export default class GatsbyImage extends React.Component<
+  GatsbyImageProps,
+  any
+> {}
diff --git a/packages/gatsby-image/src/index.js b/packages/gatsby-image/src/index.js
index accd045662076..4686182ca244e 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-image/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/gatsby-image/src/index.js
@@ -26,12 +26,17 @@ const inImageCache = props => {
     ? convertedProps.fluid.src
     : convertedProps.fixed.src
 
-  if (imageCache[src]) {
-    return true
-  } else {
-    imageCache[src] = true
-    return false
-  }
+  return imageCache[src] || false
+}
+
+const activateCacheForImage = props => {
+  const convertedProps = convertProps(props)
+  // Find src
+  const src = convertedProps.fluid
+    ? convertedProps.fluid.src
+    : convertedProps.fixed.src
+
+  imageCache[src] = true
 }
 
 let io
@@ -172,6 +177,9 @@ class Image extends React.Component {
   }
 
   componentDidMount() {
+    if (this.state.isVisible && typeof this.props.onStartLoad === `function`) {
+      this.props.onStartLoad({ wasCached: inImageCache(this.props) })
+    }
     if (this.props.critical) {
       const img = this.imageRef.current
       if (img && img.complete) {
@@ -183,12 +191,21 @@ class Image extends React.Component {
   handleRef(ref) {
     if (this.state.IOSupported && ref) {
       listenToIntersections(ref, () => {
-        this.setState({ isVisible: true })
+        if (
+          !this.state.isVisible &&
+          typeof this.props.onStartLoad === `function`
+        ) {
+          this.props.onStartLoad({ wasCached: inImageCache(this.props) })
+        }
+
+        this.setState({ isVisible: true, imgLoaded: false })
       })
     }
   }
 
   handleImageLoaded() {
+    activateCacheForImage(this.props)
+
     this.setState({ imgLoaded: true })
     if (this.state.seenBefore) {
       this.setState({ fadeIn: false })
@@ -462,6 +479,7 @@ Image.propTypes = {
   backgroundColor: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.bool]),
   onLoad: PropTypes.func,
   onError: PropTypes.func,
+  onStartLoad: PropTypes.func,
   Tag: PropTypes.string,
 }