diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 81487f95..0f2ff67b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
 - add subcommand to generate shell completions
 - function `generate_files` now takes in `&Path`s instead of `PathBuf`s
 - remove `to_singular` name generations
-- add option `--create-str` to set `Create*` structs string type
-- add option `--update-str` to set `Update*` structs string type
+- add option `--create-str` to set `Create*` structs string & byte types
+- add option `--update-str` to set `Update*` structs string & byte type
 - add option `--single-model-file` to only generate a single file instead of a directory with `mod.rs` and `generated.rs`
 - add option `--readonly-prefix` and `--readonly-suffix` to treat a matching name as a readonly struct
 - add option `--no-crud` to not generate any `impl` blocks
diff --git a/src/bin/main.rs b/src/bin/main.rs
index 574b4098..ea4adf11 100644
--- a/src/bin/main.rs
+++ b/src/bin/main.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use clap::{CommandFactory, Parser, Subcommand, ValueEnum};
 use clap_complete::{generate, Shell};
 use dsync::{error::IOErrorToError, GenerationConfig, TableOptions};
-use dsync::{FileChangeStatus, StringType};
+use dsync::{BytesType, FileChangeStatus, StringType};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::io::{BufWriter, Write};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
@@ -98,6 +98,14 @@ pub struct MainOptions {
     #[arg(long = "update-str", default_value = "string")]
     pub update_str: StringTypeCli,
 
+    /// Set which bytes type to use for Create* structs
+    #[arg(long = "create-bytes", default_value = "vec")]
+    pub create_bytes: BytesTypeCli,
+
+    /// Set which bytes type to use for Update* structs
+    #[arg(long = "update-bytes", default_value = "vec")]
+    pub update_bytes: BytesTypeCli,
+
     /// Only Generate a single model file instead of a directory with "mod.rs" and "generated.rs"
     #[arg(long = "single-model-file")]
     pub single_model_file: bool,
@@ -140,6 +148,27 @@ impl From<StringTypeCli> for StringType {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, ValueEnum, Clone, PartialEq, Default)]
+pub enum BytesTypeCli {
+    /// Use "Vec<u8>"
+    #[default]
+    Vec,
+    /// Use "&[u8]"
+    Slice,
+    /// Use "Cow<[u8]>"
+    Cow,
+}
+
+impl From<BytesTypeCli> for BytesType {
+    fn from(value: BytesTypeCli) -> Self {
+        match value {
+            BytesTypeCli::Vec => BytesType::Vec,
+            BytesTypeCli::Slice => BytesType::Slice,
+            BytesTypeCli::Cow => BytesType::Cow,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 fn main() {
     let res = actual_main();
 
@@ -183,7 +212,9 @@ fn actual_main() -> dsync::Result<()> {
     let mut default_table_options = TableOptions::default()
         .autogenerated_columns(cols.iter().map(|t| t.as_str()).collect::<Vec<&str>>())
         .create_str_type(args.create_str.into())
-        .update_str_type(args.update_str.into());
+        .update_str_type(args.update_str.into())
+        .create_bytes_type(args.create_bytes.into())
+        .update_bytes_type(args.update_bytes.into());
 
     #[cfg(feature = "tsync")]
     if args.tsync {
diff --git a/src/code.rs b/src/code.rs
index 47c2ab95..36b27df9 100644
--- a/src/code.rs
+++ b/src/code.rs
@@ -291,12 +291,22 @@ impl<'a> Struct<'a> {
         }
 
         let lifetimes = {
-            let lifetimes = match self.ty {
+            let s_lifetimes = match self.ty {
                 StructType::Read => "",
                 StructType::Update => self.opts.get_update_str_type().get_lifetime(),
                 StructType::Create => self.opts.get_create_str_type().get_lifetime(),
             };
+            let b_lifetimes = match self.ty {
+                StructType::Read => "",
+                StructType::Update => self.opts.get_update_bytes_type().get_lifetime(),
+                StructType::Create => self.opts.get_create_bytes_type().get_lifetime(),
+            };
 
+            let lifetimes = [s_lifetimes, b_lifetimes]
+                .iter()
+                .copied()
+                .max_by_key(|l| l.len())
+                .unwrap_or("");
             if lifetimes.is_empty() {
                 String::new()
             } else {
@@ -314,6 +324,12 @@ impl<'a> Struct<'a> {
                     StructType::Update => self.opts.get_update_str_type().as_str().to_string(),
                     StructType::Create => self.opts.get_create_str_type().as_str().to_string(),
                 }
+            } else if f.base_type == "Vec<u8>" {
+                f.base_type = match self.ty {
+                    StructType::Read => f.base_type,
+                    StructType::Update => self.opts.get_update_bytes_type().as_str().to_string(),
+                    StructType::Create => self.opts.get_create_bytes_type().as_str().to_string(),
+                }
             }
 
             let mut field_type = f.to_rust_type();
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 6b8bc6e1..d269d1fb 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,38 @@ impl StringType {
     }
 }
 
+/// Available options for bytes types
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Default)]
+pub enum BytesType {
+    /// Use `Vec<u8>`
+    #[default]
+    Vec,
+    /// Use `&[u8]`
+    Slice,
+    /// Use `Cow<[u8]>`
+    Cow,
+}
+
+impl BytesType {
+    /// Get the current [BytesType] as a rust type string
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            BytesType::Vec => "Vec<u8>",
+            BytesType::Slice => "&'a [u8]",
+            BytesType::Cow => "Cow<'a, [u8]>",
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Get the lifetime used for the current [BytesType]
+    pub fn get_lifetime(&self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            BytesType::Vec => "",
+            BytesType::Slice => "'a",
+            BytesType::Cow => "'a",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Options for a individual table
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct TableOptions<'a> {
@@ -85,6 +117,12 @@ pub struct TableOptions<'a> {
     /// Determines which string type to use for Update* structs
     update_str_type: StringType,
 
+    /// Determines which bytes type to use for Create* structs
+    create_bytes_type: BytesType,
+
+    /// Determines which bytes type to use for Update* structs
+    update_bytes_type: BytesType,
+
     /// Only Generate a single model file instead of a directory with "mod.rs" and "generated.rs"
     single_model_file: bool,
 
@@ -123,6 +161,14 @@ impl<'a> TableOptions<'a> {
         self.update_str_type
     }
 
+    pub fn get_create_bytes_type(&self) -> BytesType {
+        self.create_bytes_type
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_update_bytes_type(&self) -> BytesType {
+        self.update_bytes_type
+    }
+
     pub fn get_autogenerated_columns(&self) -> &[&'_ str] {
         self.autogenerated_columns.as_deref().unwrap_or_default()
     }
@@ -193,6 +239,20 @@ impl<'a> TableOptions<'a> {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn create_bytes_type(self, type_: BytesType) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            create_bytes_type: type_,
+            ..self
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn update_bytes_type(self, type_: BytesType) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            update_bytes_type: type_,
+            ..self
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn set_read_only(&mut self, value: bool) {
         self.read_only = value;
     }
@@ -214,6 +274,8 @@ impl<'a> TableOptions<'a> {
             fns: self.fns || other.fns,
             create_str_type: other.create_str_type,
             update_str_type: other.update_str_type,
+            create_bytes_type: other.create_bytes_type,
+            update_bytes_type: other.update_bytes_type,
             single_model_file: self.single_model_file || other.single_model_file,
             read_only: self.read_only || other.read_only,
         }
@@ -233,6 +295,8 @@ impl<'a> Default for TableOptions<'a> {
             fns: true,
             create_str_type: Default::default(),
             update_str_type: Default::default(),
+            create_bytes_type: Default::default(),
+            update_bytes_type: Default::default(),
             single_model_file: false,
             read_only: false,
         }
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/mod.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..015a6a2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pub mod todos;
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/todos/generated.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/todos/generated.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b07f00a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/todos/generated.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+/* @generated and managed by dsync */
+
+use crate::diesel::*;
+use crate::schema::*;
+use diesel::QueryResult;
+
+pub type ConnectionType = diesel::r2d2::PooledConnection<diesel::r2d2::ConnectionManager<diesel::pg::PgConnection>>;
+
+/// Struct representing a row in table `todos`
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Queryable, Selectable, QueryableByName)]
+#[diesel(table_name=todos, primary_key(data))]
+pub struct Todos {
+    /// Field representing column `data`
+    pub data: Vec<u8>,
+    /// Field representing column `data_nullable`
+    pub data_nullable: Option<Vec<u8>>,
+}
+
+/// Create Struct for a row in table `todos` for [`Todos`]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Insertable)]
+#[diesel(table_name=todos)]
+pub struct CreateTodos<'a> {
+    /// Field representing column `data`
+    pub data: Cow<'a, [u8]>,
+    /// Field representing column `data_nullable`
+    pub data_nullable: Option<Cow<'a, [u8]>>,
+}
+
+/// Update Struct for a row in table `todos` for [`Todos`]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, AsChangeset, PartialEq, Default)]
+#[diesel(table_name=todos)]
+pub struct UpdateTodos<'a> {
+    /// Field representing column `data_nullable`
+    pub data_nullable: Option<Option<Cow<'a, [u8]>>>,
+}
+
+/// Result of a `.paginate` function
+#[derive(Debug, serde::Serialize)]
+pub struct PaginationResult<T> {
+    /// Resulting items that are from the current page
+    pub items: Vec<T>,
+    /// The count of total items there are
+    pub total_items: i64,
+    /// Current page, 0-based index
+    pub page: i64,
+    /// Size of a page
+    pub page_size: i64,
+    /// Number of total possible pages, given the `page_size` and `total_items`
+    pub num_pages: i64,
+}
+
+impl Todos {
+    /// Insert a new row into `todos` with a given [`CreateTodos`]
+    pub fn create(db: &mut ConnectionType, item: &CreateTodos) -> QueryResult<Self> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        insert_into(todos).values(item).get_result::<Self>(db)
+    }
+
+    /// Get a row from `todos`, identified by the primary key
+    pub fn read(db: &mut ConnectionType, param_data: Vec<u8>) -> QueryResult<Self> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        todos.filter(data.eq(param_data)).first::<Self>(db)
+    }
+
+    /// Paginates through the table where page is a 0-based index (i.e. page 0 is the first page)
+    pub fn paginate(db: &mut ConnectionType, page: i64, page_size: i64) -> QueryResult<PaginationResult<Self>> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        let page_size = if page_size < 1 { 1 } else { page_size };
+        let total_items = todos.count().get_result(db)?;
+        let items = todos.limit(page_size).offset(page * page_size).load::<Self>(db)?;
+
+        Ok(PaginationResult {
+            items,
+            total_items,
+            page,
+            page_size,
+            /* ceiling division of integers */
+            num_pages: total_items / page_size + i64::from(total_items % page_size != 0)
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Update a row in `todos`, identified by the primary key with [`UpdateTodos`]
+    pub fn update(db: &mut ConnectionType, param_data: Vec<u8>, item: &UpdateTodos) -> QueryResult<Self> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        diesel::update(todos.filter(data.eq(param_data))).set(item).get_result(db)
+    }
+
+    /// Delete a row in `todos`, identified by the primary key
+    pub fn delete(db: &mut ConnectionType, param_data: Vec<u8>) -> QueryResult<usize> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        diesel::delete(todos.filter(data.eq(param_data))).execute(db)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/todos/mod.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/todos/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5bb9b90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/models/todos/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+pub use generated::*;
+pub mod generated;
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_cow/schema.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/schema.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7cec0bce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/schema.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+diesel::table! {
+    todos (data) {
+        data -> Binary,
+        data_nullable -> Nullable<Binary>,
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_cow/test.sh b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..ab894ead
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_cow/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )"
+
+cd $SCRIPT_DIR
+
+cargo run -- -i schema.rs -o models -g id -g created_at -g updated_at -c "diesel::r2d2::PooledConnection<diesel::r2d2::ConnectionManager<diesel::pg::PgConnection>>" --create-bytes=cow --update-bytes=cow
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/mod.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..015a6a2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pub mod todos;
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/todos/generated.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/todos/generated.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a567b876
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/todos/generated.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+/* @generated and managed by dsync */
+
+use crate::diesel::*;
+use crate::schema::*;
+use diesel::QueryResult;
+
+pub type ConnectionType = diesel::r2d2::PooledConnection<diesel::r2d2::ConnectionManager<diesel::pg::PgConnection>>;
+
+/// Struct representing a row in table `todos`
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Queryable, Selectable, QueryableByName)]
+#[diesel(table_name=todos, primary_key(data))]
+pub struct Todos {
+    /// Field representing column `data`
+    pub data: Vec<u8>,
+    /// Field representing column `data_nullable`
+    pub data_nullable: Option<Vec<u8>>,
+}
+
+/// Create Struct for a row in table `todos` for [`Todos`]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Insertable)]
+#[diesel(table_name=todos)]
+pub struct CreateTodos<'a> {
+    /// Field representing column `data`
+    pub data: &'a [u8],
+    /// Field representing column `data_nullable`
+    pub data_nullable: Option<&'a [u8]>,
+}
+
+/// Update Struct for a row in table `todos` for [`Todos`]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, AsChangeset, PartialEq, Default)]
+#[diesel(table_name=todos)]
+pub struct UpdateTodos<'a> {
+    /// Field representing column `data_nullable`
+    pub data_nullable: Option<Option<&'a [u8]>>,
+}
+
+/// Result of a `.paginate` function
+#[derive(Debug, serde::Serialize)]
+pub struct PaginationResult<T> {
+    /// Resulting items that are from the current page
+    pub items: Vec<T>,
+    /// The count of total items there are
+    pub total_items: i64,
+    /// Current page, 0-based index
+    pub page: i64,
+    /// Size of a page
+    pub page_size: i64,
+    /// Number of total possible pages, given the `page_size` and `total_items`
+    pub num_pages: i64,
+}
+
+impl Todos {
+    /// Insert a new row into `todos` with a given [`CreateTodos`]
+    pub fn create(db: &mut ConnectionType, item: &CreateTodos) -> QueryResult<Self> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        insert_into(todos).values(item).get_result::<Self>(db)
+    }
+
+    /// Get a row from `todos`, identified by the primary key
+    pub fn read(db: &mut ConnectionType, param_data: Vec<u8>) -> QueryResult<Self> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        todos.filter(data.eq(param_data)).first::<Self>(db)
+    }
+
+    /// Paginates through the table where page is a 0-based index (i.e. page 0 is the first page)
+    pub fn paginate(db: &mut ConnectionType, page: i64, page_size: i64) -> QueryResult<PaginationResult<Self>> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        let page_size = if page_size < 1 { 1 } else { page_size };
+        let total_items = todos.count().get_result(db)?;
+        let items = todos.limit(page_size).offset(page * page_size).load::<Self>(db)?;
+
+        Ok(PaginationResult {
+            items,
+            total_items,
+            page,
+            page_size,
+            /* ceiling division of integers */
+            num_pages: total_items / page_size + i64::from(total_items % page_size != 0)
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Update a row in `todos`, identified by the primary key with [`UpdateTodos`]
+    pub fn update(db: &mut ConnectionType, param_data: Vec<u8>, item: &UpdateTodos) -> QueryResult<Self> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        diesel::update(todos.filter(data.eq(param_data))).set(item).get_result(db)
+    }
+
+    /// Delete a row in `todos`, identified by the primary key
+    pub fn delete(db: &mut ConnectionType, param_data: Vec<u8>) -> QueryResult<usize> {
+        use crate::schema::todos::dsl::*;
+
+        diesel::delete(todos.filter(data.eq(param_data))).execute(db)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/todos/mod.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/todos/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5bb9b90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/models/todos/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+pub use generated::*;
+pub mod generated;
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_slice/schema.rs b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/schema.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7cec0bce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/schema.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+diesel::table! {
+    todos (data) {
+        data -> Binary,
+        data_nullable -> Nullable<Binary>,
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/create_update_bytes_slice/test.sh b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..97f5688d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_update_bytes_slice/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )"
+
+cd $SCRIPT_DIR
+
+cargo run -- -i schema.rs -o models -g id -g created_at -g updated_at -c "diesel::r2d2::PooledConnection<diesel::r2d2::ConnectionManager<diesel::pg::PgConnection>>" --create-bytes=slice --update-bytes=slice