What is the best website builder for photographers?

Find out the pros and cons associated with each of the top website builders for photographers.


In this day and age, every business needs a great looking website that loads quickly, adapts easily for mobile devices, and showcases your brand in a way that you can be proud of. But for photographers, it’s undoubtedly important that your website is a reflection of your work and your style. That means that the website builder you choose must accept and display high-quality images and the design of the site needs to be stylish, beautiful, and clean.

After all, a photographer is judged on his or her visual style and first impressions can make or break you in the photography industry.

You need to be proud of how your website showcases your brand, and there’s no better way to do this than by using a top website builder that is built specifically for photographers.

Photography Website or Social Media: One or Both

 


Some people wonder if they still need a website in this age of Instagram and Facebook, where our social media feeds have begun to take over. Our answer? You absolutely need a photography website.


Your photography website should be the headquarters for all of your digital and marketing operations. Try to find a specialized photographer on Facebook or Instagram - it’s a nightmare. Facebook and Instagram are simply not built for search like Google or Bing.


According to PetaPixel,



The point of website SEO isn’t solely for people to search for your name and find your website. The value of SEO lies in its ability to drive traffic to your website with non-branded terms (e.g. Ventura architecture photographer), and this only happens when you have relevant copy on your website and you engage in link building."



But, what’s the best website builder for photographers? It depends on who you are and what you’re looking for. Let’s investigate a few factors and a few choices you could make.


Where To Build Your Photography Website


Consumers are really quite spoiled when it comes to photography website builders that you can use in 2020. With powerful cloud engines, sophisticated mobile-friendly interfaces, and brilliant marketing tools, there’s never been a better time to build your own photography website.

Consider these options when you’re getting ready to build your photography website:

Wix - Probably the biggest and best known of all the website builders. With over 500 designer templates, advanced SEO and social tools and easy to use tools, Wix sets the standard for DIY websites.


Squarespace - Another success story in this space, Squarespace provides a beautiful product, and they have been working hard to make their usability better with live editing, special cover page design tools, and affiliation with Getty Images. Getting used to the platform takes a while and there are a few usability issues that can make it tricky.


Folio: A platform built with visual artists and photographers in mind, Folio offers an intuitive, clean, and flexible platform with a special focus on portfolio sites. It’s not as big as Wix or Squarespace, so it doesn’t have every feature under the sun, but it’s a solid website builder for photographers. Photography features include photo delivery, pay-to-download options, download protections on all pages, and password-protected galleries and pages.


Smugmug: This platform wants to be a digital home for your photos. It’s a paid image sharing and hosting service with a video platform as well. Its focus is more on enthusiasts and ‘memory makers’ than it is on professionals, but nonetheless the platform boasts some great features for photographers.


4 Non-negotiables When Choosing a Website Builder for Photographers

 


Choose a great photography-focused theme/template


In many ways, this is the most important decision that you make, as your whole look & feel will flow from your template. Website builders like Squarespace, Wix and Folio all have a wonderful selection of templates where you are sure to find a look to suit your needs.


Create useful, practical galleries


Chances are that the galleries of your work will be where most people discover who you are and what you can do. Make sure your galleries are easy-to-use and convey your specialty. Don’t be too generic when you name your galleries; People, Parties, Places...those kinds of names are not going to cut it.


Spend time crafting your About page


When people are deciding whether to hire you, they will probably visit this web page to find out more about you. Make sure you strike a good balance between a no-nonsense ‘this is who I am’ approach, and a few stories and details that illustrate your personality and what it’s like to work with you. Include a testimonial from a happy client if you have a good one, and definitely provide a headshot so people can get a good look at you.


Design with your visitors in mind


Don’t just simply add interesting features because they’re different. Think about people who are visiting your site for the first time, why they are there, and what they’re looking for. So keep it easy, keep it quick and leave them wanting more. There’s no point in putting up too much of your work - let them get in touch with you if they want more.


There are many excellent website builders out there, big and small, but the thing that sets Folio Websites apart is our long track record in working just with photographers. We don’t try to be all things to all people - we serve an artistic, passionate community of image-makers who value aesthetics and simplicity in their web design.


To find out more about how we can help transform your digital presence, get in touch with Folio Websites today, and start your free trial today.