How to Create a Website for Your Photography Portfolio (In 4 Steps)

Photography is a very popular hobby nowadays, thanks to the large number of advanced, but easy-to-use cameras that you can now get. Therefore, if darkrooms and analog photos are your thing, or high-quality digital cameras, it doesn’t hurt to think about turning this hobby into an online business .

This is where WordPress, and the time-saving capabilities of website builders , come into the picture. When you combine WordPress’s content management options with an easy drag-and-drop layout, turning your big ideas into a professional photography site is possible and simple.

With this article you will learn four steps so you can create your photography website with WordPress. Take the cap off your camera lens and let’s get started together!

Why Create a Website for a Photography Portfolio

If you are a photographer, it is worth showing your work online, using a website as a portfolio. This way you can gather different photos in a single collection and in one place. In this way, you will impact a wide range of people with your work.

You may have thought about using social media to publicize your photography business, but it’s still best to have a website completely dedicated to your brand. Think about it: Not only will you be able to display your work, but you can also add contact forms to communicate with your potential clients:

In addition, you can organize your website by implementing various galleries. For example, wedding photographers can add collections of specific couples:

A website can also be a great place to showcase your unique and personal style. If your work is colorful and bright, you can present these same qualities in the graphic design of your site. A well-designed landing page can even increase your leads and conversions:

On the other hand, if you don’t have a website, connecting with new customers can be a struggle. Plus, without it, it will be more difficult to sponsor or distribute your services. For all this, it is better that you create an online portfolio if you want your business to grow.

3 Tips for Creating Your Photography Portfolio Website

Sometimes creating your site can be daunting. But do not worry! With these tips you will have the best photography portfolio website.

1. Stick To Your Brand Values

One of the first tasks you will have when designing photography websites is determining your niche and style. By understanding in advance which approach is right for your site, you can create one more in line with this and focus on your specific audience. So, keep that in mind and take a few minutes to outline clear goals for your site.

Since there is a large crowd of photographers, you need to stand out. Give personality to your website. By clearly defining your brand’s niche, you can make it clear to your visitors, as soon as they enter, why you are the best answer for their needs.

For example, Jenn Emerling is a professional photographer who specializes in weddings in exotic or romantic locations. Instead of being “one more of the crowd,” she defines herself as something else: “An artist herself, who seeks to photograph weddings”:

Their vibrant and colorful website, powered by WordPress, has proven to be a huge success. By focusing on her unique look, Jenn was able to attract dream clients, reflecting her unique, authentic and artistic voice.

2. Highlight Your Best Pieces

When creating an online portfolio , your photos should be the center of attention. If you are a unique photographer, your website should reflect that with its custom backgrounds and web design. However, don’t forget that the function of the structure you choose is to highlight your work.

If not, the least you can do is have a page dedicated to your portfolio. Keep in mind that you may be tempted to upload all your photos at once, but you may overwhelm your visitors. Less is more. Choose the 10 or 20 best to have the most impact.

If you have problems selecting them, you can diversify your portfolio. Think that your visitors will immediately understand your niche and focus, without having to see the same type of photo over and over again. So, focus on few images from various categories. Also, look at your competition’s portfolios; See their photos and find out what you can do better.

3. Employ the Right Content Management System

Although options like Adobe Portfolio exist specifically for creating portfolio websites, we recommend a more versatile platform.

Powering almost 30% of all websites in existence, WordPress is the most popular Content Management System (CMS) . It is a flexible and simple software for you to manage your website and thus, your image on the Internet.

Beyond the numbers, WordPress’ practical, open-source software is another reason we suggest it for your photography portfolio website. There are many free themes and plugins in their directories, to help your site grow. If you need to create an image gallery or a contact form, WordPress will help you. Your site will be unique.

An added bonus? WordPress is free . You will be able to have your own website and self-host it, even if you are a beginner photographer.

How to Create a Website for Your Photography Portfolio (4 Steps)

Once you’ve defined your niche and gathered some of your best photographs, it’s time to build your website. Here we will help you set it up and design it with WordPress!

Step 1: Choose Your Domain Name and Web Hosting

No matter what style of website you choose, your first task will be to find web hosting. They will give you server space and resources to store your website and grow it.

Does choosing an ideal web hosting company seem difficult? Don’t worry. Keep these points in mind:

Storage : If you plan to use the same hosting for your website and photos, check how much space you will have to yourself. Don’t miss it! What’s more, you could order additional storage for high-quality images, if you need it.
Software : Check if you need a one-click solution to get started with WordPress. It’s a great option if you’re a beginner and don’t want to hire a developer .
Support : The last thing you want is for your clients to not be able to access your page while they are trying to view your photos. Make sure your hosting service provides 24/7 support and also offers a downtime guarantee. Check their portal for everything about their backup and restore options, just in case.
Additional : Some services include extra features that you should take into account. Premium themes, plugins, test sites, or web builders that can simplify your design process.

No matter what type of hosting you choose, at DreamHost we offer a wide range of WordPress plans with free SSL certificate, automatic backups and free domain name. But that’s not all: we will also install WordPress for you.

Once you decide on a hosting plan, you can register a domain name. This is the web address that your potential clients will use to find your portfolio.

Note that some photographers prefer to include their names in their domains. Additionally, you can add keywords, useful for your niche, and complement yours. For example, Jenn Emerling is a wedding photographer, so her URL is ‘jennemerlingweddings.com’.

Step 2: Install a Dedicated Photography Theme

Installing a theme will allow you to customize how your site will look in WordPress. It’s as easy as uploading a file or clicking a button. There are many themes related to photography, so take your time to decide which one is best for your website.

If you use DreamHost as your WordPress hosting service, you will have access to our Website Builder . As a photographer, you will be able to drag and drop elements into an initial display panel. In addition, you can choose between several personalized and specific templates for photography and view the changes you make, in real time.

Once you complete your purchase, log into WordPress. You’ll see a new tab, Inspirations, when you view your dashboard. And this will take you to a configuration page.

Then, you’ll see a menu with topic categories. Our site builder contains many photography themes , designed for you to show your talent to the world.

Once you select the theme you want, you can choose some custom content options. You will be able to preconfigure page backgrounds and menus, as well as test if your theme is optimized for mobile devices.

You may notice that there is now additional content on your WordPress dashboard. You will find video tutorials, for example, if you need some extra support. Additionally, if you want to give your portfolio a surprising touch, the Inspirations menu will guide you to get inspired.

Step 3: Select Plugins to Improve Your Site

Now that you’ve selected a theme, it’s time to install some plugins . WordPress plugins are additional packages of code that can improve and increase the functionality of the platform . Familiarize yourself with them and learn how to manage them in the best way, to ensure that your site will be safe and secure.

Photography blogs often feature high-quality images with watermarks. Would you like it? With a photography plugin like Envira Gallery you can do this, which will be essential for your security strategy.

With Envira Gallery, you can set up an online store, create video galleries, and import content from Instagram. If you combine this tool with our website builder, it will be easier to visualize your work, online, in a very dynamic way.

If you also want to create password-protected image galleries , or link your e-commerce options with a file download manager, to protect your photos with an access protocol, a tool like MemberPress will help you.

This plugin will allow you to easily convert your photography portfolio into a subscription income site. You will direct your visitors to purchase these subscriptions before viewing or downloading specific photos. This payment platform can be a great option if you are looking to monetize your website.

Step 4: Create Compelling Content

When it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), there are more topics to consider than just the famous keywords . To appear in better page rankings , it is important that others talk about you and your portfolio.

Strategies such as external links to your blog and content shared on social networks are effective to improve SEO and get new clients. But for this to happen you need compelling content, using tutorials, downloads, infographics, videos and podcasts.

Another great way to establish yourself firmly in the industry is to add a blog to your page . You’ll see a good example of that on the Mostly Lisa website . Visitors can be inspired by their articles and learn, in the process, how to take better quality photographs.

Finally, adding a photography blog to your portfolio can make it have more strength and credibility with potential clients. Additionally, the content you would publish can easily be shared on social networks, or referenced on other websites.

How to Promote Your Photography Business

Now that your photos have their home on the web, you’ll surely want more people to admire them. Promoting yourself can be very difficult, among so many options, but… With WordPress and your professional theme, you will have many possibilities to stand out!

There are a few ways to promote your new website, such as:

Social Networks : Promoting your work on social networks can bring you significant results. We recommend that you establish and respect a publication calendar, so that your visitors know that they can expect new content regularly and thus become a loyal audience connected to your work.
Testimonials : Research reveals that more than 80% of buyers look for previous recommendations from family or friends before deciding to buy. That’s why your customer testimonials are powerful tools for your website.
Calls to Action : If you want to gain new customers, or grow your email subscriber list, you need to learn how to write good Calls to Action (CTA). This will guide your visitors to take the actions or paths that you want and indicate to them.

At the end of the day, there are many ways to build an audience online . If you have a well-designed photography website and post regularly on social media, you will see that new clients will arrive very quickly!

Make Your Photos Stand Out Online

If you want to professionally follow the photographer’s path, you need your photos to be online. Whether your focus is on nature, weddings, family portraits or urban images, you can showcase your work with a WordPress photography theme and our Website Builder . With these tools you will create, in a simple and fast way, a platform where your clients can not only see, but also contract your services… or subscribe to them.

As a summary, this is how you can create a photography portfolio website:

Choose your domain name and web hosting.
Install a theme with a photography focus.
Use plugins like Envira Gallery and MemberPress to enhance your site.
Create compelling content and share it with the world.

If you are just starting your photography business, perhaps you are looking for a hosting provider that is friendly to your pocketbook. Our shared hosting plans are designed to maximize your performance and possibilities in WordPress, without affecting your finances!