When starting a photography business, capturing the perfect shot is just the beginning. Showing your artistry to the world in the best light requires a digital platform that complements your work. Knowing how to make a website and find the best platform to improve your brand, sell your designs and just share your art with others is very important if you want to stand out.
But with the vast array of website builders available today, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs? Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this guide explores the top website builders for photographers to help you find the perfect platform for starting your business.
Launch your photography website with Wix today.
8 of the best website builders for photographers
01. Wix
If you want to build a photography website that actually holds your audience’s attention, it needs to serve as a one-stop shop for your entire online presence. Whereas there are plenty of website builders that can provide the templates you need to build an attractive website, few have as rich of an array of website features and website apps as Wix does.
With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and hundreds of highly customizable templates, learning how to use Wix is a breeze. Photographers will find the content manager exceptionally handy, as it allows you to upload batches of photos that automatically populate in the gallery layout of your choice. Want to change the order of your photos? You can do that with ease, highlighting Wix's commitment to customizability.
If all that weren’t enough, Wix features and AI tools add another layer of simplicity to the design process. If the available templates don’t quite capture your vision, Wix offers one of the best AI website builder on the market. For photographers who think in images rather than words, the AI text creator will help you craft compelling copy to accompany your visuals.
Wix goes beyond being just a website builder—it's a complete toolkit for running your photography business. Thanks to the built-in scheduling software, potential clients can easily schedule appointments with you directly through your website. For those eyeing additional revenue streams, Wix's print-on-demand feature lets you sell directly from your online store without ever needing to handle the physical products yourself. And when it comes to drawing traffic to your site, Wix has you covered with SEO features, an email marketing manager, an ad manager, a blog maker and more to enhance your online presence.
Why we picked it:
Advanced eCommerce functionality
Built-in scheduling software
Print-on-demand opportunities
AI website generation capabilities
Ideal for: Full-service studios.
Pricing: $0-$159/month. Premium plans available.
Free plan ($0): Limited features and ads.
Light ($17/month): Basic plan for simple sites.
Core ($29/month): Basic eCommerce features and marketing suite.
Business $36/month): Geared towards growing your brand.
Business Elite ($159/month): Unlocks unlimited storage & scaling capabilities.
Enterprise: Custom plan for large corporations.
Learn more: Best freelance website builders
02. Webflow
Webflow earns itself a place on this list of the best website builders for photographers by offering a robust platform that marries visual design freedom with the precision of coding. It's a step up from the usual drag-and-drop interfaces, catering to photographers who possess a bit of tech savvy and want to carve out a unique space online.
Webflow distinguishes itself by generating clean, semantic code as you design visually. This is particularly helpful because it bridges the gap between design and development. For photographers who value both aesthetics and functionality, Webflow's platform means that as you drag, drop and design your site, it automatically translates your design choices into professional, standards-compliant HTML and CSS code.
This auto-coding capability ensures that the technical side of your site is sound, which helps to make a website accessible, SEO-friendly and fast. Essentially, it's like having a coder translating your creative vision into web language in real time, ensuring that your website not only looks good but is built solidly from the ground up. This feature is useful for those who may not be experts in coding but still want a website that ranks well on search engines and delivers a quality user experience.
While Webflow's learning curve is steeper compared to other website builders and requires at least a basic understanding of web design and coding, the investment in learning can pay off in terms of the quality and uniqueness of the website created.
Why we picked it:
Full design control
Clean, semantic code generator
Built-in interaction and animation tools
Ideal for: Tech-savvy photographers.
Pricing: Plans start at $12 per month.
03. Zyro
Zyro is an up-and-coming website builder that has garnered attention for its simplicity, affordability and design versatility.
Central to Zyro's allure for photographers is its selection of attractive templates. Each design is crafted with visual content in mind, ensuring photographers have an optimal canvas to showcase their work proudly. The drag-and-drop interface is great for artists who may not have extensive technical knowledge but want a site that mirrors the quality of their photographs.
An added advantage is Zyro's AI-driven tools. These tools, ranging from content generators to logo creators, can be instrumental for photographers who are in the initial stages of building their brand. With AI assistance, photographers can get a head start on branding and content, making sure their site isn’t just visually appealing but also updated with relevant content. Zyro's AI Heatmap tool can help you accurately predict how visitors see and navigate a web page, enabling you to optimize elements of your website in a way that maximizes performance, user behavior and conversions.
Why we picked it:
AI capabilities
Beginner-friendly editor
Template selection
Ideal for: Emerging photographers.
Pricing: Plans start at $12.99 per month.
04. Zenfolio
Zenfolio is a platform designed primarily for photographers to showcase, share and sell their work online. This would not only allow you to display your work but also to sell your work in the form of prints and photo books. The platform streamlines the sales process with integrated payments and customizable price lists, enabling photographers to manage their art and business in one easy-to-use space.
Zenfolio's photo-proofing tools offer an added layer of professionalism to the experience. Photographers can share private galleries with clients, facilitating the feedback and selection processes. This collaboration tool ensures efficient workflows and boosts client relationships.
Zenfolio's automated workflow feature is like having a digital assistant by your side that helps you simplify your routine and keep your audience engaged. It automatically nudges customers to revisit abandoned carts, reminds them of upcoming bookings and dispatches shipping confirmations. And when it comes to engaging potential buyers, personalized email campaigns can be crafted and dispatched with ease, drawing them back to your online gallery. But it's not just about reminders and emails. Zenfolio assists with order fulfillment, ensuring that products are delivered without a hitch and even offers smart pricing recommendations, helping you set competitive rates for your work.
The PhotoRefine Photo Culling tool stands out in the sea of website builder features, offering a unique time-saving solution. You take the reins by setting the criteria and parameters, which allows the tool to sort through your images, pinpoint duplicates and adjust AI settings to your preference. PhotoRefine then groups like photos and rates them according to your specifications, assesses image quality and employs facial recognition to identify individuals, streamlining the process of sorting and grouping shots by subject.
Why we picked it:
Automated workflow features
Photo-proofing tools
Photo-culling tools
Ideal for: Time-strapped photographers.
Pricing: Plans start at $5 per month.
05. Pixpa
Pixpa stands out in the sea of website builders for its focus on helping creatives like photographers sell their work online. At its core, Pixpa acknowledges that today’s photographers are not just artists but also entrepreneurs, necessitating a platform that caters to both facets of their profession.
Whether it's selling prints, licensing images or offering photography courses or workshops, Pixpa’s integrated eCommerce tools simplify the commercial side of photography. Like other platforms, this one supports customizable price lists, inventory management, discount codes and more, all while ensuring a secure and seamless payment gateway integration. In addition, Pixpa does not charge any setup fees, listing fees or transaction fees on the products or orders of your Pixpa Store.
Pixpa may not boast the same level of flexibility or as many templates as Wix, yet it stands out with specialized features for photographers. Its eCommerce-enabled galleries allow your portfolio to serve a dual purpose, letting admirers purchase their favorite images directly. Plus, the fully responsive design ensures your site and images display beautifully across all devices.
Client interaction is pivotal in the photography business. Pixpa's client galleries offer a collaborative space where photographers can share, proof and sell their images. Clients can review, select or purchase images directly from these galleries, streamlining the workflow and enhancing the overall client experience. Adding to the user experience, you can use the Mobile Gallery App to offer clients a personalized and engaging way to interact with their photos through a dedicated platform.
In addition to championing visual display, Pixpa realizes the growing significance of eCommerce in the world of photography. Whether it's selling prints, licensing images or offering online courses or workshops, Pixpa’s integrated eCommerce tools simplify the commercial side of photography. With all its benefits, you won’t find many third-party integrations to use with Pixpa.
Why we picked it:
Ecommerce-enabled galleries
Client interaction facilitation
Simplified designer
Ideal for: Entrepreneurial photographers.
Pricing: Plans start at $7 per month.
06. Webnode
Webnode's commitment to simplifying the process of setting up a digital footprint makes it a good choice for photographers looking for a hassle-free website-building experience. For photographers, this translates to an array of elegantly designed templates that cater to the needs of visual portfolios. These templates are not only aesthetically pleasing but also adaptive, ensuring that photographs are rendered beautifully across all device types and on all screens.
Although the drag-and-drop editor is more rigid compared to other website builders, this limitation becomes an asset for novices, making it almost effortless to assemble a sleek, professional website without getting bogged down by complexity.
Like others, Webnode offers multilingual support, an essential feature for photographers who aim to connect with an international audience. This aspect of the platform underscores Webnode's dedication to broadening the reach of its users, ensuring that language is no barrier to the appreciation of visual art.
Why we picked it:
User-friendly interface
Responsive design templates
Multilingual support
Ideal for: Web-design novices.
Pricing: Plans start at $3.90 per month.
07. Carbonmade
Carbonmade has made a mark in the world of online portfolios, distinguishing itself through its interesting design approach and focus on personal branding. Created out of a desire to provide creatives with a unique space to showcase their work, Carbonmade emphasizes both individuality and simplicity in its platform.
What sets Carbonmade apart is its dynamic visual looks. Carbonmade has moved away from using traditional templates, embracing a more flexible approach where users can customize almost every aspect of their portfolios, so everyone starts from a blank canvas. Their new web builder has unlimited layout options, allowing you to change colors, fonts, styling and more without the need for coding.
In the competitive world of photography, personal branding is of high importance, and this is where Carbonmade shines brightly. The platform offers integrated branding tools, allowing photographers to craft a distinct online persona. From custom domains to uniquely styled about pages and CV integrations, Carbonmade makes a photographer's portfolio an extension of their brand, resonating with their style and message.
Another advantage is Carbonmade's user-friendly interface. The platform is intuitive, ensuring that even those new to the world of digital portfolios can easily navigate its features. The drag-and-drop system, coupled with real-time previews, lets photographers experiment with layouts, designs and branding elements until they find the perfect fit.
Carbonmade is not just another portfolio builder: it's a branding platform for photographers. It understands that in the digital age, a photographer's work and their brand are one. By offering tools that prioritize personal branding among a sea of generic portfolios, Carbonmade not only allows you to showcase your work but also to leave an indelible imprint on your audience.
Why we picked it:
Integrated blogging
Video support
Unique editor
Ideal for: Photographers who need branding help.
Pricing: Plans start at $8 per month.
08. Adobe Portfolio
Adobe Portfolio is included in Creative Cloud subscriptions so, if you’re already using Photoshop or Lightroom, it’s worth giving it a go before you explore any of the other website builders we’ve discussed.
As part of the well-known Adobe family, this photography website builder draws on decades of design and software excellence. It offers an array of clean, responsive templates, meticulously crafted to highlight your photographs. Plus, you get access to the thousands of Adobe fonts, which ensures that the presentation of your work is as professional as the art itself.
Integration is another of Adobe Portfolio's strong suits. For example you will find that the Adobe-owned Behance is available to integrate and showcase your creative work. Photographers can effortlessly pull images from Lightroom or Photoshop directly into their portfolios. This seamless connection between applications simplifies the workflow, reducing the hassle of exporting, uploading or constantly updating the portfolio as everything is a part of a larger ecosystem.
Beyond mere portfolio creation, Adobe Portfolio allows you to connect a personalized domain and supports Google Analytics integrations. That said, its lack of eCommerce functionality will be a drawback for photographers who hope to sell their work directly through their site.
Why we picked it:
Free for Adobe Creative Cloud users
Seamless integration with Adobe toolkit
Customizable themes
Ideal for: Adobe Creative Cloud users.
Pricing: Included with Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.
Best website builders for photographers review
How to find the best photography website builder for you
When it's time to select a website builder, the choice becomes a critical decision that directly impacts your online presence, brand, eCommerce store and professional image. Here's what to look for when choosing a website builder tailored for photography:
01. Image quality and gallery options
As a photographer, you understand that image quality is paramount. It's essential to pick a website builder that maintains your images' high resolution and offers a range of gallery styles to display your work at its best. Seek out platforms that deliver a variety of presentation options, such as slideshows and masonry grids, while ensuring fast load times and consistent display across different devices. It's critical to assess the load times since some builders may struggle with the weight of high-resolution images, leading to slower speeds that can affect user experience.
02. Ease of use and management
For photographers who'd rather be capturing moments than clicking through menus, an intuitive website builder is crucial. Look for one with drag-and-drop capabilities, easy uploading and no-fuss organization that streamline your administrative tasks. The right builder should save you time, freeing you up to focus on your photography, not on managing a website.
03. Customization
Your photography is as unique as your fingerprint, and your website should echo that singularity. Seek out a website builder that serves up a generous array of customization options, empowering you to adjust design elements like fonts, colors and layouts to mirror your brand and artistic voice. Think of your website as an extension of your digital identity—a place where a compelling user experience harmonizes with your unique artistic style.
04. Mobile optimization
Photographers need a website builder that ensures their portfolio is as stunning on a phone as it is on a desktop, just like Wix does. A mobile-responsive design is non-negotiable—it guarantees your work is showcased beautifully and is easily accessible to the swathes of users scrolling on their mobile devices. You certainly don’t want to overlook the potential of the constantly connected mobile audience.
05. SEO tools for visual content
For photography websites, where visuals take center stage, SEO demands a focus on image-related features. It’s essential to use SEO tools that enhance image visibility. This means incorporating alt text that guides search engines through the content behind your images, customizing file names for clarity and applying accurate tagging to bolster discoverability and improve your rankings in search results.
06. Affordability and future growth
When it comes to choosing a photography website builder, you need to know how much a website costs against the provided features. Free versions of some builders might not meet the professional standards required for a burgeoning photography business. It’s crucial to select a platform that not only fits your current budget but also scales with your portfolio and audience growth. Opt for a builder that supports the evolution of your online presence in a cost-effective way, ensuring your digital showcase remains both impressive and affordable as your business expands.
07. Integrated selling and client services
Photographers who market their art or provide bespoke services need a website builder with robust eCommerce features and dedicated client proofing spaces. The ideal builder should seamlessly incorporate the ability to sell prints, offer digital downloads, connect with third-party applications and facilitate smooth client interactions, making the process of showcasing and selling work as efficient as possible. Select a platform that bridges the gap between your creative output and business transactions with ease.
08. Dedicated support and resources
For photographers, especially those not well-versed in web development, reliable customer support is crucial. Opt for a website builder backed by a strong support system, complete with detailed help guides and a vibrant user community. This kind of support network can be invaluable, making the process of building and maintaining your site much smoother.
How to choose the best website builder for photography
Choosing the best website builder for photography requires considering several factors to ensure it meets the specific needs of showcasing and promoting your photography portfolio effectively. Here's a guide to help you select the right website builder:
Portfolio templates: Look for a website builder that offers a variety of professionally designed portfolio templates tailored specifically for photographers as well as per industry (for example, if you wish to showcase your photos in a fashion portfolio to attract potential clients). These templates should highlight your photography work effectively and provide customization options to match your style and branding.
Image quality and display: Ensure the website builder provides high-resolution image support and offers features for displaying your photos in a visually appealing manner. Look for options such as full-screen slideshows, grid layouts, lightbox galleries and image zoom functionality.
Customization options: Choose a website builder that offers extensive customization options for designing and organizing your photography portfolio. This includes the ability to customize colors, fonts, layouts and add personalized branding elements such as logos and watermarks.
Image protection: Ensure the website builder offers features to protect your images from unauthorized downloading or usage, such as watermarks, image encryption or password-protected galleries, to safeguard your work and intellectual property rights.
Integration with photography tools: Choose a website builder that integrates seamlessly with photography tools and platforms you use, such as Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop or photography portfolio management software, to streamline your workflow and manage your photography portfolio effectively.
eCommerce functionality: If you plan to sell prints or digital downloads of your photos, consider a website builder that offers eCommerce functionality, including options for setting up online galleries, accepting payments securely and managing orders and fulfillment.
Customer support: Select a website builder that provides reliable customer support, including various support channels like email, live chat or phone support, to assist you with any technical issues or questions you may encounter while building and managing your photography website.
Price and plans: Evaluate the pricing structure and plans offered by the website builder, considering factors such as subscription costs, transaction fees (if applicable), storage limits and features included in each plan. Choose a plan that fits your budget and offers the features you need to showcase your photography effectively.
How to optimize your photography website
Optimizing your photography website goes beyond aesthetics; it involves strategic use of analytics. Here's how to make data work for your site:
Know your audience: Analytics reveal critical information about your visitors, from age to geographic location and even the devices they use to browse. This knowledge is invaluable for tailoring your content and marketing efforts to resonate with your audience more effectively.
Assess content impact: Through analytics, identify which images or blog entries capture the most interest. This feedback is crucial for future content creation, steering you towards what your audience prefers.
Improve engagement: Analytics provide metrics like page views and bounce rates, which highlight how visitors interact with your site. If engagement is low, it might be a cue to revamp your site's design, improve content placement or enhance load times.
Refine marketing strategies: Analytics show which marketing channels are the most effective in driving traffic and conversions. This insight allows for smarter budget allocation and more targeted marketing approaches.
Set and track goals: Define what success looks like—be it sales, sign-ups or inquiries—and use analytics to monitor these goals. This ongoing review process helps pinpoint successful tactics and areas needing improvement.
Using analytics isn't just a behind-the-scenes activity; it's a proactive step towards ensuring your photography website connects and converts your audience into clients or fans.
Best website builders for photographers FAQ
Which photography website builders are best for beginners with no coding experience?
Website builders like Wix are user-friendly options for those with no coding experience. They offer intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces that make the process straightforward.
Can I switch to a different website builder later on?
Are free website builder plans sufficient for my photographer business needs?
Do photography website builders offer SEO tools and features?
Can I integrate eCommerce features on any website builder?
How secure are photography website builders?
Is it possible to create a photography website that supports multiple languages?
Can I use my domain name with any photography website builder?
How often should I update or refresh my photography website's content?
Sign up for Wix to start building your photography website today.
Editor’s note: all prices are current as of November 3, 2023.