Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio →
Imagine this–someone stumbles across your photography portfolio, clicks through your best shots and immediately thinks, “This is the photographer I need.” That’s the power of a photography portfolio. It doesn’t just showcase your work; it tells your story, captivates your audience and makes them excited to work with you.
Whether you’re new to photography or a seasoned pro, your online portfolio is the first step toward unlocking incredible opportunities. Using the right website builder or AI website builder can help you create a portfolio that’s as beautiful and professional as your photography. But how do you make your portfolio truly picture-perfect? Keep reading to learn exactly how to create a portfolio that feels as unique and impactful as the photos you take.
If you’re just getting started, Wix’s guides on how to build a website from scratch, how to start a photography business and photography portfolios are also great resources to help you on your journey.
Showcasing your talent should be easy. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio that shows your best work in just a few clicks. Wix’s customizable templates and easy-to-use tools let you present your skills with confidence–leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your site.
What is a photography portfolio?
A photography portfolio is a collection of your best and most meaningful work. It’s a window into your style, skills and creative vision as a photographer. Traditionally, portfolios were printed and shared in person. Today, most photographers have shifted to learning how to create an online portfolio to showcase their work to a much larger audience.
A strong photography portfolio does these three things:
Showcase your technical skills
Communicated your artistic identity
Addresses customer needs
Thoughtfully choose your best work and present it in a user-friendly, visually appealing way to set yourself apart.
How to make a photography portfolio in 10 steps
Creating a photography portfolio may seem daunting, but by following these ten steps, you can showcase your work effectively and leave a lasting impression.
01. Select your best work
Carefully choose your best images that highlight your skills and style that align with your niche–whether it’s portraits, landscapes, events or editorial work. Don’t feel the need to add every single photo you’re proud of–less is more when it comes to impact. The goal is to leave a lasting impression with a concise, curated selection of photographs.
Pro tip: Images should be high-resolution, properly edited photos that you’re proud to show to the world.
02. Pick a domain and website host
Choosing the right domain name and website host is the foundation to building a professional online photography portfolio. Your domain should be simple, memorable and ideally, reflect your name or business.
After selecting your domain, focus on a reliable hosting solution. With free web hosting options available, you can ensure fast load times and stability, preventing missed opportunities from slow or faulty pages.
Pro tip: You can use a domain name search to find the perfect match. Also explore portfolio name ideas for inspiration.
03. Choose a website builder and template
Building your photography portfolio doesn’t have to be complicated, even if you’re not tech-savvy. A website builder makes the process simple and stress-free. Wix, for example, is perfect for photographers because of its easy-to-use interface, flexibility and creative freedom. It lets you design a portfolio without needing any coding skills.
Start by browsing through photography templates. Look for a clean, minimalist layout that gives your photos room to shine. Templates with lots of white space are ideal, since they keep the focus on your photographs.
Once you’ve found a template you love, it’s time to make it your own. Customize it with your branding, like your logo, colors and fonts to give your portfolio a personal touch.
Learn more:
04. Design a strong homepage
Your homepage is the first impression most visitors will have of your portfolio, so it’s important to make it count. Add a striking featured image or carousel showcasing your best work. This will instantly grab viewers attention and give them a taste of what you do. Include your name and a short description or tagline that speaks to your niche or photography speciality–something that lets people know right away who you are and what you’re about.
The About page is your chance to tell your story. Share why photography is your passion, talk about any professional milestones and explain what sets you apart as a photographer. Keep it short and sweet–people come for the photos, not the text. A friendly portrait of yourself can help establish trust and professionalism, and it’s something many of the best portfolio websites do to make you feel connected to the person behind the lens.
Explore homepage photography website examples.
05. Showcase your work
Your portfolio should make it easy for viewers to browse through your best work. A great way to organize it is by dividing your photos into categories or galleries–like wedding photography, lifestyle portraits and travel shots. Make sure to include a mix of client projects and personal work to show your versatility.
Understanding what web design is and photography website design can really help here. A thought-out layout will make your portfolio easy to navigate and show off your photos in the best light. If you feel it’s helpful, add short captions or descriptions to give some context–like where the photo was taken or the inspiration behind it. This little touch can go a long way in making your work feel more personal and meaningful.
Learn more:
06. Make yourself easy to contact
Making it easy for customers to reach out is a crucial part of a photography portfolio. After all, no matter how stunning your photos are, they can’t book you if they can’t find a way to reach out.
Start by setting up a contact page for your photography website. It’s important to have a dedicated space where customers can quickly find ways to get in touch. Keep your tone friendly and professional, so people feel comfortable contacting you.
Offer multiple options for contact, like your email address, a simple contact form and links to your social media profiles. This way, customers can choose the method they’re most comfortable with.
Pro tip: Include clear call-to-actions (CTAs) like “Get in touch” or “Book a session” to encourage visitors to take the next step.
07. Stay social
Your photography doesn’t just live on your website—social media platforms are essential marketing strategies for promoting your work. Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook are perfect places to share your photos and connect with a larger audience.
Start by adding links to your social media profiles on your portfolio website. You can even embed these links into your gallery pages to make it easy for visitors to explore your social accounts. You can also add a social share button to photos to let people share your work with their networks.
If you’re feeling ambitious, you could build a blog using a blog maker to share behind-the-scenes content, photography tips or insights into your creative process. This is a great way to keep your portfolio fresh, add value for your audience and even improve search engine optimization (SEO). It’s also a fun way to show your personality and connect with your followers on a deeper level. If you’re curious, here’s a guide on how to start a photography blog.
According to Sarah Adam, head of marketing partnerships & influencer marketing at Wix:
"Marketing is constantly changing, and to remain competitive and stand out, you need to keep up with industry shifts. Tactics that worked last year are no longer recommended today. Influencer marketing is a great example of that — it's continually changing and evolving, which is the core nature of the industry."
08. Optimize for SEO
Creating a portfolio is only half the battle–it’s important that people can actually find it. This is where SEO comes in. SEO helps your photography portfolio show up in relevant online searches, driving more website traffic and making sure customers discover your work.
Start by doing keyword research to identify the words and phrases your audience might use when searching for photographers or services. For example, “portrait photographer" or “wedding photography.” Once you have a list, weave those keywords naturally into your website copy, image captions and descriptions.
Next, focus on optimizing your web content. A few easy steps include:
Alt text for images: Descriptive alt text helps with website accessibility and provides more opportunities for search engines to understand and rank your images.
Meta titles: Clearly summarize what your portfolio is about, including relevant keywords. This helps search engines, and visitors, know what your site is about before they click.
Mobile optimization: Most people are browsing the web on their mobile devices, so make sure you learn how to make your photography website mobile friendly.
Remember, SEO isn’t a one-time task. Regularly updating your portfolio with new work and blog posts can boost rankings and keep your site fresh.
According to Mordy Oberstein, head of SEO branding at Wix:
"Leveraging SEO and integrating it into the website creation process is vital. Various studies have shown that organic search is the single greatest provider of traffic to websites, which is even more pronounced in the B2B context. Additionally, traffic from organic search, when done correctly, is essentially built to last (with proper maintenance over time, of course) and forms a crucial part of a site’s long-term growth."
09. Start an online shop (optional)
Turning your photography portfolio into an online store is a great way to monetize your work. You can sell products like prints, digital downloads or branded merchandise. For instance, you might offer ecommerce photography prints or other items like t-shirts, mugs or tote bags featuring your work.
Introduce seasonal items or collaborate with others to spark interest and encourage repeat visits. A well-designed store creates a smooth shopping experience and helps turn your passion into income.
10. Keep your portfolio updated
Your photography portfolio should grow with your career. Regularly update it with your latest work to keep it fresh and relevant. Swap out older images that no longer represent your current style or expertise, and make sure it always shows your best, most recent shots.
Think of your portfolio as a reflection of your personal brand–it’s more than just a collection of photos. It’s a chance to show off your expertise and unique perspective as a photographer. By creating your portfolio thoughtfully, you’ll tell a story about who you are and the kind of projects you’re passionate about. But don’t forget to keep your audience in mind. If you’re targeting commercial clients, focus on polished, professional work. For artistic clients, highlight your originality. Using the best portfolio website builders can help you design a site that resonates with your target audience, making the whole experience more impactful.
For an easy way to stay on top of things, check out this website launch checklist to make sure your portfolio runs smoothly.
Photography portfolios built on Wix
To get a better idea of what a professional photography portfolio looks like, check out these examples built on Wix to get a better idea of how to display your own work.
01. Miles Berry Visuals
Miles Berry’s website is a true testament to the power of Wix’s design capabilities. The clean, minimalist layout allows his photography to take center stage, while the easy-to-navigate portfolio section helps potential customers explore their diverse body of work easily.
02. Bobbie-Jo Deal Photography
Bobbie-Jo Deal’s website is beautifully crafted, with a focus on vibrant, high-quality images that showcase their talent. mThe layout makes it easy for visitors to explore different photography styles, from portraits to wedding photography, with smooth transitions and stunning visual appeal.
03. Shutterfish Media
Shutterfish Media’s Wix website features bold visuals that highlight the photographer's storytelling approach. The website is fully optimized to showcase dynamic images with engaging interactive elements, offering a seamless user experience while browsing their impressive portfolio.
04. T.A.Dunmire Photography
Tad Unmire’s website combines an elegant, sleek design with a user-friendly layout that allows visitors to appreciate their work. The gallery feature showcases a variety of photography styles, and the website’s subtle animations add a unique touch to the browsing experience.
05. Erica JK Productions
Erica JK Productions’ portfolio shines with its modern, clean design and crisp style of photography. The site highlights their photography and videography expertise through beautiful galleries and offers intuitive navigation for visitors to easily explore her work across different photography genres.
How to make a photography portfolio FAQ
What should a photography portfolio look like?
A professional photography portfolio should have a clean, simple design that puts the focus entirely on your visuals. Avoid clutter and unnecessary design elements that might distract from your work. Navigation should be intuitive so viewers can easily find what they’re looking for, and content should be well-organized into specific categories or themes, such as portraits, landscapes, or events. A cohesive and polished presentation helps convey your professionalism and artistic vision. Don’t forget to consider the website infrastructure —a reliable platform ensures your portfolio is accessible and performs well for all viewers.