{"id":38558,"date":"2023-01-10T11:53:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T19:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=38558"},"modified":"2025-05-21T23:04:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T06:04:56","slug":"photography-portfolio-website-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/photography-portfolio-website-design\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create an Eye-Catching Photography Portfolio Website (In 4 Steps)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photography is a popular and engaging hobby, especially with the variety and convenience of advanced camera options. Whether you\u2019re into dark rooms and film or high-end digital lenses, turning your photography hobby into an online business<\/a> might be on your radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where WordPress and the time-saving functionality of website builders<\/a> come in. When you combine the content management options of WordPress with drag-and-drop site design capability, it\u2019s easy to turn your big ideas into a professional photography site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will cover four steps for creating a photography website with WordPress. So take that lens cap off your camera, friend, and let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why You Should Consider Starting a Photography Portfolio Website<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a photographer, it\u2019s worth sharing your work online on a portfolio website. This site will serve as a collection of your different photos in one place, advertising your skills to a wide range of users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although you may be tempted to use social media to build your photography business, it can help to have a dedicated website for your brand. Along with showcasing your beautiful images, you\u2019ll be able to add a contact form. This is an easy way for prospective clients to get in touch:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Photography<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Plus, you can organize your website into different galleries. For example, wedding photographers might want to add photo collections for specific couples:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Photography<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A website can also be a great place to showcase your personal style. If your work is colorful and bright, you could display the same qualities in your graphic design. A well-designed landing page can even increase leads<\/a> and conversions:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Photography<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Without a website, you may struggle to connect with new clients. Ultimately, it\u2019ll be more difficult to advertise and distribute your services. Therefore, when you\u2019re ready to grow your business, you\u2019ll want to create an online portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Tips for Building Your Photography Portfolio Website<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Building a site can be a daunting task. To help you get started, here are a few tips to create the best photography portfolio website!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Stick to Your Brand<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first steps in designing a photography website is determining your style or niche. Whatever your focus might be, knowing it ahead of time will help you create your site and target your specific audience. With this in mind, take a few minutes to set some goals for your site and then write them down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since there are many photographers, you\u2019ll want your website to have some personality. By defining your brand niche, you can tell visitors why you\u2019re the best option for their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Jenn Emerling<\/a> is a professional photographer specializing in destination weddings. Instead of being a standard, run-of-the-mill wedding photographer, she defines herself as an \u201cartist who happens to shoot weddings\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Jenn<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Her vibrant, multi-colored website, powered by WordPress and DreamHost<\/a>, has proven to be a huge success. By focusing on her unique approach, Jenn was able to attract dream clients while reflecting her authentic artistic voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Highlight Your Best Work<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When creating an online portfolio<\/a>, your photos should be the center of attention. Since you\u2019re a unique photographer, your website will also have a custom layout and web design. However, make sure that this structure properly highlights your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the very least, you should have a dedicated page for your portfolio. Although you may be tempted to include hundreds of photos for prospective clients to browse, it\u2019s better to showcase 10-20 of your best pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re having trouble narrowing down your work, consider diversifying your portfolio. You\u2019ll want visitors to immediately understand your main niche without displaying the same type of photo over and over. Alternatively, you can also browse competitors\u2019 portfolios to see their images, as well as any holes that you can fill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Use the Right Content Management System<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although options like Adobe Portfolio<\/a> are designed explicitly for creating portfolio websites, we\u2019d recommend a more versatile platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it powers over 30%<\/a> of all websites, WordPress is the most popular Content Management System (CMS)<\/a>. It is a flexible software that can give anyone full control over their online presence:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"WordPress<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Outside of those numbers, WordPress\u2019s practical, open-source software is another reason we suggest it for a photography portfolio website. You can find thousands of free themes and plugins in its directories to extend your site. Whether you need to build an image gallery or contact form, WordPress can help you create a truly unique website for your photography business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One more plus? WordPress software is free<\/a>. You can afford to run a self-hosted website even as a brand-new photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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