While you may think that which photos you present in your photo portfolio is the most important thing to consider, the way that you showcase your work can also have a big influence on the success (or lack thereof) of your photography portfolio website. In fact, a study found that the quality of your photography portfolio layout can have a huge impact on your job prospects.
With that in mind, it’s extremely important that you put a lot of thought and effort into the way you present your photography site: you need to show that you are professional and that you put great care into your work. In order to do so, there are certain design tips that you can follow to help you create a photography portfolio that stands out.
You need to choose a photography portfolio website builder that enables you to insert your own personal design aesthetic and brand identity through themes and templates that truly represent you and your work in the best light. Using a portfolio builder that specializes in online photography portfolios will simplify your experience even more, especially if you’re new to creating an online portfolio.
You don’t have to spend a huge amount of money to build your photography portfolio in order to show that you are confident in your work and that you take your photography career seriously. With prices that fit every budget, you can create a beautiful, fully customizable photo portfolio site.
Want the best site for your photography portfolio? Here are some key photography portfolio website builder features to look out for:
Gorgeous Themes:
The best sites for photographers really cater to the needs of professional photographers. Make sure the photography portfolio website builder has a large selection of photography templates to choose from so you find one that is modern, timeless, and matches your branding, and shows off your photography beautifully.
Flexible Layouts:
There are so many options to choose from when you’re designing your photography portfolio. And, when you’re a photographer, the photography portfolio layout can make or break your photo portfolio site. Look for a website builder that is optimized for mobile and has numerous different layouts available, including grid, gallery, full-screen, tile, and horizontal scroll options. The horizontal scroll layout is a great option for beginner photographers as it looks stunning even with a small number of shots.
Full Customizability:
You want your photography portfolio site to stand out from the rest—and that means you need to be able to customize everything, from favicons to typography. Font-wise, you want to be able to modify the size, weight, color, and positioning of your typography.
Video Support:
As more and more photographers expand into videography, more and more photographers are showcasing their video portfolio as well.
Client Proofing:
Every photographer knows that client back-and-forth can eat up a lot of time. One way to reduce these endless e-mails is to run your client proofing right from your photo portfolio. Client proofing galleries allow clients to view and approve proofs directly from your photography portfolio.
Google Analytics Support and SEO Boosting:
You definitely want to have Google Analytics enabled on your online portfolio so you can have access to all that handy data on who is visiting your professional photography portfolio. Your website builder should optimize your site for SEO, so potential clients can find you with ease.
Built-In Blog:
The best photography sites for photographers have blogging functionality. A blog is great for your photography business in many ways. It can help your clients get to know you a little more—and increase their brand loyalty. It can also help boost your SEO—make it easier for potential clients to find your photo portfolio via search engine. And it can help you establish yourself as an industry expert, by sharing your expertise and a behind-the-scenes look at your process.
Just don’t forget to proofread everything on your blog. Even the best photography portfolio website can be sunk by sloppy copy.
24/7 Customer Support:
It’s always helpful to have a support team at your service around the clock; the best platforms for photography portfolios have top-tier customer success teams in place for any site questions, no matter what time it is.
Free Trial:
Finally, you want to pick a photography portfolio that offers some kind of test period so you can try it first and ensure that the photo portfolio is a perfect fit for your photography business.
Need help creating a photography portfolio? There are plenty of resources online to avoid or fix common portfolio mistakes as well as tools to improve your portfolio. And if you require a little extra help, you can choose a photography portfolio website builder that will offer services to help you build a photography portfolio for you.