6 Best Photography Website Builders (Compare & Create)

Looking for the perfect photography website builder?

or hunting and searching the search engines for terms such as…..

• What Are The Best Photography Website Builders?
• Wix For Photographers
• Best Free Photography Website Builder?

Trust me, you’re not alone

But:

Come to find out, with just a little time you can have your own photography website up and running today.

How I Like To Test These Platforms

A Quick Summary Of The Best Photography Website Builders

• Wix – A simple and easy platform for a photographer with a ton of features
• Zenfolio – Dedicated fully to photographers
• Squarespace – One of the best for creative people and photographers
• Smugmug – Another platform fully dedicated to photographers
• Pixpa – Really have grown as a platform and offers a ton of features
• Redframe – Focused on photographers

#1. Wix – The Best Photography Website Builder 

Wix Has a very nice user-friendly layout with many features.

One of the key things that got me enjoying it was that it took me about 3 minutes (no joke) to actually have a website up and running.

When you start you pick what type of site you want.

Most likely, in this case, a photography website, they even break it down with what type of site such as a wedding photographer.

Wix is free for the basic user but to get what you need I would say you’re going to spend some money to take it to the next level for your photography website.

If you really are serious about Wix and want to read more about it, you have to check out my detailed review on Wix because it should help you see all the value and info on it to make that final decision.

Sell Your Photos Right On Wix

• Integrate your Etsy website to sell
• Turn your pictures into downloads and charge
• Showcase your services and events with an awesome pricing table
• Easily track income and expenses and create invoices

Make It Easy To Get More Bookings

• Let your clients make appointments right on your website
• Let them see your calendar

Wix Pricing Plans:

• Light – $16 monthly
• Core – $27 monthly
• Business – $32 monthly
• Business Elite – $159 monthly
• Enterprise – contact for pricing

Photography Website Example

• Alicia Wiley Photography – I really enjoyed this website.  The detail and setup give you a huge idea of the potential of using Wix.

Testing Done With Wix

• Website photography template selection – is easily one of the easiest in the industry.  What I like is they make it part of the start process as you’re signing up.  I’m not saying it won’t take you a few minutes to decide which one, but being put in the right spot is simple.
• Customer service outreach via email – Keep in mind, Wix doesn’t offer chat which I don’t like.  But based on an email response it took about a day which is pretty standard.
• The starting process – Wix makes it simple to start.  Won’t take you long at all.  You should at least be registered and have a good photography template picked out.
• Adding a new page – This was a really simple process.  I went ahead and clicked on the menu at the top, and clicked manage menu and then added a new page.  Very user-friendly.

Some Cons For Wix Using Them As Your Photography Site?

• You can’t change your template once you go live.  Not a big deal to some, but it might deter you.
• No live chat support.  You can get VIP phone support which is nice.  But, I’m a sucker for live chat help.

Some Pros For Using Wix

• Tons of templates to choose from.  Def gives you an awesome-looking photography website.
• Tons of creative control over what your site will look like.
• Awesome apps that you can add on to make your site do even more.

Photography Templates Offered

Wix has over 500 total templates to choose from.  30 of them are specifically designed for photographers too.  Quite a time saver too, because you can just change the text and pictures and some basic functions and you will be ready to go.

Try Wix    

#2. Zenfolio – Loved By Many Photographers

Zenfolio has quite the rap sheet of awards.

They are a great overall website builder providing tons of photography website builder services for any photographer.

They seem to make it very simple when it comes to client proofing.

You can even create mini-sites for your clients so they can go right there and see their photos.  I found that super beneficial.

Let’s check out some other key benefits for you:

• Marketing Made Easy (SEO, Social Media, Visitor Sign In)
• Easily Sell Online With Over 2,000 Items To Choose From
• Amazing And Award-Winning Customer Service
• Simple Website Design & Customization
• Built-In Photography Blog – Display Your Awesome Photos
• Simple And Nice Zenfolio Template Themes To Easily Customize

Zenfolio Pricing:

• Starter – $5 Monthly
• Pro – $20 Monthly
• Advanced $30 Monthly
• Sometimes when clicking through you will find them running some killer deals.

You can check out a full detailed review about Zenfolio right here.

Try Zenfolio

#3. Squarespace – A Great Photography Builder

Squarespace has some nice features and templates to offer anyone looking for a really nice website builder for your photography needs.

With multiple template options and different pricing plans, you should be able to find something to help compliment your overall needs for your photography business or hobby.

Head on over there and check it out, the worst thing you do is use the free trial to give it a test run.

Perks I love On Squarespace:

• Their style editor (just easy to change your website)
• Mobile Ready (A Must)
• CDN Included (Content Delivery Network)

Pricing For Squarespace

• The Personal Pricing Plan – $12 per month billed annually or $16 billed monthly
• Business Pricing Plan – $18 per month billed annually or $26 billed monthly
• Online Store Basic – $26 per month billed annually or $30 billed monthly
• Online Store Advanced – $40 per month billed annually or $46 billed monthly

Pros For Squarespace

• Super simple and elegant straightforward templates

Cons For Squarespace

• It does have higher pricing than other comparable website builders.
• There is a higher learning curve for Squarespace.  It’s more of an in-depth website builder, but once you learn it you will be good.  This won’t be an issue for everybody though.

Try Zenfolio

#4. Smugmug

Smugmug is a terrific website builder that focuses on photography needs.

It also offers a ton of storage which is a very big deal for a photographer.

Let’s look at some key pros:

• Great privacy control
• It has unlimited storage on all plans
• The customer support is solid to use
• You can sell prints immediately
• Images are fully protected
• You have unlimited photo uploads
• Soley focused on photography 
• 14-day free trial
• There is a client login area
• You can sync it with Lightroom

Let’s check out some cons of SmugMug

• The eCommerce plans can be a little pricey
• The design features such as editing it isn’t the best (typical learning curve I’d say)

How much is Smugmug?

• 14-day free trial with no credit card required
• $7 a month for their basic plan and $5 a month for a year’s contract
• $42 a month for the top tier or $30 a month over a year contract

Try SmugMug Free

#5. Pixpa – A Nice All In One Photography Builder

Pixpa is quite a well-known photography website builder.

I like they have really focused on putting everything in one spot which is important.

Pricing For Pixpa

• Basic Plan – $4.80 if paid annually or $6 monthly
• Creator Plan – $9.60 if paid annually or $12 monthly
• Professional – $14.40 if paid annually or $18 monthly
• Advanced Plan – $20 if paid annually or $25 monthly

Some Things To Know

• The start plan only allows up to 200 images and lets you sell 3 things
• 15-day free trial with no credit card needed

Some Cons Of Pixpa

• No publishing during your trial period.  A bit limited and would love to see the ability to publish during this period.
• Can’t use the same photo in galleries unless you reload it.  Nice to be able to just copy and paste it over.

Some Pros Of Pixpa

• Very easy to use which of course is a key thing with website builders, but this is good to know too.
• Excellent customization of navigation menus which means you can shape the visitor experience to your liking

Photographers Using Pixpa

Shot By Karyn – This is a nice example of a wedding photographer.

Try Pixpa

#6. Redframe – A Great Photography Website Software

Redframe is a dedicated provider to the person needed a website for their photography business.

Since 2004, they have grown to over 60,000+ photographers using their service for a beautiful website.

Powerful Perks:

• Commission Free
• Personalize A Photo Gallery Just For Your Clients
• Integrate Google Analytics
• Mobile Responsive
• Full Access To CSS
• Unlimited Galleries
• Easily Sell Photos

Redframe Pricing:

• Annual is paid at $16 monthly with a 33% savings for the year or $30 monthly

Now:

They also offer Bi-annual, 2-year, and 3-year plans as well as early subscription promotions with prices going as low as $13.17/month.

Try RedFrame

Best Photography Website Builder FAQ

What makes a website builder ideal for photographers?

Alright, let’s dive straight in. At its core, a killer website builder for photographers should tick a few key boxes: intuitive design capabilities, because not everyone’s a coding wizard, right? It should also offer stunning, customizable galleries to showcase your work because your photos deserve to be front and center. Reliable hosting is another biggie, ensuring your site is always up and running. Lastly, SEO tools are crucial; they help your website get the visibility it needs without making you feel like you’re trying to crack a secret code.

Can I sell my photography directly from my website?

Absolutely, yes! Most top-tier builders now include integrated e-commerce platforms making it a breeze to sell your artwork directly from your site. Look for features like secure payment options, inventory tracking, and of course, user-friendly shopping cart functionality. It’s all about creating a smooth browsing and buying experience for your clients, making it as easy as pie for them to snag their favorite prints.

Are there website builders that support high-resolution images?

Yes, and it’s pretty much a deal-breaker if they don’t. The best builders out there understand that photography websites are all about the visuals. They support high-res images and make sure that your photos load quickly and look crisp on any device. This means no more playing the waiting game for your images to load or worrying about pixelated disasters.

How important are security features in a photography website builder?

In one word: super important. With online presence, there’s always a risk, so having top-notch security features is non-negotiable. Look for SSL certificates to keep your site secure, regular backups to save the day in case anything ever goes sideways, and privacy controls so you can manage who sees what. Keeping your work and your clients’ info safe is a big part of the trust equation online.

Can I optimize my photography website for mobile users?

Yes, and frankly, this should be on your must-have list. Mobile optimization isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore; it’s essential. A majority of users are likely viewing your site from their smartphones, so it’s critical that your site looks just as stunning and works just as smoothly on a small screen. Look for a website builder that automatically adjusts your content for mobile users. It’s all about giving your audience a flawless viewing experience, no matter how they access your site.

What should I look for in terms of customer support from a website builder?

Here’s the deal: even with the most user-friendly builder, you might hit a snag or two. That’s when robust customer support becomes your best friend. Look for 24/7 support through live chat or email, extensive online resources like tutorials and FAQs, and a community forum for those times you might need a bit of inspiration or troubleshooting help from fellow users. It’s all about having the right support, right when you need it.

My Final Thoughts On The Best Photography Website Builders

Finding the best photography website builder that meets all your needs take a little time and research.

But:

you should have a better grasp after reading this article and testing these out.

Let’s Recap:

The 6 Best Photography Website Builders:

• Wix
• Zenfolio
• Squarespace
• Smugmug
• Pixpa
• Redframe

Now, when it comes to me choosing one I’m going to select Wix personally.

I love the tons of templates and easy editing it offers.

Which, sure I have quite a bit of experience getting around website builders.

But, when I look at it in helping my readers, it’s super user-friendly

Which, is needed especially if you’re new to building a website.

So, just to ask you:

Have you tried any of these out yet?

Image Credit: Image Credit