The Best Squarespace Templates for Photographers in 2025 (Free)

My content is reader-supported by awesome people like you. Which means I could earn a commission. Learn more here!

Looking for a Squarespace template that actually showcases your photography the way it deserves?

You’re probably tired of templates that look amazing in demos but fall flat once you add your own images.

Nothing’s more frustrating than spending hours uploading your best work only to find it looks cluttered, generic, or just plain wrong on your site.

I get it.

Your photography deserves a canvas that enhances rather than distracts.

That’s why I’ve put together this guide to the best Squarespace templates specifically designed for photographers, along with customization secrets to make your portfolio stand above the competition.

Table of Contents

Why Squarespace Makes Sense for Photographers

Before diving into specific templates, let’s talk about why Squarespace is such a popular choice among photographers:

Simple visual editor that doesn’t require coding knowledge
Built-in image optimization so your photos load quickly
Mobile-responsive designs that look great on any device
Options for client galleries and image protection
Integrated tools for selling prints or booking sessions

The platform essentially handles all the technical stuff so you can focus on what matters most—your photography.

Best Squarespace Templates for Photographers (By Style)

I’ve tested dozens of templates to find the ones that truly work for photographers.

Here’s a breakdown of my top free picks organized by style and purpose:

Clean & Minimalist Portfolios

Paloma

Best For: Editorial and fashion photographers
Why It Works: Clean white space frames your images beautifully
Standout Feature: Horizontal scrolling gallery option

Wells

Best For: Grid-based portfolio presentation
Why It Works: Symmetrical layout gives equal weight to all images
Standout Feature: Quick-view image previews

Customization Tip: With these minimal templates, try adding subtle hover effects to image titles—this adds interactivity without cluttering your design.

Bold Visual-First Layouts

Sofia Rey

Best For: Photographers building a personal brand
Why It Works: Blends portfolio and personal storytelling
Standout Feature: Large hero sections with text overlay options

Foster

Best For: Making an immediate visual impact
Why It Works: Full-screen images create an immersive experience
Standout Feature: Vertical navigation saves precious screen space

For Selling Prints or Booking Sessions

Clune

Best For: Photographers who sell prints or digital downloads
Why It Works: Combines storytelling with commerce
Standout Feature: Product zoom and gallery integration

Hester

Best For: Landscape or fine art photographers selling work
Why It Works: Visual-first product layouts
Standout Feature: Collection pages that maintain artistic integrity

Hidden Gems Worth Considering

Noll

Best For: Photographers wanting a high-impact homepage with minimal distractions
Why It Works: Clean, editorial layout with large visual blocks
Standout Feature: Excellent for story-driven photography projects

Kester

Best For: Outdoor, landscape, or travel photographers
Why It Works: Full-width image sections create immersive viewing
Standout Feature: Built-in blog and shop layouts

Hawley

Best For: Fine art or studio photographers wanting a gallery-like experience
Why It Works: Crisp, modern aesthetic with generous whitespace
Standout Feature: Smooth scrolling between gallery sections

Rally

Best For: Photographers who want flexibility
Why It Works: Looks basic, but has surprising customization options
Standout Feature: Quick-loading image sections

Devoe

Best For: Photographers with strong vertical imagery
Why It Works: Enhances portrait orientation photos
Standout Feature: Strong vertical scrolling experience

Template Comparison: At-a-Glance Features

Template	Best Photography Style	Built-in Shop	Client Gallery Options	Overall Aesthetic
Paloma	Editorial	No	Yes (via blog/gallery)	Clean, minimal
Sofia Rey	Personal brand	Yes	Limited	Bold, personal
Clune	Commercial/Print sales	Yes	No	Storytelling
Foster	Portfolio showcase	No	Yes	Bold & modern
Noll	Series/Projects	Optional	Yes	Editorial
Hawley	Fine art	Yes	Yes	Gallery-like

Try A Squarespace Template Free

How to Choose the Right Template for Your Photography

Ask yourself these questions to narrow down your options:

Will you be selling prints or photography services?
Do you prefer fullscreen hero images or grid layouts?
Do you need client login or proofing capabilities?
What’s more important: image quantity or large feature images?

Your answers will point you toward certain templates. For example, if selling prints is a priority, focus on Clune or Hester. If you want to showcase editorial work, Paloma or Noll would be better choices.

Advanced Customization Tips Most Photographers Miss

Once you’ve chosen a template, here are some ways to make it truly yours:

Password-Protected Client Galleries

While Squarespace doesn’t have built-in client proofing, you can create password-protected pages:

Create a new page for each client
Add gallery blocks for their photos
Set page visibility to “Password Protected”
Share the password with your client

Adding Hover Effects to Images

Make your galleries more interactive with these steps:

Go to Design > Custom CSS
Add a simple hover effect code snippet:

.image-block img {
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
}
.image-block img:hover {
  opacity: 0.9;
  transform: scale(1.02);
}

SEO for Photography Websites

Name your image files descriptively before uploading (e.g., “central-park-sunset-nyc.jpg”)
Always add relevant alt text to images
Create location or theme-based galleries with keyword-rich descriptions

Mobile Optimization Fixes

Preview your site on multiple devices
Adjust spacing between images for mobile
Consider smaller image sizes for mobile galleries to improve load times

Real-World Photography Sites Using These Templates

I’ve found some fantastic examples of photographers making these templates their own:

A wedding photographer using Kester with custom fonts and a muted color palette
A wildlife photographer using Hawley with full-bleed images and minimal text
A portrait photographer using Paloma with a custom navigation and client area

What makes these sites successful is thoughtful customization, consistent branding, and letting the images take center stage.

Useful Add-Ons for Photography Websites

Scheduling: Integrate Acuity Scheduling for booking photo sessions
Print Sales: Connect with Printful for on-demand printing
Client Management: Use Squarespace forms with conditional logic for inquiries
Backup: Schedule regular exports of your site content

Pros and Cons of Squarespace for Photographers

Pros:

Beautiful templates specifically designed for visual content
No technical skills needed to create a professional site
Built-in SEO tools help clients find your work
Mobile optimization is handled automatically
Integrated commerce for selling digital or print photos

Cons:

Limited client proofing capabilities compared to dedicated platforms
Some advanced customization requires CSS knowledge
Storage limits may affect photographers with vast portfolios
The monthly cost is higher than basic hosting options

FAQ About Squarespace Templates for Photographers

Which Squarespace template works best for wedding photographers?

Wedding photographers typically benefit from templates with storytelling capabilities like Kester or Noll, as they allow you to showcase full wedding stories while maintaining elegant navigation.

Can I sell my photography prints directly through Squarespace?

Yes, Squarespace has built-in e-commerce functionality that allows you to sell prints, digital downloads, or photography services. Templates like Clune and Hester are specially designed for selling.

How do I create a client gallery on Squarespace?

Create password-protected pages for each client, add gallery blocks for their photos, and share the login details. While not as robust as dedicated client gallery platforms, it works well for small to medium client deliveries.

Which Squarespace template loads fastest with many photos?

Wells and Rally tend to perform best with large image collections because of their efficient loading patterns. Remember to optimize your images before uploading regardless of template.

How much customization can I do to a Squarespace photography template?

You can customize colors, fonts, spacing, navigation, and layouts without coding. With basic CSS knowledge, you can make more advanced changes like hover effects and animation.

Do Squarespace templates work well for mobile portfolio viewing?

Yes, all Squarespace templates are fully responsive. Photography templates are specifically designed to adapt images for optimal viewing on phones and tablets.

Which Squarespace template is best for minimalist photography portfolios?

Paloma and Hawley offer the cleanest, most minimalist approach, letting your photography take center stage with ample white space and clean typography.

Can I switch Squarespace templates after building my photography website?

Yes, you can switch templates anytime, though you may need to adjust some content and layout elements after switching. It’s best to export a backup of your site before making the change.

How do I optimize my photography website for search engines on Squarespace?

Use descriptive file names for images, add alt text to all photos, create location or subject-specific gallery pages, and utilize Squarespace’s built-in SEO tools for page titles and descriptions.

I hope this guide helps you find the perfect Squarespace template for your photography business.

Remember that the right template is just the foundation; your unique images and brand personality are what will truly make your site memorable.

Take advantage of Squarespace’s free trial period to test different templates with your actual photos before making a final decision.