Best Website Builders For Photographers
Building a photography website is one of the best ways to showcase your work, attract clients, and even sell prints or services online. But with so many website builders out there, which one is right for you? Let’s break down the top choices, their pros and cons, and what makes each platform a good (or not-so-good) fit for photographers.
Why Every Photographer Needs Their Own Website
As a photographer, you might wonder, “Do I really need my own website? Can’t I just use Instagram or Facebook?” Social media is great for getting your work out there, but having your own website gives you a level of professionalism, control, and flexibility that no social platform can match. Here’s why:
Take your photography online to sell your work, your photography services or as a digital portfolio!
Total Creative Control
On your own website, you decide exactly how your work is displayed. No weird cropping, no distracting ads, and no algorithm deciding who sees your photos. You can build a portfolio that truly reflects your unique style and vision.
Professional Credibility
A website instantly boosts your credibility. It shows clients and collaborators that you take your craft seriously. It’s your digital business card—one that’s always available and easy to share. This is particularly poignant for those that intend to use their website as their digital portfolio – it’s a quick and convenient way to show off the work you’re most proud of!
Client Convenience
If you’re setting up your website to capture more photography clients, with a website, clients can easily browse your galleries, learn about your services, book sessions, and even purchase prints—all in one place. Features like client proofing and password-protected galleries make the whole process smooth and professional.
SEO and Discoverability
Having your own site means you can show up in Google searches, which is huge for attracting new clients. SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is how you can get your website to appear higher up in the search results. When using your website to its full potential, you’ll be able to optimise it to appear in the searches that are most likely to get your work seen by prospective clientele – search is still the most likely place people who want to buy a service or product will be looking. Unlike social media, where your posts get buried after a day or two, your website is always working for you.
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Best Website Builder For Photographers – Deep Dive Analysis
There are lots of different ways to create your website, but if you’re not familiar with website creation, we’d suggest using a website builder to create your first one. These builders don’t tend to involve any specific skills like coding, and often let you integrate complex features like client galleries and online stores easily and will also have site templates for you start with when designing.
Let’s dive into the best website builders for photographers and find the perfect fit for your creative journey! We’re going to be looking at the following website builders and comparing them in terms of price, user experience, how beginner-friendly they are and what features they have that you’ll actually use as a photographer.
Squarespace: For Stunning Visuals
Pricing: From £12 monthly
Squarespace is known for its gorgeous, minimalist templates that make your photos the star of the show. It’s a favourite for commercial and fine art photographers who want a clean, professional look. Squarespace also offers solid e-commerce features, blogging tools, and appointment scheduling. When designing each page, you’re able to quickly switch to mobile view, so you know what your website visitors are going to see, no matter the device they use. Plus, now with the 7.1 fluidity engine, you have more freedom than ever with the look of your Squarespace website.
Pros:
· Beautiful, modern templates optimised for imagery
· Easy-to-use interface and quick setup
· Great for selling prints or services online
· Mobile-responsive designs
Cons:
· Less customisation than Wix
· Slightly higher price point
· No free plan (but a free trial is available)
The School of Photography members can get 10% off Squarespace.
There’s a huge amount of relevant website templates for you to choose from when you get started with designing your website.
Squarespace’s 7.2 fluid engine is a powerful tool when putting your site together.
Wix: The All-Rounder
Pricing: From £9 monthly
Wix is a favourite among photographers for its flexibility, massive template library, and robust feature set. With over 800 templates—many designed specifically for photographers—you can create a site that truly reflects your style. Its drag-and-drop editor is super intuitive, giving you full control over your layout. Wix also offers built-in galleries, client proofing, printing, and even appointment booking for session scheduling.
Pros:
• Huge selection of photography-focused templates
• Drag-and-drop editing with lots of creative freedom
• Client proofing and private albums
• Built-in e-commerce and booking tools
• Free plan available (with ads and Wix branding)
Cons:
• Free/lower-tier plans have ads and Wix branding
• The sheer volume of options can be overwhelming for beginners
• Not the fastest platform if you upload lots of high-res images
wix has a vast range of adaptable website templates for you to start with.
Format: Built for Photographers
Pricing: From $12 monthly
Format is designed specifically for photographers and creatives. It offers sleek, minimalist templates, client proofing, and high-res image hosting. If you want a platform that “just works” for photography portfolios and client galleries, Format is a strong contender.
Pros:
· Tailored features for photographers (client proofing, print sales)
· Simple, clean templates
· Easy setup and management
· Affordable pricing, with a free trial
Cons:
· Limited third-party integrations
Fewer customisation options than Wix or Squarespace
Format’s templates offer simple and sleek design.
There’s plenty of website templates to choose from with Format, plus they also display the mobile versions for you to see as you browse.
Pixpa: All-in-One for Creatives
Pricing: From £6.05 monthly
Pixpa is another platform built with photographers in mind. It combines portfolio creation, e-commerce, and client proofing in one place. It’s affordable, easy to use, and offers enough customisation for most needs.
Pros:
· Designed for photographers and artists
· Integrated client proofing and e-commerce
· Affordable pricing
· Fast setup
Cons:
· Less flexibility than Wix or WordPress
· Smaller template library
The School of Photography members can also get 25% off their first year Pixpa subscription.
Pixpa offers a simple way of editing your site.
Pixpa has plenty of website design template options specifically for photographers.
Client galleries
If you’re setting up your website with the intention of having client galleries, the next website builders would be a good thing for you to consider, as these have this feature built in, enabling your photography clients to buy their printed products directly from the website.
SmugMug & Zenfolio: For Selling and Client Galleries
Pricing:
Smugmug - From $30 monthly
Zenfolio - From £7 monthly
Both SmugMug and Zenfolio are tailored for photographers looking to sell prints, offer client galleries, and manage proofing. They’re especially popular with event and wedding photographers who need password-protected galleries and unlimited storage.
Pros:
· Unlimited photo storage
· Great for selling prints and digital downloads
· Client gallery and proofing tools
Cons:
· Less design flexibility than Wix or Squarespace
· Templates can feel dated
· More focused on business than creative control
The School of Photography members can also get 15% Smugmug website plans.
Smugmug website example.
Zenfolio website template options.
SITE123 & Webador: Simple and Fast
Pricing:
SITE123 - Free or $12.80 per month
Webador - Free or from £4.50 per month
If you just want to get something online quickly with minimal fuss, SITE123 and Webador are good options. They’re easy to use but don’t offer the same level of creative freedom or advanced features as the bigger platforms.
Pros:
· Very easy to set up
· Basic gallery and e-commerce features
· Affordable
Cons:
· Limited customisation
· Not ideal for complex or highly branded sites
Photography-specific website templates available on SITE123.
Website templates available with Webador.
Quick Comparison Table
| Platform | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Creative control, all-in-one | Huge template selection, flexible | Overwhelming options, ads on free |
| Squarespace | Visual impact, e-commerce | Stunning templates, easy to use | Less customizable, no free plan |
| Format | Photographers, client proofing | Tailored features, easy setup | Fewer integrations, limited options |
| Pixpa | All-in-one for creatives | Affordable, integrated tools | Less flexibility, small template set |
| SmugMug | Selling prints, client galleries | Unlimited storage, proofing tools | Dated templates, less creative |
| SITE123 | Quick, simple sites | Fast setup, basic features | Limited design, basic functionality |
Conclusion
If you want maximum creative freedom and lots of features, Wix is hard to beat. For a visually stunning, easy-to-manage site, Squarespace is a top pick. If photography-specific tools like client proofing and high-res galleries are your priority, Format or Pixpa are worth a look. For selling prints and managing client galleries, SmugMug and Zenfolio are strong choices.
Whatever you choose, remember: your website is your digital storefront. Pick a builder that fits your workflow, showcases your work beautifully, and helps you grow your photography business.
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