Building your Photography Portfolio Website
As a beginner photographer, one of the most crucial steps you’ll take in attracting your clients is building your photography portfolio website and establishing your brand. Your portfolio is your digital storefront, showcasing your talent, style, and unique perspective to potential clients.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the essentials of creating a compelling portfolio and we’ll discuss various options for quick website builders to get your business going!
1. Understanding the Importance of Your Portfolio Website:
Your photography portfolio serves as a visual resume, allowing potential clients to get an idea of your skills, creativity, and expertise in your niche of photography. It’s your opportunity to make a memorable first impression and stand out in a competitive industry. Whether you specialize in weddings, portraits, landscapes, or commercial photography, a well-curated portfolio communicates your professionalism and what you have to offer your potential clients.
2. Choosing the Right Website Builder:
I’m going to be honest here, you will eventually want to set up a website that can produce good Search Engine Optimization (SEO). WordPress is going to be your go-to for great SEO. If you are in a hurry and just want to get a free website up I would recommend using Pixieset….
More options:
Please understand in choosing a free Website – you will not be able to count on getting much if any traffic from Google, and you probably won’t stand out against your competitors – which is kind of the point of having a website in the first place.
I know some professionals think social media is enough, but I disagree with that. I have seen photographers get their accounts hacked and they’ve had to start all over. And I watched Myspace die out, which means social media alone is not a stable choice for business. My websites have never died out and are still going strong. The other good thing about websites is that you can build your email list through them, which I’ll show you how to do in a different post, so if something did happen to your social media account, you could send out a mass email letting everyone know about your new website!
Fortunately, you don’t need advanced coding skills to create a stunning portfolio website in WordPress that is SEO-friendly. Many user-friendly website builders offer customizable templates and drag-and-drop features, making the process simple and intuitive. I am going to walk you through how to get a hosting service, how to buy a domain name, and how to set up your portfolio step by step (link coming soon).
3. Essential Web Pages for Your Portfolio:
a. Homepage: Your homepage should set the tone for your portfolio, welcoming visitors and offering a glimpse into your style and personality.
b. Portfolio Galleries: Organize your work into galleries based on categories, allowing visitors to explore your skill set.
c. About Me: Share your story, and most importantly let your potential clients know how you are going to help them to solve their problem (the reason why they landed on your site). Make it more about them and less about you. I know strange on an About me section. They need to know you can meet their needs.
d. Contact Page: Make it easy for clients to reach out to you by including a dedicated contact page with a contact form or email address.
e. Testimonials or Reviews: Incorporate client testimonials or reviews to build credibility and trust with your audience. (You can include this right on your homepage).
f. Blog Page: A blog is going to help with your SEO/rankings on Google so you’ll want to have a blog that you make posts on at least a few times a month! I can give you a list of ideas for topics you can use. Google likes seeing content added to pages frequently.
You are going to want to choose the color, font, design, and elements of the website very carefully so that it gives the client the feel of your brand. If you have zero experience with design I’m going to again recommend checking out Roadmap to Success (Roadmap 2.0) It is a crash course in everything design and business related!
4. Google Business Listing:
If you have a studio location, you are going to want to get yourself a Google Business Listing. When you have a Google Business Profile, you’re eligible to appear on Google Search and Google Maps. That means when someone in your area types in a search term, “like photographers near me,” that matches your business description; your business may appear in their results.
Many people search for photographers on Google. You want your photography business to be at the top of the search results and this will help with that. If your business isn’t a top local search result for photographers, someone else’s will be!
You can see from the above image how important it is to have good SEO and a Google listing. I am Freebird Photography and I’m popping up in Google Maps and the first two spots with my website and my Facebook page. I used to live in a bigger city and I checked monthly if not weekly to make sure I was coming up in the search first!
This website will help you get your google listing created.
5. Headshot/Profile Picture/About me picture:
A quick little side note to consider. It is a great idea to keep your social media profile picture and website about me picture, etc. the same across all platforms. It will tie your brand together and avoid any confusion for potential clients.
If you have too many different images of yourself they might not be connecting all the platforms as one- It might feel a little disjointed to a prospect and your brand identity might become confusing.
Conclusion:
Your photography portfolio is more than just a collection of images; it’s a reflection of your brand and identity as a photographer. By investing time and effort into building a compelling portfolio and establishing your online presence, you’re laying the foundation for a successful photography career. With the right website builder and attention to essential web pages and information, you can showcase your talent and attract clients who resonate with your style. Your portfolio needs to evolve with your skills and experiences, so keep refining and updating it as you grow as a photographer. Remember, Social media isn’t enough, build your online website today, with your specific domain name, and start attracting clients who are looking for a Professional Photographer.
Previous: Designing a Business Plan for Photographers
Next: Pricing Strategies (coming soon)
Learn more about Pixieset: What Pixieset has to offer OR Step-by-Step Guide
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