The photography and art business, in general, has experienced quite a boom in the past years. More and more people have started to recognize the appeal to get into photography and sell their photos or take photos of others. Thus, competition in the sector has become really high. That is why more and more people have realized that they need new channels to sell their photos through, like websites, for example.

Since there is a rising demand for anything online, we have compiled a comprehensive list of our top 7 choices for best website builders for photography in an effort to help out those who want to take their artistic skills and aspirations online and sell their photos and videos to the broadest audience there is. So, stay with us, and find out which are our top 7 picks for the best website builders for photography in 2024, which are provided via our comparison chart below.

Check Out Our Top 7 Best Website Builders for Photography

1. Elementor – best visual editor
2. Squarespace – best overall website builder for photography
3. Wix Website Builder – best website builder for beginners

How Do We Test and Rank?

Finding the right website builder for your needs should be taken very seriously and done with caution. Also, not many people know what a website builder needs to offer to them so that they can build a whole, high-quality website.

That is where we come in. We have developed our own ranking system with which we rank various website builders, hosting companies, and other similar businesses so that you can learn which builders or providers are genuinely worth the money and offer the necessary features for building a website or hosting one. We have put numerous website builders through a series of tests so that we can rank them accordingly. Also, while testing out the builders, our experts buy plans from each of them to truly test them and get an accurate picture of what the builders offer.

Our ranking system is based on five factors that we consider to be the most important for photographers seeking to go online. We assign specific percentages based on how important each factor is for photographers.

• Design flexibility (20%) – number of templates the builder offers, quality of the templates, the level of customization you can do on the templates and website overall, whether you can edit and change the templates once your site is live.
• Features (30%) – number of features a builder offers, usefulness and efficiency of the features, ease-of-use of the features, whether the features are photography-centered.
• Value for money (10%) – are the plans worth their price, does the builder offer a free plan or free trial, do users get their money back if they do not like the builder.
• Ease-of-use (15%) – ease-of-use of the setup process, navigating through the dashboard and Control Panel, can beginners and people with no tech background easily use the builder.
• Functionality and integration (25%) – the number of third-party apps users can get with the builder, integration with other apps and programs does the builder function well when a user adds third-party apps.

How to Choose the Best Website Builder for Photography?

Choosing the best website builder for your needs can be difficult considering the number of website builders available to you out there. Also, not all people need the same features and options. Thus, if one person has had a fantastic experience with a particular website builder does not mean that you or someone else will feel the same way too.

What’s more, many people, especially those who are just starting out, do not know which features they should value and look for and which features do not matter much to them. So, when choosing a website builder, you should complete a few steps to determine what you need and narrow down your options.

List your goals – listing your goals for your website can help you in many ways. During this step, you should determine what you are using your photography website for, whether it is an online portfolio or a gateway to your social media accounts. An online portfolio is typically used for showcasing art and demonstrating your skill and expertise.

Also, you could be using your photography website to provide private galleries to your clients or integrate it with your photo editing software.

Make a plan – making a plan for your website involves listing your priorities and determining which features you need most and which you need the least. That way, you will make sure that the website builder you choose provides you with all the necessities you need for your website and that you will get the best value for your money.

Determine your budget – research and decide how much money you are able and willing to spend to make your website. If you want to sell online, you should factor in all the transaction fees that you would need to pay to sell your products.

When making a budget, free plans seem the most attractive offers of all. However, free plans are usually pretty limited, and most don’t even allow you to sell online. So, instead of starting for free and getting hit with additional fees later, you should consider spending a few extra bucks now and getting everything you need right off the bat. Hidden fees and charges can be more costly for you than paying for a plan. Also, as you gain traction and clients, you might need some additional features to keep your site relevant and updated. Usually, free plans do not include many additional features, and you will inevitably end up paying extra for each feature in the future.

1. Elementor – Best Visual Editor

• Overall score: 4.7
• Design flexibility: 4.7
• Features: 4.8
• Value for money: 4.9
• Ease-of-use: 4.5
• Functionality and integration: 4.6

Elementor is another website builder that focuses on the creative side of life. It is an excellent builder for both photography and WordPress websites.

With Elementor, users get a drag-and-drop interface on which they can create and edit their sites. Also, Elementor offers portfolio templates designed specifically for photographers.

Pros:

Cons:

Elementor is best known for its theme builder and its offer of 300+ templates and more than 90 widgets. Also, with Elementor’s Pro version, you will get a pop-up builder, WooCommerce builder, and the theme builder we mentioned previously.

Unique Features:

Feature-packed Free Plan

Elementor takes its free plan a step further compared to its rivals and offers a lot of useful and powerful features that are enough for you to get started and truly test out the builder. Some of the features you will get from Elementor for free include:

• A live editing feature;
• Drag-and-drop editor;
• The ability to mark widgets as favorites;
• 50 basic widgets;
• Responsive design;
• Five website kits;
• The ability to drag files from the desktop;
• Site settings;
• 30 templates made by professionals;
• Global fonts and colors.

Built-in Features

As we mentioned, with Elementor, you will be able to create and edit your website with a drag-and-drop editing tool. All you would need to do when creating and editing your website is drag the elements you want on your website and drop them wherever you want them to go.

However, you will get even more useful built-in tools with Elementor. For instance, you can create advanced marketing pop-ups which you can use to promote a sale or deal you have going on. Another feature you will have is Elementor’s WooCommercer Builder. With it, you can create an online store that can be a part of your photography website, and your customers can directly buy the photos or videos they like.

Also, you can adjust the appearance of your website to fit both computer and mobile screens. While you’re editing, you can see all your edits right away on the page. You won’t need to bounce back and forth between your website pages and the admin panel. Thus, you can edit, add or remove photos, change texts, and tweak everything you want right there on your web pages.

If you are not sure precisely what kind of website builder is the right fit for you, then Elementor is the way to go. Not only will you get to try out numerous features and build a whole website for free, but you will also have access to more than enough tools to build a photography website. After trying it out for free, most users tend to stick with Elementor for the long run since it is an excellent builder with powerful features. You can learn more about Elementor by reading our expert review, where we conduct an in-depth analysis of the builder.

2. Squarespace – Best Overall Website Builder for Photography

• Overall score: 4.9
• Design flexibility: 4.8
• Features: 5.0
• Value for money: 4.9
• Ease-of-use: 4.9
• Functionality and integration: 5.0

Squarespace is one of the most popular website builders on the market. The website builder is designed specifically for artists of all kinds, including photographers.

With Squarespace, you will be able to build a complete website with a fancy photo gallery that will contain your work. It offers a wide range of templates and designs that will make sure your photos are in the center of the attention of your website.

Pros:

Cons:

Squarespace is best known for its creative and mobile-responsive websites. With it, you can create top-notch professional websites and upload as many photos as you want on your website.

Unique features:

Excellent Templates

Squarespace offers a wide range of themes you can choose from depending on what kinds of photographs you want to upload. There is a theme for everyone, and all of them are designed by professionals. Also, all Squarespace themes are mobile-responsive, which means that your photos will look fantastic on all screen sizes. You can redesign your website whenever you want with Squarespace, so even if you are not sure what kind of content you want on your website, you can always change it and re-brand later.

Built-in Features

Buying a plan from Squarespace will allow you to have access to numerous valuable features for your photography website. Its plans include features like Squarespace Scheduling, which is a calendar tool with which you can book viewings, appointments, and schedule calls and meetings with potential buyers.

Also, with Squarespace, you will get robust SEO tools that will increase your visibility on the Internet. Another great built-in feature from Squarespace is its email marketing. Since Squarespace has email marketing built-in, you will not have to get it from third-party services like Mailchimp and save money.

Functionality and Integration

Squarespace allows its users to integrate other third-party tools and features if they need to. Also, it is fully optimized and works well on mobile devices so that you will receive additional functionality, and with that, you can target both desktop and mobile users.

Overall, Squarespace provides everything a photographer might need from a website builder. With it, you can create professional and creative websites that will truly emphasize your photos and put them in the spotlight. Learn more about Squarespace by reading our expert review on the builder.

3. Wix – Best Website Builder for Beginners

• Overall score: 4.8
• Design flexibility: 4.7
• Features: 4.9
• Value for money: 4.7
• Ease-of-use: 5.0
• Functionality and integration: 4.9

Wix is another famous website builder suitable for photographers. Its drag-and-drop editing interface makes using Wix a breeze, even for those who are new to the website-building process.

With Wix, you can build attractive websites which you can use as online galleries or hubs for your photography business.

Pros:

Cons:

Wix is best known for its numerous beautiful templates and its easy-to-use interface. It also offers affordable prices and a free plan for those on a tighter budget.

Unique Features:

Drag-and-Drop Editing Interface

Wix has a drag-and-drop editing interface that is specifically made so that everyone can learn to use it quickly. Thus, Wix is ideal for beginners and those who do not have any coding or programming skills. With its editor, you can drag, drop, and organize your website the way you want with a few simple clicks. Everything you need is shown on your screen, so you won’t have to bounce around different tools or programs to build and customize your site.

Also, if you want, you can use Wix’s ADI builder to design your website. The ADI builder will create your whole website for you, so you won’t have to move a muscle to create your site. All you would need to do is answer some questions about what you want your website to look like and leave the rest to the ADI builder.

Built-in Features

Among its 800+ templates, Wix offers over 40 templates that are tailored specifically for photography websites. Also, you can choose between 30+ media galleries that allow you to display your photos and videos. And Wix offers multiple tools that can enhance the quality of your photos before you publish them.

Another impressive built-in feature that Wix offers is its Wix SEO Wiz. With Wix SEO Wiz, you will get interactive SEO tools that will show you how to add keywords and make your photography website fully SEO-optimized.

Third-party Apps

When it comes to integration with third-party apps, Wix has some of the best options on the market. You can find many useful apps on the Wix App Market that can help you further customize your website and stand out from the competition.

In the Wix App Market, you can find apps and tools that can do a variety of things, like:

• Virtual tours – you can add 360Ëš virtual tours to your site for a more immersive experience.
• Fulfillment – you can get apps like ShipBob, Printify, Printful, and more.
• Art Store – the art store can help you showcase and sell your work.
• Communication – here, you can find tools like live chat, forums, and testimonial slider, which you can add to your website.

Wix is one of the most popular website builders available on the market, and for a good reason. Its beginner-friendly editing interface and hundreds of professional, pre-made templates make it the ideal builder for anyone who wants to create a website. Learn more about Wix by checking out our expert Wix review.

Do Photographers Need a Website?

As the world has become predominantly digital these days and people can connect with other people from thousands of miles away, having an online presence is crucial for any business, including photography. If you want people to discover your work and talent and sell your photos to as many people as possible, you absolutely without a doubt need a website.

Of course, there’s always social media. However, social media is most suitable for those who engage in photography as a hobby rather than a full-time job. With social media, you do not have much control over your business and its future. Also, many social media platforms choose whether they want to showcase and promote your account or not, so you’re really left at their mercy.

On the other hand, having your own website will take you all the way to the finish line, which is usually selling your work and attracting new clients. Also, having your own website makes you more competent and legit in clients’ eyes. Many people prefer to browse a company’s website rather than Instagram photos when they are deciding to buy something. So, the credibility that a website will give you will go a long way and show potential clients that you’re the real deal and not some bot account that will take their money and disappear.

What Should a Photography Website Include?

Every website is different in its own way. People create websites to sell online and communicate their values and goals for their work. However, photographers should include a few things on their website if they want to make their clients happy and satisfied.

Theme-labeled galleries – many people choose to create only one large gallery section on their website, which includes all their work. Scrolling through hundreds of photos that are entirely unrelated to each other is not what most clients are looking for as it can be tiring, and they usually end up overwhelmed by all the photos you have to offer.

To avoid that result, you should consider breaking your galleries up into themes that will make your photos easier to take in and admire. Also, it will appease the people who are looking for a specific theme as you will not waste their time by making them search through hundreds of unrelated photos.

Add an “About” page – when it comes to photography and hiring people to take photos of private events like weddings or birthdays, people don’t want to hire some stranger whose name they don’t even know. That is why you should add an “About” page to your website where you provide visitors with a bit of information about yourself and your work. Doing so will go a long way and increase the probability that people will hire you.

Provide contact information – even though this seems obvious, you would be surprised at how many people do not provide a way for others to reach them. Also, many people still have reservations when buying something or hiring someone online, so providing a number or email through which people can contact you will result in them knowing that you are legit and that you actually exist.

How Can Photographers Build an Online Store?

There are a few ways to go about creating an online store. The best part about it is that you do not need to learn how to code or program to do so.

One way to go about creating your online store is by purchasing a plan from a website builder. Many website builders offer eCommerce functionality and features in their plans, allowing you to add an online store to your website easily. Also, you should add all of your photos that are for sale to your online store, provide payment methods, and provide some basic information about the photo that the client is purchasing. Your online store should also provide shipping information to your clients and include the total price that the clients need to pay for the photos.

Another way to build an online store is by hiring a developer or another professional to do it for you if you do not know how to do it by yourself. The developer will code and build your store and will then add it to your website.

Summary

As we mentioned, choosing a website builder can be a lengthy and challenging process. And as you may have now noticed, a lot of factors come into consideration when picking out the best website builder for a photography website.

However, with the help of our recommendation system and the list we provided in this article, you can cut the decision-making process short and use our Top 7 Best Website Builders for Photography list to choose the right website builder for you. What’s more, you can rest assured that each builder we have on our list offers excellent features and reliable services to each of their users, including you.