by Lina Thorne · Updated 2013.08.23 · Posted in Marketing
I’ve already signed up for Flickr! What do I need a website for?
Once you become a professional photographer you might feel obliged to promote your work at a more advanced level, rather than simply upload your photos to Facebook or Flickr. That’s when your own website could come in handy. A website is a “must have” tool since this is the bedrock of all your marketing efforts. A photographer’s site may in the near future become the only appropriate way to present your portfolio to your potential customers.
Many professional photographers also use websites to promote their workshops so as to make extra money by teaching.
There are many other reasons why you may need a personal photographer’s site: to reach prospective clients by demonstrating your works, to promote photos, to sell them, to organize workshops, to share posts through your blog… After all, you may need it simply to look professional within the photographers’ global community! Besides, having your own website helps to avoid the copyright infringement, because it is only you who decide which photos to display and whether or not watermark them to protect your rights. Your website design also plays essential part in promoting your work: it reflects your general style right away, literally at first glance.
The personal website provides your customers with all necessary information: descriptions, prices, service. As a rule, those clients who are aware of the details tend to place more orders, rather than those who failed to find such information about a photographer.
How can I manage without any coding skills?
The modern world is witnessing the parallel development of photography and web-technologies. Such powerful tools as Flash, WordPress and DreamWeaver are being used to develop websites. Of course, creating your own website from scratch is quite an intricate and challenging task. You may lack certain technical skills and feel intimidated by such a prospect. There are, luckily, a lot of tools which do not require any knowledge of HTML or CSS coding. These include such systems of creating image-based portfolio websites as Foliolink, Layerspace, Wix, yola, Squarespace, Photoshelter, Orosso, Foliolink, Zenfolio and many others.
©szabore Fotolia.com – Firstly sketch a layout of your future website
Pick a niche for your website (such as photojournalism, manipulated photography, fashion, glamour, wedding and advertising) taking into account your target audience. Of course, having your own website is one of the most convenient methods of presenting your portfolio to the defined target market. You have to be consistent about it, though. If you are going to attract wedding clients, you need your website to create a wedding mood. It might be a good idea to explore other websites of popular photographers to get inspired. Often they are just as beautiful and professional-looking as pictures themselves.
Your website with the photography portfolio is intended to either attract clients or demonstrate your pictures. Or both.
Sites of famous photographers are often the greatest source of encouraging ideas when designing your own online portfolio. Examples of best photographers’ websites: Gavin Gough’s website, Mark Sunderland
What a website of your dream should feature?
- The “about” section with information about yourself. Remember that it’s better to be offbeat and eye-catching.
- The landing page should be stunning!
©torbakhopper Flickr.com – The website of a good photographer amazes at first glance
- Your site should be user- and SEO-friendly as well as fast-loading. It might be a great idea to put the word “photography” in your domain name to get more relevant search results.
Publish only your best images. Nobody would be attracted by over 700 pictures, no matter how wonderful all of them may seem to you.
A blog of a novice photographer might be a great supplement for your gallery of works. The description of photo-taking process or sharing some thoughts and ideas in your blog posts would attract more visitors and make your artistic vision more understandable to them.
Social media integration. Nowadays you rarely stumble upon a popular site without sharing buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and many other social media. Don’t rob your customers of the opportunity to tell their friends about you.
- Don’t forget to mention how to get in touch with you to your potential clients.
- Be careful about protecting your copyright and remember that the only way to protect your pictures for sure is to put watermarks on them. Here is a guide on how to watermark your images.
FAQs
A photography website can be used for more than just showcasing your best images. It's a place where you can connect with fans or future clients. It's a place you can promote your products and services, a place you can make an extra income, and most importantly, a place where you can tell your story.
Why is a website important for photographers? ›
Website is pretty critical for showing your photography style and work, building some trust with a potential client, given them a way to contact you, and help them decide whether or not they want to work with you.
Do I need a website for photography? ›
Photography websites make you look professional
Whether it's just for fun, or a serious effort at self-promotion, even a simple website with a photo gallery and an about/contact page can be extremely effective and fairly straightforward to put together.
Why your website photos are just as important as your design? ›
Images are powerful in a way that they not only attract our attention, but also spark emotions and draw us in. Because of this, if your website has appealing images, people will become more emotionally invested and involved, therefore viewing and clicking through your website.
Should you put prices on your photography website? ›
Many photographers build great relationships with their clients and this can be difficult to do if not given the opportunity from the start. Listing your prices on your website gives everyone, including your competition, a look at your pricing.
Why do artists need a website? ›
Having a website website can be a useful tool for you as an artist, especially when looking to promote your work and attract potential buyers, collectors, or gallery representation. A website serves as an online portfolio that allows you to showcase your complete range of artworks to a wide audience.
Why is a website important for an artist? ›
It can help you share your artistic story
People love to know the stories and ideas behind artwork. Running your own website means you can provide greater insight to your audience so they can learn more about you as an artist.
Do you really need a website? ›
In the online world, your website effectively becomes your HQ…. It's your online storefront and the place people initially come to learn about you and your business. Without one, it may raise suspicions for people searching for your company in Google or other search engines.
Do photographers need to copyright their photos? ›
While copyright law does not require photographers to register their work for copyright protection, it's highly recommended that they do so.
Can a photographer use my photos without my permission? ›
Although the photographer does own the copyright for the photographs, they cannot use the photographs publicly without your permission if the photographs have been commissioned for private or domestic purposes (such as a family photo shoot or a wedding.)
Weakness is a critical part and generally involves some common terms that need to be analyzed carefully. Internal: Page loading time, complex navigation, corrupt pages, troublesome layout, numerous bugs and outdated content. External: Bad social media strategy, negative publicity, trolling and no backlinks.
How many pictures should I have on my website? ›
When it comes to answering the question of the ideal number of images to use on a website, there is no magic number. Each website page has a different goal. You need as many pictures as it takes to support your content, showcase your work, or make a lasting impression.
How many pictures do you need for a website? ›
How many website photos do I need? We recommend that our clients have an average of three to five images for each page of their site. This number is usually perfect to break up the copy and provide additional context.
How do I price myself as a photographer? ›
Use a cost-plus pricing model to determine how much to charge to cover your costs and make a profit. Remember to include production costs, shipping charges, and overhead in your pricing, and make sure you're making enough to support yourself.
How do most photographers charge? ›
Beginners may charge $50-$150 per hour or a few hundred dollars per session, while experienced professionals can command $200-$500 per hour or more for their services. Specialized services like wedding or commercial photography often come with higher rates.
Why don't photographers post their prices? ›
Don't publish your prices - you'll scare people away before you get a chance to show them how fabulous you are and how much they're going to love the experience.
Do artists still need a website? ›
While I have one myself and think traditional websites can be a valuable tool for artists, they might not be completely necessary these days. There are many ways for artists to create digital portfolios and connect with far-reaching audiences and collaborators without the fees and maintenance of a personal website.
How do I create my own photography website? ›
You need a website template or design that emphasizes images over text and displays the details well.
- Set your goals. ...
- Choose your favorite photos. ...
- Choose a template or website layout. ...
- Set fonts and colors. ...
- Add website copy. ...
- Add additional pages. ...
- Get a custom domain name. ...
- Publish and share.
Not everyone is on social media
Depending on the demographics of your primary or ideal clients, some people may prefer to find photographers through other channels. It's important to consider where your desired clients are “hanging out” online and how much time is spent on social media.
by Lina Thorne · Updated 2013.08.23 · Posted in Marketing
