The list in brief
1. Best overall: Format
2. Best value: Squarespace
3. Best budget: Carbonmade
4. Best for studios: WIx
5. Best for pros: Zenfolio
6. Best for storage: SmugMug
How to choose
How we review
As a photographer, your website is your virtual gallery, your portfolio, and your storefront all in one.
In our search for the best website builders for photographers, we looked for platforms that offer a seamless blend of user-friendliness, beautiful design options, and powerful features designed specifically for photographers. We carefully evaluated factors like how well each platform handles image optimization, how easy it is to manage galleries, whether it offers e-commerce options, and of course, the overall experience for both you and your visitors.
After extensive testing, Format stood out as the best choice for photographers. It's easy to use, incredibly customizable, and focuses on making website creation easy. Keep reading for our in-depth reviews of the best photography website builders available to you.
The quick list
In a rush? Here’s a concise overview of the top website builders for photographers featured in this guide. Check out the details by clicking on the quick links to read an in-depth review of each platform that piques your interest.
The best website builder for photographers
Format offers a streamlined approach to website building, prioritizing ease of use. With over 60 customizable themes, it ensures your photos are displayed perfectly across all devices.
The best value website builder for photographers
Renowned for its professional templates, Squarespace ensures your photos look impeccable on all devices. It offers password-protected pages, a user-friendly contact form, and mobile-friendly editing through its apps.
The fastest website builder for photographers
Designed for speed and simplicity, Carbonmade is tailored for photographers. While it offers a limited selection of templates, its intuitive interface ensures quick website creation.
The best website builder for studios
Wix offers photographers a complete toolkit for running their businesses, going beyond basic website creation. Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, hundreds of customizable templates, and AI tools make designing a stunning website easy.
The best website builder for pro photographers
Zenfolio boasts features that cater to both photographers and clients. It offers stylish templates, quick photo gallery uploads, and an integrated payment system for selling prints.
The best website builder for unlimited storage
SmugMug offers photographers an all-in-one solution for building portfolios and selling their work. Its unlimited storage and direct partnerships with print shops make it a compelling choice for photographers looking to monetize their work.
The top 3 website builders for photographers right now
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
The best website builders for photographers of 2024 in full
Best overall
While Format doesn’t provide the same range of features as more robust website builders, it streamlines virtually every aspect of building a website. Its ease of use and decent set of features for basic website building make it a great option for any photographer looking for a simple way to develop a website.
You can choose from more than 60 themes, with premium themes available for an additional charge. Every theme is thoroughly customizable, so you can always make changes if you don’t like particular aspects of a given template. Format is free for up to 14 days, giving users more than enough time to test the platform.
Furthermore, each theme is set up to display perfectly on all devices, including computers, tablets, and phones. You can easily check what your site will look like on different devices using the Preview function.
Format also makes it easy to upload and display images on your site. After uploading, simply drag and drop each image to the desired location. Assuming you don’t want to make any changes to your template, it won’t take you more than a few minutes to put your new site online.
It’s also worth mentioning that Format provides some extra features and options that aren’t available with certain competitors. For example, you can import an existing domain, create an online store and blog, and edit CSS directly. There are numerous video tutorials to help you understand the platform’s functionality.
As a photographer, you will find Format's SEO features to be of immense value for your online presence. Format allows you to adjust image meta titles and descriptions and connect Google Analytics. This helps in tracking the performance and engagement of your site.
Format does have a slightly confusing user interface. It's not that it's difficult to use, but it might take you a little time to figure out the platform's functionality. Once you get the hang of it, adding blog posts, managing online shop, and other functions become quite straightforward.
It's important to note that while Format is perfect for building a portfolio, if you have plans to expand your site significantly in the future, you might find it lacking in scalability. But if showcasing your photography is your main aim, Format does an excellent job of making your work look professional and eye-catching.
The Portfolio plans start at $8 a month with the Basic package, rising to $11 a month for the Pro package and $13 for the Pro Plus plan.
Read our full Format review.
Best value
Although Squarespace isn’t specifically designed for creatives, it still comes with sufficient features for photographers. Arguably the most well-known website builder, it provides numerous professional templates including options for both full-screen and grid formats.
Squarespace automatically crops and resizes images for you, so you won’t have to do any extra work to make your site look good on all devices. Furthermore, while certain colors, fonts, and other options are applied by default, you can quickly customize these to an extent based on your preferences.
With Squarespace, you get the advantage of seamless eCommerce functionality that simplifies the process of selling prints or other merchandise directly from your website. This integration with services like Printful streamlines tasks from production to fulfillment, providing a hassle-free eCommerce experience.
Visual impact is crucial for photographers, and Squarespace has this covered with tools like full-screen slideshows and lightbox displays. It gives your portfolio an engaging and professional look. Plus, the image carousel is an excellent way to showcase galleries and single images.
Squarespace is user-friendly, even for those who have minimal technical expertise. It employs an intuitive interface, drag-and-drop builder, and custom templates that allow you to create and manage your website independently.
Unlike Carbonmade, Squarespace gives you the ability to set up password protection on certain pages in their gallery. You can also set up a contact form in just a few clicks to give visitors an easy way to get in touch with you if they’re interested in your work.
While most users will focus on the platform’s web interface, Squarespace works surprisingly well on mobile devices through its iOS and Android apps. All things considered, Squarespace provides everything most photographers need to showcase their work on a professional site.
Read our Squarespace review and view our Squarespace promo codes.
Best budget
Like Format, Carbonmade is designed for speed and ease of use rather than a deep set of features. That said, it’s built specifically for photographers and other creatives, so many of its tools are perfect for artists.
In contrast to Format, Carbonmade only includes a small selection of templates, although you do have some control over the specifics of each design. It also has a highly intuitive interface that facilitates quick website creation and editing. There are three tiers of pricing, starting with the Beginner package at $8 a month, with the Pro and Expert tiers respectively costing $10 and $17 a month.
While help resources are available if you run into any issues, Carbonmade generally makes it easy to find what you’re looking for on your own. It provides decent room for customization without making the interface overly complicated or confusing.
Carbonmade Messages, one of the platform’s more unique features, enables site creators to communicate directly with visitors who are interested in their photography. Other tools include the option to connect a custom domain name or upload images directly from your Dropbox account.
The Talent Pool feature stands out as a noteworthy addition for photographers, too. This digital showcase presents a collection of portfolios from various creators who have used Carbonmade. As a creative, you might find potential collaborations or even clients who admire your work. On the other hand, for businesses or individuals seeking artists, this feature simplifies the process of connecting with potential hires - a win-win situation.
According to Google's PageSpeed Insights, a lightweight website created with Carbonmade loads up in around 3 seconds – meeting the industry standard. Despite portfolio websites often being media-heavy, with numerous images, audio files, and embedded videos, Carbonmade ensures that your site remains efficient and viewer-friendly. This performance level is particularly significant for photographers, as the visual quality of your work should not compromise the functionality of your site.
Although Carbonmade is missing a few features, such as password-protected pages and online sales, it’s still worth considering for photographers who simply want to display their work. Especially given its affordable rates, Carbonmade is an accessible option for many photographers.
Best for studios
Wix is a popular all-in-one website builder with features that cater specifically to photographers running full-service studios. Beyond its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and hundreds of customizable templates, Wix offers a content manager for easy photo uploads and gallery creation. Its AI-powered tools, including an AI website builder and text creator, simplify the design process for those who prefer a more visual approach.
Wix's built-in scheduling software enables clients to book appointments directly through the website. The platform also facilitates additional revenue streams with its print-on-demand feature, allowing photographers to sell products directly without handling inventory. For photographers seeking to expand their online presence, Wix offers robust SEO tools, email marketing, and an ad manager.
With its extensive features and user-friendly interface, Wix empowers photographers to create stunning websites, manage their businesses effectively, and grow their online presence, making it an ideal choice for full-service studios.
Read our full Wix website builder review.
Best for pro photographers
Zenfolio, on its homepage, states that it's been voted the top website builder for photographers by professionals, and on looking into what it has to offer, there's not much to suggest this is wrong.
A very strong toolset included with plans aims to help photography businesses flourish, with features aimed at users and clients, which other builders might not do. It is however quite complex for beginners to get to grips with.
In terms of templates, Zenfolio offers a wide variety of stylish designs that can be modified to suit your own brand, while photo gallery uploads are quick and easy, and include password protection options.
An in-built payment system means selling photo prints is incredibly simple, while the multiple plans available offer top features such as unlimited storage for RAW files, image protection, and security.
Zenfolio goes the extra mile with its Adobe Lightroom plugin, another great feature you get. If indeed Lightroom is your editing tool of choice, this will be a massive timesaver.
The Zenfolio Lightroom plugin allows you to upload images directly from Adobe Lightroom to Zenfolio – a feature that's only available to PortfolioPlus users. You can easily add Zenfolio pictures straight through the Lightroom app. This feature is a solid plus for Lightroom users and might be enough to consider choosing the PortfolioPlus plan.
Notably, Zenfolio has managed to carve a niche for itself by focusing on one key thing – helping photographers sell their work to a broader audience.
Best for storage
SmugMug, more than many website builders, caters to the needs of photographers. For one, it distinguishes itself by offering photographers unlimited photo and video storage, a rarity among website builders. This makes it an ideal platform for those with extensive portfolios or who shoot in RAW format, as it eliminates storage constraints.
The platform's direct partnerships with print shops streamline the process of selling prints and other merchandise. SmugMug handles payment processing, printing, and shipping, allowing photographers to focus on their craft. Its built-in e-commerce features, including customizable price lists, photo packages, and coupons, provide ample tools for monetizing photography.
While SmugMug's template selection is limited compared to competitors, its focus on simplicity and ease of use, particularly for photo uploads and e-commerce setup, makes it a user-friendly option. However, those seeking extensive design flexibility may find the customization options somewhat restrictive.
The best website builders for photographers, compared
| Website builder | Starting price | Templates | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | $8 a month | 60+ | Up to 1TB |
| Squarespace | $16 a month | 110+ | Unlimited |
| Carbonmade | $8 a month | None | Unlimited |
| Wix | $17 a month | 900+ | From 5GB |
| Zenfolio | $7 a month | 9+ | From 15GB |
| SmugMug | $7 a month | 26+ | Unlimited photos and videos |
How to choose the best photography website builder for you
When it comes to choosing the best website builder for photographers, there are several factors that you should consider to ensure that you pick the right platform for your needs.
Look for a website builder that offers features that are specifically designed for photographers. This might include tools for showcasing your portfolio, selling prints and digital downloads, and integrating with social media platforms.
As a photographer, you don't want to spend hours learning how to use a complicated website builder. Look for a platform that is intuitive and user-friendly, with drag-and-drop functionality and easy customization options.
Your website should be a reflection of your unique style and aesthetic. Make sure the website builder you choose offers a wide range of design options, including templates, color schemes, and fonts, so you can create a website that truly represents you.
Website builders can range from free to quite expensive, so it's important to consider your budget when making a choice. Look for a platform that offers transparent pricing, with no hidden fees or charges.
If you run into any issues with your website, you'll want to be able to get help quickly and easily. Look for a website builder that offers robust customer support, with multiple channels of communication (like email, live chat, and phone support) and a comprehensive knowledge base.
Ultimately, the best website builder for photographers will depend on your specific needs and preferences. By considering these factors and doing your research, you'll be able to find a platform that allows you to showcase your work in the best possible way.
How we review the best website builders for photographers
To find the best website builders for photographers, we employ a range of evaluation methods that take into account the unique needs and preferences of photographers who want to create a website. Our approach is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment that can help photographers make informed decisions about which website builder is right for them.
Since not all photographers are tech-savvy, we evaluate how user-friendly each website builder is in terms of navigation, customization, and content creation.
A website is a visual representation of a photographer's work, so it's important to have a website that showcases their portfolio in an appealing way. We test the design and customization features of each website builder to see if they offer customizable templates, image galleries, and sliders.
Photographers need to be able to upload, organize, and display their photos in high quality. Therefore, we evaluate how well each website builder manages image optimization, uploading, and organization.
Many photographers sell their prints and other products online, so we evaluate how well each website builder supports e-commerce functionality such as shopping carts, payment processing, and shipping options.
To gain more visibility and clients, photographers need their website to rank well on search engines. Thus, we evaluate how well each website builder supports SEO best practices and provides analytics tools to help photographers understand their website's performance.
By taking into account these factors and testing each website builder, we can provide photographers with a comprehensive evaluation of each platform's strengths and weaknesses.
For more information, read our testing methodology page.
Next steps with website builders
If you're looking to find out more about simpler website building tools, make sure to read our guide to the best easy website builders available. If you're on a budget, read our comparison between free website builders vs paid to see what might be best for your site.
For something more complex, try WordPress via the best website builders for WordPress; you'll also need the best WordPress hosting from the best web hosting services.
