There's plenty you need to do to build a photography business.
But one of the first things that needs to happen is to get your photography website up and running.
Fortunately, we live in a time in which there are plenty of options to help you do that.
Naturally, there are better ways to build a photography website than others, though.
Below, I've outlined three possibilities for putting together a unique and beautiful website.
Think of these as the "good," "better," and "best" options.
The Good Option - Hire a Pro
Having a professional website built can be advantageous because the responsibility of doing so rests on the shoulders of the person you hire to do it.
That means that you can spend your precious time focusing on other things related to your business, like actually taking photos!
On the one hand, a professionally designed website means you'll have a beautiful, functional web presence that will wow your customers and potential customers.
But on the other hand, a professionally designed website comes with a hefty price tag.
In fact, it could end up costing you a couple thousand dollars when it's all said and done...
That's why this is a "good" option and not a "better" or "best" option.
Though you (hopefully) get a great looking site, the downside comes when you have to write that big check. Whether you're just starting out or have been a photographer for years, budget will always be a concern.
The Better Option - DIY
A better choice might be to opt for a do-it-yourself website option like Wordpress.
I've put this in the "better" category for one reason and one reason only - it's inexpensive.
There are tons of Wordpress themes out there - many of which are low-cost or free - that enable you to have a good-looking website without spending a lot of money to do so.
This is especially advantageous if you have some experience with website design and coding because Wordpress makes it relatively easy to build a website on your own.
And while this option is great for your pocketbook, it's not so great from a time perspective...
Using Wordpress means you have to do a lot of legwork to get the site going.
You have to find a theme, do any customizations you want to get it looking the way you want, create individual pages and posts, and so forth.
In other words, this is a time-hungry option.
So, a professional website is fast and expensive, and Wordpress is slow and cheap.
If only there were an option that combines the best of both worlds...
The Best Option - Photler
Fortunately for those of us in the photography industry, there is a "best of both worlds" option, and that's Photler.
For starters, Photler was designed by photographers, for photographers, so you know that it's a product that has all the features and benefits you want and need to build your business and your brand.
Consider this...
With Photler, you can create a breathtaking image portfolio that allows you to share your images with the world. It's as simple as adding your photos - that's it!
You also get crucial tools for communicating with clients and potential clients like a blogging platform.
With a blog, you not only have a means of driving traffic to your website to get more eyes on your photos, but you also have a pulpit from which you can demonstrate your mastery and understanding of photography topics.
By that I mean this - people want to know that you know what you're doing before they hire you. They want to see gorgeous photos, yes, but they also want to get a feel for how you go about your craft, too.
What better way than to do that with frequent blog posts?
Perhaps the best part, though, is that Photler has a built-in e-commerce function that allows you to sell your photos.
That means that as soon as you set up your account and get your images on your Photler site, you can start selling.
With Photler, you even get to keep all your proceeds from your sales - there's zero commissions!
"I am a new user to Photler so I am still learning my way around. I've had questions along the way but the customer support has been outstanding. Everyone is so lovely to work with and always so eager to help me problem solve. As a new company, they are still working out a few kinks, but they are such a proactive, hardworking and genuinely happy team that I have no doubt that they are on their way to becoming a gold standard in the industry." - Sami Wellcome
So, let's recap here...
With Photler, you get professionally designed website templates that are ready to go for you - there's no waiting and no paying huge design fees.
You also get an easy-to-use content management system that makes customizing your site and adding your photos a breeze. That means you spend less time worrying about getting your website going and have more time to attend to other tasks.
Add to that incredible features like a custom domain name to match your brand, gorgeous image galleries to show off your photos, contact forms for capturing leads, social media integration, and analytics tools built right in, and you have a complete photography website package!
"I get my personal portfolio page, just with few clicks. It’s very useful!" - Michał Gałczyński
Photler is easy on your pocketbook, packed with tons of helpful features, easy to use, and can help you get your site up and running in a matter of hours, not weeks.
If you want to maximize your online impact, go with the best option. Go with Photler.