Best Website Builders for Wedding Photographers in 2023
- Last Updated March 27, 2023
Founder & Chief Strategist of Pics and Clicks. With over a decade of experience in marketing and over 5 in SEO, Aaron has generated $10M+ in revenue for his clients. While the digital marketing world has lots of shortcuts, Aaron prides himself in remaining ethical and only pursuing marketing tactics that are fully above reproach.
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In today’s digital age, having a professional and visually appealing website is crucial for wedding photographers looking to showcase their work and attract potential clients. Your website serves as a virtual storefront and portfolio, allowing couples to browse your galleries, understand your photography style, and learn more about your services. With a myriad of website builders available, it can be challenging to determine which platform is the ideal fit for your wedding photography business. This comprehensive guide will explore the best wedding photographer website builders and the essential features to consider when making your choice. By investing in the right website builder, you can create a stunning online presence that highlights your skills, engages your audience, and ultimately, helps grow your business.
Factors to Consider When Choosing A Website Builder
1. Ease of Use
As a wedding photographer, you want to spend more time behind the lens than grappling with complicated website design. Therefore, it’s crucial to select a website builder that offers an intuitive, user-friendly interface. This will allow you to easily create and update your website without needing advanced technical skills or web development expertise. Look for website builders with drag-and-drop functionality, customizable templates, and helpful tutorials to help you get started. Additionally, consider the learning curve and whether the platform offers a supportive community or resources to help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
2. Customization Options
Your website is a reflection of your unique photography style and brand identity. Hence, it’s essential to choose a website builder that offers a wide range of customization options. This includes customizable templates, the ability to upload your own fonts and logos, and the option to create custom color schemes. The more customization options available, the easier it will be to design a website that aligns with your branding and sets you apart from your competitors. Keep in mind that having a visually cohesive and consistent website can leave a lasting impression on potential clients, so it’s vital to have the flexibility to create a website that truly reflects your vision.
3. SEO Features
Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a vital role in helping your website rank higher on search engines like Google, making it easier for potential clients to find your business. When selecting a website builder, consider the built-in SEO features and tools available. Some key SEO features to look for include the ability to customize page titles, meta descriptions, and URLs, as well as the option to add alt tags to images. Additionally, consider whether the platform offers SEO guidance or resources to help you optimize your website for search engines further. A website builder with robust SEO features can significantly impact your online visibility and attract more organic traffic to your site. Learning how to optimize your photography website for search engines can be confusing. We put together a free guide to check out if you’re interested: https://picsandclicks.com/wedding-photographer-seo-guide/
4. Pricing and Plans
As a wedding photographer, you’re likely working within a budget, so it’s important to consider the cost of the website builder you choose. Many website builders offer a range of plans with varying features to accommodate different budgets. When comparing pricing, consider the features offered at each tier and whether they meet your specific needs. Look for options such as unlimited storage, bandwidth, and the ability to connect your custom domain. Don’t forget to factor in additional costs like domain registration, hosting, and any premium plugins or themes you may want to use. Balancing affordability and functionality is essential for selecting the best website builder for your wedding photography business.
5. Mobile Responsiveness
With more and more people accessing websites on their smartphones and tablets, it’s crucial that your wedding photography website is mobile-responsive. This means your website will automatically adapt to the screen size and device it is being viewed on, ensuring that your images and content look great on any device. When choosing a website builder, ensure that it offers mobile-responsive templates or the ability to create a mobile version of your website. A mobile-responsive site will not only enhance the user experience for potential clients but also improve your search engine ranking, as search engines like Google prioritize mobile-friendly websites.
6. E-Commerce Capabilities
As a wedding photographer, you may want to sell prints, albums, or other products directly from your website. In this case, it’s essential to choose a website builder that offers e-commerce capabilities. Look for features like an integrated shopping cart, secure payment processing, and inventory management. Additionally, consider whether the platform allows you to create product galleries, offer discount codes, and track sales analytics. An e-commerce enabled website can provide a convenient and efficient way for clients to purchase your products and services, contributing to your overall business success.
7. Image Quality & Optimization
High-quality images are at the heart of your wedding photography website, so it’s crucial to choose a website builder that maintains the quality of your images while optimizing them for fast loading times. Look for a platform that offers features like automatic image compression and responsive image loading to ensure your website loads quickly without sacrificing image quality. A website builder that prioritizes image quality and optimization will help you showcase your work in the best light possible, impressing potential clients and providing an enjoyable browsing experience.
8. Customer Support
Even with an intuitive website builder, you may still encounter issues or need assistance from time to time. Therefore, it’s important to choose a platform that offers responsive and helpful customer support. Look for website builders that provide multiple support channels, such as live chat, email, phone, or even social media. Additionally, consider whether the platform offers a comprehensive knowledge base or community forum for troubleshooting common issues. Knowing that help is readily available when you need it can provide peace of mind as you create and maintain your wedding photography website.
9. Integration Options
As your wedding photography business grows, you may want to integrate additional tools and services with your website, such as booking software, email marketing platforms, or social media feeds. When selecting a website builder, consider the available integration options and whether they align with your current or future needs. A website builder that offers seamless integration with popular third-party tools and services can help streamline your workflow and enhance the overall functionality of your website, making it more attractive and useful to potential clients.
Top Wedding Photographer Website Builder Platforms
Wix
Overview & Key Features
Wix is a popular website builder known for its user-friendly interface, extensive customization options, and robust set of features. With a vast library of professionally designed templates and a powerful drag-and-drop editor, Wix makes it easy for wedding photographers to create stunning websites that showcase their work and attract clients.
Key features of Wix for wedding photographers include: |
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Over 500 customizable templates, including a variety specifically designed for photographers |
Intuitive drag-and-drop editor that allows for easy design customization |
Mobile optimization to ensure your website looks great on any device |
Advanced SEO tools to help improve search engine rankings |
Integrated blogging platform to share your latest work and industry insights |
Wix Bookings for scheduling client appointments and consultations |
Wix Art Store for selling prints, albums, and digital products directly from your website |
Image galleries with various layout options and automatic image optimization |
Integration with popular third-party apps, such as Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and social media platforms |
24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat |
Pros of Wix
- User-friendly interface, making it easy for users of all skill levels to create a professional-looking website
- Extensive customization options, including the ability to upload custom fonts and logos, ensuring your website aligns with your brand
- Comprehensive set of SEO tools and resources to help improve your website’s search engine ranking
- Wide range of templates specifically designed for photographers, providing a strong foundation for your website design
- Integration with popular third-party apps and services, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your website’s functionality
Cons of Wix
- Limited e-commerce features compared to some other website builders, which may be a drawback if you plan to sell a wide range of products and services
- Wix websites are not transferable to another platform, meaning you would need to start from scratch if you decide to switch website builders
- While Wix offers a free plan, it comes with limitations, such as Wix-branded ads on your website and the inability to use a custom domain
Pricing and Plans
Please check Wix directly for current prices.
Wix offers a variety of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. It’s important to note that while there is a free plan available, it comes with limitations that may not be suitable for a professional wedding photography website. The paid plans are as follows:
- Combo: $16/month – includes 2GB storage, 30 minutes of video, a custom domain, and the removal of Wix ads
- Unlimited: $22/month – includes 5GB storage, 1 hour of video, $300 in ad vouchers, and additional features like site booster and visitor analytics
- Pro: $27/month – includes 50GB storage, 2 hours of video, a professional logo, and social media logo files
- VIP: $45/month – includes 100GB storage, 5 hours of video, priority customer support, and first access to new features
For photographers looking to sell products, Wix also offers Business & eCommerce plans:
- Business Basic: $27/month – includes 50GB storage, 5 hours of video, online payments, and sales analytics
- Business Unlimited: $32/month – includes 100GB storage, 10 hours of video, subscription selling, and advanced shipping options
- Business VIP: $59/month – includes unlimited storage, unlimited video hours, priority customer support, and customized reports
Squarespace
Overview & Key Features
Squarespace is a popular all-in-one website builder known for its visually appealing templates, clean design, and ease of use. With a focus on high-quality imagery and a minimalist aesthetic, Squarespace is an excellent choice for wedding photographers looking to create a stunning online portfolio. The platform offers a range of features tailored to the needs of photographers, making it easy to showcase your work, attract clients, and even sell products directly from your website.
Key features of Squarespace for wedding photographers include: |
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A curated selection of visually appealing, mobile-responsive templates designed specifically for photographers |
Intuitive design editor with customizable layouts, fonts, and colors to match your branding |
Integrated blogging platform for sharing your latest work, industry insights, and client testimonials |
Built-in SEO tools and resources to help improve your website’s search engine ranking |
Squarespace Scheduling for managing client appointments and consultations |
E-commerce capabilities for selling prints, albums, and digital products directly from your website |
Image galleries with various layout options, automatic image optimization, and full-screen lightbox presentations |
Integration with popular third-party apps, such as Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and social media platforms |
24/7 customer support via email and live chat, as well as a comprehensive help center |
Pros of Squarespace
- High-quality templates with a focus on imagery, making it ideal for showcasing your wedding photography portfolio
- User-friendly interface and design editor, allowing for easy customization and website updates
- Comprehensive SEO tools to help improve your website’s search engine ranking
- Built-in e-commerce capabilities for selling products and services directly from your website
- Integration with popular third-party apps and services, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your website’s functionality
Cons of Squarespace
- Limited template selection compared to some other website builders, which may restrict design options
- No free plan available, meaning you’ll need to invest in a paid plan from the start
- Customization options may be more limited compared to website builders like Wix, which could be a drawback for those looking for complete design freedom
- Squarespace websites are not transferable to another platform, meaning you would need to start from scratch if you decide to switch website builders
Pricing and Plans
Please check Squarespace directly for current prices.
Squarespace offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. While there is no free plan available, Squarespace does offer a 14-day free trial to explore the platform and test out its features. The paid plans are as follows:
- Personal: $12/month (billed annually) or $23/month (billed monthly) – includes a custom domain, unlimited storage and bandwidth, SSL security, and basic website metrics
- Business: $23/month (billed annually) or $33/month (billed monthly) – includes everything in the Personal plan, plus advanced website analytics, promotional pop-ups, and e-commerce capabilities with a 3% transaction fee
- Basic Commerce: $27/month (billed annually) or $36/month (billed monthly) – includes everything in the Business plan, plus additional e-commerce features, such as point of sale integration, customer accounts, and no transaction fees
- Advanced Commerce: $49/month (billed annually) or $65/month (billed monthly) – includes everything in the Basic Commerce plan, plus advanced e-commerce features like abandoned cart recovery, gift cards, and advanced shipping options
For wedding photographers looking to sell products or services online, the Business, Basic Commerce, or Advanced Commerce plans are recommended, as they include e-commerce capabilities and additional features tailored to the needs of a growing photography business.
Pixieset
Overview & Key Features
Pixieset is a website builder specifically designed for professional photographers, with a primary focus on creating stunning online galleries and delivering images to clients seamlessly. Pixieset offers a range of features tailored to the unique needs of wedding photographers, making it an excellent choice for those looking to build an impressive online presence and streamline their client delivery process.
Key features of Pixieset for wedding photographers include: |
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Beautiful, mobile-responsive templates designed with photographers in mind |
Intuitive design editor with customizable layouts, fonts, and colors to match your branding |
Online client galleries with password protection, download options, and social sharing capabilities |
Built-in print store for selling prints, albums, and other products directly from your website |
Integrated blogging platform for sharing your latest work, industry insights, and client testimonials |
Image proofing and selection tools to facilitate the review process with clients |
SEO tools and resources to help improve your website’s search engine ranking |
Integration with popular third-party apps, such as Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and social media platforms |
Customer support via email and an extensive help center |
Pros of Pixieset
- Designed specifically for photographers, ensuring the platform caters to the unique needs of wedding photographers
- User-friendly interface and design editor, allowing for easy customization and website updates
- Online client galleries and image proofing tools to streamline the delivery and review process
- Built-in print store for selling products directly from your website, with options for automatic fulfillment and drop shipping
- Integration with popular third-party apps and services, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your website’s functionality
Cons of Pixieset
- Limited template selection compared to some other website builders, which may restrict design options
- No built-in scheduling or booking system, which may require the use of third-party tools or manual coordination with clients
- Customization options may be more limited compared to website builders like Wix or Squarespace, which could be a drawback for those looking for complete design freedom
- While Pixieset offers a free plan, it comes with limitations, such as limited storage and fewer features
Pricing and Plans
Please check Pixieset directly for current prices.
Pixieset offers a range of pricing plans, including a limited free plan and the Pixieset Suite, which bundles all of their apps into one simple plan. The Pixieset Suite is available in three different tiers: Starter, Pro, and Ultimate. Each tier provides various features and storage options to cater to the different needs of wedding photographers.
The Pixieset Suite pricing plans are as follows:
- Starter: $28/month (billed annually) or $35 monthly – includes 100GB storage for client galleries, 1 hour of video upload, unlimited website pages, photos, and blog posts, and basic Studio Manager features
- Pro: $38/month (billed annually) or $50 monthly – includes 2,000GB storage for client galleries, 4 hours of video upload, advanced website customization options, and expanded Studio Manager features
- Ultimate: $55/month (billed annually) or $65 monthly – offers unlimited storage for client galleries, 10 hours of video upload, advanced website customization options, and all Studio Manager features
All Pixieset Suite plans include features such as:
- Client Gallery: Unlimited galleries, connect your domain, remove Pixieset branding, and add custom logo & branding
- Website: Unlimited bandwidth, SSL security, mobile-optimized websites, connect your domain, password protection, tracking & analytics integrations, and remove Pixieset banner
- Studio Manager: Unlimited invoices, contracts with eSignatures, questionnaires & quotes, booking & scheduling site, accept online payments, document templates, custom logo & branding, payment & document reminders, and accept tips on invoices
- Store: Commission-free, integrated gallery storefront, automatic fulfillment, coupons & gift cards, and accept online payment
- Mobile Gallery App: Unlimited mobile apps, connect your domain, add custom logo & branding, and remove Pixieset branding
Higher-tier plans include additional features, such as advanced font and color options, custom code, booking intake forms, booking reminders, and more.
By choosing the right Pixieset Suite plan for your wedding photography business, you can take advantage of the platform’s photography-specific features and enjoy a seamless, integrated experience across all apps.
WordPress
Overview & Key Features
WordPress is a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS) that powers millions of websites worldwide, including many professional wedding photography websites. Unlike the hosted WordPress.com platform, WordPress.org allows you to host your website on your own server, providing you with complete control over your website design, functionality, and performance. We are referring to the opensource wordpress.org, not the company wordpress.com
Key features of WordPress for wedding photographers include: |
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Thousands of customizable themes, including many specifically designed for photographers |
Access to a vast library of plugins to enhance your website’s functionality and features |
Complete design freedom with the ability to edit your website’s code, if desired |
Mobile-responsive design to ensure your website looks great on any device |
Built-in blogging platform for sharing your latest work, industry insights, and client testimonials |
Advanced SEO tools and resources to help improve your website’s search engine ranking |
Integration with popular third-party apps and services, such as Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and social media platforms |
E-commerce capabilities through plugins like WooCommerce, allowing you to sell products and services directly from your website |
Image galleries with various layout options, lightbox presentations, and image optimization tools |
Pros of WordPress
- Complete design freedom, allowing you to create a truly unique and customized website for your wedding photography business
- Access to thousands of themes and plugins, providing endless possibilities for website features and functionality
- Strong SEO capabilities through various plugins and resources, helping you improve your website’s search engine ranking
- Integration with popular third-party apps and services, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your website’s functionality
- Ability to scale your website as your business grows, adding new features and functionality as needed
Cons of WordPress
- Steeper learning curve compared to website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or Pixieset, which may be a drawback for those with limited technical knowledge
- Requires more hands-on management, including hosting, security, and updates, which can be time-consuming and may require additional technical expertise
- No dedicated customer support, meaning you’ll need to rely on community forums, online resources, or paid support services for assistance
- The cost of hosting, premium themes, and plugins can add up, potentially making it a more expensive option compared to other website builders
Pricing and Plans
Please check different vendors directly for current prices.
WordPress.org itself is a free, open-source platform. However, there are associated costs to consider when building a wedding photography website with WordPress.org, such as:
- Web hosting: Monthly or annual fees for hosting your website on a server, with costs ranging from $3 to $30+ per month, depending on the hosting provider and plan
- Domain registration: Annual fees for registering your custom domain, typically around $10 to $20 per year
- Premium themes: One-time fees for purchasing a professionally designed theme, usually ranging from $30 to $100+
- Premium plugins: One-time or recurring fees for adding additional features and functionality to your website, with costs varying widely depending on the plugin
While the initial setup costs for a WordPress.org website can be higher than other website builders, the flexibility and scalability it offers make it an attractive option for wedding photographers looking to create a unique online presence that can grow alongside their business.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right website builder for your wedding photography business is crucial to creating an online presence that showcases your work, attracts clients, and helps your business thrive. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs, technical skills, and preferences.
Wix offers extensive customization options and a user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for those who want complete control over their website’s design without needing advanced technical knowledge. Squarespace is well-known for its visually stunning templates and ease of use, making it a popular choice for wedding photographers who want a beautiful, professional website with minimal effort.
Pixieset caters specifically to photographers with features like online client galleries and built-in print stores, making it an excellent option for wedding photographers focused on showcasing their work and selling prints directly from their website. WordPress.org offers unparalleled design freedom and scalability, but it requires more hands-on management and technical expertise compared to other website builders.
WordPress is a little bit more of a process to set up, but it offers the most SEO potential. Their are so many plugins and customization options that you can breathe anything into existence.
When selecting a website builder, consider factors like ease of use, customization options, available features, SEO capabilities, and overall costs. By choosing the right platform and investing time in creating a compelling, professional website, you’ll be well on your way to establishing a strong online presence and growing your wedding photography business.
Final Scores
Ease of Use
First Place: Wix
Second Place: Squarespace
Third Place: WordPress.org
Fourth Place: Pixieset
Customization Options:
First Place: WordPress.org
Second Place: Wix
Third Place: Squarespace
Fourth Place: Pixieset
Photography-Specific Features
First Place: Pixieset
Second Place: Squarespace
Third Place: WordPress.org
Fourth Place: Wix
SEO Capabilities
First Place: WordPress.org
Second Place: Squarespace
Third Place: Wix
Fourth Place: Pixieset
E-Commerce Functionality
First Place: WordPress.org (with WooCommerce)
Second Place: Squarespace
Third Place: Pixieset
Fourth Place: Wix
Integration with Third Party Apps & Services
First Place: WordPress.org
Second Place: Wix
Third Place: Squarespace
Fourth Place: Pixieset
Customer Support
First Place: Squarespace
Second Place: Wix
Third Place: Pixieset
Fourth Place: WordPress.org
Overall Value
First Place: Wix
Second Place: Squarespace
Third Place: Pixieset
Fourth Place: WordPress.org
