10 Beautiful Photography Websites

 

It is amazing that the ability to freeze and capture moments in time, has become a mundane fact. Most people agree that photography is an art form. Only a select few possess the eye and instinct of a photographer. A sense of perspective and spatial awareness is always necessary.

Those qualities also apply to website design. For photographers, a website can offer an unprecedented level of exposure.  In an instant, works of art can be shared with the entire world. This unmediated connection between artists and fans can only take place online.

However, the website and its design will also attract attention. These can offer many customization choices, allowing us to craft a page that will never underwhelm. We will be able to tweak every detail, and alter any setting.

Without any advanced web development expertise, users can make aesthetic and practical choices. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the best and beautiful photography website:

1.   Joe Huang Bogan:

The website of Jen Huang Bogan features large photos on the homepage (we can scroll down the page to see more). The navigation menu is simple and located in the left sidebar. 

2.   James Tye:

This site is different from most others showcased on this page because of the sticky footer navigation menu. 

3.   Dave Hill:

Dave Hill’s homepage features thumbnails of several photos and films. The design utilizes a white background and minimal styling with a navigation menu in the header.

4.   Mike Kelley:

A clean, minimal layout and design that puts focus on the photo.

5.   This Wild Idea:

The portfolio site of Theron Humphrey uses a light background colour and a minimalist style. The front page showcases medium-sized versions of several different photos.

6.   Greg Ross:

Clean design and layout with a slide to showcase photos on the homepage.

7.   Giles Clement:

Photographer Giles Clement uses full-screen photos and a unique design to create a portfolio site that really stands out while showcasing his work. 

8.   Deanie Chen:

Deanie Chen also uses a white background and a simple design with a left sidebar. The main area of the homepage uses a slider to showcase the photos.

9.   Ariana Jordan:

Ariana Jordan is a portrait photographer from Richmond, Kentucky. She has more than 10 years of experience.

She is a wonderful visual storyteller and her works are dramatic, romantic, and bright. Her hero images are large, bold and take centre  stage on her site.

10.   Sanz Lena:

Sanz Lena is a beauty and fashion photographer from Paris. He has been in the industry since 2012. His portfolio includes editorial, still-life, beauty, fashion, and video work.

His website is clean, classy and minimalistic, ensuring his images speak for themselves.

Here are some tips to consider when designing some beautiful photography’s handful of design concepts, one could choose for their site.

1.   Keep it simple:

A web design based on simplicity allows the work to stand out. It also makes it easy for visitors to navigate our website.

While there are plenty of extra features we could add to a website, a simple, intuitive design is ultimately all we need to showcase our work and give visitors a positive experience on our site.

2.   Match the design with the photography:

A great website design fits the work of the photographer. For example, travel photographers have interests in portfolios that exude adventure, while wedding photographers have websites that reflect love and joy.

Even if we specialize in several types of photography, our style will fit certain web designs better than others. If we don’t know what our style or brand is, try to figure that out before we choose a website design.

Otherwise, one might spend a lot of time/money on a single design, only to realize a couple months later that it doesn’t fit our business or match whom we are as a photographer.

3.   Be easy to contact:

Have a section dedicated to the contact information, especially if we’re looking for customers. Make it obvious where this section can be found and make the process of contacting us effortless.

Similarly, be sure to include social media on the site. This will give visitors another avenue for following, contacting, and interacting with us. It will also show that we have a strong online presence, which will come across as professional and trustworthy.

Another advantage of social media is that we can show a different side of our self as a photographer. For example, while our photography website could host the professional work, Instagram would be great for more personal photos.

This way, we can experiment and share photos that are personally meaningful, while still keeping your website clean and professional.

4.   Trends in technology and web design:

If we keep track of the websites of successful photographers, we will notice that their designs are regularly updated. One reason for these updates is that the idea of what is good design changes over time.

Since aesthetics are important for photographers, it’s good to keep up with the general trends in web design. If our website is starting to look dated, it might be time to change its design.

Another reason to update our website’s design is changes in technology. Smartphones and tablets, for example, have changed the way people access websites.

Nowadays, if our website’s design is not responsive, we are missing out on an opportunity to show our work to a large group of internet users.

5.   Personal Branding:

In a way, most photography websites are already a form of personal branding. Photography sites generally show the materials of one photographer, whose name appears prominently on the website.

However, personal branding has become more important for photographers nowadays, which has affected the design and content of their websites. For instance, more sites now show a picture of the photographers themselves.

It’s also common for a photography website to have a personal blogging section. A few photographers even host podcasts, webinars, and advertise master classes on their websites.

As a professional photographer, our future work depends on our personal brand. Our website’s design and content forms a large part of that brand.

Conclusion :

There should be plenty here to help us on our way to creating our own website. We just need to decide what we want to include: be that sliders, Instagram feeds, blogs and/or grid layouts.

But if one wants to feel inspired all the time, he/she should definitely sign up for the Photo Blog newsletter. All sorts of great stuff--such as inspiration, tips, and photography secrets are present to help us capture world-class photographs.

 

Written by - Sakshi Chauhan