"Websites promote you 24/7: No employee will do that." ― Paul Cookson
No matter what profession a person is in, they need a website. There is no alternative to creating the website because it is a trust-building factor. Without a website, the brand will be like a faceless individual, and the first thing people notice about the brand is the face.
The bottom line is whether you are a business person, a sports person, or an artiste – you need a website. And if you think you have no idea how to create a website or don't have time to spare for it, web development professionals are at your disposal.
It is work involved in developing a website for the Internet or Intranet. And it can range from creating a simple text single-page website to a complex website full of applications, electronic businesses, as well as social network services.
However, it is vital to learn about the platform with the help of which brands need to build the website. For ecommerce, Shopify or WooCommerce works best; for bloggers, WordPress works best, andSquarespace is perfect for photography websites.
Why Should Photographers Focus on Building Websites?
Photography is an art that needs to be shared with people. However, to bring out the true essence of captures and show to the world what a photographer sees, one needs a perfect website. How else will one showcase their talent to the world?
Social Media, specifically Instagram, is a great platform to show to the world what all your photographs are about. Still, websites are the place where people take a person as a photographer – seriously. They will see the passion and the dedication, and not just as someone pursuing a hobby.
Creating awebsite for photography shows how a person wishes to build their career in photography with all seriousness and wants people to see his work. If a website of a photographer exists, they are likely to engage with people via their art. They can ask for customized photographs for various purposes.
However, that is only possible if the website is good enough for a person to put forward his best quality work. This is when Squarespace comes into the picture. It will help photographers create the best portfolio website for their work.
Squarespace – an Ideal CMs for a Photography Website
A Content Management System allowing users to create a blog site, an ecommerce website, or an artist portfolio (musician's or influencer's website) is what Squarespace is. Its templates are elegant and comfortable and give the user complete control over their website.
Founded by Anthony Casalena in January 2004, the artists immediately took to this platform to build their portfolio. It was initially called a website builder for creative people but eventually became an all-rounder web platform space.
Squarespace is known for the platform being ready to use and stand-out aesthetics. Its ready-made templates make the work of developers seamless. However, its advantage is restricted customization. It is winning over people who cannot code nor want to spend too much time doing so.
Whereas people have not stopped using classic website builders like Sitecore, they have indeed preferred Squarespace as a photography website builder in 2023 and will continue to do so.
A few celebrities like Ruthie Ann Miles and Sierra Boggess have created their websites with Squarespace.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming a Squarespacer
Creating a simple and effective website for photographers with Squarespace is pretty straightforward. Below is a step-by-step guide as to how to go about it:
Step 1: Get Started
To get started with the website, the first step is to login into Squarespace. It is in the upper right corner of the main page. You can create an account if you haven't already.
Step 2: Login Options
If you do not want to open an account with the help of Gmail, you can opt for Facebook or Twitter login. But we recommend you to log in with Gmail. That is the safest and most straightforward option.
Step 3: Create a Website
Once you have logged in, by clicking on "My Account," you'll be directed to the "Create Website page." Then you can click anywhere inside the big box to create a photography website for yourself or someone else. If you click on the "Create a site" option in the upper right corner, it'll take you to the same page.
Step 4: Select the Template
Once you enter Squarespace Template Pages, deciding the template for your website is one of the most important decisions you'll be making. However, you can always take the help of web designing experts who will help you custom design the website as per your requirements.
You have numerous photography templates options like ELLIOTT, BALBOA, RESEDA, and many more; to choose from. Take, for example, MATSUYA Template; if you click on preview, you’ll see why it is desirable to photographers.
Its photos are a perfect size and pixel and rich in color. Plus, smooth integration with social media platforms is an added advantage. You do not have to add the photo twice - once on the website and once on social media.
And once you have found your ideal Squarespace template, click on "START WITH THIS TEMPLATE."
Step 5: Round-the-Clock Assistance
The next step is to be assisted by the onboarding assistant on how to edit the pages and design. You can skip this step if you want and can always come back later to study it and implement it.
Step 6: Explore and Choose
Click on buttons and designs you are curious about and explore before finally settling down on one plan. It would be best if you were absolutely sure about which template to settle on. After all, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.
Step 7: Save the Website
Once you have selected the template, created the website with it, edited the pages and design, and added the content, now is time to save the changes. You need to click on DONE before returning to the main menu.
Step 8: Preview the Website
Once you are done with designing and uploading/writing the content, you can preview the website with the arrow given in the top right corner. If at all you are unhappy with the template, design, content, or elements; you can go back and edit it.
Step 9: Paid Service
Now is the time to select the paid subscription for your website. If you are serious about your photography website to be a professional website, you have to choose from 4 pricing plans given below:
- 1. Personal - $16 per month
- 2. Business - $23 per month
- 3. Commerce (Basic) - $27 per month
- 4. Commerce (Advanced) - $49 per month
(Note: The price may vary. You can check out detailed pricing plans here).
Now that you know how to create a website with Squarespace, go on and become Squarespacer like Olga Miljko - one of the top photographers in the world. A few others who have created their photography website with Squarespace are Scott Snyder, Mike Kelly, and Shanley Cox.
Advantages of Squarespace
Whether it is standard or a wedding photography, Squarespaceworks perfectly fine for everything. Here are a few benefits of using Squarespace for photographers:
#1 Idiot – Proof
Squarespace is no bullshit platform to create a website for photography business. With its easy to choose templates and other features, it is undoubtedly an idiot–proof content management system that will help photographers create a meaningful and lead-generating website within minutes.
#2 Neat Design
Squarespace has templates with a neat design that doesn’t feel stuffy. Just like a blog feels stuffy if you deliberately try to add keywords more than its density, a design feels stuffy if it has lots of elements. Rather than focusing on pictures, people will focus on other components if they are highlighted more.
Hence, all the templates of Squarespace have a neat design and clean look, which is perfect for a photography website.
#3 Easy Set-Up
As mentioned above, one can create a website quite easily with Squarespace. If it is to be used just as a hobby or a simple portfolio, the website will be ready within minutes. Only if one wishes to go professional do they need to go check out the pricing section.
Thus, setting up a website with Squarespace takes as much time as you need to order and the time you need to finish it, perhaps even less.
#4 SEO Friendly
Creating a website with Squarespace comes with the advantage of an option for optimizing the website. One can easily make it SEO-friendly by putting captions to the images as well as the alter tags. It allows you to insert the targeted long-tail and short-tail keywords. One of the ways it helps optimize websites is by assisting sites in integrating with social media platforms.
Thus, you can check out more ways to optimize, not only the website but images as well, by clicking optimize a website built with Squarespace. SEO will not be a problem should one choose this platform to create a portfolio.
#5 Professional
With four pricing plans, the brand (photographer) can quickly turn the website into a professional one from the portfolio. It has templates modern and beautiful that one doesn't need to be a designer to design their website. They can easily purchase an already created template and add their touch to make the website official and unique.
#6 Security
Squarespace is not just a website builder, and it is a content management system that has built templates, has SSL security, is available to assist round the clock, and much more. It saves the time and energy of a person that could be spent in making the site secure and SEO optimized.
Thus, with Squarespace, one can focus on their art rather than worrying about the website.
#7 Maintenance
With Squarespace, you can house multiple websites with one account. Everything is so neatly organized that you won't have to face any kind of confusion. Plus, it has a drag-and-drop option, which will allow the person to add anything to the page quickly. Also, the primary website requires no expert guidance or skills and can add, edit, or eliminate any element almost immediately.
#8 Optional Coding
Imagine creating a website without having to write the code. Although writing code is not complex; however if done incorrectly, it can damage the website inside out. Platforms like Joomla or Drupal need coding, but Squarespace doesn't need one to write codes to create a simple and effective website.
All you have to do is to log in, choose a template, upload the content, and preview the website before making it live.
#9 Mobile Responsiveness
Do not worry about the mobile responsiveness of the website. Anyone can see your website from every device. Squarespace provides the option to make website devices responsive. Also, if the website is not how you want it to look on various devices, you can edit it accordingly.
The best part about checking the changes made is you do not have to open it in another tab. How you see your website with the preview is precisely how visitors see it.
#10 Social Media Integration
Who doesn't want social media buttons on their website? Most traffic for artists comes from various social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. You can integrate as many social media platforms as you want and bring in the traffic. Websites will create a backbone for your social media presence.
#11 Image Gallery and Light Box
Squarespace provides tools to edit images such that you need not open a separate application/software like Adobe or Illustrator, etc., on your computer to edit them. It provides features like Image Gallery and Lightbox, with which you can enlarge and highlight the images.
Whether your picture is too dark or too light or has too many elements that need to be removed, Squarespace is a one-stop solution for everything; all you need to do is take your time exploring it.
#12 Password Protected Pages
This is one of the best advantages of Squarespace. If you have confidential content or sensitive information that is prone to hacking, you can always password-protect those pages. Not everyone who will visit your website will be doing so because they admire you.
In a world where people are foes in the skin of friends, protecting your art from falling into the wrong hands is extremely necessary. Thus, throw your worries about getting your sensitive information leaked with Squarespace.
#13 Template Options
For Squarespace 7.0 and 7.1, there are more than 100 templates for websites available. Take your time exploring and choosing the correct one for your photography website. With every template, there is a view demo option that allows you to see how it is different from other templates.
This is one thing where you have to spend most of your time because, based on the template you choose, you'll be able to see how beautiful and neat the website is. Also, there is an option to build your customized template if you are confident enough. Otherwise, if you are a newbie, purchase the already existing temple.
#14 Recommended by Developers
Squarespace is a CMS recommended by developers because it is an ideal platform for artists and small business owners. Squarespace, more than a content management system, is a portfolio builder for people who want to make their hobby their profession.
It helps artists and small business owners create a website that provides a smooth user - experience. Thus, developers suggest most people go for Squarespace, which wants to be present on the internet and be searched by their fans and admirers.
#15 Squarespace Ecommerce
Set up an ecommerce shop with Squarespace. With two pricing plans dedicated exclusively to ecommerce, you can now set up a platform for people to buy your products as you see on Amazon and eBay.
It depends on the plan you choose so that you can track your orders, inventory, shipping details, etc. One can also integrate the Squarespace website with accounting and printing software, where the work will be automated and regulated.
One of the best examples of it is Peter Mckinnon. He sells prints and LUTs using Squarespace. Also, he is known to collaborate with various brands gaining financial as well as royalty benefits.
#16 Scheduling
Squarespace also provides the option of Acuity Scheduling, where your clients can book an appointment with you. Just like one book an appointment with a doctor or wedding planner, or beautician, they can book an appointment with a photographer and list their requirements beforehand.
Also, with this feature, you can promote your availability, and stay on your schedule, get paid, and yet save time to spend with your spouse and kids. Isn’t it a win-win?
Limitations of Squarespace
No matter how perfectly a platform works, but all platforms have their limitations. Here are a few limitations of using Squarespace for photographers:
#1 Pricing is Expensive
The pricing of Squarespace is undoubtedly expensive, especially for the artists who are struggling to sell their art. The very reason for which they created the website could make them broke. Thus, it is like trading stocks. To create a website with Squarespace, you need to put aside a certain amount and forget about it. You only invest the money that you are ready to forget about.
#2 Confused User - Experience
Sometimes Squarespace can be confusing for the user to navigate. It might not be as smooth as expected, which can increase the bounce rate. But that can be fixed with the help of experts. Also, this problem is rare, so it might not be considered as a drawback at all. However, it is better to be safe than sorry.
#3 Occasional Speed Issues
This problem is not common; only a few handful of users have faced it. However, they have complained that drag-and-drop features might be slow at times. But that again depends on what kind of system and internet you are using. If the internet speed is high, this problem might not occur.
Conclusion
Only if you are serious about your art, will people be too. They will put their trust in you if you have faith and confidence in yourself, as whatever you are creating will make the world feel something. And to make sure people do that, create a photography website with Squarespace that is not just effective but sellable as well.
Let Squarespace become your photography website's knight in shining armor!
