Best Website Builder for Pro Photographers

I need to build a new website and want to own
my domain name, decent storage, professional
template layout, email notification,
and sell product on site. I would like
it to be fairly simply and easy to navigate.

I welcome all input from those of you that have
been using a current company website for the
last few years with satisfying success.

I've done some research, but I wanted to get real input
from folks here on POTN.

Thanks for your help and any advice.

I think you're going to get a lot of different opinions because whether one likes the templates, builders, etc. is largely subjective. You're also going to get a lot of opinion about support and customer service which are, for the most part, a weak point of these services. There is SquareSpace, Wix, Weebly, Zenfolio and SmugMug which are popular. I've seen a few PhotoShelter sites that were quite nice. I've used Squarespace and SmugMug in the past. They were OK. Pixpa was a stinker. I think the best way to go about it is to just try them. Most providers offer a free trial so you have a no obligation, no risk way to try for yourself.

the major choice you need to make is if you want to...
1. Use a host and build your own site/have someone build it - this gives you total control over look/features but may require more work/cost to set up, or
2. Use a ready made system such as Zenfolio, SmugMug etc which are easy to set up but maybe more limited in the customization that can be done.

I went the first route getting a web hosting package and installing Wordpress with the Photocrati theme (designed specifically for photographers). The Photocrati theme is actually more of a package of themes - it has a bunch of different theme layouts/colour schemes you can choose from and a dashboard that allows you to customize. It also includes an ecommerce option but I'm not using that at the moment. I have set up a shop using ecwid.com (currently still in test so not visible on my site). I found ecwid relatively easy to set up (had to change colours in CSS to match my site). Will probably check out the Photocrati ecommerce as well just out of interest.

Dan Marchant wrote in post #17381590
I went the first route getting a web hosting package and installing Wordpress with the Photocrati theme (designed specifically for photographers).

I've setup the Photocrati theme and am not happy with how it works on the iPad, iPhone, etc.

How are your results on the mobile devices?

Thanks

If you use lightroom...

And if you are failrly computer literate...

Have a look at "The Turning Gate" plugins for lightroom with which you can build your own websites.

knak wrote in post #17383667
I've setup the Photocrati theme and am not happy with how it works on the iPad, iPhone, etc.

How are your results on the mobile devices?

Thanks

Did you select a responsive theme?

Yes, I did use a responsive theme. Now, I'm thinking my site has other issues.

I'll probably just wipe it and start over again.

I have photocrati and found that performance can be touchy if you have a basic hosting plan. I like the integrated ecommerce as I process my own orders. That part is what sold me on it. I've even considered a subsite for the ecommerce alone so I could use another theme for the rest of the site.

knak wrote in post #17383775
Yes, I did use a responsive theme. Now, I'm thinking my site has other issues.

I'll probably just wipe it and start over again.

Talk to their customer support. That's what they are for and they will work to help you sort your issues.

Good idea, I'm usually too stubborn to call. But your right, I should call.

Thanks to all of you that have posted so far.
Dunno, that's a unique idea that I had not heard of so far.
I'll check into that.

I've got to get on this website project as I found myself
in an odd situation, for me. I wound up in an art exhibit with
my work hanging on the wall as my prior website host sold out
and my site shut down. It was a very simple site, but at least it
had been up to date.

So, here I am with people asking for my website and
I'm having to tell them I'm in the process of having to build a new one.
And since I've got this to do I want to do it well and be able to add or
tweak as necessary.

Thanks, especially to you, Dan, and you too, judo. I really appreciate input.
I've been doing quite a bit of research and I don't mind doing some of the work.
I'm pretty computer savvy, but I don't do code.
I'll leave this open for others as well and see what other posts we get.

Thanks again.

I'll chime in.
I've been running my site for a while now on Wix and it's very user friendly (to this user...).
My site is quite basic, I don't have an ecommerce bit to it. It's meant to appeal to future portrait photography clients.

I did look at a Zenfolio site a while back and I think that's more geared towards ecommerce.
That's why I didn't like it for my own website and I switched.