Updated January 2025

Photography Portfolio Website Products Compared - 2025 Edition

Looking for the right platform to showcase your photography? After building hundreds of photographer websites over the years, I've learned what works (and what doesn't) for different types of photographers. Here's my honest take on the top portfolio platforms in 2025 - from user-friendly options like Format to more customizable solutions like Wordpress.

Top picks for beautiful sites
that are easy to update and maintain

Format

Description: Format is a leading choice for professional photographers, offering a user-friendly interface and customizable templates that make it easy to create a professional portfolio.
Pricing: Starts at $6/month
Details: Format

See portfolios I built on Format here and here.

Squarespace

Description: Squarespace offers sleek, design-forward templates that help photographers create visually appealing, professional portfolios.
Pricing: Starts at $12/month
Details: Squarespace

See portfolios I built on Squarespace here, here and here.

RUNNERS UP

PhotoFolio

Description: PhotoFolio provides high-quality templates designed to showcase images with maximum visual impact, perfect for commercial photographers.
Pricing: Starts at $17/month
Details: PhotoFolio.

See portfolios I built on Photofolio here and here.

Adobe Portfolio

Description: Adobe Portfolio integrates seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud, ideal for photographers using tools like Lightroom and Photoshop.
Pricing: Included with Adobe Creative Cloud subscription
Details: Adobe Portfolio

Photoshelter

Description: Photoshelter is known for its archive management, e-commerce capabilities, and client proofing tools, making it ideal for photographers with large portfolios.
Pricing: Starts at $10/month
Details: Photoshelter

See a portfolio I built using Photoshelter here.

Cargo Collective

Description: Cargo Collective provides unique, highly customizable templates, ideal for photographers seeking an artistic portfolio.
Pricing: $99/year or $13/month
Details: Cargo Collective

Honorable Mentions

SmugMug

Description: SmugMug offers comprehensive solutions for portfolio presentation, eCommerce, and print fulfillment, along with robust security and storage.
Pricing: Starts at $9/month
Details: SmugMug

Zenfolio

Description: Zenfolio is tailored for professional photographers needing an all-in-one platform for showcasing, selling, and delivering work with strong client proofing tools. Pricing: Starts at $25/year
Details: Zenfolio

Pixpa

Description: Pixpa offers an all-in-one platform with portfolio, store, blog, and client galleries, making it versatile for managing various aspects of a photography business. Pricing: Starts at $7/month
Details: Pixpa

Carbonmade

Description: Carbonmade is a drag-and-drop portfolio builder with creative and modern designs, ideal for photographers seeking a simple yet stylish portfolio.
Pricing: Plans start at $8/month
Details: Carbonmade

Semplice

Description: Semplice, built on WordPress, offers extensive customization options, making it a great choice for photographers who want a unique portfolio.
Pricing: One-time fee starting at $149
Details: Semplice

Cargo

Description: Cargo combines professional portfolio capabilities with artistic freedom, offering highly flexible and customizable design options.
Pricing: $99/year or $13/month
Details: Cargo

If you’re looking for complete control

WordPress

Description: WordPress offers unlimited customization and functionality through themes and plugins. While it requires more technical knowledge or help from a developer, it provides complete control over your site's design and features. Popular photography themes include Flothemes and ProPhoto.
Pricing: WordPress itself is free, but you'll need hosting ($5-30/month) plus theme costs ($15-150 on average). Many photographers budget $500-1000 for initial setup.
Details: WordPress.org

Pros:

Complete control over design and functionality
Powerful blogging capabilities
Strong SEO features
One-time theme purchase vs monthly fees
Large developer community

Cons:

Steeper learning curve
Requires regular maintenance and updates
Need separate hosting
Security responsibilities
Can be overwhelming for non-technical users

Let me know if you have others that you like using!

Looking for a professional to not only curate your best images but also build your photography portfolio website? I specialize in creating stunning, user-friendly sites on platforms like Squarespace, Format, 22Slides, and PhotoFolio.

Whether you need elegant galleries, e-commerce capabilities, or seamless client proofing, I’ve got you covered from start to finish. Let’s craft a site that not only showcases your work but also elevates your brand. Contact me today to get started on your custom portfolio!

Over at APhotoEditor.com, creatives are weighing in on if print portfolios still matter. Like with almost anything related to marketing yourself as a photographer, ask three people and you get three different answers. One person says yes you have to still have a print book, another says they haven't called in a print book in over a year. The one thing they all agree on: be prepared for any situation. My question isn't so much about having a print book vs not having one. I wonder more -- if you're going all digital -- what are you showing on your iPad that can't be shown online? What experience are you giving the creative that she can't get by just going to your website?

Consider this. If you're dropping off/shipping your iPad: Just like print portfolios, they have to be delivered, where they take up room on the creative's desk, and then the person has to take time to make sure they get returned to the messenger center or mail room.

If you're looking for an in-person meeting, are you delivering a richer experience on your iPad than they could get by going to your website? I can't tell you how many times I've had to tell photographers that rolling up to a meeting just to show off your website or some folders of images on your desktop is not going to cut it. Aside from the novelty of having someone flick through your on-screen portfolio, are you offering much more than your website does?

Don't get me wrong, I think the iPad is iRad, I just don't want photographers to abandon the process of making print portfolios if they end of doing themselves a disservice by annoying a potential hirer.

I'm sure there are some fab examples out there of killer iPad portfolios and I want to see them! :)