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:
6. Greg Ross:
Clean design and layout with a slide to showcase photos on the homepage.
7. Giles Clement:
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
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