1

Curation & business planning

Before you upload, you must curate. A photography portfolio is judged by its weakest image.

  • Define your photography niche

    Are you targeting weddings, editorial, or commercial clients? If you talk to everyone, you talk to no one. Focus your portfolio on the work that pays the bills.

  • Choose 10–20 hero shots

    Pick your absolute best work. Quality beats quantity every time. Ensure your images are in sRGB color profile for the best web display.

  • Set your pricing and packages

    Define your session rates, print pricing, and digital download costs. Knowing your numbers now makes setting up your store much faster.

2

Technical setup

Get your foundation ready for a professional online presence.

  • Create your Portfoliobox account

    Sign up at portfoliobox.com. You can build and publish your full photography portfolio on the free plan with no credit card required.

  • Install the Adobe Lightroom plugin

    Streamline your workflow by exporting images directly from Lightroom to your Portfoliobox library. Available on the Professional plan.

  • Register a custom domain

    Secure a domain like .photography, .photos, or .com. A custom domain builds instant trust with agencies and high-end clients.

3

Building the visual experience

Photographers need immersive galleries that load fast on every screen.

  • Choose a photography-focused template

    Start with a template like "Noir" or "Gallery" that prioritizes full-bleed imagery and clean navigation.

  • Configure your gallery layouts

    Select from a range of layouts including horizontal, vertical, or masonry grids. Ensure your images are high-resolution but optimized for fast loading.

  • Set up client proofing galleries

    Create password-protected pages where clients can privately review and select their favorite shots from a session. Available on the Professional plan.

  • Add before-and-after or process videos

    Embed videos from Vimeo or YouTube to show your retouching process or behind-the-scenes footage.

4

E-commerce & business tools

Set up the tools that let you sell, book, and invoice from your portfolio.

  • Enable your 0% commission store

    Connect your Stripe or PayPal account. Portfoliobox never takes a cut of your print or digital sales.

  • Upload digital products

    Add presets, high-res digital files, or zines. Set up automated delivery so clients receive their files immediately after purchase.

  • Set up appointment bookings

    Define your availability and session types. Let clients book and pay for their shoot directly through your site.

  • Configure invoicing and quotes

    Use professional business tools to send branded quotes for big projects. Once accepted, convert them to invoices with one click.

5

SEO & launch

Ensure your work can be found by the right people.

  • Add image alt text

    Describe what is in each photo. This helps Google index your work and makes your photography portfolio accessible to everyone.

  • Optimize meta titles for search

    Use specific keywords like "Wedding Photographer in [Your City]" in your page settings to capture local search traffic.

  • Test your contact form

    Send a test message to ensure you are receiving client inquiries directly in your inbox.

6

Growth & maintenance

Your portfolio is a living project that should grow with your career.

  • Update your blog monthly

    Share your latest project stories or gear reviews. Fresh content signals to Google that your site is active and authoritative.

  • Check your analytics

    Use the built-in analytics to see which galleries are most popular and where your visitors are coming from.

  • Remove outdated work

    As you get better, remove your older projects. Your portfolio should always represent your current professional standard.