Building your own photography website doesn’t have to be intimidating. Whether you want to share your portfolio, attract new clients, or sell prints, having your own site gives you complete control over how your work is presented. In this guide, you’ll learn how to build a photography website the easy way — using WordPress and affordable web hosting through Hostinger.
If you’ve never had your own website before, you’re in luck. Hostinger makes it simple, fast, and budget-friendly — and if you use my referral link, you’ll get 20% off your first 12-month hosting plan.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Before you begin, you’ll just need a few basics:
- A domain name – This is your website address (for example, truenorthphoto.net). You can register one directly through Hostinger or another provider.
- A hosting plan – This is where your website’s files live. Hostinger is a great choice for beginners and professionals alike, offering fast servers and easy WordPress installation.
- A few hours of time – You’ll set everything up once, and then updating your site later is quick and easy.
Step 1: Choose a Hosting Plan
Head over to Hostinger’s website and look at their hosting options. For photographers, the Premium Web Hosting or WordPress Starter plans are the best value.
You’ll want to select at least a 12-month plan to unlock your 20% discount with my referral link. This also includes a free domain for the first year — perfect for getting your portfolio online quickly.
Once you’ve selected your plan, follow the checkout steps. You’ll set up an account and choose your domain name (like yournamephotography.com).
Step 2: Install WordPress
After your account is active, Hostinger will walk you through setting up WordPress automatically. It only takes a minute.
- Log in to your Hostinger dashboard.
- Select “Create or migrate a website.”
- Choose WordPress as your platform.
- Create a username and password for your WordPress site.
- Click “Finish Setup.”
That’s it — you’ve now got your photography website foundation ready.
Step 3: Pick a Photography Theme
Now it’s time to make your site look great. Inside your WordPress dashboard, click Appearance → Themes → Add New.
Search for free photography themes or choose one of these proven options:
- Astra – Clean, fast, and customizable.
- OceanWP – Great for portfolios and galleries.
- Pixgraphy – Specifically designed for photographers.
Once you’ve activated your theme, you can start customizing colors, fonts, and layout to match your brand.
Step 4: Add Your Portfolio
This is the fun part. Go to Pages → Add New, name it Portfolio, and start adding your favorite images.
To create a gallery:
- Click the “+” icon, then select the Gallery block.
- Upload several of your best photos (web-optimized JPGs work best).
- Arrange them in a grid or masonry layout.
Tip: Keep image sizes under 150 KB each for faster page loads — this also helps your SEO.
Step 5: Create an About Page and Contact Form
A good website tells your story. On your About page, include:
- A short bio about who you are and what you photograph
- A friendly portrait or behind-the-scenes image
- A link to your social media accounts
Then create a Contact page using a plugin like WPForms or Contact Form 7. Both are free and easy to set up. This lets potential clients or fans reach out directly.
Step 6: Optimize for SEO and Speed
To make sure people can find your site, install two plugins right away:
- Yoast SEO – Helps you optimize page titles, meta descriptions, and keywords.
- WP Super Cache – Speeds up your site by caching content.
Hostinger’s servers are already fast, but these small tweaks help your photos load quickly — something both visitors and Google love.
Step 7: Publish and Share Your Website
Once your portfolio, about, and contact pages are complete, click Publish. You officially have your own photography website!
Now share your site on:
- Instagram bio and Facebook page
- Your email signature
- Business cards
- Local photography directories
As you upload new galleries or blog posts, your site will grow naturally and continue to rank better over time.
Pro Tips for a Professional Look
- Use a custom favicon: It’s the small icon next to your site’s name in the browser tab. You can add one under Appearance → Customize → Site Identity.
- Keep navigation simple: Home, Portfolio, About, and Contact are enough to start.
- Add testimonials or client logos: These build trust if you’re booking photo sessions.
- Enable SSL: Hostinger includes a free SSL certificate — turn it on for secure browsing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Uploading full-size photos: Always resize and compress for web.
- Overcomplicating your homepage: Keep it minimal with one striking hero image and a few links.
- Skipping backups: Install a plugin like UpdraftPlus to automatically save your site.
- Ignoring mobile design: Check how your site looks on phones — most visitors will be mobile users.
Building a photography website doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With WordPress and Hostinger, you can have a beautiful, professional portfolio online in just a few hours — no coding required.
Plus, when you use my referral link, you’ll get 20% off your first hosting plan of 12 months or longer, making it one of the most affordable ways to showcase your work.
Your photography deserves a home that’s truly yours — start building it today.
