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Finding the best option for building your website or portfolio can be a daunting task with so many options available. Are you looking for one to share your photos and videos, perhaps book your customers directly online, a way to share proofs, sell prints and other products, or is there something else you need on your site?
When I searched for a platform to host my digital business, I decided to use Zenfolio, as it met most of my needs and was one of the more affordable options. I could have created my own portfolio website, but decided to use one of the templates and all the functionality. Hi, this saved me the trouble of coding and designing a website.
Fast forward to date, and I rarely make changes to the site's appearance. I changed templates many times but mostly I added new galleries and client work for proofreading. It was time for a new look, and it was a perfect opportunity to try out their new and updated platform.
building site
I thought this would be the perfect time to move on and separate my model business from my other business, which, frankly, I should have done before, but I didn't want to create more work for myself. With the previous platform, I was limited to choosing from a bunch of different templates and then some different layout options for those templates. Now, with their website editor, you have a lot of options. You can select and move existing content blocks, make various changes (including font options), or simply delete the block if you don't need it. Instead of trying to fit what you need into a template, you can add and make changes as you see fit.
There are currently 11 different models to choose from, and more are on the way. Even with the existing options, you have a huge amount of possibilities simply by customizing and adding new content blocks as needed. You may not have the time to sit down and customize the theme, so having more options to choose from will help cut down on allocating time or get you to a better starting point if one of your existing templates doesn't quite fit what you're looking for.
With so many people accessing their content on their phones and tablets, it makes sense for Zenfolio to take a mobile-first approach with this new platform. You can easily modify your site to show certain sections on their phones, tablets or computers.
video
While I'm keen on the new design element, that's not all. Like many other photographers, I have been involved in the video business for several years, but have never pushed this side of the business. There have been some improvements to having videos inside Zenfolio. If you love sharing behind-the-scenes videos with your galleries or if you offer a video service with shooting in bundles or as an add-on, you can share both in one convenient place.
- Supported file types: MP4, MOV
- Broadcast Resolution 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p
- File size limit: 3 GB
- Video duration: 20 minutes
Smoother workflow for photographers
Some of the reasons I used Zenfolio, at first, were the option to proofread galleries and the ability to partner with print labs to get high-quality prints. Anything that makes the process smoother is a plus in my book. And now, it's better. One of Zenfolio's goals was to help automate as much of the platform as possible so I could focus on the photography aspect of things. Many of us have to wear many hats and perform many different roles and duties. We can now take off some new features like BookMe Scheduling and Invoicing. You can make reservations 24/7 and collect payments instantly. Offer different packages, session types and location options? You can list them all, making it easier for your customers to choose, and eliminating some back-and-forth translations.
The dashboard also comes with a new look. You saw some of this in the previous version, but the update allows you to see your stats at a glance. If you are not sure what to do with your site, the first tool acts as a guide to complete your website. Compared to the previous version, this version has a much clearer visual display that you can edit as needed.
I still have some work to do to get my new site up and running, but I like a lot of updates. Since I had a backend in the web, I missed the option to edit the HTML code on the custom pages if needed, but I don't really see the need for that with the multiple content blocking options and the possibility to customize the new platform. It is best to have an idea of what you want on your website, think about the pages and information you need, and have it ready. Think about what packages and options you want to include and what you want to run automatically. Also, if you plan to feature only selected exhibitions, be sure to equip them. It will save you time, as you will not look for it during construction, since you can spend a lot of time with the various options available.
You can compare the different plans to see what works for you here, and while you're there, you can sign up for a free trial.
#Photography
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