Running a photo website/portfolio on WordPress?

[jonasv]

Dear all,

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with using WordPress to showcase his or her photography portfolio.

I'm looking for something along these lines: http://www.jefboesphotography.be

- Clean and uncluttered design (overall lay-out - but also no sliding, zooming or additional frames around photos etc, as minimal as possible)
- Can use own domain name
- Can add own logo (no wordpress, zenfolio or other logo visible)
- Easy to use

What I also like about Jef Boes' site is also that you get a gallery full of pictures when you click on 'Singles' or 'Portraits', while if you click on a documentary series (ie the GOP/DNC 2012 series) the photos are presented as a sequence. I'm not sure if I'm explaining that correctly, but follow the link and you'll see...

I just wanted to hear if anyone had any tips, or perhaps themes they would like to recommend. I'm not familiar with using WordPress.

I'm currently using Zenfolio to temporarily host some of my photos: http://jonasvincken.zenfolio.com

I find it can be a bit cluttered, plus, I'm not using 99% of the options provided. If I wanted to use my own domain name and logo I would have to upgrade it to a $100/year plan.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[jonasv]

Themes I'm currently looking at:

http://richwp.com/themes/portfolio/
http://themetrust.com/demos/hero/

But I find even these quite cluttered (though I could probably simplify them).

 

[bonatto]

cool thing about worpress is that it's highly customizable.

I built this: http://www.fredbonatto.com/

from this: http://demo.blaskan.net/

I've also previously used this theme: http://expositio.wpshower.com/

 

[jonasv]

cool thing about worpress is that it's highly customizable.

I built this: http://www.fredbonatto.com/

from this: http://demo.blaskan.net/

I've also previously used this theme: http://expositio.wpshower.com/

Aha, quite customisable indeed! I see you were able to simplify it a lot. Did you just have to eliminate some options in a menu or did it require any programming (sorry, total newcomer to this, and I'd like to know before I actually buy a theme!).

I just went through the Fortuna series on your website. Wonderful photos. Reminds me of a few Trent Parke images that I love. Going to look at the rest now!


EDIT: Ah, I had not clicked the last link in your post yet. That expositio theme seems to be pretty much exactly what I'm looking for!

 

[bonatto]

Thanks Jonas!

Some options you can get rid of simply, but most other stuff required a bit of programming. I'm not really a programmer, but I was able to customize the theme by trial and error.

 

[jonasv]

Thanks Jonas!

Some options you can get rid of simply, but most other stuff required a bit of programming. I'm not really a programmer, but I was able to customize the theme by trial and error.

Thanks for the info. I'll start working on it right away!

 

[RFH]

I made mine just by manipulating the templates into a layered structure that gives me different subpages like a real website. Wasn't too difficult. I never bought the upgrade as I'm also considering other options, and so far it's worked fine for me.

 

[nightfly]

I'm a photographer and a web developer. Wordpress can be made as simple or as complex as you like. It gives you a lot of control however some of it can get somewhat complex and it helps to have a bit of programming skills or know someone who does. In some ways it's much more than you need and pretty complex.

That said if you find a theme that pretty much matches what you want (there are hundreds of free and paid for themes) then it might be a good way to go. Google Wordpress photography themes and you will have a good idea of what's possible.

Another option is this:

http://cargocollective.com/

It is aimed at creative professionals and is pretty easy to use and set up and is very simple.

 

[jonasv]

Thanks rfh & nightfly. It seems the Expositio theme running on Wordpress would need only a minimum of modifications for my use. But I'll look into cargocollective as well!

 

[Paul Cunningham]

I'm using themes from www.graphpaperpress.com (immersion and immense), but I must say, I like the Jef Boes page very much.

 

[kxl]

I use Wordpress for my site, then embed a photo gallery (JALBUM) using iframe.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I use WP for my website and also my street photography blog (colincorneau.com and reservedatalltimes.com, respectively)

They are, as noted already, very customizeable and if you know your coding you can tailor it to a great degree to your liking.

FWIW, I used the Twenty Ten model for my blog precisely because it's uncluttered and clean looking. I'd recommend it.

 

[huddy]

I was actually looking for the same information but didn't think to start here. Thank you all for some great themes. I suppose it is time to start programming... 🙂

 

[luuca]

I have a blog on WP too, nothing special, but I like the way you can customize everything, I think it's a very good solution for a photoblog.

 

[nightfly]

If you just want a blog rather than a portfolio site, I recommend Tumblr over Wordpress. I have used both and a custom CMS I wrote myself and find Tumblr is the one I update most frequently because it is so easy.

 

[f16sunshine]

Take a look at Squarespace 6 also. Easy to customize their existing templates and also very easy for the client to take over.

 

[Matus]

Take a look at Squarespace 6 also. Easy to customize their existing templates and also very easy for the client to take over.

There are some awesome themes. I should finally take the jump and try to get some photo-webpage up.

This thread is a big help! Keep it coming, please 🙂

 

[jonasv]

Great tips everyone!

Currently looking at the Squarespace 6 'Avenue' theme... looks great!

 

[filmfan]

I used it for my website (link in my signature).

 

[coelacanth]

Nothing fancy but my photo site is also WP based.

http://www.suguru.net/