Starting a Photography Business: WordPress Website Themes
When it comes to your WordPress website, choosing a website theme can be intimidating if you don’t know where to look or if you’ll need pro features (which cost extra and can be a hassle). Have no fear! After 10+ years of running my own websites, I know a few good places to buy user-friendly WordPress website templates.
Why Buy a WordPress Website Theme?
WordPress themes take out a majority of the guesswork when it comes to customizing your website. Someone has put together the framework for you, and now all you have to do is change the colors, fonts (if you want), images, and copy to make it uniquely yours. I promise you, even though it seems like a lot of work at first, it’s a lot simpler than building something from scratch—and a lot cheaper than hiring someone to make you a custom website.
Where to Buy a WordPress Website Theme:
There are plenty of places to search for WordPress themes. I’ve listed my favorites down below that have tried and true templates.
Etsy
Etsy is a great place to start if you want an affordable website theme. Some can be as cheap as $30 while others can cost upwards of $300. Make sure to read the description of each website theme to make sure they’re available for use without any additional subscriptions. Also, make sure to read the reviews for customer service and ease of installation/customization. A pretty WordPress template is no use to you if you’re unable to customize it.
17th Avenue Design
My first WordPress Theme (the Amelia blog theme) came from 17th Avenue Design. It was super easy to set up because of their video library, which walks you through each step, so there are no questions that go unanswered. If you do have a question, their customer support is great.
Pix and Hue
While I haven’t gotten to use Pix and Hue templates yet (one is on my wish list for my Senior Photography Website – beneaththespruceseniors.com), their reviews are phenomenal, and their website templates are stunning.
Based on reviews, similar to 17th Avenue Designs, they have a vast library of tutorials to walk you through how to customize your website theme.
When to Consider a Custom Website:
If you’re just starting out, you’ll need to discover your brand over time. Your photography style and who/what you photograph are likely to change as you learn your creative voice. This is not the time to spend $3,000+ on a custom brand.
If you find that you know your brand voice, have been in business for a few years, and feel like your branding might be holding you back from booking the type of clients you want, you might consider hiring a designer to build a custom website for you. It’s something you’ll want to think long and hard about because custom websites and brands can cost thousands of dollars, especially if you go with a high quality designer with a solid portfolio.
If you haven’t purchased WordPress website hosting yet, consider BlueHost, which is both user and budget friendly. If you want more hosting recommendations, check out this blog post on Website Hosts I Recommend. Up next: How to File an LLC with your State’s Secretary of State.
