- Show yourself
You need to have a portfolio website because if you are to build your photographic identity, if you are to carve a niche for yourself in a very competitive market, your work needs to be seen by as many people as possible.
Why not Facebook, Instagram, or any other social platform? They are not enough. They are just a micro-site/network where your/your friends’ feeds are flooded by bunch of info, photos and videos which everyone cannot catch up easily.
2. Define your style
Website can show your style or simply who you are. Your photography website is an ideal forum for you to define the essence of your photographic style. It’s all very well posting your pictures here and there.
If you meet a potential client, or gallery owner, your site will serve as the most powerful, and hopefully stylish, statement of your photographic style.
3. Detail Your Works
While social media have limited space to showcase your works, website can be flexible. You have your own space to express your talent ubiquitously.
Simply short, just let make social media your link to detail work on your own website.
4. Sell Your Photography Online
While there are several ways to showcase your work through online sales platforms, usually you can only display the latest pictures you’ve taken. Additionally, you may not want to be side by side with competitors on sites like ShutterStock, IStockPhoto,… That’s why it’s advantageous to create a website and set up an online store to sell your photography.
5. Easy for search engines
Website gives way for search engine to be reached. The advantages of employing photos in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) are numerous. You create more material for search engines to analyze if you properly identify photographs with search-friendly data and captions.
When you own personal photography rather than stock photography, you might want to explore enabling local blogs and sites to choose your photographs for free in exchange for one linking back to your website. Inbound links, also known as backlinks, are another excellent strategy to improve your search engine rating.
6. Be Professional
Website looks professional than social media. It’s the only place where professional photographer look professional. In term of business, website give confidence to your fans or customers to be safe in trusting you. While social media account can be easily created, website need lot of works to do.
But professionalism is not FREE.
