Do you still need a website as a photographer?

Thursday 14 December 2017, 16:32 by Michelle Peeters | 8,176 views | 2 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Everyone posts so much on social media these days that, as a photographer, you may wonder whether you still need a website. The answer is yes! Read through these 8 arguments.

1. More than just a portfolio

A website gives you room for more than just your portfolio. On your website, you show who you are and what you stand for. You can include your personal biography and a selection of your best photos (your portfolio). On social media, the selection is less strict and more focused on the process.

2. More clarity and overview

You can also communicate a lot on social media, but people remember only a very small part of what you have ever posted (see also the article by Carolien Tesselhof on this subject). Not all your updates are viewed either. It is really a fleeting medium.

On your website, you can clearly explain what you can offer, which specialisations you have, if any, and which target audience or audiences you work for. You can also include prices if you want.

3. Reliable and professional

If people 'Google' you and find only your Facebook page, perhaps a LinkedIn account and a few random things on social media, you do not come across as very serious.

In my own experience, clients quickly look for a photographer who does have a website. Because it comes across as reliable and professional.

4. SEO

You can optimise the texts and blogs on your website for Google, so that you are easier to find. That is very difficult, if not impossible, with social media updates.

5. Algorithms

Unfortunately, only around 25% of your posts are seen. Social media platforms often use algorithms, which are pretty annoying.

It is of course possible to make a business page on Facebook or a business account on Instagram more valuable, so that more people see your content. But that costs money, and you are not going to do that every time.

6. Not everyone uses social media

There are still many people in my own circle of friends and clients who are not active on social media at all. You cannot reach them without a website.

7. Website and social media

It is precisely the mix and the connection between everything you do online that offers a good way to make yourself visible, build your network, gain trust, show what you do and, in short, do online marketing.

One cannot do without the other. It is about the whole picture.

8. A lot of work, knowledge and skills needed?

Is it a lot of work to build and maintain a website? It is, to some extent! But if you approach it sensibly, it will bring you many clients and generate plenty of revenue. With Wix, for example, you can build a website very quickly and without any technical knowledge, using many existing templates.

This article by Elja explains what you need to consider when building your own website. Marit Hilarius has also written a good article about this.

What do you think?

I am very curious to hear your thoughts on this. Do you think you no longer need a website? Or do you swear by having one? Let us know in the comments!

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About the author

Michelle Peeters is fotografe en oprichter van DeuxBleus Fotografie. Michelle herkent het bijzondere in het gewone en het gewone in het bijzondere. Ze heeft zich nooit willen specialiseren en is daardoor van alle markten thuis.

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2 comments

Jorn wrote on Tuesday 19 December 2017 at 14:23 | reply
Beste Michelle,

bedankt voor je interessante artikel. Zelf ben ik hobbyfotograaf en heb ik onlangs een eigen portfolio opgezet. Ik had eerst ook Wix, maar zelf vind ik portfoliobox toch prettiger, uitgebreider en je zij bieden ook hosting, domeinnaam voor interessante prijzen. Tevens zeer snelle en goede klantenservice.

Ik denk zelf dat je niet zonder website kunt. Als ik iets zoek, kijk ik eerst of dit bedrijf, of deze persoon een website heeft. Dan vind ik het wel belangrijk dat de website er ook profi uitziet en dat je het gevoel hebt dat men zich moeite doet om de producten/diensten aan te bieden.

Persoonlijk gebruik ik geen facebook, alleen LinkedIn en sinds kort Instagram. Ik vind deze media minder "vluchtig" en meer gericht op foto's (Instagram) en zakelijk (LinkedIn). Facebook is voor mij geen van beiden...

mvg Jorn Gijzen | jorngijzen.com
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.

Michelle Peeters wrote on Tuesday 19 December 2017 at 15:44 | reply
@Jorn: ik gebruik zelf de combi: website en zakelijke Facebook-pagina en dat werkt voor mij prima! Verder zou je nog iets met Google Business kunnen doen om beter gevonden te worden.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.

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