Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions - Revision history

Admin at 16:19, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T16:19:58Z

Admin at 15:23, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T15:23:50Z

Admin at 15:20, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T15:20:08Z

Matthew: /* Criteria for Vetting Site Building Solutions */

2021-05-12T22:48:04Z

‎Criteria for Vetting Site Building Solutions

Matthew: /* Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing */

2018-01-08T16:20:09Z

‎Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing

Matthew: /* Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing */

2016-06-30T02:46:49Z

‎Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing

Matthew: /* Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing */

2016-06-12T22:46:47Z

‎Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing

Matthew: /* Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing */

2014-04-12T03:30:06Z

‎Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing

Matthew at 02:37, 15 May 2013

2013-05-15T02:37:15Z

Matthew: /* Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing */

2013-05-13T23:21:12Z

‎Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 |-
 ! Name !! Notes
 |-
 | [https://cargo.site Cargo] || Design-forward artist/portfolio builder (now "Cargo 3"). Loved by designers and artists for distinctive layouts; smaller community than the majors.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:23, 8 June 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	~~== Overview ==~~
−
−	~~Content Management Systems (CMS) have redefined how the internet works. These tools are either hosted, or need to be installed on your webserver to run.~~
−
−	~~== Criteria for Vetting Site Building Solutions ==~~
−
−	~~; What happens if you view it on a mobile device?~~
−	~~: Is it responsive? Is there an alternate display?~~
−	~~: Any CMS solution that you invest in should work on a small screen.~~
−
−	~~; Can you 'deep link' directly to an image in the portfolio?~~
−	~~: Can a viewer to your portfolio copy the URL and send a link to an image directly to another person?~~
−
−	~~== Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing ==~~
−
−	~~{\| class="wikitable"~~
−	~~! width=200px\| Name~~
−	~~! width=100px\| Focus~~
−	~~! width=160px\| Hosted or User Installed~~
−	~~! width=80px\| Blog~~
−	~~! width=120px\| Cost~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://indexhibit.org Indexhibit]~~
−	~~\| Artists~~
−	~~\| You Install~~
−	~~\| No~~
−	~~\| Free~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://cargocollective.com Cargo Collective]~~
−	~~\| Artists~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| No~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://www.myportfolio.com/ Adobe Portfolio]~~
−	~~\| Artists~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| No~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Part of Creative Cloud~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://wordpress.org Wordpress]~~
−	~~\| Everybody~~
−	~~\| You Install or Hosted~~
−	~~\| Yes~~
−	~~\| Free, Pay to host~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://squarespace.com Squarespace]~~
−	~~\| Everybody~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| Yes~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://weebly.com Weebly]~~
−	~~\| Everybody~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| Yes~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://wix.com Wix]~~
−	~~\| Everybody~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| Yes~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://photoshelter.com PhotoShelter]~~
−	~~\| Photographers~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| Kinda~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://zenfolio.com Zenfolio]~~
−	~~\| Photographers~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| No~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://smugmug.com SmugMug]~~
−	~~\| Photographers~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| No~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://visura.co/ Visura]~~
−	~~\| Photographers~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| Yes~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://format.com Format]~~
−	~~\| Artists~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| Yes~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|-
−	~~\| [http://foliodrop.com FolioDrop]~~
−	~~\| Artists~~
−	~~\| Hosted~~
−	~~\| No~~
−	~~\| Free Trial, Payed~~
−	\|}
−
	== Overview ==		== Overview ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:20, 8 June 2026
Line 99:		Line 99:
	\| Free Trial, Payed		\| Free Trial, Payed
	\|}		\|}
		+
		+	== Overview ==
		+
		+	A Content Management System (CMS) lets you build, update, and run a website without editing raw HTML every time you want to change something. For photographers, the practical question is no longer "should I use a CMS?" — it's "which one fits how I work, how much I want to maintain, and where my audience actually is?"
		+
		+	Solutions fall into two broad buckets:
		+
		+	* '''Hosted (all-in-one):''' You sign up, pick a theme, and the company runs everything — hosting, updates, security. Easiest to start, least to maintain. Most of you will end up here.
		+	* '''Self-installed:''' You install the software on your own web host and maintain it yourself. More control and flexibility, but you own the upkeep (updates, security, backups). Really only worth it if you have a specific reason.
		+
		+	== How to Use This Page ==
		+
		+	Don't try to evaluate all of these. Start from how you work:
		+
		+	* '''Just need a clean portfolio, already pay for Creative Cloud?''' → Adobe Portfolio.
		+	* '''Want the most polished, design-forward result with the least fuss?''' → Squarespace.
		+	* '''Shoot clients (weddings, portraits, events) and need galleries, proofing, and print sales?''' → Pixieset, Format, Zenfolio, or PhotoShelter.
		+	* '''Care about cutting-edge design and motion, willing to learn a real tool?''' → Framer or Webflow.
		+
		+	== Criteria for Vetting a Site-Building Solution (2026) ==
		+
		+	When you evaluate any platform, run it against these. The first two were the original criteria for this class and still matter — the rest reflect how sites are judged now.
		+
		+	* '''Does it work on a phone?''' Every theme should be responsive by default. In 2026 this is table stakes, not a feature — but still check, because a surprising number of templates are designed desktop-first and break on mobile. Most of your visitors will see your work on a phone.
		+	* '''Can you deep-link to a single image?''' Can a viewer copy the URL of one photo and send that exact image to someone else? If every page is one long scroll with no individual URLs, you can't share or be shared precisely.
		+	* '''How fast does it load?''' Image-heavy sites are slow if the platform doesn't optimize and lazy-load images for you. Slow sites lose viewers and rank worse in search. Ask: does it serve appropriately-sized images automatically?
		+	* '''Do you actually control it — can you leave?''' Can you use your own custom domain? Can you export your content and your client/contact list if you ever want to move? Avoid platforms that hold your work hostage.
		+	* '''Can you find it on Google?''' Does it let you set page titles, descriptions, and image alt text (which also matters for accessibility)? Basic SEO controls should be included, not a paid add-on.
		+	* '''Does it do the business stuff you need?''' If you shoot clients: password-protected galleries, client proofing/favoriting, and print/digital sales. If you don't, ignore this entirely — don't pay for a client-gallery platform to host eight personal photos.
		+	* '''How much maintenance are you signing up for?''' Hosted = the company handles updates and security. Self-installed = that's your job, forever. Be honest about whether you'll keep up with it.
		+
		+	== Recommended Solutions (2026) ==
		+
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	! Name !! Best for !! Hosted or Self-Installed !! Client galleries / sales !! Cost
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.squarespace.com Squarespace] \|\| Polished portfolios, most pros \|\| Hosted \|\| Basic store; limited proofing \|\| Free trial, then paid
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://portfolio.adobe.com Adobe Portfolio] \|\| Anyone already on Creative Cloud \|\| Hosted \|\| No \|\| Included with any Creative Cloud plan (no standalone free tier)
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.format.com Format] \|\| Photographers who need proofing built in \|\| Hosted \|\| Yes — proofing on every plan \|\| Free trial, then paid
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://pixieset.com Pixieset] \|\| Client photographers (weddings, portraits) \|\| Hosted \|\| Yes — galleries, proofing, print store \|\| Free plan (store commission applies); paid plans
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.wix.com Wix] \|\| Beginners who want lots of templates/control \|\| Hosted \|\| Limited \|\| Free tier, then paid
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.framer.com Framer] \|\| Design-forward, motion-rich portfolios \|\| Hosted \|\| No \|\| Free plan; paid for custom domain
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://webflow.com Webflow] \|\| Custom, professional sites without hand-coding \|\| Hosted \|\| No \|\| Free plan; paid for custom domain
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://wordpress.org WordPress] \|\| Full control, blogging, you'll maintain it \|\| Self-installed or hosted \|\| Via plugins \|\| Software free; you pay to host
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://zenfolio.com Zenfolio] \|\| Full photography business (booking + sales) \|\| Hosted \|\| Yes — full client workflow \|\| Free trial, then paid
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.photoshelter.com PhotoShelter] \|\| Pro/commercial photographers, archives \|\| Hosted \|\| Yes — galleries, licensing, sales \|\| Free trial, then paid
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.smugmug.com SmugMug] \|\| High-volume galleries + print sales \|\| Hosted \|\| Yes — galleries, print store \|\| Free trial, then paid
		+	\|}
		+
		+	== Also Worth Knowing (Niche or Legacy) ==
		+
		+	These come up, but I wouldn't steer most of you toward them as a first choice in 2026.
		+
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	! Name !! Notes
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://cargo.site Cargo] \|\| Design-forward artist/portfolio builder (now "Cargo 3"). Loved by designers and artists for distinctive layouts; smaller community than the majors.
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.pixpa.com Pixpa] \|\| All-in-one portfolio + client galleries + store. Capable and affordable; less name recognition.
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://www.indexhibit.org Indexhibit] \|\| Historically important artist CMS (mid-2000s), still technically alive but effectively frozen and self-installed. Useful as context for where minimalist portfolio design came from — not recommended as a working platform today.
		+	\|-
		+	\| [https://visura.co Visura] \|\| Photojournalism/documentary community + portfolio hosting. Niche but real audience.
		+	\|}
		+
		+	== A Note on AI Site Builders ==
		+
		+	Most major hosted platforms now include an AI onboarding flow — you answer a few questions or describe your style, and it generates a starting site you then edit (Wix's AI builder, Squarespace's AI-assisted setup, Framer's AI tools). These are genuinely useful for getting past the blank page, but treat the output as a '''first draft''', not a finished site. The AI gives you a scaffold; your editing, your sequencing of images, and your point of view are what make it a portfolio. Don't ship the default.
		+
		+	== The Bigger Picture: Your Site vs. Social ==
		+
		+	A fair question in 2026: if your work lives on Instagram, do you even need a website? Yes — and here's the distinction. Social platforms are where '''discovery''' happens; your own site is where '''you control the experience and own the relationship'''. On your site you decide the sequence, the pacing, the context, and the URL — and nobody can change the algorithm, throttle your reach, or shut the door. Think of social as the front door and your site as the home. You want both, but you should '''own''' at least one of them.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:48, 12 May 2021
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	== Criteria for Vetting Site Building Solutions ==		== Criteria for Vetting Site Building Solutions ==
−
−	~~; Is it built with Adobe Flash or HTML? How do you know?~~
−	~~: RIght click on the gallery parts, does it say "About Adobe Flash Player"~~
−	~~: You can use the website [http://builtwith.com builtwith.com] to inspect it~~
−	~~: HTML is the right answer here. You want to avoid any CMS solution that is still using Flash.~~

	; What happens if you view it on a mobile device?		; What happens if you view it on a mobile device?

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 | No
 | Free Trial, Payed
 |-
 | [http://wordpress.org Wordpress]

@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 |-
 | [http://foliodrop.com FolioDrop]
 | Artists
 | Hosted

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:37, 15 May 2013
Line 2:		Line 2:

	Content Management Systems (CMS) have redefined how the internet works. These tools are either hosted, or need to be installed on your webserver to run.		Content Management Systems (CMS) have redefined how the internet works. These tools are either hosted, or need to be installed on your webserver to run.
		+
		+	== Criteria for Vetting Site Building Solutions ==
		+
		+	; Is it built with Adobe Flash or HTML? How do you know?
		+	: RIght click on the gallery parts, does it say "About Adobe Flash Player"
		+	: You can use the website [http://builtwith.com builtwith.com] to inspect it
		+	: HTML is the right answer here. You want to avoid any CMS solution that is still using Flash.
		+
		+	; What happens if you view it on a mobile device?
		+	: Is it responsive? Is there an alternate display?
		+	: Any CMS solution that you invest in should work on a small screen.
		+
		+	; Can you 'deep link' directly to an image in the portfolio?
		+	: Can a viewer to your portfolio copy the URL and send a link to an image directly to another person?

	== Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing ==		== Online:Site Building (CMS) Solutions Listing ==

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 | [http://smugmug.com SmugMug]
 | Photographers
 | Hosted
 | No
 | Free Trial, Payed
 |}