You will need to click the Get Started Now button , select your plan, and follow the on-screen instructions.
On the next page, you will see different plans available along with the prices and features of each.
The 36-month plan offers the biggest savings, but when you’re just starting out, the 12-month plan is also an affordable option with a deep discount.
Next, you’ll see an option to set up your domain. You can create a new domain or use an existing domain. If you don’t have one, just search for the name you want under “Create a new domain.”
What you need to know here is that there are already millions of domains registered. So unless your name is unique, it’s likely already taken. The best way to find available domain names is to use our Free Domain Name Generator tool . It will use your keywords and find domain names that you can register right away.
Once you find your domain name, you will need to enter your details such as name and address.
Bluehost allows you to view the details of your plan selection and make changes if you wish.
Now, there is a section called Package Extras below this. These are tools that may come in handy while building and running your website. But we recommend that you uncheck everything here. This will help you save on your hosting plan and you can purchase them later if you want.
The last thing you need to do here is enter your payment details and complete the purchase.
That’s it! You’ve purchased a domain and a hosting plan.
Step 2: Set up the basics
In this step, we will cover the following:
- Configure WordPress
- Configure SSL
1. Configure WordPress
When you sign up with Bluehost, WordPress is automatically added to your plan. You just need to install it with the click of a few buttons.
Log in to your Bluehost account and you will see a menu on the left where you can navigate to the “My Sites” tab.
Here, click on the Create Site button . Follow the on-screen instructions and after that, in your Bluehost dashboard, you will get an option to log in to WordPress.
This will take you to the WordPress admin panel where you can manage your website.
2. Configure the SSL certificate
Remember we mentioned that Bluehost offers you a free SSL certificate . This will encrypt your website data to keep it safe from hackers.
Even though Bluehost pre-installs the certificate on your domain, you need to make sure that your website is using . If you want to know why, we’ve covered it in our guide: How to Add SSL and in WordPress (Step by Step) .
From the WordPress menu, go to the Settings » General page . Under WordPress Address and Site Address, make sure it is set to .
While you’re here, you can also change your site title and tagline if you wish. All that’s left to do is save your changes.
WordPress is home to thousands of themes and website designs. That’s why we love it so much. You can choose between free and paid themes, but the sheer volume of options can leave you confused about which one to choose.
For photography websites, we recommend Oshine , Divi , Photography , and Novo Photography . Check out our full list here: 50 Best Photography WordPress Themes .
If you want to explore new themes on your own, go to the Appearance » Themes page . Select the Add New button to view the available themes.
Here, you can filter by popular and newest themes. You can also search for themes for photographers. You can also find third-party developers who create their own themes and sell them on their websites. If you purchase one of these themes, you will receive a zip file with your purchase, which you can upload from this page.
Once you’ve found a theme you like, you can install and activate it. Never installed a WordPress theme before? Don’t worry, check out our beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress theme .
Most WordPress themes are easy to customize. This means you can change the fonts, colors, header styles, background, and more.
Simply go to the Appearance » Customize page to open the theme customizer. This will open a live preview of your site with a customization menu in the left column.
Here, you can customize your site’s identity, menus, homepage, and more. The options you see here will depend on your theme, so you’ll also be able to change the footer, header, widgets, buttons, and more.
At the bottom of the menu, you can preview your site on desktop, tablet, and mobile. This way, you can be sure that your changes will look good on all devices.
Once you’re done making changes using the theme customizer, simply click the Publish button in the top left corner of the screen. Your photography website will be live for the world to see.
In many cases, the default theme customizer doesn’t have enough options. There are many website builders you can use on WordPress. The most popular ones include SeedProd, Divi , Elementor, WPBakery , and Beaver Builder .
SeedProd is our #1 pick. You’ll get website themes and page templates to customize your site. Plus, it comes with a built-in maintenance and “Coming Soon” mode. This allows you to hide your site with a beautiful placeholder page while you work on your site behind the scenes. That way, users won’t see a broken site when they visit.
If you need more help customizing your website, we’ve got you covered: How to Customize a WordPress Website [Beginner’s Guide] .
Step 4: Add Useful WordPress Plugins
WordPress has thousands of plugins argentina phone number library that can improve the look and feel of your photography website. You can add these plugins from your WordPress admin panel under the Plugins » Add New tab .
Never installed a plugin before? Just follow our guide: How to Install a WordPress Plugin – 3 Methods (Step by Step)
Now, here are the plugins that we think all photography websites can benefit from:
- Envira Gallery
Envira Gallery is the best WordPress gallery plugin available on the market. It has a simple and easy drag-and-drop builder that lets you create fully responsive image galleries, video galleries, and photo albums for your website in no time.
You can add your photos and have them appear as a beautiful gallery without having to touch any code. Simply choose one of the beautiful pre-made gallery templates and customize the look to make it your own.
Once you’ve created your image galleries, you can organize them into albums, classify them with tags, and also add cover photos.
For more gallery plugin options, read our list: Best WordPress Gallery Plugins
2. soliloquy
Soliloquy is the best tool for creating nathan kroeker president & ceo sliders to showcase your photos. It allows you to create full-width or small-sized sliders with a drag-and-drop interface. You can then add beautiful animations to enhance the impact your photos have on users.
It comes with various features including slider templates, dynamic sliders, product sliders, full screen lightbox, import capabilities from Flickr, Instagram, and more.
If you’re worried about how your photos will look on mobile, Soliloquy has you covered. The sliders are fully responsive and mobile-friendly, so they’ll look great on all types of screens and devices.
Want to check out more slider plugins? Read our list: 11 Best Slider Plugins for WordPress
3. Easy digital downloads
Easy Digital Downloads is a powerful WordPress eCommerce plugin that helps you sell digital products. You can use this plugin to sell all types of digital products, such as images, artwork, videos, and graphics.
Customers can purchase multiple downloads at once using the shopping cart system. Additionally, you can set your tax rate, configure discount codes, create a database of your customers, and track all payment transactions.
4. Instagram Feed Pro by Smash Balloon
Smash Balloon’s Instagram Feed Pro lets you easily display an Instagram feed anywhere on your WordPress site. If you’re a photographer, Instagram is a goldmine for exposure, getting your name out there, and letting people know who you are.
By displaying Instagram content on your website, you can engage your website audience. At the same time, you can also get your website visitors to follow you on Instagram.
The plugin even lets you turn your Instagram photos into a shoppable feed so people can buy them as they browse. You can highlight certain posts and filter the types of photos you want to display using tags and filters.
Additionally, Smash Balloon embeds your Instagram content directly into your webpage, which can help you improve your SEO rankings.
5. MemberPress
MemberPress allows you to create a membership site that other photographers can join. You can give them access to a members-only area to view, purchase , and contribute photographs and other artwork.
You can charge members a membership phone number list fee, or they can choose from different membership plans that give them access to more benefits. Learn more here: MemberPress Review: Is It the Best WordPress Membership Plugin?
A good alternative is Thrive Architect .
6. LearnDash
LearnDash is an LMS (learning management system) platform where you can create photography courses and sell them on your website. You can allow students to enroll in classes or an entire course.