Photography Website Platforms Ranked: From SEO Disaster to Google Gold

Your gorgeous portfolio deserves to be seen by your dream clients, but what if the platform hosting your website is keeping you invisible on Google? After fifteen years in photography and analyzing hundreds of photographer websites, I’ve learned that photography website platforms aren’t just about pretty designs – they’re about whether your ideal clients can actually find you when they’re ready to book.

Most photographers choose their website platform based on templates and ease of design, but the platform powering your site could be the difference between ranking on page 1 and staying buried on page 10. Let me share what I’ve discovered about which platforms actually help photographers get found online.

---

---

But before we dive in—Hi! I’m Melissa, and I’m an SEO expert here to help portrait photographers finally get found by their dream clients on Google—without the technical overwhelm. Whether you need done-for-you SEO services, step-by-step coaching through my proven system, or monthly blogging strategies (like my Blogging Club membership!), I’ve got the tools to transform your invisible website into a client-attracting machine. Ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your market?

---

If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode where Alison & I break down all these strategies in detail. But if you’re ready to get straight to the actionable stuff, this blog post lays it all out for you step-by-step. Either way, you’re going to walk away with concrete strategies you can implement right away.

---

Why Photography Website Platforms Actually Matter for SEO

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this – some website platforms are just better for SEO than others. I know this might hurt if you’ve already invested in a platform, but I’d rather tell you the truth now than watch you struggle with an empty inbox later.

Your website platform is like the foundation of your house. You can have the most beautiful interior design in the world, but if your foundation is cracked, the whole thing becomes unstable. Same goes for your photography website.

The Photography Website Platform Rankings (From My Real-World Experience)

Let’s break down the major players photographers use, ranked from “please don’t” to “picture perfect”:

The Bottom Tier: Wix (Sorry, Not Sorry!)

I know Wix is simple and easy to use. I know they have drag-and-drop functionality and pretty templates. But here’s my honest truth: I don’t work with Wix websites.

In all the hundreds of websites I’ve analyzed across big cities and competitive markets, I think I’ve seen maybe two Wix websites, and neither were ranking well at all. I have never seen a Wix site in the top 5 search results where I work with clients.

Pro Tip: It’s like trying to shoot a wedding with a Canon Rebel – it might work, but you’re fighting an uphill battle.

Plus, I recently researched moving blog content from Wix to other platforms, and it requires custom RSS feeds and coding that most photographers won’t want to tackle. Don’t build your content empire on a platform you’ll struggle to leave later.

The “Meh” Tier: Pixieset

Pixiset is actively working to improve their platform, and I personally know a photographer who ranks #1 for her keyword with a Pixieset site. So it’s not impossible to rank with Pixieset.

The challenge? It’s a pain to work with when it comes to headers and site structure – things that matter for SEO. If you’re willing to wrestle with the platform to get your headers right, Pixieset isn’t terrible. But remember, I want you to actually enjoy updating your website, not dread it.

The “Pretty Good” Tier: Squarespace

Squarespace has been around forever and offers solid templates. I just worked on a client’s Squarespace site recently, and while I had to figure out some custom coding (thank goodness for my IT background!), Squarespace sites can definitely rank well.

The headers and site structure can be trickier to manage than other platforms, but it’s not a deal-breaker. If you’re comfortable with Squarespace and it fits your workflow, it’s a fine choice.

The Top Tier: WordPress-Based Platforms

WordPress powers giant corporations’ websites – it’s not a platform you can go wrong with from an SEO perspective.

But when I say WordPress, I don’t mean WordPress.com. I’m talking about self-hosted WordPress or platforms that use WordPress as their backend, like:

Showit (My Current Favorite for Most Photographers)

I have a Showit site, Allison has a Showit site, and honestly, most of my clients use Showit. The platform has become incredibly popular with photographers, and for good reason:

• It’s the “Canva version” of websites – drag and drop, easy to use
• Beautiful designs and tons of talented designers
• WordPress backend for SEO power
• You can actually enjoy updating your content

Yes, Showit has some speed quirks and can be finicky sometimes. But I have plenty of photographers ranking #1 with Showit websites.

In my group coaching program, I have at least a dozen videos specifically for Showit users, walking through exactly how to optimize everything for SEO. It’s that popular with photographers, and the demand for Showit-specific guidance keeps growing.

Worried about keeping up with content creation once your platform is optimized? This is exactly why I created The Blogging Club – to give photographers monthly blog strategies that work with any website platform. You’ll get proven content ideas, SEO-optimized topics, and step-by-step guides for creating blog posts that actually attract your ideal clients, no matter cif you’re using Showit, WordPress, or Squarespace. Stop wondering what to blog about and start creating content that drives bookings.

ProPhoto (For the Long-Haulers)

My photography website has been on ProPhoto for fifteen years, and I’m not moving. Why mess with success? The interface is clunkier than Showit, but their support is top-notch.

When I switched from SiteGround to ProPhoto hosting, my speeds improved because they know exactly how to optimize their platform. The ProPhoto team cleaned up unnecessary backend files I didn’t even know were there.

The Advanced Options: Kadence and Elementor

If you’re not scared of learning new platforms or doing some light coding, these are the “bells and whistles” options:

• Kadence: The new kid on the block, very streamlined for speed
• Elementor: Been around forever, popular with custom website designers

But honestly? I care more about whether you’ll actually update your website than whether you have the fastest possible platform. A website you never touch won’t rank well, no matter how technically perfect it is.

What About Flow Themes Users?

If you’re on Flow Themes, you’ve got a ticking clock. They went out of business last year, and support is ending soon. Time to start planning your migration!

This is exactly why I created my SEO Group Coaching program – to help photographers navigate website transitions while optimizing for SEO at the same time. Why not knock out both projects together?

The Platform Migration Strategy That Actually Works

If you’re switching platforms (especially from Flow Themes), your game plan needs to protect your existing SEO:

1. Document your current rankings – Know what’s working before you change anything
2. List your top-performing pages – Don’t lose what’s already ranking
3. Plan your content transfer – Make sure SEO-critical information carries over
4. Optimize during the rebuild – Perfect time to improve your SEO foundation

The last thing you want is to switch platforms and lose all your existing SEO progress. I’ve seen photographers drop from page 1 to page 3 because they ignored their existing rankings during a platform migration.

My Honest Platform Recommendations

• If you want easy + SEO-friendly: Showit
• If you’re already established: Stick with what’s working (unless it’s Wix or Flow Themes)
• If you want maximum control: Self-hosted WordPress with Kadence or Elementor
• If you’re just starting: Showit or Squarespace

Ready to Optimize Your Photography Website Platform Choice?

Whether you’re choosing your first platform or considering a switch, remember that your website is the foundation of your entire online presence. Choose wisely, but don’t let perfection paralysis keep you from getting started.

Feeling overwhelmed by all these platform options and SEO considerations? My Done-for-You SEO services take the guesswork out of website optimization, regardless of which platform you choose. I’ll handle all the technical SEO setup, keyword research, and content optimization so you can focus on what you do best – creating stunning photography. Whether you’re on Showit, WordPress, or considering a platform migration, I’ll make sure your website doesn’t just look good — it’s built to rank, get seen, and attract your dream clients.

Ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your market? It’s time for your website to reflect the quality of your work — and make it easy for the right clients to find you.

If you liked this post, we think you’ll love these:

The Ultimate Guide to Keywords for Photographers Who Want to Dominate Google

Instagram Hashtags for Photographers That Actually Book Clients (Not Just Likes)