With so many photographers out there, getting exposure for your work can be a serious challenge. If you hope to move from hobbyist to professional, or even to make some money on the side with your photography, getting exposure is essential.
There are a number of community-oriented websites that can be extremely valuable for getting your work in front of more people, and in this article we’ll look at 9 of the best options.
These websites are not a replacement for your own portfolio site (at your own .com domain name), but you can use them in addition to having your own portfolio site. A few of them are a cross between a social network and a portfolio website, and you can use these platforms to create your own portfolio site if you want to.
Browse through the list of sites featured here and see which ones might be a good fit for you. You won’t want to attempt to use all 9 of these sites, but focusing on one or two can be a great approach to start to get some exposure.
1. Behance
Behance is owned by Adobe and is already known by many photographers. It is a community-based website for all different types of creatives, including photographers. You can create a free account, create projects and upload photos to share on the site. You can also write descriptions for your projects and set copyright and license options on your photos.
With a huge userbase, Behance is an ideal place to get some exposure. There are many people searching and browsing the projects on Behance, giving you the chance to reach a large audience.
2. 500px
500px is a very popular photography community that includes 15 million photographers in 195 countries. You can create a free account, upload your photos, and potentially make some money through licensing and brand partnership opportunities.
There are a lot of established photographers and stunning photographs at 500px, so you’ll be in great company. You can upgrade to a paid membership for additional features like unlimited uploads and the ability to promote your photo workshops.
3. Instagram
Instagram isn’t quite like the other websites listed here, but its reach is so massive that it must be mentioned. As a visual social network, it’s the perfect place for photographers who want to reach new people and quickly grow a following.
Being effective with Instagram will require you to be active and to spend some time on it, but the visibility can be well worth the effort.
4. Flickr
Flickr has been around for a long time, and despite an up-and-down history, it still boasts millions of users. Regardless of whether you want to find photos or get exposure for your work, Flickr is still an excellent place.
Flickr is currently owned by SmugMug, which has brought some nice integration like a Pro plan that provides access to both Flickr and SmugMug. You can sign up for a free Flickr account, or upgrade to a pro account for features like unlimited uploads, advanced stats, and more.
5. DeviantART
DeviantArt is a community site for creatives, including designers and photographers. Anyone can create a free account and upload their work. Your photos may be seen by millions of people who visit DeviantART each month.
You’ll also have the option to upgrade to a Core membership, which gives you some additional features like the ability to sell prints, analytics, increased storage, and more.
6. PhotoBlog
PhotoBlog allows you to share your photos by creating your own blog within their community. You can sign up for free, choose from one of their premade templates, upload your photos, and engage with a community of more than 300,000 users.
Their site also includes a forum where you can interact with other photographers, as well as articles that will teach you more about photography and post processing.
7. Carbonmade
Carbonmade is another site that caters to a wide variety of creatives, including photographers. This is a community-oriented site where you can gain exposure and interact with other users, but you can also use Carbonmade to create and power your own portfolio website.
Pricing for Carbonmade ranges from $8 per month to $18 per month, depending on the plan that you select. Although all plans allow unlimited images, you’ll be limited to the number of projects you can create unless you go with the Expert plan. A free trial is available for every plan.
8. Krop
Krop is somewhat similar to Carbonmade in that it is a community for creatives of all types, like designers and photographers. It’s also a community and a portfolio website creator in one.
You can choose from 30 different templates for your website, upload your photos, and your work can be found by others who are using or searching Krop. Pricing is $8.25 per month, with a 14-day free trial available.
9. Ello
Ello has been through some significant changes during its lifetime. While it began as more of a Facebook competitor, it’s now a social network for creatives. You can create a free profile, upload photos, and gain exposure for your work.
Ello caters to all different types of creatives, so you’ll find a lot of designers on the site as well as photographers.
Getting Started
Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the best websites for showcasing your portfolio and increasing exposure, the next step is to choose the site that you want to use and create your profile.
