If you want to launch a photography website, you’ll need a quality web host to help you manage your site’s database. A database is an organized collection of data stored and accessed electronically. It is a crucial component of… More and files. However, with so many hosting providers available, it can be difficult to choose the right one.
Fortunately, it’s easier to decide on a web host when you know what to look for. For instance, you might prefer a host that includes free domain names and SSL certificates. Furthermore, since image files can be large, it might be useful to find a host that offers plenty of bandwidth and storage.
A post is a type of content in WordPress, a popular open-source content management system used for creating an… More, we’ll take a closer look at web hosting and discuss some key factors to look out for. Then, we’ll explore five of the best WordPress hosting solutions for photographers. Let’s get started!
An Introduction to Web Hosting
If you want to create a website, you’ll need a place to host your site’s database and files. Unless you’re capable of configuring your own server, the best option is to use one that’s managed by a web host.
Generally, the cheapest option is shared hosting. This enables you to ‘rent’ a portion of a server along with other websites. However, many first-time website owners prefer managed hosting, since this type of plan typically includes extras like free WordPress installation and a domain name.
No matter which type of hosting you choose, it’s important to find a quality provider. Here are some key factors to consider:
- Uptime. You’ll want a host that offers at least 99.99 percent uptime. Otherwise, there may be times when your website is inaccessible to visitors.
- Speed. Since speed is a ranking factor for Google, it’s important to choose a host that enables fast loading times. This can help improve your site’s visibility in search engine results.
- Ease. If you’re a complete beginner, it can be helpful to opt for a managed hosting plan. This way, many of the maintenance tasks will be taken care of for you. When considering managed hosting, look out for free WordPress installations and migrations.
- Cost. Shared hosting tends to be the cheapest solution, but you can gain more security and resources with a dedicated or managed plan. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure you’re not sacrificing quality with a low-budget option.
- E-commerce. If you plan on selling your photographs or services, you’ll likely want to find a web host that includes e-commerce functionality. Some providers offer e-commerce specific plans with essential features like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates.
- Data and storage. With a high-traffic website, you’ll need a plan that can accommodate your monthly visitors. Plus, since professional-grade photographs tend to require large media files, it’s useful to opt for a plan with a fair amount of bandwidth and storage space.
When you consider all of these factors, you’ll be more equipped to secure a quality web hosting plan that meets your site’s needs.
Best WordPress Hosting for Photographers
Now that you know a bit more about web hosting, let’s take a look at five of the best WordPress web hosts for photographers.
1. FASTDOT Hosting
When it comes to web hosting, FASTDOT is a popular choice. That’s because it’s ideal for beginners who are looking to start out cheap.
First off, with FASTDOT , WordPress comes pre-installed. Plus, you’ll get a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and a free Content Delivery Network (CDN). This is a great bonus for photography websites since CDNs enable you to speed up image delivery to visitors all over the world.
With the recommended plan, you’ll get 40GB storage, and you can run an unlimited number of websites. You can also access useful tools like client invoicing, and take advantage of custom themes. A WordPress theme is a set of files that determine the design and layout of a website. It controls everything … More. This way, you can create a totally unique website to impress your visitors.
What’s more, if you opt for the managed solution, you’ll get tons of advanced features. For instance, you’ll be able to access web analytics, scheduled backups, and video compression. Meanwhile, e-commerce sites can benefit from store features like wishlists, a product search feature, and appointment scheduling.
Pricing: FASTDOT ’s pricing is competitive with plans starting at $2.95 a month.
2. SiteGround
Next up on our list is SiteGround. This is a high-speed platform thanks to features like a CDN service and built-in caching. It also promises 99.99 percent uptime which is good news for your User Experience (UX) and revenue.
SiteGround is a solution for total peace of mind. Not only does WordPress come pre-installed, but you can also take advantage of free WooCommerce installations and a free email. This tends to be useful if you plan on corresponding regularly with clients. A custom email address can make you appear more professional, thereby boosting your credibility.
SiteGround’s Startup plan can accommodate 10,000 monthly visits which will be sufficient for most new photographers. But, if you have plans to expand your business, you can always check out its cloud hosting service which goes up to 160 GB SSD space and 20 GB memory.
Pricing: SiteGround offers frequent promotions. Hosting plans typically start around $2.99 per month for new users.
3. WPX Hosting
WPX Hosting is one of the pricier options. However, this award-winning service may be worth it if you have the budget and the need. All plans include unlimited SSL certificates, one-click WordPress installations, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection, and free malware removal.
Additionally, WPX enables you to maintain super fast speeds on your site (even with lots of heavy image files). With data centers across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, latency is unlikely to be an issue. Plus, you’ll get access to your own custom CDN with servers in 33 locations.
What’s more, there’ll be no need to panic if you encounter problems with your site. That’s because the average support response time is just 30 seconds. Meanwhile, WPX holds a full five stars on TrustPilot.
Pricing: WPX Hosting plans start at $20.83 per month. However, if you choose to pay annually, you’ll get two months free.
4. Nexcess
Nexcess is a feature-rich hosting solution, ideal for photography websites. With this provider, you can take advantage of things like autoscaling, image compression, and a visual comparison tool.
The most popular WordPress plan (Maker) offers 40 GB storage and 3TB bandwidth, which is plenty for most photography portfolios. Additionally, you’ll be in excellent hands thanks to Nexcess’ server monitoring, performance monitoring, and daily backups.
Furthermore, Nexcess makes a great choice for photographers that want to to sell their work. With its global CDN and free caching, you can ensure fast-loading products and a smooth checkout experience. Plus, you can take advantage of e-commerce features like cart abandonment tools, conversion optimization, and analytics.
Pricing: Nexcess’ WordPress hosting plans start at $19 per month.
5. InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting is a powerful and reputable hosting solution. It offers plenty of choices, including everything from shared to VPS hosting. Therefore, it’s easy to find a package that suits your needs. Additionally, InMotion presents a robust service including automatic backups, malware scans, and security patches.
Even InMotion’s cheaper plans are solid. For example, the WP Core plan provides 100 GB SSD and unlimited bandwidth. It’s incredibly rare for the most basic plan to offer unlimited disk space so this is really something to take advantage of.
With InMotion, you’ll also get free SSL certificates for the life of your plan, unlimited email addresses, and advanced caching. Plus, you can access tons of premium plugins like Jetpack and Speed Coach, alongside free WordPress themes to improve the look and feel of your site.
Pricing: You can get started with InMotion for just $3.99 per month.
Conclusion
Choosing adequate web hosting is key if you want to run a successful photography website. However, finding the right hosting provider can be a little overwhelming if you don’t have a lot of web design experience. Fortunately, it’s easy to find a quality host once you know a few essential things to look for.
To recap, here are the top options when it comes to WordPress hosting for photographers:
- Fastdot Web Hosting: An affordable, managed solution, ideal for beginners.
- SiteGround: A scalable, high-speed platform with 99.99 percent uptime.
- WPX Hosting: The best option for fast and effective customer support.
- Nexcess: A feature-rich hosting provider with plenty of e-commerce tools.
- InMotion Hosting: A powerful and reliable solution with unlimited bandwidth.
Do you have any questions about WordPress hosting for photographers? Let us know in the commentsComments are a feature of WordPress that allow users to engage in discussions about the content of a website. … More section below!
