Website Portfolio vs. Social Portfolio? (What do Pros Know that Amateurs don’t)

My website vs my social: concept vs reality

Let me state upfront and be honest that I sometimes feel I have either neglected my website or my social page. Perhaps weeks or even a month or two have gone by without a single post or edit of a page. So though I may express some opinion in this piece, I am not arguing that you have an obligation to create a website or even create a social media page. Do what is manageable but also strive to create online presence that serves you in the strongest way. If you aspire to professionalism, then web + social has to be the formula.

If there is one takeaway though from this and the reading I have for you also confirms this, it is that serious creators and artists should use a website to define who they are and present themselves to the world. Don’t rely solely on social.

Why websites are so important (more important than social)

It’s been my feeling that representing yourself and your art is best done with a web-based portfolio, ideally with a blog. Of course the blog or any kind of reflection-based writing is optional. but the control one gets over their web presence via a custom website with your own domain is pretty much indisputable.

Now I am certainly biased. I have owned my own websites for more than two decades. I build websites for my own projects and for a range of clients. Even my father who is retired had a website for his business, and he argued that the website was the definitive expression of a statement of intent and only viable presence worth developing on the net.

Of course there is a need for some further outreach and that is often the realm of social media and digital marketing. Nobody should neglect that aspect. But what is surprising and often true is many people, artists, designers, small business people do neglect their websites or they don’t even have a website. It’s shocking to me but Google published study results a few years ago that said in Canada only 50% of businesses had a website.

TL;DR and Summary of the Reading

This article argues that professional photographers should prioritize a personal website over social media for showcasing their work. The author contends that relying solely on platforms like Instagram subjects a photographer’s portfolio to the whims of algorithms and the attention economy, hindering artistic expression. In contrast, a self-hosted website allows for curated presentation, demonstrating dedication to the craft and enabling greater control over copyright and image usage. The core message is that a website signifies a serious commitment to photography as an art form, separating it from mere content creation.

Reading: “How to Spot an Amateur Photographer” by the Phoblographer

Link: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2025/01/20/how-to-spot-an-amateur-photographer/

This article is worth your while with lots of food for thought. The first paragraph lays out the thesis: “The biggest sign that you’ve advanced as a photographer, however, is more than putting everything just on social media. It’s with actually having a centralized website that makes a statement about who you are and the work that you do.”

This is really a very interesting read and I think it is worth considering not only the content we curate, or style we apply, but what platforms we invest our time in developing. Does a website take much more time than social? From my perspective, as a fellow Instagram user one said to me, “IG can feel like a part-time job – but one that doesn’t pay!” Indeed. And as the algorithms continue to evolve, and Meta makes video, advertising and AI bigger parts of the experience, do image makers, whether artists or photographers, have a stake in how the platform develops?

Your own website on the other hand, provides a blank slate and a digital space where you can control every aspect of the experience. Your visitors are like patrons in a gallery, once they enter through the front door of your site, you can guide them and entertain them and persuade them to support you and your art. Take control of your creative life and build your own site. It really doesn’t take more time than social and it may pay bigger dividends some far as cultivating your online persona and professional image.

Take a few minutes to consider the article and then let me know what you think. I look forward to your comments!

Mike