Getting Started With Your Zenfolio Account

Upload Images to Galleries

Upload photos and videos through your web browser or use our Desktop Uploader.

Photos are best uploaded in JPEG format using the sRGB color profile. The maximum files size is 100 megabytes. Every photo is automatically converted to several different image sizes optimized for web viewing – the full resolution photos are not displayed in Galleries or on the website.

The maximum file size for videos will be 30GB and 60 minutes for the ProSuite plan, 3GB for the PortfolioPlus and Portfolio plans.

For more information about what can be uploaded, click HERE.

Controlling Gallery Access

By default, every Gallery you create is private for client or guest viewing. However, you can choose to allow other visitors (open to public viewing). It is possible to also password protect your Galleries or require email addresses before viewing.

You can also determine whether or not certain actions are possible (downloading, commenting, favoriting, etc.) and who is able to perform these actions.

Sharing Your Galleries

As mentioned, all Galleries that you create are private, until you share them with clients, guests, or potential other visitors. For sharing you have the option of sending out email invitations or copying the direct link.

You can also add Galleries to your website using Featured Gallery Blocks or just creating a new page for the Gallery.

Organize Using Folders

Photos and videos are stored in Galleries that are organized within Folders. Gallery Presets applied to the Galleries allow for an easy way to apply settings like access, downloading, etc.

Folders are just like the folders on your hard drive, they are used to organize your work and can be nested within each other. When uploading and storing photos and videos, it is the Galleries that hold and store that actual content.

Collections exist within Galleries and allow you to further organize Galleries, for easier viewing.

Everything within the My Folders section of your Galleries page can be rearranged by dragging and dropping into a new order or using the sorting options. You can also move galleries into different folders, and move photos into different Galleries.

Choosing your Template and Site Design

Templates control the starting colors, fonts, and pages used on the site. To begin creating your website, you will be required to choose a template

If you ever want to change your template, you can do so at any time without worrying about losing the custom content that you've added to the blocks on your website.

Customizing Your Site with Blocks

After a template is selected, you can customize the Blocks that are provided or you can begin adding other Blocks to the website. Customizing your website is as easy as selecting the type of Block content you want to add.

For example, if you'd like to add a contact form to your site, you can use the contact form block. Or you can use the text blocks and image blocks to add text and images to your site.

Creating a Blog

For those that are wanting to gain organic website traffic, a great way to help with this is to create a Blog with regular blog posts. 

With Zenfolio's blogging feature, you can create a blog for your website that will benefit your website's SEO and also provide regular interaction and content for your website visitors.

The Blog feature is exclusively available for PortfolioPlus and ProSuite subscribers.

Edit the Site Navigation Menu

Your site's navigation menu is the main navigation tool used by your website visitors, which will appear at the very top of your website in the Navigation block.

Make pages easily accessible by creating public pages, or create pages that are only accessible by direct link with hidden pages. You can create blank pages to add blocks to, link a page to a Gallery or a Folder, link a page to your Blog, and you can also create links to other websites outside of Zenfolio.

Generally, Site Menus are most effective with five or six items, but you can always add more by creating drop-down menus, and creating additional menu items inside those drop down menus. Menu items can be dragged and dropped into a new position in the Edit Site Menu panel in Customize Website View.

See this article for more information about creating new pages for your site menu.

Establish Your Branding

Having your own logo is a way to visually brand yourself and your photography. Your logo can be displayed in the Header of your website after adding it to your account. You may also upload a Web Browser Icon (Favicon).

The recommended guidelines for sizing and tips on creating the logo can be found in the Support Center. With the exception of the Web Browser Logo (Favicon), all logos should be saved as a PNG file with a transparent background. This allows the website background color or image to appear behind the logo.

The Favicon should be saved as an image without transparencies (jpeg) for best results.

Get a Domain Name

Purchase a custom domain name from a registrar to have a unique online presence. Pointing your custom domain name to Zenfolio is a two-step process. First, update the DNS settings at your domain registrar, then test the DNS setup in your Zenfolio account.

If you've purchased your domain from GoDaddy, you can simply log into your GoDaddy domain account which will set up the DNS settings required. You’ll still need to go to your Zenfolio account's Custom Domain page and test the DNS setup for your Custom Domain.

For ease of use, check out Name.com to register your domain name. They will set up your custom domain's DNS settings for you after purchasing. Once applied, you’ll still need to go to your Zenfolio account's Custom Domain page and test the DNS setup for your Custom Domain.

Adding Watermarks

While photos cannot be right-click saved or dragged to the desktop, nothing beats protection like a good watermark. Our watermarking tool allows you to upload your own watermarks or use a text watermark. These can be applied to specific photos, or entire Galleries, and set to be applied by default to any new Gallery.

If you choose to create your own watermark, use a photo editing program to design it with a transparent background as a PNG file. Size your watermark assuming it would be placed on a 800 x 600 pixel photo. Once uploaded, you can set the positioning and opacity on the photo.

Selling Print Products and More

For those that are subscribed to the PortfolioPlus or ProSuite plan levels, you are able to sell prints and products directly from our partnered print vendors. Also available at these account levels is the ability to sell digital downloads and self-fulfilled products.

Be sure to take a look at creating Price Lists, setting up packages for easy client selection, and creating coupons. If you have questions, see our Support Center for additional information.

Feel free to view our complete Selling Overview for more detailed information.