Using a Custom Domain

Your Zenfolio website will have a unique web address by default, based on your username, which will appear in this format: username.zenfoliosite.com

However, do you have your own custom domain name, and prefer to use that for your website? You can certainly set this up for your website!



Here is a basic overview of the steps that need to be taken, in order to use your custom domain name with your Zenfolio website: 

1. Register the custom domain with a domain host.
2. Point the domain to Zenfolio using DNS records (i.e. www.yourdomain.com)
3. Connect the domain to your Zenfolio account and website

Click here if you're only using a subdomain with your Zenfolio site. A subdomain is generally used when the top level domain is being used for another website, and your Zenfolio site is a secondary website. (i.e. photos.yourdomain.com, clients.yourdomain.com, shop.yourdomain.com)

As we take a deeper dive into the process, it may be helpful for you to know what we mean when we say “domain registrar” and “host”. 
 

1. Register the Custom Domain

In order to use a custom domain, it must first be registered with a domain registrar, and then hosted by a domain host.

Here are a few examples of a domain host:

iwantmyname.com
GoDaddy
1and1
HostGator

After registering the domain with the domain host, it will then need to be pointed to Zenfolio. The changes required to point the domain to Zenfolio are made with your domain host.

Please note that Zenfolio itself is not a domain host so it is not possible to register a domain with us, or transfer a domain to us.


 

2. Point the Domain to Zenfolio using DNS Records

After you’ve registered a domain with a domain host, you’ll need to point the domain to Zenfolio. This is also done through the domain host.

These are the general steps required for pointing a custom domain to Zenfolio. These changes are made to your custom domain's DNS records with your domain host. Please check with your domain host for more specific steps for how to add A records, AAAA records, and a Cname record.
 

1. Login to your account at your domain registrar and open the DNS settings. If you have more than one domain, select the domain you want pointed to your Zenfolio website. Note: only one domain can be pointed to your Zenfolio website.
2. Creating the required A records:
   • Create a new DNS record.
   • In the Type or Record field, input or select A.
   • In the domain's "host" or "host name" field, input @.
   • In the IP, Target, Value, Points To or Destination field, enter Zenfolio's IP address: 199.181.197.11
   • Repeat these steps to create another A record, and enter Zenfolio's IP address: 199.181.197.12
3. Creating the required AAAA records:
   • Create a new DNS record
   • In the Type or Record field, input or select AAAA.
   • In the domain's "host" or "host name" field, input @.
   • In the IP, Target, Value, Points To or Destination field, enter Zenfolio's IP address: 2620:78:200f::cf:11
   • Repeat these steps to create another AAAA record, and enter Zenfolio's IP address: 2620:78:200f::cf:12
4. Creating the required CNAME record:
   • Create another record but this time, select CNAME for the record type.
   • For the new CNAME record, enter www for the Host/Name. 
   • Enter custom.zenfoliosite.com for the Target, Value, Points To, or Destination field.

The DNS settings should look something like this:

Once you have finished these settings, feel free to proceed to Step 3 below but please note that it may take up to 48 hours for the DNS changes to apply.

Note: The custom domain will need to use the default Nameservers provided by your domain host. Because Zenfolio is not the actual host of your domain, there are no Zenfolio Nameservers to provide. 


If your current domain host does not support all five of the above mentioned DNS settings, you will not be able to connect your domain with Zenfolio unless you transfer your domain to another domain host or use a workaround to allow all five DNS settings to be used. Click here for further information regarding this.

 

3. Connect Your Domain to Your Zenfolio Account and Website

Following the instructions in Step 2 directs your custom domain web traffic to Zenfolio. The next step is to set the domain to your specific Zenfolio account and website. 
 

1. Return to your Zenfolio account then click on your name in the top right-hand corner.
2. Select Account Settings from the dropdown menu
3. Go to Domain & Social.
4. Activate the Custom Domain switch on the page.
5. Click on the pencil icon to edit the custom domain being used. 
6. Choose "I want to add a top-level domain", and enter your domain name. The www. portion will automatically be added.
7. Click on Continue and then Confirm the change.

If the DNS records are set up properly, your website should now be accessible at your custom domain. 

If you've verified that your account has the correct DNS Settings and after 48 hours your custom domain is still not working, please send an email to Customer Support for assistance. Please include a screenshot of your DNS settings from inside your Domain Registrar account.



 

Tips for using a Custom Domain

Things to do: 

• Read these instructions fully
• Contact Customer Support using the Info Center in the top right-hand area of your account pages, if you have questions
• Please be patient. It can take up to 48 hours for your changes to be live everywhere

Things not to do:

• Forward/Redirect your domain - will not work with Zenfolio
• Display the Zenfolio site within an iFrame
• Use Domain Masking through your domain host
• Change your NAMESERVERS (you should be using your domain host's default nameservers)

Current Domain Host Does Not Support All Five DNS Settings

Zenfolio's DNS settings have been creating in accordance with current industry standards; however, some domain hosts may not meet these standards, preventing you from adding all five of the required DNS settings. It will not be possible to connect your domain with your Zenfolio website until all five settings are present. 

In this situation there are two options:

• (Recommended) Transfer your custom domain to another domain host that supports all five required DNS settings. Most domain hosts offer transfer services that allow you to transfer an existing domain from one host to another. Hosts like GoDaddy, Iwantmyname.com, Google Domains, among many others; all support the required DNS settings. If wanting to transfer, please ask the new hosting service for assistance with the transfer, if needed.
• Use Cloudflare as a workaround hosting service, in addition to your current host. Please note that it will be very important to remember that you've used this workaround in case you ever need to change or move your domain hosting. See the instructions below for this workaround.

Using Cloudflare as a workaround for setting up your custom domain's DNS settings:

1. Go to www.cloudflare.com and Sign Up for an account.
2. Once you get signed up, choose the Cloudflare for Infrastructure option.
3. Enter in the custom domain that you own through another host, and click Add Site.

4. You will be presented with Cloudflare plan options, scroll down to the last option which is Free $0. Select this option.
5. Click Continue. 

Cloudflare will automatically pull in your domain's current DNS settings and you can edit them.

6. Use the +Add Record button to add any of the new DNS records that were not already present.
   • @    A    199.181.197.11
   • @    A    199.181.197.12
   • @    AAAA    2620:78:200f::cf:11
   • @    AAAA    2620:78:200f::cf:12
   • www    CNAME    custom.zenfoliosite.com
7. Make sure that you have all 5 of the new DNS records, and adjust their Proxy Status to DNS Only.
8. Click Continue once all 5 of the DNS records are present as DNS Only. 

You will now be presented with instructions for changing your domain's Nameservers. This will make sure that your domain's DNS settings are being pulled from Cloudflare and not your original host. 

9. Follow the steps presented to you and change the Nameservers through your domain host to exactly what is provided to you from Cloudflare. If you need help changing your Nameservers, contact your domain host for further assistance.
10. Once you have completed changing your Nameservers through your domain host, click on Done, check nameservers. If the nameservers are not recognized right away, it can take 24 hours for this update to be done.

Once everything it propagated with your nameservers and you've set up all 5 of the DNS records correctly, you should then be able to test your domain through your Zenfolio account again. If all was done correctly, the domain should resolve successfully. 






 

Point the SubDomain to Zenfolio using DNS Records

These are the general steps required for pointing a custom subdomain to Zenfolio. These changes are made to your custom domain's DNS records with your domain host. Please check with your domain host for more specific steps for how to add a Cname record.
 

1. Login to your account at your domain registrar and open the DNS settings. If you have more than one domain, select the domain you want to set up a subdomain for. Note: only one domain/subdomain can be pointed to your Zenfolio website.
2. Creating the required CNAME record:
   • Create a record for your domain, selecting CNAME for the record type.
   • For the new CNAME record, enter the 'alias' you want to use as the Host/Name. (i.e. "photos", "clients", etc.)
   • Enter custom.zenfoliosite.com for the Target, Value, Points To, or Destination field.

The DNS setting should look something like this:

Once you have finished this setting, feel free to proceed to the next step below. But please note that it may take up to 48 hours for the DNS changes to apply.
 

Connect Your SubDomain to Your Zenfolio Account and Website.

Following the instructions in the above step directs your custom subdomain web traffic to Zenfolio. The next step is to set the domain to your specific Zenfolio account and website. 

1. Return to your Zenfolio account then click on your name in the top right-hand corner.
2. Select Account Settings from the dropdown menu
3. Go to Domain & Social.
4. Activate the Custom Domain switch on the page.
5. Click on the pencil icon to edit the custom domain being used. 
6. Choose "I want to add a sub-domain" and enter in your complete subdomain (i.e. photos.yourdomain.com)
7. Click on Continue and then Confirm the change.

If the DNS records are set up properly, you should get the green light when you test the DNS setup, and your website should now be accessible at your custom subdomain. 

If you've verified that your account has the correct DNS Settings and after 48 hours your custom subdomain is still not working, please send an email to Customer Support for assistance. Please include a screenshot of your DNS settings from inside your Domain Registrar account.