When I first started building my artist website in 2015, I didn't possess a debit card, wasn't really familiar with what "SEO" was, and hadn't yet figured out what kind of work to feature. But I did know that I needed a presence online where I could share what I was doing—and that it had to look clean, personal, and low-maintenance. That's when I found Squarespace, and nearly 10 years later, I'm still here.
What I'd like to do in this post is discuss how I've created and evolved my Squarespace site over the years as a photographer, artist, and collector of antique photographs. If you're just starting out with your first site or looking for a platform that really gets creatives, here's why I'm still convinced Squarespace is one of the best out there.
Why I Attended Squarespace
I tried some of the platforms at home beforehand, but Squarespace seemed more attractive right off the bat. I didn't have a coding experience and did not wish to have anything too complex to deal with. Squarespace was simple to use, graphic, and let me drag and drop everything in. I could design something that would be clean and professional without an existing web developer.
Their templates—especially the artists' and photographers' ones—were beautiful and minimalist, which made my photos speak for themselves. And the best part? Their customer service was (and still is) great. I remember getting in touch with them when my trial was expiring, informing them I had recently purchased a debit card and wanted to keep the site. They got back to me quickly and helped me sort things out.
Constructing the Site While Still an Student
When I was still a student at Columbia-Greene Community College, I'd work on my site at school and home, always trying things out. I rewrote the design frequently—exchanging templates, attempting new layouts, and viewing other photographers' Squarespace websites for ideas. It ended up sort of like a visual sketchbook for me.
Initially, I ordered my work by year and content type—such as, for example, "2016 → Portraits" or "2017 → Urban Decay." But after two years I realized that would get out of hand. Ten years from now I'd have a scrollable archive longer than my attention span. I eventually simplified the navigation and structured the galleries by themes and series of work instead.
What I've Learned From Using It Over the Years
Less is more. You don't need to show everything you've ever done. Stricter editing makes a greater impression.
Design changes. Don't be afraid to change templates or reorganize. The platform is such that it's easy to make the transition as your work and identity shift.
Keep it personal. My About page isn’t stiff or corporate—it’s written in my voice, just like this post. That helps people connect.
Blogging helps SEO. I’ve started blogging more recently about photography, vintage finds, autism, and creative process—not just for fun, but because it helps people find my site.
Customer service is important. Whenever I hit a snag that I don't know how to solve, their help center is chock-full of tutorials—and if I do need to contact them by email, they typically get back to me within an hour. Seriously.
Helping Others and Enlarging My Skills
I've also built websites for my dad and a couple of other individuals over the years using Squarespace. It’s easy for me to log into my own account and make edits for them as needed. Even with the newer version of the builder (which took a bit of adjusting after using the classic version for so long), I’ve been able to figure things out—and if not, a quick Google search or message to support solves it.
Final Thoughts
Building a website can be intimidating, especially if you're an artist who'd rather work behind the camera than behind a computer. But with Squarespace, it was empowering. It's not just a platform—it's a tool that has empowered me as an artist, made me confident, and enabled me to reach other people who are interested in the kind of work that I'm creating.
If you're thinking of setting up your own artist's website, I can't urge you strongly enough. You don't have to be an expert—you just have to start doing it.
I invite you to come check out my website at zachneven.com, and if you have questions about setting up your own, shoot me a message. I've probably made every mistake there is—and found some good workarounds in the process.