Originally published April 27, 2019
Why Switching to PhotoBiz 9 Is the Smartest Upgrade for Your Photography Website
Your website should grow with your business, not hold it back.
PhotoBiz 9 is our most advanced website builder yet, designed specifically for photographers who want modern designs, mobile-friendly layouts, and tools that support real business growth. From flexible page designs to built-in SEO tools and our PhotoBiz AI Website Creator, PhotoBiz 9 helps you create a beautiful website that works harder for your business.
If you're still using an older PhotoBiz Website Builder, there's never been a better time to upgrade! And thanks to our latest website creation tools, getting started is easier than ever.
The best part? Your existing website stays online while you build your new PhotoBiz 9 site. You can take your time, explore the possibilities, and make the switch when you're ready.
Don't Have Time to Build? Let Us Help!
Our Expertise.
Prefer to DIY? Here's How to Switch to PhotoBiz 9!
If you enjoy getting creative and want to build your new website yourself, PhotoBiz 9 gives you all the tools you need.
Whether you're creating your first PhotoBiz 9 website or picking up where you left off, here's how to get started.
1. Click TRY PHOTOBIZ 9 in Your Legacy Builder
Log in to your PhotoBiz account and click WEBSITE from the left-side menu.
If you're currently using the Legacy Website Builder, click the green TRY PHOTOBIZ 9 button in the upper-right corner of your builder.
What happens next depends on whether you've already started building a PhotoBiz 9 website.
If you're starting PhotoBiz 9 for the first time:
You'll be taken to the PhotoBiz AI Website Creator, where you can select a website template and begin setting up your new website.
If you've previously started a PhotoBiz 9 trial or worked on a new design:
You'll be taken directly to your existing PhotoBiz 9 Website Builder. Your previous work will still be available, so you can continue right where you left off!
Want to start over instead? No problem! We'll explain how to create a fresh design using Draft Websites in Step 3.
GOOD TO KNOW: Clicking TRY PHOTOBIZ 9 does not replace your existing website. Your Legacy website remains online while you work on your new design.
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2. Create Your New Website with PhotoBiz AI or Start with a Template
One of the biggest improvements to PhotoBiz 9 is the PhotoBiz AI Website Creator, which can do much of the initial website-building work for you!
Start by selecting one of our professionally designed PhotoBiz website templates
Click SELECT beneath your favorite template, then click CONTINUE to begin the guided AI setup.
From there, you'll:
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Upload your logo or use your business name as a text logo.
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Add at least 25 images showcasing your photography. You can upload new images or select existing images from your Image Clipboard.
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Tell PhotoBiz AI about your business, location, photography specialties, and personal style.
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Choose your preferred brand voice and language for your website content.
Once you've entered your information, click CREATE WEBSITE.
PhotoBiz AI will get to work building your new website's pages, layouts, written content, SEO metadata, and image alt text.
The initial website typically takes about 12 minutes to generate. You'll receive an email when it's ready, so you don't have to stay on the creation screen.
Once your website is created, you can preview your new design and open the Website Builder to make it your own!
Rather build everything yourself?
You can also select a template and click SKIP SETUP to bypass the AI Website Creator.
Your template will load with sample images, placeholder text, and predesigned content blocks. From there, you can replace the sample content with your own words and images, customize the design, and arrange everything exactly how you want it.
Starting with a template is a great option if you enjoy having full creative control or already know exactly how you want your website to look.
GOOD TO KNOW: The previous automated website import option is no longer available. PhotoBiz AI creates a fresh website rather than copying your old site's exact design and content. You can still reuse your existing images and text as you build your updated website.
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3. Already Started PhotoBiz 9? Use Draft Websites to Start Fresh!
Maybe you tried PhotoBiz 9 a while back, started building something new, and never finished. Or perhaps your photography style and branding have changed since you began.
No problem! PhotoBiz Draft Websites let you create a fresh design without having to continue with your previous work.
From your existing PhotoBiz 9 Website Builder:
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Click the website selector in the upper-left corner of your builder.
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Select DRAFT WEBSITE.
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Browse our website templates and click SELECT on your favorite.
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Click CONTINUE to create your new website with PhotoBiz AI, or choose SKIP SETUP to customize the template yourself.
You can explore new layouts, update your portfolio, and try a completely different look while your current website stays online.
Already have a Draft Website you want to replace?
While viewing DRAFT WEBSITE, click SETTINGS, then RESET DRAFT WEBSITE. Follow the confirmation steps, including entering your account password, to start over with a fresh design.
IMPORTANT: Resetting your Draft Website permanently deletes its existing pages, content, and customizations. This cannot be undone, so make sure you no longer need that work before resetting it. Your current Live Website is not affected.
For the complete walkthrough, including screenshots, publishing instructions, and helpful tips, check out our guide:
If you looking for help or tutorials check out our youtube.com/photobiz or education.photobiz.com/on-demand
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4. Explore PhotoBiz 9 and Make Your Website Your Own!
Now comes the fun part!
The PhotoBiz 9 Website Builder gives you the freedom to customize nearly every part of your website. You can add pages, update your images, change colors and fonts, and experiment with different layouts.
Unlike older website builders that rely on predetermined page types, PhotoBiz 9 uses flexible content blocks. You can mix and match image galleries, text, banners, buttons, contact forms, and more to create pages that fit your business.
Want to reuse some of your existing website content? You can!
Copy text from your older website into your new pages, reuse images through your PhotoBiz Image Clipboard, or upload new photographs to give your portfolio a fresh look.
PRO TIP: If you're moving from the Legacy Builder, try opening your old website builder in one browser tab and PhotoBiz 9 in another. This makes it easier to reference your existing pages, copy text, and review your content while building.
And remember, you don't have to finish everything in one sitting! Your existing Legacy website will remain online until you switch your main domain to PhotoBiz 9.
Before you launch, take a few minutes to review your new website:
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Check your text, images, and branding information.
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Preview your pages on desktop and mobile devices.
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Test your navigation, buttons, and contact forms.
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Review your page titles, SEO descriptions, and image alt text.
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Check important page URLs and set up 301 redirects if any addresses have changed.
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Confirm that your galleries, booking links, and shopping features work as expected.
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Review your tracking codes, including Google Analytics, before making the switch.
If you're working with Draft Websites, keep in mind that some account content, such as products, Client Galleries, blog posts, and forms, is shared between your website versions. Changes to that shared content may also affect your current Live Website.
Tracking codes and 301 redirects from an existing PhotoBiz 9 Live Website do not automatically carry over to its Draft Website, so be sure to review those settings before publishing.
5. Ready to Launch? Make Your New Website Live!
Once you've finished customizing your website and everything looks just right, it's time to show it off!
The final step depends on whether you're switching from the Legacy Builder or publishing a Draft Website you've created in PhotoBiz 9.
Switching from the Legacy Builder to PhotoBiz 9?
When you're ready to replace your older website:
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Click DOMAINS in the left-side menu of your PhotoBiz control panel.
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Click EDIT MAIN.
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Select PhotoBiz 9 as the website product for your main domain.
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Click SAVE CHANGES.
Your regular website address will now display your new PhotoBiz 9 website instead of your Legacy website.
If you created a separate PhotoBiz 9 Draft Website, make sure you've published the version you want to use before switching your main domain.
Publishing a PhotoBiz 9 Draft Website?
If you've created a new design using Draft Websites, you can publish it directly from the PhotoBiz 9 Website Builder.
While viewing DRAFT WEBSITE, click PUBLISH in the top navigation.
Review the publishing information, enter your PhotoBiz account password, check the confirmation box, and click YES, PUBLISH MY DRAFT.
Your Draft Website will become your PhotoBiz 9 Live Website, and your previous PhotoBiz 9 Live Website will be saved as your Draft Website.
If your main domain is still connected to your Legacy website, you'll also need to complete the DOMAINS > EDIT MAIN steps above to display PhotoBiz 9 at your regular website address.
Don't Forget About SSL!
One of the benefits of upgrading to PhotoBiz 9 is access to SSL encryption at no additional cost. SSL helps protect the connection between your website and visitors by allowing your site to load securely using HTTPS.
Once your domain is connected to your new PhotoBiz 9 website, you can enable SSL through DOMAINS in your PhotoBiz account.
SSL activation can take 24–72 hours. During that time, you may temporarily see a security warning or have trouble accessing your website preview while the certificate is being generated.
LEARN HOW TO ACTIVATE SSL ON YOUR WEBSITE
Once your site is live, give everything one final review. Open your regular website address, test your navigation and contact forms, and make sure your new design looks great!
Congratulations! You've taken the next step with PhotoBiz 9!
Our Passionate Support Team Is Here for You.
Upgrading to PhotoBiz 9? Whether you're getting started with the AI Website Creator, exploring Draft Websites, or preparing to launch, our team is happy to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
Learn More About PhotoBiz 9!
Ready to explore everything PhotoBiz 9 has to offer? Check out these helpful resources:
Your website is one of your most important business tools. Give it the upgrade it deserves with PhotoBiz 9!
Leave a comment
8 Comments
Feb 6, 2018, 1:48:37 PM
Randy - Great work guys and gals. Love it.
Jan 22, 2018, 4:08:53 PM
Holly - ♥♥ YESSIE YOUR SITE LOOKS SO GOOD!!! ♥♥ I love this style, you did an amazing job!
Jan 22, 2018, 3:56:22 PM
Yessie - I love this update! I'm so in love with my website. Thanks guys <3
Jan 13, 2018, 12:40:02 PM
Holly H - Hey Brian!
The PhotoBiz 8 upgrade should not impact your blog posts or comments, so don't worry! Your blogs will show up just like before without you having to do anything extra. Great question!
Jan 12, 2018, 7:53:59 PM
Brian - Hi Holly,
For blog comments, will I lose/keep those if I import? I assume they will be lost if I decide to start from scratch and have to basically repost my old blogs, is that correct?
Thanks!
Jan 11, 2018, 3:40:45 PM
Holly H - Hey Dean, Maureen, and Murray! I asked the team to add PhotoBiz 8 to your accounts, so keep an ear out! They'll let you know when it's active.
If anyone else needs the upgrade, leave a comment or email holly@photobiz.com and I'll get the upgrade into your account too :)
Thanks everybody!
Jan 10, 2018, 1:34:53 PM
Dave - I don't see the green button in my builder, how do I access Photobiz 8?
Thanks!
Jan 10, 2018, 12:40:41 PM
Holly H - Hi Dave!
I asked our team to take a look and add PhotoBiz 8 to your account. Thanks for getting in touch!