PhotoBiz LLC Logo
  • BLOG
  • WHAT'S NEW
  • GUIDES
  • PODCAST
  • FREEBIES
  • SUCCESS STORIES
  • EDUCATION
MENU

Why You Should Switch to PhotoBiz 9

Jul 27 2022 | By: Jeremy H.

Share
Originally published July 2020, revised Feb 2026

PhotoBiz features and tools just keep getting better and better. We recently released tons of new features and enhancements to the PhotoBiz platform. All these new elements are exclusive to PhotoBiz 9, the most advanced website builder for photographers. Thousands of professional photographers are already taking advantage of its incredible features.

The PhotoBiz platform is always evolving. If you were a customer before 2022, you may not have made the jump to PhotoBiz 9, yet. No worries, we want to walk you through making the switch.

If you are a current customer and not quite sure what product you have, here is a breakdown of our current and past platforms.

 

Why You Should Switch to PhotoBiz 9 Now With AI Website Creation

If you’re still using an older website platform or thinking about launching your first photography website—there’s never been a better time to make the move to PhotoBiz 9. This modern platform is designed specifically for photographers and creative professionals who want a fast, secure, high-performing website that works as hard as they do.

Introducing the PhotoBiz AI Website Creator

One of the biggest game-changing updates since the original PhotoBiz 9 launch is the PhotoBiz AI Website Creator—a smart, automated way to build your photography website faster than ever. This isn’t just an add-on; it’s a real site builder powered by AI that does the heavy lifting for you. 

What It Does

  • ⚙️ Builds your entire website based on a few answers about your business, photography style, and location. 
  • 🖼️ Automatically places your images into a beautifully designed layout. 
  • ✍️ Writes professional page content, including About, Services, and SEO-ready copy. 
  • 🔍 Generates SEO metadata and image alt text to help your site perform better in search results. 

With just a few clicks, AI builds a complete website you can customize and publish — giving you a massive head start and saving you hours of work.

Learn more about the PhotoBiz AI Website Creator Suite

PhotoBiz 9 (2022 - Present)

PhotoBiz 9 is the most advanced website builder today. It has new features and enhancements that our previous builders didn't have and is 4X faster than PhotoBiz 8! It is also more secure. And we have plans to add even more new features.

If you don’t have a PhotoBiz website, see how we compare with other website builders.

PhotoBiz 8 (2018 - 2022)

PhotoBiz 8 was the predecessor to PhotoBiz 9. It included a versatile and modern collection of website templates, and robust tools to help your business perform and grow. All PhotoBiz 8 users were automatically upgraded to PhotoBiz 9 when it released.

Legacy Builder (2013 - 2018, no longer updated)

This website builder featured vertical page designs based on the use of specific page types (home, gallery, info) and a collection of layouts. You can still edit and add customization to a website using the legacy builder, however, we are no longer making updates to this builder. 

Portfolio Builder (2008 - 2015, no longer updated)

The portfolio builder was a smartphone-friendly website builder that featured horizontal page designs (no vertical scroll) and allowed you to create individual pages and galleries to showcase your work. Many tools like a Store, Blog, and Proofing were available as add-ons (newer versions of these tools are included with the PhotoBiz 9 platform).

Flash Website Builder (2004 - 2013, no longer supported)

Our first website builder allowed people to set up and style Flash websites. It was a simple tool with a focus on interactivity and was a pioneer in the early years of the web. With the rise of smart devices and new software enhancements, Flash is no longer supported by web browsers. We no longer offer or support Flash websites. 

Switching to PhotoBiz 9

DIY

You can switch to PhotoBiz 9 with a push of a button. In the WEBSITE tab of your control panel, look for the TRY PHOTOBIZ 9 button. When you click it, you will be prompted to switch your site to PhotoBiz 9 and choose a new template. Don't worry. Your new site won't go live till you tell it to.

You can click around and preview what each page of your new website will look like before you select the template you want. 

Build Your New Website with PhotoBiz AI or Start Fresh

Ready for a fresh look? PhotoBiz 9 makes it easy to create a website that reflects your business, showcases your best work, and gives visitors a great experience.

You can let PhotoBiz AI Website Creator do much of the initial work for you or start with one of our professionally designed templates and make it your own.

The previous automated website import feature is no longer available, but you can still reuse your favorite images and existing content as you build your new website.

Let PhotoBiz AI Website Creator Give You a Head Start

Want to spend less time building and more time doing what you love? The PhotoBiz AI Website Creator is a great place to start!

Choose a website template, upload at least 25 of your favorite images, and tell us a little about your business, photography specialties, and personal style.

PhotoBiz AI takes that information and creates a new website foundation for you, including:

  • Beautiful page layouts featuring your images

  • Written content tailored to your business and services

  • Website pages to introduce your business and showcase your work

  • SEO page titles and descriptions

  • Image alt text to support accessibility and search engine visibility

Once your website is created, you're in control! You can edit the text, swap out images, rearrange blocks, change colors and fonts, and customize your website until everything looks just right.

Good to know: PhotoBiz AI Website Creator builds a fresh website rather than copying your previous site's exact pages, text, and design. You can still reuse content from your existing website and make it part of your new design.

Learn How to Get Started with PhotoBiz AI Website Creator

Prefer to Build Your Website Yourself?

No problem! You can still start fresh with one of our professionally designed website templates.

Simply select the template you love and choose SKIP SETUP to build your website without using the AI Website Creator.

Your selected template will load with sample images, placeholder text, and predesigned layouts that you can customize with your own content.

The PhotoBiz 9 Website Builder works with flexible content blocks, making it easy to create pages that fit your vision. Add image galleries, text, buttons, contact forms, and more. Move things around, experiment with different layouts, and create a website that's uniquely yours.

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.

Already Using PhotoBiz 9? Create a Draft Website!

If you already have a PhotoBiz 9 website and want to give it a makeover, you don't have to take your current website offline or start a new account.

With PhotoBiz Draft Websites, you can create a new version of your website while your existing site stays live for visitors.

You can use the PhotoBiz AI Website Creator to generate a fresh design or build your new website yourself using a template.

Your Draft Website gives you the freedom to update your pages, refresh your portfolio, explore different layouts, and perfect your new look before publishing it.

When you're happy with everything, you can publish your Draft Website to make it your new Live Website.

Learn How to Create and Publish a Draft PhotoBiz Website

A Fresh Start Is a Great Opportunity!

Whether you're moving from an older PhotoBiz website or redesigning your existing PhotoBiz 9 site, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase your latest work, refresh your messaging, and give your online presence a new look.

We recommend using your best and most recent images, reviewing your business information, and making sure your new website represents the clients and services you want to attract.

And remember: You can work on your new website while your existing site remains online. There's no need to rush! Take your time, explore the possibilities, and launch your updated design when you're ready.

Launching Your PhotoBiz 9 Website

Your existing website will remain live and accessible to your customers until you set your new PhotoBiz 9 website as your main site (you can do this in domains section of the control panel). This gives you time to play around with and perfect your new website. You can switch back and forth between working in the new and old builder by clicking the link in the upper right that says "GO TO LEGACY BUILDER." 

 

PRO TIP: It's a good idea to open up two tabs (one with the legacy builder, one with PhotoBiz 9) so you can quickly move between the two versions of your site while you build. 

 

Once you have set up and styled your new website and are ready to launch it, go to the LEFT SIDE MENU and click DOMAINS. Then click EDIT MAIN and select your PHOTOBIZ 9 SUBDOMAIN and click SAVE CHANGES.

If you need help, we're here for you

Take some time to explore the PhotoBiz 9 builder to see what's new! There are a ton of new features, blocks, layouts, and options. No changes will be pushed to your existing site until you are ready to make it your main site. 


If you get stuck, click on the question mark icon in the bottom right corner of the control panel to access the PhotoBiz Assistant. You can watch tutorial videos, read knowledge base articles, and submit support tickets. There is also a chat icon in the bottom right corner. Click on it to live chat with our support team!

Want us to do it update your website for you? Get our Custom Website Design service.

Want Us to Build Your New Website for You? We've Got You Covered!

We get it! Running your business keeps you busy, and sometimes you'd rather leave the website design to the experts. That's where our PhotoBiz Custom Website Design Service comes in!

Our experienced Pro Services team will work with you to create a beautiful, professional website that reflects your brand and showcases your best work. Whether you're upgrading from an older PhotoBiz website or looking for a completely fresh design, we're here to make the process easier.

Just share your favorite images, tell us about your business, and let our designers take care of the rest! We can also help you incorporate content from your existing website into your new design.

Your Custom Website Design service includes personalized website design, professional copywriting, and SEO optimization to help your business put its best foot forward online. You'll have opportunities to review your new design, provide feedback, and make adjustments before your website goes live.

And the best part? Once your new website launches, you'll have full control to make updates whenever you want using the easy-to-use PhotoBiz 9 Website Builder. Plus, our award-winning Passionate Support® team is always happy to help you along the way!

Ready for a website makeover? Explore our Custom Website Design Service or give us a call at 866.463.7620. We'd love to help you bring your vision to life!

Leave a comment

Leave this field empty
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA to prevent spam and abuse. Information collected may be processed for security purposes.
Submit

0 Comments

Previous Post Next Post

Related Posts

PhotoBiz New Features

March 26, 2020

Switching From Builder To PhotoBiz 9

March 4, 2024

Switching From Portfolio to PhotoBiz 9

March 4, 2024

7 Features PhotoBiz Customers Love

November 22, 2021

Archive

Go

FILTER BY PRODUCT

Websites Client Proofing Galleries Studio Management Marketing Ecommerce  

FILTER BY CATEGORY

PhotoBiz Updates Guides SEO Success Stories #PhotoBizFaves  

RESOURCES

Contact Us Knowledge Base PhotoBiz Education Ambassador Program Refer a Friend  

COMPANY

Careers Terms of Use Privacy Policy Service Agreement  
Crafted by PhotoBiz
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG
START A WEBSITE FOR FREE
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG
START A WEBSITE FOR FREE
PhotoBiz LLC Logo
CLOSE
  • BLOG
  • WHAT'S NEW
  • GUIDES
  • PODCAST
  • FREEBIES
  • SUCCESS STORIES
  • EDUCATION
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG
START A WEBSITE FOR FREE