Written by Kelsie Pinkerton – 20+ years as a luxury wedding photographer + now designing Showit websites built to help creatives get found, connect, and book dream clients with ease.
Quick Answer:
If you want something fast, strategic, and cost-effective, a high-quality Showit template is likely the way to go.
If you need something deeply customized, highly specific, or fully done-for-you from the ground up, custom design may make more sense.
For most photographers and creatives? A thoughtfully built template — especially when customized well — is more than enough to create a site that looks elevated and actually books clients.
If you’re still figuring out what actually makes a site convert, this breaks it down: The Homepage Blueprint That Books.
The Real Question Most People Are Asking
It’s usually not just “buy a template or hire for a custom design.”
It’s:
- Will my site actually feel like me?
- Will it help me get found on Google?
- Will it convert visitors into inquiries?
- Will I be able to customize and launch a template on my own?
- Will a template look “cheap” for my high-end brand?
- Am I going to regret not going custom later?
And honestly, those are the right questions.
Because the truth is, both options can work really well…and both can result in a website that doesn’t actually achieve your goals.
What a Showit Template Actually Is When It’s Done Well
Not all templates are created equal.
A good Showit template isn’t just “a pretty starting point.” It’s a pre-built strategy.
That means:
- Thoughtful page flow (to guide visitors to the right next step)
- Clear visual hierarchy (for easy scanning & understanding)
- Built-in conversion moments, thoughtfully timed
- Clean SEO foundations (to ensure you get found)
- A layout that helps visitors understand what you do quickly (so they stick around)
If you want a deeper look at what “SEO-friendly” actually means in a template, start here: What “SEO-Friendly” Really Means in a Showit Template (and What You Should Look For).
For more of a step by step guide on how to get your site setup for SEO, read this: How To Set Up Your Showit Website So It Actually Shows Up On Google.
The best templates don’t limit what you can do. They clarify exactly what you should do.
They remove the guesswork so you’re not staring at a blank page wondering what to say, where everything should go, or whether your website is quietly working against you.
Where Templates Can Fall Short
Let’s be real for a sec: templates can absolutely go wrong.
Usually when:
- The design was build with only aesthetics (and not strategy) in mind
- The structure doesn’t support SEO or blogging
- You heavily change things without understanding why they were built that way
- The template isn’t aligned with your brand or ideal client to begin with
This is exactly why knowing how to customize a template well matters: How to Make a Showit Website Template Look Custom (Without Breaking the Design).
A template is only as strong as how it was built and how you use it.
What Custom Website Design Actually Gives You
Custom design is appealing for a reason.
Done well, it offers:
- A completely tailored design
- Strategy built specifically around your business
- Help with copy and messaging (in many cases)
- A fully done-for-you experience
- More room for unusual layouts, complex needs, or highly specific creative direction
It can feel like the luxury option because often, it is.
Where Custom Design Isn’t Always the Best Fit
With a skilled web designer you can end up with the site you’re dreaming of. But this is the part that can get overlooked.
Custom design can:
- Take months
- Require a significantly larger investment
- Still rely on your clarity around your brand and offers
- Feel more overwhelming than fun if you’re not sure what you actually need yet
- Not automatically guarantee better SEO or conversions
If SEO visibility is part of your goal, this is worth understanding before investing: How to Tell if a Showit Template Will Actually Help You Get Found (Before You Buy).
A custom site is only as effective as the strategy behind it. If you go the custom route, make sure your designer has a plan to build a site that will help you meet your business goals.
So…Which One Actually Makes Sense for You?
A Showit Template Might Be Right If You:
- Want to launch quickly
- Are looking for a budget-conscious option
- Are comfortable customizing, or open to learning
- Want something strategic without starting from scratch
- Need a site that feels polished and professional without custom timelines and price tags
You can explore my line of beautiful, strategic templates here: The Showit Website Template Shop.
Custom Design Might Be Right If You:
- Have a very specific or complex vision
- Want everything done for you from scratch
- Have the time and budget for a longer process
- Need deeper brand and messaging development alongside design
- Are building a site with unusual functionality
The Middle Ground Most People Overlook
There’s a space between DIY templates and fully custom design, and for a lot of creatives, this is the sweet spot.
Think:
- Starting with a strategic template
- Customizing it to make it undeniably yours
- Or having it fully customized for you
If you like the idea of skipping the DIY, this is exactly what my Website in a Day service is built for.
This, semi-custom design, is often where you get the strategy and speed of a template with the polish of a custom design.
The Pinkerton House Perspective
When it comes to design, most photographers and creatives don’t need a lesson in style or taste. They need better structure and clearer strategy.
If your current site isn’t converting, this might be helpful: Why Your Photography Website Isn’t Booking Clients.
A well-built template can (and should!) absolutely support SEO, feel custom, and guide the right visitors toward inquiry.
When I built my own luxury wedding photography brand, I didn’t start from scratch with a fully custom site. I started with thoughtfully chosen, strategic templates — and refined them over time.
And honestly, that’s more common than people think. A lot of very successful businesses aren’t starting from scratch — they’re building on something solid and making it their own.
Key Takeaways
- There’s a place for both templates and custom design, depending on your goals
- A great Showit template is a pre-built strategy and the ability to launch quickly at a lower price point
- Custom design (with a strategic designer) can be a good fit if you need custom tailoring, fully done-for-you design, and have the time and larger budget required
- Most photographers find a sweet spot with template + customization
- Semi-custom design offers the strategy and speed of a template with the polish of a custom design
FAQs
Is a Showit template enough to book clients?
Yes — a great Showit template will be built with both beauty and strategy in mind to help you meet your business goals.
Will my site look unique if I use a template?
Yes — it absolutely can. Thoughtful customization can turn a template into a site that’s undeniably yours.
Are Showit templates good for SEO?
They can be — structure is crucial for SEO. Here’s what to look for to make sure a template will actually help with SEO.
What if I can’t do a fully custom site but don’t want to DIY?
That’s exactly where Website in a Day comes in.
A Thoughtful Next Step
If you’re leaning toward a template, explore the Template Shop.
If you want it done for you, Website in a Day is a great next step.
I’d love to help you build a beautiful, strategic new online home that grows your business!
Kelsie Pinkerton is a Showit website designer and founder of Pinkerton House, with 20 years of experience in the luxury wedding industry.
