How Long Does It Take To Build A Photography Website? A Realistic Timeline

Written by Kelsie Pinkerton, founder of Pinkerton House, website designer, and wedding photographer of 20 years.

If you’re dreaming of a new website, you’ve probably asked yourself one question more than any other:

“How long is this really going to take?”

It’s a fair question—but unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.

A photographer starting with a strategic Showit template will have a very different experience than someone building a website completely from scratch. Someone hiring a designer will have a different timeline than someone squeezing website work into evenings after client galleries and family life.

The good news? Once you understand what actually affects a website timeline, it’s much easier to choose the approach that’s right for you—and set realistic expectations from the start.

If you’ve been wondering how much you should spend on a Showit template, this guide will help.

Whether you’re building your first website, refreshing an outdated one, or deciding between a Showit template and a custom design, here’s what you can realistically expect.

Table of Contents

• What actually determines your website timeline
• How long each website option really takes
• The biggest mistake that delays launches
• Five ways to launch faster
• Key takeaways
• Frequently asked questions
• Ready to launch?

What Actually Determines Your Website Timeline?

No matter what platform or method you choose, the same four things tend to determine how quickly your website comes together.

Your Copy

For most photographers, this is the biggest bottleneck.

Not Showit.

Not design.

The words.

Writing about yourself is hard, and it’s tempting to make endless re-writes or put it off until the design feels “finished.”

But the truth is, your website copy doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective. It needs to be clear.

If you already have copy from an older website or a pricing and services guide, you’re probably much closer than you think. Most websites don’t need a complete rewrite. They just need a thoughtful edit.

If you’re starting from scratch, don’t wait until every sentence is perfect. Get your ideas onto the page first. You can always refine them after your website is live.

Pro Tip: write your website copy in a Google doc first, before you ever open Showit or whichever platform you’re working in. This way you can tweak til your heart’s content without accidentally moving your design 5 pixels to the right 😩.

Your Images

As photographers we don’t often struggle with having too few photos.

We struggle to choose the right photos.

One of the hardest parts of building a website is deciding what to leave out. You can read more here about the role image curation plays in making a website feel luxury.

But, a masterfully curated portfolio is a photographer’s super power, so leave things out you must.

And when it’s your goal to create a carefully curated experience designed to help the right clients quickly recognize that they’re in the right place, which it should be, it’s easy to get stuck in an endless loop of image switching.

Decision Fatigue

This is the one I see most often.

People assume website projects drag on because building a website is technically difficult.

It can be, but in my experience, that’s rarely the problem.

Website projects slow down because they require hundreds of tiny decisions.

Every headline.

Every image.

Every button.

Every section.

Every font pairing.

Every color.

None of those decisions feel especially difficult on their own.

But after making dozens—or even hundreds—of them, it’s no wonder so many website projects stall out.

Decision fatigue is a real thing my friends, and a website design project is basically a designer’s decision-making marathon.

If you’re customizing a Showit template and need help with all those decisions, you can read more here about the biggest mistakes photographers make and how to avoid them.

Your Availability

Let’s be real — most of us photographers aren’t working on our websites full-time.

We’re photographing weddings.

Editing galleries.

Answering inquiries.

Running a home.

Building a website usually happens in the margins of an already full life.

If you imagined finishing your website over one long weekend but find yourself working on it over several weeks instead, you’re not behind.

You’re building a business the same way most small business owners do.

So How Long Does Each Option Really Take?

Building A Website From Scratch

Typical timeline: 1–6 months

Building from scratch gives you complete creative freedom.

It also gives you complete responsibility.

You’ll be making every decision about layout, navigation, page structure, mobile design, copy, and user experience yourself.

For some businesses this makes total sense.

For many photographers, though, it’s far more work than expected.

Starting With A Showit Template

Typical timeline: 1–8 weeks

For many photographers, this is the sweet spot.

Instead of beginning with a blank page, you’re starting with a strategic foundation that’s already been thoughtfully designed.

The page layouts already exist.

The mobile version is already built.

The navigation has already been considered.

Instead of solving design problems, you’re personalizing an existing strategy.

That’s one of the biggest reasons templates can launch so much faster. If you want a simple next step after choosing a template, this post walks through what happens after you buy a Showit template.

Semi-Custom Website Design

Typical timeline: 1–4 weeks

If you love the idea of a strategic template but don’t have the time—or desire—to customize it yourself—semi-custom website design is often the fastest route.

Instead of spending evenings tweaking layouts and replacing copy and images, you’re collaborating with a designer who handles the heavy lifting.

You still end up with a website that feels uniquely yours, but with far fewer decisions, little elbow grease, and much less overwhelm.

Fully Custom Website Design

Typical timeline: 6–12+ weeks

A custom website naturally takes longer because everything starts with a blank canvas.

Discovery.

Strategy.

Wireframes.

Design.

Revisions.

Development.

Testing.

For businesses with unique needs, it can absolutely be the right investment.

But so many photographers and creatives figure out they can achieve everything they need with a strategic template or semi-custom website AND launch much faster.

Wondering if it’s time for a new website? Read 7 Signs Your Photography Website May Be Holding Your Business Back.

The Biggest Mistake That Delays Website Launches

Perfectionism.

Oh, this first born, type-A, Enneagram 3 knows it well 🙋‍♀️.

It’s easy to tell yourself you’ll launch after you:

• rewrite your About page one more time,
• swap out just a few more images,
• add a higher-end gallery,
• or find the perfect headline.

Weeks quietly become months.

Meanwhile, your website can’t show up in Google, build trust with potential clients, or collect inquiries.

Your website doesn’t need to be perfect.

It needs to be live 😉.

Five Ways To Launch Faster

• Gather all of your copy, branding, and images before you start.
• Write imperfect copy first and refine it later.
• Curate your portfolio before uploading everything.
• Trust the strategy behind your template instead of redesigning every section.
• Give yourself a realistic launch date—and stick to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you build a website in one day?

Technically, yes—but only if your copy, images, and branding are already thoughtfully prepared. In my own website design business I’ve found that with intentional preparation we can build and launch a beautiful, strategic website within the span of one week. For most photographers, the preparation takes longer than the actual customization.

How long does it take to customize a Showit template?

Most photographers spend roughly 15–30 working hours customizing a Showit template, though those hours are often spread across several weeks.

What slows down website projects the most?

More than anything else: unfinished copy, too many photos to choose from, perfectionism, and decision fatigue.

Ready To Launch?

Whether you’re looking for a strategic Showit template or a more hands-off Website Design experience, my goal is the same: to help you launch a website that helps grow your business and feels like you—without getting stuck or taking months to launch.

Because the website sitting in draft mode is doing you no favors.

The one that’s out in the world, helping to draw in and make you an easy ‘yes’ to the right clients, will help your business thrive.