A portfolio website serves as a digital showcase for artists, designers, writers, photographers, and more, providing visitors with a curated collection of examples that highlight their style and talent. Typically, these websites feature polished visuals, interactive galleries, an overview of past projects, an "About" section, and contact details.
To get started on your website, use our portfolio website builder to design a beautiful portfolio site, complete with content and images, in under a minute.
Zarla checks that sites meet basic web standards for mobile and desktop. We also use Google's PageSpeed Insights, and WAVE, a service that evaluates accessibility for individuals with disabilities. PageSpeed scores and accessibility are important factors for search engine rankings. PageSpeed scores may not match user experience and can vary substantially.
Salzburg, Austria
Teo Crawford, a multifaceted artist encompassing photography, filmmaking, and YouTube influence, specializes in evocative content inspired by his travels. His website immerses visitors from the start with an atmospheric hero image of Teo disappearing into the mist, cleverly enticing visitors to embark on a visual journey with him.
This alluring welcome is followed by a portfolio banner and an informative "About" section, instantly engaging both new and loyal fans of the artist. Moreover, a convenient contact form is available, and the bottom-page menu mirrors the top menu, ensuring streamlined navigation.
The website's dark but minimalist aesthetic complements Teo's photography style, resulting in a cohesive and on-brand design. The main menu and footer menu echo each other, effectively compensating for the lack of a sticky menu and a back-to-top button. Although WAVE found multiple contrast issues, no text or link-related errors were identified.
Teo is launching an online shop soon, which he announces toward the bottom of the page. However, a "Shop" option is already visible in the main menu, leading to initial confusion. While Teo introduces himself as a filmmaker, his video content is not prominently promoted, missing an opportunity to engage users who appreciate multimedia content.
The website is visually stunning and well-organized, showcasing Teo's portfolio with impressive attention to detail. Despite his introduction as a filmmaker, Teo's video projects are not prominently advertised, which would have made a greater impact on desktop screens.
The lack of a sticky menu and a back-to-top button is less noticeable on the desktop site, largely due to the concise home page that effectively introduces Teo in his "About" section and leads to a convenient contact form. On Google's PageSpeed Insights, the site scored perfectly for accessibility and SEO, and it received 98/100 for performance.
The website adapts well to mobile screens, with images retaining quality and visual impact. On vertical displays, Teo's images are not cut off, preserving the desktop site's cinematic aesthetic. Although the lack of a back-to-top button and a sticky menu is noticeable, the hamburger menu stands out for its neat design.
Unlike most, the hamburger menu does not use a drop-down function; instead, it occupies the entire screen, ensuring the options remain the primary focus. On PageSpeed Insights, the site scored 100/100 for accessibility, best practices, and SEO. However, its performance score is a modest 67/100.
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Dan Machado is a California-based digital designer who offers more than 16 years of experience elevating the visual concept and usability of mobile apps. His website greets visitors with a bold but effective headline that immediately sets the tone and assigns ownership.
The website follows a concise and straightforward layout that prioritizes Dan's three latest projects. Organizational graphic lines help provide structure to the website and place emphasis on important details, while visitors can easily access Dan's email, LinkedIn, and Behance and Dribbble profiles toward the bottom of the page.
The section showcasing the names of brands Dan has worked with adds credibility, while the "About" section highlights his values and expertise. The hover-activated functions at the bottom of the page are a bold and fun feature, with bright hues providing an exciting visual element. Moreover, WAVE found a handful of contrast and empty link errors.
The main menu only features options for Dan's latest three projects, while the bottom-page menu focuses on his content platforms. Since Dan's three projects are already visible on the home page, moving the bottom-page menu's options to the top would enhance navigation. Additionally, the home page lacks a sticky menu and a back-to-top button.
To keep desktop users engaged, the website incorporates hover-activated features, high-quality visuals, and motion graphics. However, the absence of compelling visual stimulation makes the scrolling experience feel monotonous, and not including a back-to-top button and a sticky menu hinders smooth navigation. On PageSpeed Insights, the site scored admirably, receiving 84/100 for performance and 88/100 for accessibility.
Contrasting the desktop site, the mobile version omits a main menu. Instead, mobile users must either scroll through the projects or navigate to the bottom-page menu, resulting in a relatively swift and uneventful browsing journey.
Although the lack of a sticky menu is more pronounced on the mobile site, the concise design ensures navigation remains effective. Furthermore, the playful colors that pop up upon hover are not available with the mobile counterpart. On PageSpeed Insights, the site scored a modest 63/100 for performance and 88/100 for accessibility.
Seoul, South Korea
Abang is a visual artist and illustrator whose vibrant online portfolio offers an exciting array of colorful artwork. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted with a gallery of Abang's work in various formats, showcasing the extent of her expertise. Despite featuring bold artwork, the home page maintains a clean, spacious layout that's easy to navigate.
The main menu provides swift access to an "ABOUT" page, while Abang's contact information and Instagram account are conveniently located in the footer menu. For a deeper dive into Abang's work, visitors can learn about her exhibitions and commissioned work.
The home page's concise design minimizes scrolling, and a sticky menu is available to ensure accessibility is prioritized. Abang's Instagram is advertised through a URL and linked icon, while the diverse designs in the staged gallery enrich users' appreciation of Abang's portfolio. Moreover, WAVE did not flag any contrast or link-related issues.
The size of the contact details is small, which may lead to initial oversight. The website lacks extensive details about Abang in the "About" section, which, coupled with the lack of images of her, contributes to an impersonal feel. Moreover, the "EXHIBITION / PUBLICATION" page would benefit from filtered sections to showcase Abang's diverse art.
Navigating Abang's portfolio is straightforward, with no headings or CTAs to draw attention. Abang's artwork, presented in various multimedia formats, captivates on its own, creating a memorable browsing experience for desktop users who appreciate the finer details.
Notably, only the desktop version includes a floating menu, highlighting the site's commitment to accessibility, while hover-activated functions are also included to help enhance engagement for desktop users. Additionally, the gallery's high-quality images appear quite striking on larger screens.
Unlike its desktop counterpart, the mobile site opts for a non-floating hamburger menu that presents a more linear and structured layout. While scrolling through the gallery remains a pleasant experience, mobile users are provided access to a handy back-to-top button. Moreover, the contact details in the bottom page menu appear more pronounced.
Despite producing solid results during our real-world tests, the mobile site received a modest performance score of 57/100. That said, the site excelled in the accessibility and best practices categories, with the latter receiving a perfect score.
https://www.ericvannynatten.com/
New York, New York, U.S.
Eric Van Nynatten is a well-known, New York-based photographer specializing in urban landscapes and evocative portraits. His website is meticulously crafted with user-friendliness in mind, as it prioritizes accessibility and efficiency with a neat and airy design.
Upon entering the site, visitors can immediately start scrolling through Eric's work or utilize the floating menu to explore his categories, which cover his New York, destination, and editorial photography. Additionally, a personal blog is available, and interested clients can contact Eric via the "Contact" or "About" pages.
The website is structured and spacious, with plenty of visual breathing room to help the polished images stand out. For efficiency, a menu stays fixed to the left of the screen, providing swift access to an "About" page, a personal blog, and Eric's Instagram profile. Furthermore, the site performed great on WAVE, with only one empty link detected.
The website lacks multimedia content, and its hover-activated functions are limited, resulting in a lackluster scrolling journey. While the "About" page provides valuable insight into Eric's expertise, a visible introduction on the home page would cater to newcomers. Moreover, the gallery does not offer categories, and the blog's format is unclear.
On larger screens, Eric's photographs reveal intricate details, enhancing the website's cinematic aesthetic, which feels tailored for desktop users. While hover-activated functions provide engaging visual experiences, the permanently placed sticky menu feels intuitive, making it ideal for those who value efficiency.
Additionally, opting for a streamlined layout enhances the browsing experience, focusing visitors' attention on Eric's compelling portfolio without distraction. On PageSpeed Insights, the site scored a solid 56/100 for performance and 81/100 for accessibility.
In contrast to the desktop site, the mobile version presents a minimalist design, only displaying Eric's name, Instagram link, and main menu, with the latter neatly tucked behind a "Menu" option. This clean layout emphasizes Eric's compelling photographs.
Notably, the main menu does not offer sticky top functions, making navigation less intuitive, while the missing back-to-top button results in excessive scrolling. On PageSpeed Insights, the site scored poorly, receiving 15/100 for performance. However, the accessibility and best practices scores remain high, matching our solid real-world tests.
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Tony D'Orio is an award-winning photographer who's based in the U.S. and Europe. Tony's website is a visual masterpiece, with full-screen images and hover-activated functions that enhance the user experience. Although there is no clear "About" section on the home page, visitors can easily access the floating menu and adjust the gallery's layout for improved visibility.
As an added benefit, visitors can also create an account, read through Tony's biography, access his Instagram account, and download one of his photographs for free. Together, these elements create a streamlined browsing experience.
The home page features a convenient floating menu in the format of a hamburger icon, which helps clean up the home page and automate the browsing journey. To help visitors better appreciate Tony's portfolio, there is an adjustable viewing tool available to help enhance the gallery's impact. Moreover, WAVE did not identify any contrast issues.
In the linear format, the photographs are commanding, requiring excessive scrolling, and take time to load. The home page does not include headings or filtered sections, which may throw off visitors who prefer organization. Tony's biography does not provide an extensive overview of the artist's history. Additionally, WAVE found missing alternative text and empty links.
The desktop website's cinematic aesthetic is perfectly designed for larger screens, where its intricate details and vibrant colors are more impactful. For desktop users, the interactive zoom-in and hover-activated functions enhance the experience, while the hamburger icon and transparent menu ensure that the gallery remains the focal point. On PageSpeed Insights, the site scored 76/100 for overall performance.
The mobile version retains the desktop counterpart's commitment to visual excellence, with all images translating beautifully on smaller screens. In addition, the floating menu and sticky adjustment tool remain effective, but mobile users may miss a back-to-top button. While our real-world tests proved pleasant, the site scored 33/100 for performance. However, it did receive high scores for accessibility and best practices.
We recommend Zarla's AI website builder, which generates a professional portfolio website, complete with images and content, within minutes. To inspire ideas, browse through our curated list of portfolio website examples. Among them, Abang's portfolio website stands out as a spacious and impactful online showcase.
A portfolio website is an online hub for a professional or an individual to highlight their interests, skills, and body of work. These digital spaces serve as a dynamic online showcase, often standing in place of a traditional resume.
Portfolio websites are typically used to promote an individual's skills and talent. Therefore, they're often used by photographers, filmmakers and videographers, graphic designers, musicians, developers, writers, and other artists.
