Learn to create a gorgeous, effective
photography website that you can be proud of.


The Visionary Website


Is your photography website dated, disorganized, and desperate for a makeover? Or, do you dream of creating a website…but it never happens because you don’t know where to start?

Here’s the truth: photographers can’t compete in today’s art world without a strong online presence.

In this e-course, you’ll learn to wrangle your images and finesse your design, branding, and messaging so your site looks polished and personable (and so it appeals to curators and collectors).

The best part? You’ll learn to make it happen even if you aren’t a tech wiz with tons of time on your hands. If you know what steps to take, you can make major progress in a single week. The Visionary Website helps you get there.

Ready to make your website dreams a reality?

Let’s do this. It’s time.

The Visionary Website is magic. It’s as if Laura had stepped inside my mind and knew every secret question about building a professional photography website I had ever stayed up until 3:00 AM worrying about. Highly recommended! It plunged me into a wonderful frenzy of creativity as I built my new website and business. The information in this course is everything you need and more to take the deep dive you’ve been promising yourself.
— Sandy Brown Jensen

What is The Visionary Website?

The Visionary Website is an eight-day e-course that teaches you to build a beautiful, clear, engaging photography website that will pass muster in the art world.

We won’t cover tech specifics (there are plenty of tech tutorials online already). Our focus will be content, design, messaging, branding, and site organization.

What should you include on your site? What should you avoid? What looks professional? What looks glaringly amateurish?

We’ll cover all the bases.

Instead of stumbling through and trying to piece it all together on your own, The Visionary Website gives you detailed guidance on best practices, art world standards, and effective presentation strategies so you can promote your work with more confidence.

Translation: You'll bypass the most common mistakes inexperienced artists make and save weeks of research, trial and error.


When I signed up for this course, I was fighting with my website. It didn’t reflect who I really am. It didn’t make sense. I am very happy with the direction I am going now. My site clearly speaks for me in a much more authentic voice. It’s no longer a dumping ground of random work. Thanks for your insightful instruction.
— Sheila Guevin


What You’ll Learn:


The Visionary Website includes 18 rich lessons broken down into 9 key themes:

1. GAINING CLARITY

This audio lesson will help you clarify your intentions so your site is aligned with your goals.

  • Do you want to use your site as a calling card or organizational tool?

  • Do you want to pursue exhibitions and appeal to curators and jurors?

  • Do you want to sell prints to collectors?

  • If you’re balancing commercial and personal work, should you combine them on one site or have two?

When you’re clear about your aspirations, your site can be focused, targeted, and effective.


2. TECH & PLATFORM OPTIONS

  • Learn about the best template-based DIY website builders for photographers.

  • Learn how to choose a smart, strategic domain name.

  • Can’t DIY your site and need to hire out? Learn all the essential questions to ask prospective site developers (so you don’t lose money or sleep).


3. CRAFTING A BEAUTIFUL SITE

  • This is the fun part! Learn to choose a beautiful palette for your website, so your images pop.

  • In-depth guidance on gorgeous personal branding (colors, fonts, aesthetics, the whole shebang).

  • How to design a clean, clear site that welcomes visitors and directs them to your desired outcomes.

  • How to choose a logo that reflects your artistic personality.

  • Plus…stunning website examples to help inspire your design choices.


4. LET’S GET ORGANIZED!

  • How to structure all the pages on your site so it’s simple, not labyrinthine.

  • What should you put in your primary navigation? What should you put in your secondary navigation? What do those terms even mean?

  • How to tame an “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” website.

  • How to organize your images into cohesive, meaningful groups (so your galleries aren’t jumbled grab bags)

  • How many images should you have in each gallery? How many galleries should you have? You’ll get the full scoop.


5. MAKING YOUR IMAGES SHINE

  • How to size your images so they’re big enough to look sharp…but not so big that your site takes forever to load.

  • How to choose the right colorspace so your images don’t suffer when they’re converted to the web.

  • How to make your slideshows appealing and easy to navigate.

  • Should you watermark your images or not? Learn what looks professional and what looks amateurish.


6. Mastering your about page & CV

  • How to write an About page that helps site visitors get to know you (without sounding humble-braggy or aloof).

  • A guided Q&A session that will help you frame your About page text (answer the questions and you have your page).

  • A CV strategy for photographers with long, short, and non-existent resumes.

  • A CV template you can adapt for your own use.


7. mastering your artist’s statements

  • How to write compelling, meaningful artist’s statements for each of your portfolios.

  • A guided Q&A session that will help you craft a thoughtful, authentic statement (simply answer the questions and you have your statement).

  • The best part? You can use the questions for all your future portfolios. Never wonder what to write again!


8. SELLING YOUR PRINTS

  • How to set up a shop on your site! A photo-specific primer on e-commerce that will save you 20+ hours of research.

  • Learn what to include in your product listings, so there’s less friction in the sales process and customers understand the value of your work.

  • Learn what sells well (and what doesn’t).

  • Should you print, package, and ship yourself? Or, should you team up with a print shop to produce and drop ship to customers? Learn the pros and cons of both options.


9. VISIBILITY, ENGAGEMENT & Policy

  • You’ve built the site…now how do you get people to see it?

  • Tips for finessing your SEO so Google can find your site.

  • Learn what the best email service provider is for artists and small photo businesses.

  • How to craft website policies that protect you, your images, your business, and your bottom line.

  • Plus! A curated list of top-notch resources to support you on your website journey.

 
I loved The Visionary Website. It helped me save a lot of time instead of searching around on my own, and it gave me a much clearer idea of what I wanted. What helped me most was the step-by-step guidance with the right amount of technical solutions, design ideas, and support.
— Iris Lutz
 

What’s the experience like?

The Visionary Website is a self-study, self-paced class designed to fit easily into your schedule. Unlike a traditional classroom experience, you can do the lessons any time day or night (cozied up in your pajamas, if you like!). Class includes thought-provoking lessons and actionable takeaways. Lessons are delivered via:

  • In-depth readings

  • Audio essays

  • Rich examples and resources galore

You’ll get access to new lessons every day for eight days, but you can complete them on your own schedule. You’ll retain access to the course for three years, so you can revisit it as often as needed.

Is The Visionary Website right for you?

  • If you’re really honest with yourself, your web galleries are dumping grounds, your artist statements are a wreck, and your CV is crickets. You know it’s time for a bold refresh.

  • You want to create a website for the first time, but you have no idea where to start…so you never start.

  • You plan to exhibit, enter competitions, attend portfolio reviews, or sell prints - and you want your site to hold up to the scrutiny of curators, jurors, and collectors.

  • You’re not a commercial photographer. Or if you are, you’re looking for guidance on your personal work and website.

  • You’re confused about what to include on your site and what to leave out.

  • You’d love your site to be a beautiful calling card, so you feel proud to share your work.

  • You have a DIY spirit and you want to take control of your web presence (instead of paying someone thousands of dollars to do it for you). Oh - and you want to do it without learning to code.

  • Option overwhelm. Analysis paralysis. They’re real. You need help weighing all the variables so you can spend less time dithering and more time doing.

  • And let’s face it, you don’t have a ton of time to spend on this. You want clear, efficient guidance to help you realize your vision quickly.

Sound like you? This e-course is a great fit.


I revamped my website with Laura’s guidance and now I LOVE it. Definitely worth your time and money!
— Jenny Abramson
I feel like I advanced by 6 months, in just 6 weeks. I enjoyed this course immensely and learned so much. Thank you Laura!
— Luigi Luccarelli
 

There are three ways to experience this e-course...

The first option is detailed above. The second option includes everything mentioned above and adds a 1-on-1 website strategy session. Here’s what that looks like:

  • Step 1: I will review your current website (if you have one), your photos, and any other materials you’d like to share. I really will look at ALL of it.

  • Step 2: We'll schedule a 60-minute mentoring call. Ask me anything - it’s your time to use however you like. I’ll offer direct feedback on your site (or site concept) and help you strategize so your images shine and your messaging is clear. We’ll also chat about your photo goals and make sure your site is aligned with the opportunities you’d like to pursue. 

The mentoring option is an excellent fit for people who are looking for detailed feedback and personalized advice.


I hadn’t found the traction to revise my website until I took The Visionary Website. I took advantage of a mentoring session and it was valuable to me. Yippeee to Laura for offering such a great course!
— Sheryl Hess


Or... sign up for The Visionary Bundle

The essential ingredient in a strong photo website? Cohesive portfolios. If your photos are “all over the place” and you know you need to refine your vision (so you have stronger content to showcase on your site), you can sign up for the Visionary Bundle. It includes:

  • The Visionary Website e-course

  • The Visionary Portfolio e-course (a six-week e-course)

  • A 60-minute 1-on-1 website strategy session via phone or Zoom

Metaphorically speaking, one class teaches you to design a top-notch cookbook…and one class teaches you how to cook. When you take both classes, you learn to bake a killer quiche and tell the world about it.


The Visionary Bundle is right for you if:

  • You work with multiple styles, aesthetics, and subjects, and you're not sure how to tie it all together

  • The galleries on your website are a messy hodgepodge, and you know you need help curating your vision

  • You’ve created a portfolio before, but you know it missed the mark

  • You’d value personal guidance from an experienced curator and juror

  • You’d love to save over $100 by purchasing these offerings as a bundle


Here’s how it works:

When class begins, you’ll get access to both e-courses. You can begin both at the same time, or savor the experience and do one at a time. Make the choice that works best with your schedule. You’ll retain access to both e-courses for three full years, so you can revisit the lessons as needed. Mentoring sessions don’t expire.


Laura’s Visionary Portfolio class was life changing for me. Honestly, I can now breathe a sigh of relief. The class was so well-ordered and created with such generosity and clarity that I was able to dive into my chaotic catalogs and understand and put into use everything she shared - and I created two portfolios that I am happy with.
— Susan Metzger
 

About your guide…

I’m Laura Valenti, the artist behind Light Atlas Creative. I teach interactive e-courses, support emerging photographers in my creative mentoring program, and curate exhibitions for galleries and festivals around the world. I also jury competitions and serve as a reviewer at portfolio review events, where I help photographers fine-tune their vision and promote their work with confidence. 

I've been building my own websites (and designing and managing sites for photo nonprofits) for about 20 years. As a longtime curator and juror, I also regularly review photographers' websites to assess if they're really ready for the exhibits they're applying for.

Everything I'll share with you in this class is informed by my experience as a photographer, business owner, and art-world consultant. I’ve spent thousands of hours researching website creation, branding strategy, marketing, and messaging. The Visionary Website helps you cut to the chase and create a strong site without going down an endless research rabbit hole. You can do this! I’m sure of it.

 
 
Before this class, what *wasn’t* I struggling with? LOL. I knew my old site was functional, but it was time to refine my vision and target my audience better. This course helped me align my new site with my goals and aesthetic. Thanks for all you do, Laura!
— Janet Little Jeffers
 

Frequently Asked Questions


Is The Visionary Website for fine-art photographers or commercial photographers?

This e-course is for fine-art and documentary photographers who are interested in showcasing their portfolios and (potentially) selling prints from their sites. It’s not a good fit for commercial photographers (e.g., wedding or family portraiture). Commercial, service-based photo businesses have specialized needs and different portfolio organization strategies that aren’t aligned with successful fine-art strategies. That said, if you’re a commercial photographer who also maintains a website (or a section of your site) for personal projects, this class will be a help.


Do I need to be a techie to take The Visionary Website? Will we be learning code (or expected to know it)?

The Visionary Website is primarily geared towards folks with a DIY spirit, who want to create and manage their own websites using template-based website builders (like Squarespace, for example). However, if you’re low tech and not able to navigate a DIY website builder, you’ll still benefit from the all the content, branding, and design discussions in this class - and that info will come in handy when you hire someone to build a site for you.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Visionary Website doesn’t cover how to operate template-based website platforms (there are plenty of tech tutorials online already). Our central focus will be content, messaging, and design considerations specific to photography websites.

We won’t be doing any coding, don’t worry!


What's your refund policy?

If you begin the course and realize it’s not right for you, you can transfer your prorated registration to 1-on-1 mentoring or a different e-course of your choosing. Registration isn't refundable.


How long do I get to keep the course?

You'll get access to the course material for three full years - plenty of time to complete it and revisit the lessons whenever you need a refresher.


What happens if I fall behind?

The Visionary Website is self-paced, so it’s nice and flexible. There’s no such thing as falling behind. You'll have access to all the lessons for three full years, so if you need to move through the lessons more slowly, you’ll have plenty of time.


I have another question…

No problem! Pop me an email and I’ll get right back to you.

“One of the most clearly explained and informative programs on creating a website ever. Period.”
— Violet Murakami
The Visionary Website was all I hoped it would be and more. Before this class, I had a very limited knowledge of what to do. It always seemed too complex with no instruction book available. Laura broke it down in an easily understood way and I am so glad I took the class.
— Judy Gaygen
My old website was tired looking and cumbersome. I had way too many images on it and was struggling with how to organize my portfolios. Laura’s insights really helped me see my images in a new way and structure my portfolios better. She made website building so much easier than I thought it would be. I’m still tweaking my site, but I’m so happy with it. I highly recommend this class!
— Nancy Abens
I highly recommend The Visionary Website. I am happy to have building a new website checked off my list. I wouldn’t have taken it on myself without this course. It was very informative and it provided me with the guidance I needed.
— Carolyn Knorr
 
 

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