Lumeny vs. Squarespace for Photographers: Is Squarespace Still Worth It?
Squarespace is a powerful general-purpose website builder. Lumeny is a photography-specific platform that replaces Squarespace for most photographers — and adds client galleries, shoot briefings, and a booking overview that Squarespace simply doesn't have. If you're currently using Squarespace + a gallery tool + briefing documents, Lumeny probably does more for less.
| Feature | Lumeny | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio Website | Yes — auto-built from galleries | Yes — fully custom builder |
| Client Galleries | Yes — sectional, password-protected | No — galleries are public-only |
| Shoot Briefings | Yes — mobile client link | No |
| Booking Overview | Yes | No (requires third-party integration) |
| Online Store / E-commerce | No | Yes |
| Blog | No | Yes |
| Custom Domain | Yes (Pro) | Yes (all plans) |
| Design Customization | Limited (photography-focused) | Extensive |
| Free Plan | No — 14-day trial | No — 14-day trial |
| Pricing (entry) | €9/mo | ~€13/mo (annual, Basic plan) |
| Photography-specific features | Yes | No |
The Real Cost of Using Squarespace as a Photographer
Most photographers don't use Squarespace alone. They use Squarespace for the portfolio, then add a gallery tool (Pixieset, Picdrop, or similar) for client delivery, then send briefing documents separately via email or WhatsApp. Let's look at the realistic total:
| Tool | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Squarespace (Basic) | ~€13 |
| Gallery tool (e.g. Pixieset entry) | ~€8–€10 |
| Briefing workflow (ad-hoc, time cost) | — |
| Total | ~€21–€23/month |
Lumeny replaces all three for €9–€19/month.
But price isn't the only factor. After 10 years of shooting, I kept running into the same problem: my Squarespace site looked nothing like my actual client galleries. Every few months I'd have to update my portfolio page manually. With Lumeny, galleries delivered to clients automatically become part of your portfolio. No maintenance required.
Where Squarespace Still Makes Sense
Squarespace is genuinely excellent for certain use cases:
- E-commerce — if selling prints, presets, or other products is a meaningful part of your business, Squarespace's store is far more capable than anything Lumeny offers (Lumeny has no store).
- Blogging — if you publish regular blog content for SEO or community building, Squarespace's blogging tools are mature and polished.
- Full design control — if your brand is highly custom and you want pixel-perfect control over every design element, Squarespace gives you that. Lumeny's portfolio design is photography-first but not freely customizable.
- Non-photography businesses — Squarespace serves many business types. Lumeny is built only for photographers.
Where Lumeny Wins for Photographers
- Private client galleries — Squarespace's built-in gallery blocks are public. You can't protect them with a password or create a private delivery experience. Lumeny's galleries are private by default, with download PIN protection.
- Sectional galleries — divide a wedding into "Ceremony," "Getting Ready," "Reception." Squarespace has no equivalent.
- Shoot briefings — send one mobile link with moodboard, shot list, and client questions before every session. Squarespace has no such feature.
- Automatic portfolio — your delivered galleries populate your portfolio automatically. No drag-and-drop updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lumeny replace Squarespace completely? For most photographers, yes. If you need e-commerce, a blog, or highly custom design, Squarespace still has advantages. But for the core portfolio + client delivery use case, Lumeny covers it in one tool.
Is Lumeny cheaper than Squarespace? The entry plan is similar (€9 vs. ~€13), but Lumeny includes gallery delivery and shoot briefings that Squarespace doesn't offer at any price. When you factor in the gallery tool you'd add to Squarespace, Lumeny is meaningfully cheaper.
Does Lumeny have SEO features like Squarespace? Lumeny covers standard SEO (meta titles, descriptions, canonical URLs, structured data). Squarespace has more granular SEO controls. See how to look more professional as a photographer for more on building your online presence.
What's the best alternative to Squarespace for photographers? Lumeny is the most purpose-built alternative. You can also read best Squarespace alternative for photographers for a full breakdown.
Verdict
Choose Lumeny if you're a photographer who uses Squarespace primarily for a portfolio and needs private client galleries and shoot management — Lumeny does more for less.
Choose Squarespace if e-commerce, advanced blogging, or deep design customization are important to your business model.
Explore Lumeny pricing or see how Lumeny client galleries work.
Replace your Squarespace + gallery tool stack
Lumeny gives photographers a portfolio website, private client galleries, shoot briefings, and a booking overview — for less than Squarespace alone. Try it free for 14 days.
Start Your Free TrialWritten by Christian Bauer, founder of Lumeny. After years of maintaining a Squarespace portfolio alongside separate gallery delivery tools, he built Lumeny to consolidate the stack into one photography-focused platform.