It goes without saying that having an online presence is essential for marketing a successful photography business.

Websites like Squarespace and Zenfolio have made it easy to showcase your photography portfolio, but the downside is that sites created using these services look similar and do little to separate your brand from the rest.

One new way to highlight your photography is to supplement your online photography portfolio with a unique video slideshow of your work. You may be thinking, “But I’m not a video expert; how would I do that?”

It’s easier than you might think, and the benefits make it well worth the effort. There are three distinct advantages to using a slideshow template:

1. Capture attention on social media

Sure, you can upload an image gallery to Facebook (and you should!), but a video will stand out in the feed. When your followers like, share, or retweet the video, you’ll instantly extend the reach of your audience.

2. Leverage the Audience of YouTube and Vimeo

When you upload your photography portfolio video to YouTube or Vimeo, you’ll instantly leverage the power of these powerful networks. In addition to showing up in YouTube and Vimeo searches, videos uploaded to these sites will also display in Google search results – very cool. You should also add your video to Vimeo photography groups to put it in front of even more viewers.

3. Give insight into your process

A personalized photography video can give the viewer a peek into who you are, your process, and details about your business. By using templates, you can quickly modify the text, colors, and logo, so it perfectly matches your brand.

Whether you’re a wedding, fashion, or lifestyle photographer, the following After Effects templates are perfect for quickly creating a professional video portfolio.

You don’t have to be an After Effects expert to use them either – streamlined project construction and simple customization make adding your photos a breeze.