what-you-need

To use the ProPhoto blog theme, you must have a WordPress blog (version 2.9 or newer) hosted and installed on your own website. WordPress is a free, open-source blogging platform that you can install on your website.

What do you mean, "hosted on my own website"?

Some people get a little confused because WordPress also allows you to have a version of their blog software on THEIR domain: "wordpress.com" such as "susiesphotoblog.wordpress.com". This type of WordPress blog will not work with the ProPhoto theme. If you have a WordPress blog that ends with "wordpress.com" you cannot install ProPhoto on it. (If that's you, no big deal you can set up a hosted version of WP and then move your blog there).

Wordpress.com also allows you to buy your own domain (something like "susiesphoto.com") and then point that domain to their web hosting servers. In this case you're still using their web hosting servers, but just with your own domain. That won't work either. This is pretty rare, but we do come across it.

What do I need then?

Instead, you need the kind of WordPress blog (called "self-hosted") where you actually install their free blogging software on your own website. This is a lot easier than it sounds. In fact, WordPress is so popular, many web hosting companies now let you install WordPress automatically, with literally one click.

Just follow our excellent tutorials, or if you're short on margin time or not computer-inclined, opt for the handheld installation when you purchase, where we install WordPress and ProPhoto for you.

If you have a photography business website (like a flash portfolio site from Bludomain, or something like that), you almost certainly already have what you need to install WordPress. If you have any doubt, just call or email the company that hosts your website and ask them if you can install a WordPress blog under your current hosting plan.

If you don't have a website at all, or maybe you just have a blog hosted by someone else, like Blogger or a WordPress blog hosted on "wordpress.com", setting up a brand new domain and website is very easy, and less costly than you might think! Usually domains cost about $10/year and hosting about $7/month. Click here for our recommendation of a webhost with the easiest WordPress features.

click to see technical details, if you are so inclined
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