How to Use Story Panels in Your PhotoBiz Website
Story Panels are a new List Block Item layout in the PhotoBiz Website Builder that allow you to combine images, text, and video into a bold, narrative-style scrolling experience. They are designed to help photographers, creatives, and business owners present their content in a cohesive, social-media-inspired storytelling format.
With Story Panels, you can blend multiple types of content into a seamless vertical sequence. This makes them ideal for showcasing client experiences, testimonials, behind-the-scenes content, event highlights, before/after stories, process walkthroughs, or any visual narrative you want to bring to life.
Story Panels support images, text, uploaded videos, and embedded vertical videos from YouTube and Vimeo. Vertical media (9:16) displays beautifully in this layout.
This guide will walk you through how to create and customize Story Panels.
STEP ONE
Log into your PhotoBiz account and click WEBSITE in the left-side menu.
STEP TWO
From your list of pages, select the page where you want to add Story Panels, or create a new page.
STEP THREE
Click on the existing List Block on your page, or add a New List Block.
If you are adding a new List Block, you can begin with one of the predesigned layouts that include Story Panels:
- List 16
- List 17
- List 18
STEP FOUR
Click the LAYOUT tab in the right-side menu.
STEP FIVE
Scroll to the bottom of the List Block layout options and select your preferred Story Panel layout:
- Story Panel Square
- Story Panel Portrait
- Story Panel Landscape
Click SAVE to apply the layout.
STEP SIX
Click the ITEMS tab to add and manage the content within your Story Panels.
STEP SEVEN
Add new content or edit existing Story Panels.
Each Story Panel uses the same item types available inside a standard List Block. You can mix and match these within your story sequence.
Image Items
- Upload an image from your computer or insert from clipboard
- Add a title, description, and alt text
- Optional button linking to any page, file, form, or external URL
- Ideal for showcasing photos, behind-the-scenes shots, or before/after images
Text Items
- Add a title and description
- Optional button linking to another destination
- Perfect for captions, storytelling paragraphs, or testimonials
Click CREATE NOW to add a text item.
Video Items
- Embed a video from YouTube or Vimeo
- Upload your own video directly to PhotoBiz
- Add a cover image if needed
- Best suited for vertical videos (9:16) for the most immersive mobile experience
Click the button for the content type you want to add.
FINAL STEP
To edit any existing panel, click its thumbnail in the right-side panel.
You can:
- Reorder panels by dragging them into a new position
- Edit the content of an existing panel
- Delete a panel by dragging it onto the Delete button
Styling Options for Story Panels
Because Story Panels are a List Block layout, you can customize their appearance using the styling tools built specifically for Story Panels. These settings allow you to fine-tune the look and feel of each panel while keeping the vertical storytelling layout intact.
Styling Options
These options control spacing, alignment, borders, and visual behavior of the Story Panels:
- Overlay Opacity – Adjust the transparency of the panel overlay
- Auto Play – Enable or disable automatic advancement through Story Panels
- Slideshow Speed – Set the timing for auto play transitions
- Title Alignment – Align panel titles left, center, or right
- Description Alignment – Align paragraph text
- Button Alignment – Choose where the panel button appears
- Image Border Thickness – Add or adjust borders around images
- Space Between Items – Control spacing between each Story Panel
- Space Below – Adjust space below the entire Story Panel block
- Space Inside – Control padding inside each individual panel
Click SAVE CHANGES after adjusting your styling settings.
Color Options for Story Panels
Story Panel layouts include dedicated color controls so you can customize the appearance of your content while staying consistent with your site's branding.
You can customize:
- Item Title Color
- Text Color
- Background Color
- Overlay Color
- Icon Color
- Border Color
- Button Text Color
- Button Overlay Color
- Button Background Color
- Button Contrast Color
Color options vary by layout, so the settings available may differ based on the Story Panel design you select.
Font Options for Story Panels
You can override your global site fonts and choose custom fonts specifically for your Story Panels.
Font customization is available for:
- Title
- Description
- Button Text
You can control font family, size, spacing, and line height.
Click SAVE CHANGES after updating your font settings.
Animation Options for Story Panels
Story Panels include animation controls for interactive button effects.
- Button Hover Animation – Choose an animation style that appears when visitors hover over a button inside a Story Panel
Animations are optional and can be set to match the personality of your website.
Best Practices for Story Panels
- Use 9:16 vertical videos or images for the most immersive mobile-friendly experience.
- Keep text brief and easy to skim to maintain visual flow.
- Mix content types (image, text, video) for a dynamic storytelling sequence.
- Use consistent editing styles, colors, and tones across your panels.
- Group content logically to guide viewers through a narrative or step-by-step journey.
Common Use Cases for Story Panels
- Client Testimonials: Combine a client video message, session photos, and a text testimonial.
- Behind-the-Scenes Stories: Show process shots, video clips, and descriptive text.
- Event or Wedding Highlights: Build a vertical sequence of moments, details, and reactions.
- Process or Service Walkthroughs: Guide visitors through how your service works, step-by-step.
- Before & After Stories: Display transformations with accompanying descriptions.
Troubleshooting Story Panels
My video looks cropped or zoomed in.
This may happen if the video’s aspect ratio doesn’t match the chosen Story Panel layout. For best results, upload or embed 9:16 vertical video.
My social embed isn’t displaying.
Confirm that the embed code is valid and from a supported platform (YouTube, Vimeo, etc). If the post is private or restricted, it may not display.
My Story Panels are out of order.
Check the ITEMS tab and drag items into the order you want. The vertical sequence follows the order listed.
My Story Panels are loading slowly.
Large images or video files can slow loading. Resize images to web-friendly resolutions and ensure videos are optimized before uploading.
